How Much Does It Cost To Produce A Podcast?

One of the questions we get asked a lot about starting a podcast is:

How much is it going to cost?

The good news is, probably not as much as you think.

You absolutely can spend thousands on podcasting. Like hiring studios, buying fancy microphones, investing in multiple cameras and getting yourself a mixer with more buttons than you know what to do with.

Someone told us recently about an all-singing, all-dancing weekly video podcast costing around £10,000 a month to produce.

But hold your horses, do not panic!

Your podcast absolutely does not need to cost £10k a month.

In fact, if you’re an organisation thinking about starting a podcast, you might already own quite a lot of what you need.

The cost really does comes down to what you’re trying to make, how you’re going to make it and how much of the work you’re going to do yourself.

So, before you put “PODCAST: £????” into your next funding bid, here’s what you need to think about.

How Much Does Basic Podcast Equipment Cost?

Let’s start with the actual kit.

For a simple podcast recorded at your desk or remotely, you could potentially get started for around £50 in additional equipment if you already have a computer and headphones.

A basic setup might include:

• Laptop or computer: you probably already have one.
• Headphones: again, you may already have some perfectly usable ones.
• Microphone: a half-decent USB microphone that plugs straight into your computer can start from around £50 each.
• Editing software: free options are available.
• Remote recording software: free options are available, although these may come with recording limits or fewer features.
• Podcast hosting: there are free options available. This is what gets your podcast distributed to platforms such as Apple Podcasts and Spotify.
• Cover artwork: you can create your own using free design tools such as Canva.
• Music: depending on what you use and the licence, this can start from just a few pounds.

You don’t need to buy everything before you’ve recorded a word.

In fact, start simple is advice we give a lot. Work out what you actually need first and you can always upgrade later!

What If You Want To Record Out And About?

This is where your equipment costs can start to increase.

If your podcast involves recording people in community spaces, at events, in workplaces or anywhere else away from a computer, you might want a portable recorder and separate microphones.

As a rough starting point, you could find a second-hand portable recorder from around £150, a pack of three suitable microphones for around £70, plus roughly £20 for cables.

But don’t buy kit simply because somebody on YouTube has told you every “proper podcaster” needs it.

What you need depends on where you’re recording, how many people you’re recording and what you’re trying to create.

We’ve recorded podcasts in studios, but we’ve also recorded them in offices, libraries, community spaces, parks, at football matches and while people were running and riding bikes.

The setup changes because the podcast changes.

Does A Video Podcast Cost More Than An Audio Podcast?

Usually, yes.

If you’re recording remotely, start by seeing how good the webcam built into your laptop actually is. You might find it’s perfectly good enough for what you want to do.

If it isn’t, you don’t necessarily need to spend a fortune. You could look for a decent second-hand webcam for around £50–£70, or use the camera on your phone.

For an in-person video podcast, costs can start increasing.

You might need cameras, lighting, tripods, microphones, more storage and more editing time. If you want multiple camera angles, that’s more kit, more footage and more editing.

Another option is to hire a podcast studio where much of the equipment is already set up for you. Depending on the studio, location and what’s included, you might find options starting from around £150 an hour.

Video can be brilliant, but don’t add it simply because you’ve seen lots of video podcasts on social media and think that’s what you’re supposed to do now.

It needs to earn its place in your budget.

Nail The Podcast Idea Before You Nail The Budget

Before you start worrying about cameras, studios, microphones and how much all this kit is going to cost, nail the idea first.

• What is the podcast actually for?
• Who do you want to reach?
• Why would they listen?
• What do you want them to think, feel or do as a result?
• And is a podcast actually the right way to achieve it?

We’ve created a simple framework to help organisations answer those questions: try the MIC Test before you start your organisational podcast.

Once you know what you’re making and why, it’s much easier to work out what you actually need. And, just as importantly, what you don’t need.

What About Professional Podcast Production Costs?

This is where answering “How much does a podcast cost?” with one neat figure becomes difficult.

There’s a big difference between recording a conversation between two people online and producing a multi-episode series involving contributors in different locations, original music, research, scripting, professional editing and video.

If you’re producing everything yourself, your cash costs may be relatively low.

If you’re bringing in professional support, your budget might include strategy and planning, recording, editing, sound design, project management, contributor support, artwork and getting the finished podcast ready for release.

You might commission somebody to do the whole lot, or you might keep some parts in-house and get professional help with the bits your team doesn’t have the time, confidence or expertise to do. There’s no single right way to do it.

