Are you prepared to invest a little money to start a podcast?

Good news! The barrier of entry to starting a podcast is very low.

There is no licensing, training, or initiation required.

And the costs to start a podcast are EXTREMELY LOW compared to all other mediums.

You can start without spending money

The monetary cost is also extremely low. If you have a computer with internet connection then you already have everything necessary to get started.

There are free programs like Audacity that will allow you to record audio and most laptops have built-in webcams to record video.

Some media services also offer free storage or distribution, but this gives away some of your ownership over your podcast.

However, I recommend you have a microphone. The audio quality will be MUCH BETTER than the mic built into your computer.

Microphones I recommend

(Note: The affiliate links below may earn me or my friends a referral fee):

Microphones with both USB & XLR connections:
 
Samson Q2U (extremely affordable)
Shure MV7 (more of my clients have this one now)
Rode Podmic (one of the biggest shows I edit uses this one)
 
XLR-only mics:
 
Heil PR40 (the one I use)
Shure SM7db (their newest version)
RE320 (regarded as a radio industry standard, but also great for podcasting)
 
Tip: Don't spend a lot on a mic if the room isn't a great environment to record in. I used to record in hotel rooms with an ATR2100, which is very similar to the Samson Q2U. Spending $500 on a mic would have been a waste of money. (So I guess I'm saying it's almost more important to be in a quiet room than which mic to record with).

Total minimum expenses to start a podcast: $100

Like I mentioned earlier, you probably have enough equipment to get started.

The very basics you need are a microphone and a podcast media host.

If I were to start again today, I would purchase a Samson Q2U USB microphone and host my podcast with Captivate.

That's it! 

I used to record my interviews using Skype, which is a free service. Nowadays, there are services that record better audio AND video like Riverside and SquadCast (now owned by Descript). 

 

Other Podcasting Equipment and Services

Here is a list of things many podcasters invest in
(Note: Average prices below were updated in 2024)

  • Microphone (for improved sound): $50 – $200
  • Webcam (for improved video): $40 – $200
  • Mixer (for co-hosts and/or sound effects): $50 – $700
  • Remote recording service: $0 – $80/mo
  • Media hosting (for podcast episode storage and distribution): $5 – $20/mo
  • Domain and web hosting (for branding and control): $80 – $300 a year
  • Royalty free music: $1 – $500
  • Professional voiceover: $50 – $1,000+

Want to get started?

Contact me to help with the setup, launch, and post-production of YOUR podcast.

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