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Guest-Chef Agreement Check | Payment terms, penalties and handover — a traffic-light check for venues and chefs

Before a guest chef or pop-up team runs an event at a venue, tick what you have agreed and see which terms put one side at high risk — with a fair alternative for each. Data stays in your browser.

Free, no sign-up. For venues and independent chefs alike.

This check flags common guest-chef terms under Taiwan law as a guide only — it is not legal advice. Red means high risk for one side, not illegal; Taiwan has no statutory cap on B2B payment terms. A guest-chef deal may be a work contract, a partnership or a mandate, each with different rules. For large sums or an existing dispute, consult a lawyer or legal aid.

Each term shows who it mainly protects — this is for both sides, not one.

Revenue split

Revenue split

Protects both
What goes wrong:
Verbal splits turn into two versions after the event, and without an agreed report one side's numbers win by default.
What the law says:
Unwritten terms are still binding, but the party relying on them must prove them (Taiwan Code of Civil Procedure §277).
Fair wording:
Write down the split or fixed fee and name the POS sales report as the reconciliation source both sides can see.
Payment deadline

Payment deadline

Protects the chef
What goes wrong:
A 180-day payout means the worker finances half a year of ingredients and wages for the venue.
What the law says:
Taiwan has no statutory cap on B2B payment terms. If the deal is a work contract, pay is due on completion when nothing is agreed (Civil Code §505); unfair terms in a one-sided standard form may be void (§247-1).
Fair wording:
Settle within 14 days of the event; if longer than 30, pay part up front (e.g. ingredient cost).
Deposit or advance

Deposit or advance

Protects the chef
What goes wrong:
If the worker buys ingredients but is paid only afterwards, a cancellation leaves the whole loss with them.
What the law says:
Not required by law — it is up to the parties.
Fair wording:
Where the worker buys ingredients, advance at least the ingredient cost.
Penalties and their cap

Penalties and their cap

Protects the chef
What goes wrong:
A penalty with no stated grounds or cap can be set at any amount afterwards — even more than the split.
What the law says:
Courts can reduce excessive penalties (Civil Code §252); one-sided standard terms that unfairly increase the other side's liability may be void (§247-1).
Fair wording:
State the grounds and a maximum amount; nothing outside the listed grounds is penalised.
How damage is assessed

How damage is assessed

Protects both
What goes wrong:
Without a basis, a claim is either inflated against the worker or unprovable for the venue.
What the law says:
Damages are generally limited to actual loss (Civil Code §216), and the claiming party must prove it (Code of Civil Procedure §277).
Fair wording:
Only damage recorded at handover and shown to have happened during the event, backed by repair or purchase receipts.
Handover in and out

Handover in and out

Protects both
What goes wrong:
Without a handover record, who broke or lost what comes down to who is louder.
What the law says:
Whoever claims damage must prove it (Code of Civil Procedure §277); a handover record both sides signed is the most direct evidence.
Fair wording:
Hand over on arrival and on departure — equipment, utensils, fridge stock, cleanliness — timestamped photos, confirmed by both.
Deducting claims from the payout

Deducting claims from the payout

Protects the chef
What goes wrong:
Deducting a disputed amount first forces the worker to chase money already earned.
What the law says:
Set-off requires mutual debts that are both due (Civil Code §334); whether an unsettled damage claim qualifies is itself disputable.
Fair wording:
Deduct only after both sides confirm the amount in writing; pay the disputed part and resolve it separately.
Clean-up and storage

Clean-up and storage

Protects the venue
What goes wrong:
Unclear clean-up times and storage rules are the most common starting point for after-the-fact penalties.
What the law says:
A matter for the parties — writing it down also protects the venue's ability to reopen on time.
Fair wording:
State the clear-out deadline (e.g. within 3 hours of close), where items may stay and for how long, and what happens after.
Food-safety responsibilities

Food-safety responsibilities

Protects both
What goes wrong:
If a guest falls ill, both sides can be pursued when sourcing, preparation and hygiene duties were never split.
What the law says:
Taiwan's Act Governing Food Safety and Sanitation places hygiene duties on food businesses; with both sides serving, write down who does what.
Fair wording:
State who buys ingredients and keeps source receipts, who handles preparation and on-site hygiene, and who maintains the venue's equipment hygiene.
Public liability insurance

Public liability insurance

Protects both
What goes wrong:
If a guest or crew member is hurt during the event, agree up front whose policy pays.
What the law says:
Some local governments require venues to carry public liability insurance; check with the insurer whether an outside team's event is covered.
Fair wording:
State who is insured, the amount, and whether the event is covered; buy event cover if needed.
Cancellation and postponement

Cancellation and postponement

Protects both
What goes wrong:
If only one side can cancel without paying, the other side's ingredients and booked crew are wasted.
What the law says:
If the deal is a work contract, the venue may terminate before completion but must compensate the worker's resulting loss (Civil Code §511).
Fair wording:
Set a free-cancellation window, then compensate ingredients bought and hours committed — and apply the same to the worker.
Who directs the work and the crew

Who directs the work and the crew

Protects both
Resolving disputes

Resolving disputes

Protects both
What goes wrong:
With no agreed route, a dispute ends up as a public spat online or straight in court.
What the law says:
District office mediation committees mediate for free; a court-approved settlement has the effect of a final civil judgment (Township and County-Administered City Mediation Act §27).
Fair wording:
Negotiate in writing for 14 days, then go to district-office mediation.

Result

Some terms put one side at high risk

Agree and write down the items below before the event.

  • Payment deadline → Settle within 14 days of the event; if longer than 30, pay part up front (e.g. ingredient cost).
  • Penalties and their cap → State the grounds and a maximum amount; nothing outside the listed grounds is penalised.
  • How damage is assessed → Only damage recorded at handover and shown to have happened during the event, backed by repair or purchase receipts.
  • Handover in and out → Hand over on arrival and on departure — equipment, utensils, fridge stock, cleanliness — timestamped photos, confirmed by both.
  • Deducting claims from the payout → Deduct only after both sides confirm the amount in writing; pay the disputed part and resolve it separately.
  • Revenue split → Write down the split or fixed fee and name the POS sales report as the reconciliation source both sides can see.
  • Deposit or advance → Where the worker buys ingredients, advance at least the ingredient cost.
  • Clean-up and storage → State the clear-out deadline (e.g. within 3 hours of close), where items may stay and for how long, and what happens after.
  • Food-safety responsibilities → State who buys ingredients and keeps source receipts, who handles preparation and on-site hygiene, and who maintains the venue's equipment hygiene.
  • Public liability insurance → State who is insured, the amount, and whether the event is covered; buy event cover if needed.
  • Cancellation and postponement → Set a free-cancellation window, then compensate ingredients bought and hours committed — and apply the same to the worker.
  • Resolving disputes → Negotiate in writing for 14 days, then go to district-office mediation.

13 terms ticked: 🔴 5　🟡 7　🟢 1

Risk leans on the chef: 4 chef-protecting terms are red or amber.

Draft and e-sign the fair version online (Traditional Chinese) →

Free. No sign-up: each side gets its own link by email; handover and settlement records after signing.

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