How to Start a Podcasting Business

A podcasting business provides entertainment by uploading audio files online for listeners to subscribe to. Normally listened to over a smartphone app, a podcast generates money for the creator via advertisements. Listeners can also pay to get access to ongoing podcasts, bonus material, and extra episodes.

You may also be interested in additional home business ideas.

Ready to turn your business idea into a reality? Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the process with hands-on support.

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Start a podcasting business by following these 10 steps:

  1. Plan your Podcasting Business
  2. Form your Podcasting Business into a Legal Entity
  3. Register your Podcasting Business for Taxes
  4. Open a Business Bank Account & Credit Card
  5. Set up Accounting for your Podcasting Business
  6. Get the Necessary Permits & Licenses for your Podcasting Business
  7. Get Podcasting Business Insurance
  8. Define your Podcasting Business Brand
  9. Create your Podcasting Business Website
  10. Set up your Business Phone System

We have put together this simple guide to starting your podcasting business. These steps will ensure that your new business is well planned out, registered properly and legally compliant.

Exploring your options? Check out other small business ideas.

STEP 1: Plan your business

A clear plan is essential for success as an entrepreneur. It will help you map out the specifics of your business and discover some unknowns. A few important topics to consider are:

Luckily we have done a lot of this research for you.

What will you name your business?

Choosing the right name is important and challenging. If you don’t already have a name in mind, visit our How to Name a Business guide or get help brainstorming a name with our Podcasting Business Name Generator

If you operate a sole proprietorship, you might want to operate under a business name other than your own name. Visit our DBA guide to learn more.

When registering a business name, we recommend researching your business name by checking:

  • Your state’s business records
  • Federal and state trademark records
  • Social media platforms
  • Web domain availability

It’s very important to secure your domain name before someone else does.

What are the costs involved in opening a podcasting business?

A podcast owner will need to purchase a portable XLR recorder, which costs between $100 and $500. An audio interface, meanwhile, will cost between $30 and $300. A basic laptop will be needed, too, which will cost about $700. Good audio editing software can be purchased for as little as $300. Publishing software is available for about $20. All in all, basic start-up costs amount to a little under $1,000 if the business is being start as a low-budget one.

What are the ongoing expenses for a podcasting business?

Technology maintenance and upgrades are inexpensive; normally, they’re about $500 per year. Much of your ongoing expenses will be directed towards information gathering and real-life experiences, which can include variable travel costs.

Who is the target market?

A podcaster’s target market is large. Because a podcast can be about anything, it’s up to the podcaster to determine their niche. In general, however, a podcaster’s market is anyone who listens to podcasts. People who drive often, go for walks, or simply download smartphone podcasts. Listeners who are prone to e-commerce purchases are particularly lucrative.

How does a podcasting business make money?

A podcaster can make money in several ways. First, they can have sponsors. Every time a sponsor is used, a podcaster is paid. A podcaster can also ask for donations. Some podcasters give away free episodes, charging listeners for other episodes. Others, meanwhile, might offer free partial shows while offering entire shows for a fee. Social media advertisement can also generate money, as can a podcast’s website.

Successful podcasters often build an entire brand around their services, becoming product providers and even consultants. If a podcaster is well-connected in the mobile app world, they might sell an iPhone app alongside their podcast.

How much can you charge customers?

Podcast memberships are usually between $1.99 and $9.99 per month. If you’re selling an app, consider pricing it at about 99 cents for a download.

How much profit can a podcasting business make?

A highly successful podcast can make as much as $50,000 per episode. Small podcasts, however, make as little as $2,000 per year. Typically, average podcast owners make about $12,000 per year as a side job. Expect to make about $30,000 as a moderately successful podcaster.

How can you make your business more profitable?

Start out with general knowledge, even in your niche. As you develop an audience, become more specific. The more specific your podcast is, the more attention you’ll attract.

Want a more guided approach? Access TRUiC’s free Small Business Startup Guide – a step-by-step course for turning your business idea into reality. Get started today!

STEP 2: Form a legal entity

One crucial aspect that cannot be overlooked when starting your podcasting business is the importance of establishing a solid business foundation. While sole proprietorships and partnerships are the most common entity types for small businesses, they’re a far less stable and advantageous option than LLCs.

This is because unincorporated business structures (i.e., sole proprietorships and partnerships) expose you as an owner to personal liability for your business’s debts and legal actions, while LLCs protect you by keeping your personal assets separate from your business’s liabilities.

In practice, this means that if your podcasting business were to face a lawsuit or incur any debts, your savings, home, and other personal assets could not be used to cover these costs. On top of this, forming your business as an LLC also helps it to appear more legitimate and trustworthy.

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Tailor Brands is our top recommendation because it guides you through every step of the formation process with hands-on support — from paperwork and compliance to devising a detailed plan to help you achieve your business goals.

