%20(1).png)
At Lentsch Culinary Services, we believe in transparency—not just in the ingredients we use but also in the way we do business. A lot has been said about the cost of doing business in Seattle, particularly regarding minimum wage and the expenses involved in running a high-quality meal prep service.
We fully support paying a living wage and believe that great food comes from great people who are compensated fairly. This is not a complaint—it’s an honest breakdown of the true cost of premium meal prep in Seattle and why our services are priced the way they are.
To illustrate this, let’s take a look at our most common meal prep order:
4 meals, each with 4 portions
The Cost Breakdown
Key Considerations
Delivery Fee: A variable cost of $15–$30. If a second delivery is needed due to food quality or storage reasons, we absorb the cost to ensure our food is at its best.
Labor Costs: We pay an average of $26 per hour, plus 27% in payroll taxes and benefits.
Pantry Costs: On average, we use $18 worth of staple ingredients (spices, oils, flour, etc.) per delivery. This cost is not passed on to our clients.
Kitchen Rental: We operate out of a fully licensed commercial kitchen, which costs $20 per hour per workstation. This fee covers water, gas, garbage, storage, and equipment.
Transaction Fees: Our accounting software takes 3.5% of every dollar we sell.
Cost of Meal Prep for 4 Meals (4 Portions Each)
Sales Revenue
$352.56 – 4 meals with 4 portions
$15.00 – Delivery
$368.00 – Total Revenue
Expenses
Labor Breakdown (Hours Spent Per Order)
0.75 hrs – Menu planning & pre-shopping work
0.5 hrs – Grocery shopping
3.5 hrs – Meal preparation, packaging, nutrition & recipe writing
0.75 hrs – Delivery
5.5 hrs total
Labor Cost
$143.00 – Base pay (5.5 hrs @ $26/hr)
$38.61 – Payroll taxes & benefits (27%)
$182.00 – Total labor cost
Supplies & Packaging
$18.00 – Pantry staples & client gifts
$12.00 – Compostable & recyclable packaging
$6.50 – Delivery bag
$1.00 – Ice pack & printed recipes
$38.00 – Total supply costs
Kitchen Rent
4 hours – Commissary kitchen usage
$20 per hour
$80.00 – Total kitchen rental cost
Transaction Fees
$12.86 – Processing fee (3.5%)
Total Cost: $312.00 (84.9% of Revenue)
Profit: $56.00 (15.1% Profit Margin)
Why We Do This
At Lentsch Culinary Services, we are committed to delivering fresh, high-quality, locally sourced meals that are fully customized to your lifestyle. Our pricing reflects the care, expertise, and labor that goes into each meal we prepare.
We know that meal prep is more than just food—it’s about convenience, nutrition, and peace of mind. Let us take this off your plate so you can enjoy delicious, chef-prepared meals without the hassle.
Let’s Get Cooking!
Are you ready to simplify your life with Seattle’s premier meal prep service? Contact us today to get started!
Comments