How Much Money Do You Need To Start A Podcast?
The first thought-out question beginner podcasters ask is- how much money do I need to start a podcast show? Now, if you opt for budget-friendly equipment, your initial expenses for starting a podcast could be approximately $250-$550. This budget includes the cost of a computer, microphone, headphones, audio interface, and recording software. As your podcast evolves, you can always consider upgrading your equipment for better quality.
Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.
This overbearing question brims the minds of podcasters, and oftentimes getting the right answers to it is slim. Podcasting is fun but can’t cost a fortune if you think you would break your bank before venturing into it.
Yes, you might spend a few hundred or thousand dollars when starting out. However, there are ways you can spend a lesser amount of money when starting your podcast show.
In this article, I will give you a rundown of things you would need to start your dream podcast without spending too much money. Although, it’s always advisable to improve your podcast when you must have made enough money to invest in professional tools.
Here are some expenses you may need to consider when starting a podcast:
- Equipment: You’ll need a quality microphone, headphones, and possibly a mixer or audio interface to ensure your podcast has good sound quality. This can cost anywhere from $50 to several hundred dollars.
- Recording software: You’ll need software to record and edit your podcast episodes. Some popular options include Audacity (free), GarageBand (Mac only), or Adobe Audition (paid).
- Hosting: You’ll need a hosting service to store and distribute your podcast episodes. Some popular options include Buzzsprout, Libsyn, and Podbean. Hosting fees can range from $5 to $50+ per month, depending on your needs.
- Marketing and promotion: You may want to invest in marketing and promotion to help your podcast reach a larger audience. This could include social media ads, guest appearances on other podcasts, or hiring a marketing consultant.
Overall, the cost of starting a podcast can range from a few hundred dollars to several thousand, depending on your needs and goals. However, it’s important to remember that you can start a podcast on a tight budget by using free or low-cost equipment and software, and gradually investing in more advanced tools as your podcast grows.
When starting your podcast journey, these are nuts and bolts things that determine how much money you spend.
Recording Equipment
First and foremost, recording equipment is what you need. Many people worry that getting recording equipment might cost a fortune. The good news is that most recording equipment are below 100 dollars.
What recording equipment do I need, you might ask; these are a microphone, pop-filter, microphone stand, etc.
There are virtually many microphones that you can run your recording process with. Although the price differs for each microphone as well as the functionality, you will see bare minimum microphones like SHURE SM48, which cost about $50.
There are other best microphones you can work with but what’s important is that you stick to your budget. Here read and find out the Best Microphones For Beginners.
Most microphones have a stand while some don’t, and those microphones without a stand require you to buy a good microphone stand to record in a comfortable position.
Pop filters are basically placed right in front of the microphone. Although getting a pop-filter is optional, it’s advisable to have one. And pop-filters are very cost-effective, to begin with.
Having sound splotches in your audio will write your content off, but with the help of a pop-filter, all unwanted pauses and plosives in your background will be erased.
You can get a pop-filter as low as $7.99 and record crisp and clear audio.
Computer
A computer is another basic thing needed when starting a podcast, and as you must have known – there are different types of computer that can serve you. Price ranges from $200 -$2000 depending on your budget.
Although, most people already have a computer. I hope you do? If you already have a computer, you need not splash some cash to get one for yourself unless you want better storage and upgraded RAM. But if not, then working with your current computer is recommended.
With your computer, you can install and access the editing software that helps you polish your audio to standard.
If you want to get a new computer, brands like Hp, Acer, and Dell are what you need to work with when making your podcast show.
A Headphones
Do I need headphones to start my podcast? I thought it was only meant for musicians? Exactly what some people ask but note this – working with a Headphone is vital.
Headphones help you listen to your voice when recording and editing your audio. With it, you will pinpoint unwanted plosives in your background and easily edit them.
Editing Tools
Editing your podcast is important as it helps rid off the noise, adds mixtapes, intros and outros to your podcast.
However, there are tons of editing software you can use for editing, most of which are free.
Alitu, and Audacity are free editing software downloadable on mac, windows, and Linux OS. This software makes editing easy.
Another free option is GarageBand which is strictly for Mac users.
The paid options vary depending on your editing need. At as low as $9 per month, you will access the features embedded in paid editing software.
Artworks
Artworks like logos and cover art help your brand to stand out. Without artworks establishing your brand will be difficult as your listeners recognize you through your artworks.
You can download artwork templates from free sites like Canva and redesign them to their possible best.
For the record, when designing in sites like Canva, no special graphics design skills are required.
If you feel you can outsource your artwork and pay some money, you will see professional graphics designers in Fiverr and Upwork.
Hosting Platforms
Hosting your podcast is another thing to be considered. However, free hosting options exist likewise paid options. The difference is that your podcast will stay for a specified number of days in the free options, but such doesn’t occur when you host with a paid plan.
Platforms like Podbean offer free hosting options, and it’s from these hosting platforms that your podcast will be distributed to your listeners’ favorite apps like Spotify, etc.
Concluding note on How Much Money You Need To Start A Podcast
There’s no specific amount of money you need when starting your podcast show; it all boils down to your budget.
The type of recording equipment you need depends on how much money you are willing to spend.
If you have a computer, you can always start with that even if you don’t ask your family’s or friends’ permission to use theirs if they have one. More so, some libraries have a computer that you could use and record your first podcast.
The same goes for the headphones, artworks, and hosting platforms – you will see medium-priced headphones and free hosting platforms you could start with and launch your first podcast show until you are willing to invest more money for your podcast.
Download the first chapter of The Storytelling Series: Beginners’ Guide for Small Businesses & Content Creators by Obehi Ewanfoh.