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Note: If you’re interested in more information before getting started, we recommend having a look at our How to Start a Business guide (DIY) or our in-depth Best Business Formation Services review (for those opting for a professional service).

STEP 3: Register for taxes

You will need to register for a variety of state and federal taxes before you can open for business.

In order to register for taxes you will need to apply for an EIN. It’s really easy and free!

You can acquire your EIN through the IRS website. If you would like to learn more about EINs, read our article, What is an EIN?

There are specific state taxes that might apply to your business. Learn more about state sales tax and franchise taxes in our state sales tax guides.

STEP 4: Open a business bank account & credit card

Using dedicated business banking and credit accounts is essential for personal asset protection.

When your personal and business accounts are mixed, your personal assets (your home, car, and other valuables) are at risk in the event your business is sued. In business law, this is referred to as piercing your corporate veil.

Open a business bank account

Besides being a requirement when applying for business loans, opening a business bank account:

  • Separates your personal assets from your company’s assets, which is necessary for personal asset protection.
  • Makes accounting and tax filing easier.

Recommended: Read our Best Banks for Small Business review to find the best national bank or credit union.

Get a business credit card

Getting a business credit card helps you:

Recommended: Apply for an easy approval business credit card from BILL and build your business credit quickly.

STEP 5: Set up business accounting

Recording your various expenses and sources of income is critical to understanding the financial performance of your business. Keeping accurate and detailed accounts also greatly simplifies your annual tax filing.

Make LLC accounting easy with our LLC Expenses Cheat Sheet.

STEP 6: Obtain necessary permits and licenses

Failure to acquire necessary permits and licenses can result in hefty fines, or even cause your business to be shut down.

State & Local Business Licensing Requirements

Certain state permits and licenses may be needed to operate a podcasting business. Learn more about licensing requirements in your state by visiting SBA’s reference to state licenses and permits.

Most businesses are required to collect sales tax on the goods or services they provide. To learn more about how sales tax will affect your business, read our article, Sales Tax for Small Businesses.

Trademark & Copyright Protection

If you are developing a unique product, concept, brand, or design, it is prudent to protect your rights by registering for the appropriate trademarks and copyrights.

Learn more about trademark and copyright protection

The nature of legal requirements in distance education is ever changing, especially in regards to copyright laws. Here is a frequently updated resource, which can help keep you aware of the legal requirements.

Sublicensing

Love a product or idea owned by another company or individual? You can contact the rights owner or manufacturer and negotiate a sublicense to use the product or idea under a royalty or fixed fee arrangement. It is never smart to use content without authorization from the rights holder as this could have serious legal ramifications for your business.

STEP 7: Get business insurance

Just as with licenses and permits, your business needs insurance in order to operate safely and lawfully. Business Insurance protects your company’s financial wellbeing in the event of a covered loss.

There are several types of insurance policies created for different types of businesses with different risks. If you’re unsure of the types of risks that your business may face, begin with General Liability Insurance. This is the most common coverage that small businesses need, so it’s a great place to start for your business.

Another notable insurance policy that many businesses need is Workers’ Compensation Insurance. If your business will have employees, it’s a good chance that your state will require you to carry Workers’ Compensation Coverage.

Find out what types of insurance your Podcasting Business needs and how much it will cost you by reading our guide Business Insurance for Podcasting Business.

STEP 8: Define your brand

Your brand is what your company stands for, as well as how your business is perceived by the public. A strong brand will help your business stand out from competitors.

If you already have a logo, you can also add it to a QR code with our Free QR Code Generator. Choose from 13 QR code types to create a code for your business cards and publications, or to help spread awareness for your new website.

How to promote & market a podcasting business

Be recognizable on a small scale. By representing your podcast’s unique value, you’ll be able to promote it effectively. As for marketing, contact well-known podcast owners. Ask them to promote your podcast on their podcast, and offer to do the same in return. A lot of successful podcast owners promote one another. Different than radio stations, podcasts rely on direct word-of-mouth promotion, rather than physical advertisements. Where advertisements are considered, social media ads tend to work.

How to keep customers coming back

Attract customers by having content which crosses into other podcasts. Retain customers by offering rewards programs, membership discounts and—of course—great content. Your podcast should constantly be updated. It should also feature newsworthy material.

STEP 9: Create your business website

After defining your brand and creating your logo the next step is to create a website for your business.

While creating a website is an essential step, some may fear that it’s out of their reach because they don’t have any website-building experience. While this may have been a reasonable fear back in 2015, web technology has seen huge advancements in the past few years that makes the lives of small business owners much simpler.

Here are the main reasons why you shouldn’t delay building your website:

  • All legitimate businesses have websites – full stop. The size or industry of your business does not matter when it comes to getting your business online.
  • Social media accounts like Facebook pages or LinkedIn business profiles are not a replacement for a business website that you own.
  • Website builder tools like the GoDaddy Website Builder have made creating a basic website extremely simple. You don’t need to hire a web developer or designer to create a website that you can be proud of.

