Podcast production costs can vary widely. Writhing a story for a podcast can quickly run up into numbers and become very costly. We can narrow the expenses down into a few variations:
- Imagining and crafting the story
- Conducting and recording interviews (on location)
- Podcast editing
Costs For Writing A Story
Imagining and writing the story is usually the most expensive part. This isn’t just about knowing how to craft a compelling story, it also requires a high level of creativity. For this estimate, we’re assuming a podcast of around 20 minutes. Developing the concept, doing the research, writing down the findings, and shaping it into a coherent narrative typically takes between 20 and 30 hours.
That puts the costs for the story of the podcast somewhere between €1,200 and €2,000, depending on the topic and the type of podcast being produced. For example, an interview-based podcast with a single guest requires significantly less time and research than a narrative podcast with multiple story segments.
Think of a narrative podcast like ‘Argos’, versus an interview podcast such as ‘Making Sense’—two very different formats with different production needs.
Podcast production costs can vary wildly, so we’re happy to give you a general idea of what to expect. Spotting a freelancer or company offering much lower rates? Chances are high that they’re not professionals and are likely still beginners in the industry.
Costs For Podcast Interviewers
Conducting and recording podcast interviews (on location) doesn’t have to be expensive. A professional podcast interviewer typically charges between €40 and €100 per hour. However, it’s important to remember that a good interviewer also spends a significant amount of time on pre-interview research before they even start recording. Solid research takes time, but it’s often the key to truly great conversations.
That said, hiring a professional interviewer isn’t a must for creating a quality podcast. Costs can be significantly reduced if companies tap into expertise already available within their own field. Not only does this lower the overall budget, but it often leads to more insightful conversations, thanks to a shared level of knowledge between host and guest.
Podcast Editing Costs
Podcast editing costs of a production can vary widely from one company to another. For standard editing, you can expect to pay between €10 and €30 per 5 minutes of raw audio. This includes listening through the full episode, adding music bumpers, an intro and outro, and applying all requested edits. During the editing, unwanted sounds such as breathing noises or long pauses, are also removed.
These are typical rates for a professional podcast editor. However, the cost can increase if the episode still needs to be structured. For example, if there are multiple music tracks, interviews, and audio files that need to be arranged and organized, the pricing will be customized based on complexity.
Podcast Music Costs
Podcast music can be very affordable—or even free.
On websites like Artlist and PremiumBeat you can find (royalty) free music and sound effects for podcasts. Alternatively, you can purchase a music license at a low cost—between €1 and €10 per track, or €10 to €25 per month for a subscription plan that gives you access to multiple songs.
Another option is to have custom music composed for your podcast by professional musicians. In fact, VITA VOCA was originally created to provide original music for podcasters. However, we soon discovered that many podcasters prefer not to invest in music during the early stages of their show.
A custom podcast intro or outro typically costs between €200 and €800. If you’re looking for original background music tailored for your podcast, expect prices in the range of €750 to €1,200 for around 30 minutes of music.
On-sight Podcast Engineer Rates
The costs of an on-sight podcast production engineer can be divided into three parts: the engineer, the studio setup, and the location. The hourly rate for a dedicated on-site podcast engineer typically ranges between €40 and €80. Setting up a mobile studio depends on the equipment required but generally costs between €150 and €300. Prices can rise significantly if video equipment also needs to be transported and set up. There’s also a considerable amount of time involved in gathering, setting up, and uploading the material, all of which adds to the total production cost.
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