Don’t Forget To Budget For Your Time

This is the biggie people forget, your time isn’t free.

Even if you’re planning to make the whole podcast in-house, somebody still has to do the work.

There’s planning to do, guests to find, emails to send, recording dates to organise, interviews to prepare, episodes to record, stuff to edit, feedback to gather, artwork to create, episodes to upload.

If three members of your team are spending hours every week working on your podcast, that’s part of its cost even if no money is leaving your bank account.

This is particularly important if you’re putting together a funding bid or working out whether a podcast will be sustainable for your organisation.

Don’t just budget for the microphone, budget for the people making it happen.

What Other Podcast Costs Are Easy To Forget?

There are a few less exciting costs that don’t tend to feature in photographs of glamorous podcast studios.

Depending on your project, think about things like travel to recordings, room or venue hire, storage and backups, transcription and accessibility, contributor expenses, music licensing and ongoing podcast hosting.

Not every podcast will need all of those, but they’re worth considering at the beginning, particularly if you’re creating a budget for a funded project.

It’s much nicer to have £200 in the budget that you don’t end up needing than discovering halfway through the project that nobody remembered to budget for getting your team and equipment to six different recording locations.

Don’t Forget Your Podcast Marketing Budget

Making the podcast is only half the job, you also need to think about how people are going to find it.

That might mean creating social media content, audiograms or video clips, writing episode descriptions, producing graphics, sending newsletters, updating your website or working with guests and partners to promote episodes.

Some of that might be done by your existing team or you might need additional design, marketing or production support.

Either way, think about marketing before you start recording, not when Episode 1 is out.

A brilliant podcast that nobody knows exists isn’t going to do much for you.

So, How Much Should You Budget For A Podcast?

There’s no single figure that works for every podcast. A simple DIY audio podcast could cost very little to get started if you already have a laptop, headphones and other basic equipment.

From there, costs rise depending on what you’re trying to create.

• Remote or in-person?
• Audio or video?
• One presenter or four people around a table?
• One camera or three?
• Recording in your office or travelling around the country?
• Editing it yourselves or bringing in professional support?
• A short six-episode series or a weekly show that needs to keep going month after month?

Those decisions have a much bigger impact on the budget than whether you spend £50 or £100 on a microphone.

And yes, if you want an all-singing, all-dancing weekly video podcast with professional production, multiple cameras, a studio, lots of editing and ongoing content, you absolutely can end up spending thousands every month.

But that’s one end of a very big spectrum.

Don’t let somebody else’s £10,000-a-month podcast convince you that you need a £10,000-a-month podcast.

Start Simple And Spend Where It Matters

Podcasting doesn’t have to be expensive.

One of the things we believe strongly at MIC media is that expensive kit shouldn’t be a barrier to somebody getting behind a microphone and telling an important story.

You can make brilliant things with relatively simple equipment.

But there’s a difference between starting affordably and pretending making a good podcast doesn’t cost anything.

Your time has value and your team’s time has value, heck, good planning has value too. Making the podcast accessible, reaching your audience and keeping the thing going all need consideration too.

So if you’re putting together a funding bid or planning an organisational podcast, don’t just add £50 for a microphone and call the budget done.

Start with what you’re trying to achieve. Then build the podcast and the budget around that.

And preferably do that before filling your online shopping basket with microphones.

How much does it cost to start a podcast?
If you already have a computer and headphones, you could potentially start a simple DIY podcast with around £50 of additional equipment. Your overall cost will depend on the format, equipment, software, time and level of professional support you need.

Can you start a podcast for free?
Potentially, yes. Free recording, editing and podcast hosting options are available, and you may already own much of the equipment you need. However, your time and your team’s time still have a value.

How much does a podcast microphone cost?
You don’t need an expensive microphone to get started. A decent USB microphone that plugs directly into a computer can start from around £50.

Does a video podcast cost more than an audio podcast?
Usually. Video may require cameras or webcams, lighting, more storage and additional editing. A simple setup can be relatively affordable, while a professionally produced multi-camera show can cost considerably more.

Do you need to hire a podcast studio?
No. Podcasts can be recorded remotely, at home, in workplaces and out in the community. If a studio suits your format, hire can start from around £150 an hour depending on the studio, location and what’s included.

What should an organisation include in a podcast budget?
Think beyond just the equipment. Your budget might include recording, editing, hosting, music, artwork, marketing, staff time, travel, accessibility, storage, contributor expenses and professional production support.

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