Recommended: Get started today using our recommended website builder or check out our review of the Best Website Builders.

Other popular website builders are: WordPressWIXWeeblySquarespace, and Shopify.

STEP 10: Set up your business phone system

Getting a phone set up for your business is one of the best ways to help keep your personal life and business life separate and private. That’s not the only benefit; it also helps you make your business more automated, gives your business legitimacy, and makes it easier for potential customers to find and contact you.

There are many services available to entrepreneurs who want to set up a business phone system. We’ve reviewed the top companies and rated them based on price, features, and ease of use. Check out our review of the Best Business Phone Systems 2024 to find the best phone service for your small business.

Recommended Business Phone Service: Phone.com

Phone.com is our top choice for small business phone numbers because of all the features it offers for small businesses and it’s fair pricing.

Is this Business Right For You?

The podcasting business is perfect for those who enjoy public entertainment. Podcast creators can join a slew of commercial and public networks, connecting with listeners, celebrities, and industry specialists. A good podcast business owner will have a niche subject to discuss, be tech-savvy, and understand modern entertainment.

A good podcast host can also focus on being clear, not clever. Those with pre-existing businesses often make great podcast hosts. They’re also skilled with artwork, news gathering, and equipment management. On every level, a podcast host needs to be a capable interviewer. Those who’re great at networking are often great at hosting podcasts.

Want to know if you are cut out to be an entrepreneur?

Take our Entrepreneurship Quiz to find out!

Entrepreneurship Quiz

What happens during a typical day at a podcasting business?

At the start of every podcaster’s day, they plan their content. A podcast’s popularity is spawned by its relevance, uniqueness, and attention to detail. For this reason, it’s mostly a creative endeavor. A podcaster needs to conduct research, plan their episodes and commit them to paper.

A podcaster usually spends time narrowing their topics, too, finding their best niche. More time is spent handling the podcasting software, microphone, headset, portable XLR recorder, audio interface, and computer. Audio is recorded, edited, and exported. During this time, a podcaster normally edits their content to assure accuracy, coherence, and a high entertainment factor.

A podcaster’s time can also be spent dividing podcasts into different chapters, finding good music and listening to fan feedback. Often, a podcaster will finish their day by promoting themselves on social media.

What are some skills and experiences that will help you build a successful podcasting business?

As a podcast owner, an individual should be able to build their brand, sell their services and promote an iPhone app. For this reason, they should be knowledgeable about marketing, management, and promotion.

A podcast owner should similarly be good at integrating sponsorship with a show’s different editorials. Shows should be seamless, and they should have exciting, memorable content. On every level, a podcast owner should be able to expand their audience, build a deep connection with visitors, and promote themselves. As a general rule, podcast episodes should have a “low barrier to entry.” They should be easily accessible and relevant.

What is the growth potential for a podcasting business?

A podcast can become pretty popular. If the podcaster extends their episodes across Stitcher, iTunes and BlueBrry, they can catch a large audience. A successful podcaster should, however, have a plan to scale effectively in the online world. Because a podcasting business primarily relies on e-Commerce, the podcast’s owner will need to make sure their buying portals are organized. Eventually, a podcast’s owner can do live events. If this is the case, the live events will be hosted in large cities.

Not sure if a podcasting business is right for you? Try our free Business Idea Generator and find your perfect idea.

Take the Next Step

Find a business mentor

One of the greatest resources an entrepreneur can have is quality mentorship. As you start planning your business, connect with a free business resource near you to get the help you need.

Having a support network in place to turn to during tough times is a major factor of success for new business owners.

Learn from other business owners

Want to learn more about starting a business from entrepreneurs themselves? Visit Startup Savant’s startup founder series to gain entrepreneurial insights, lessons, and advice from founders themselves.

Resources to Help Women in Business

There are many resources out there specifically for women entrepreneurs. We’ve gathered necessary and useful information to help you succeed both professionally and personally:

  • Funding
  • Events
  • Guides
  • Support

If you’re a woman looking for some guidance in entrepreneurship, check out this great new series Women in Business created by the women of our partner Startup Savant.

What are some insider tips for jump starting a podcasting business?

Narrow your podcast’s topics. Find a niche, and stick to it. Similar to blogs, podcasts need to be relevant while targeting specific audiences. A lot of broad topics are already covered, so niche topics can make a lot of money.

It’s also a good idea to invite podcast guests. These guests can garner a lot of exposure, and bigger names can promote your podcast across the industry. To get podcast guests, make a list of industry leaders. Then, prepare an email list. Set up some interviews, and be sure to compensate any guests for their time.

How and when to build a team

A podcast can be operated alone, but having a team of two to three others can assure consistency and adaptability. To save money, operate a podcast alone for the first year. Consider adding a partner as you become established.

Useful Links

Industry Opportunities

Real World Examples

Further Reading