Podcast Services Pricing: How Much Do Production Companies Charge?

“How much is this going to cost?” That’s the question—either you ask it, or your CMO does—as soon as the idea of a brand podcast hits the table. Fair enough. Budgets matter, and you want to make sure every content effort helps with company growth.

Then someone says, “Let’s just have the marketing team do it!”
Sure. You could go that route. But it often costs more in the long run than doing it right from the start. Your marketing team probably isn’t trained for podcasting (and no neither is that college-intern you hired to do social media). It’s a heavy lift, time-wise and skill-wise.

If you want a show that stands out, hits with your audience, and actually delivers ROI, you’ll want professionals. That’s why more businesses, thought leaders, and even creators are turning to podcast production companies—teams that live and breathe podcasts. They know how to make your show shine and earn attention.

So, what about podcast production services pricing?
There’s no one-size-fits-all number we can toss your way. It’s more nuanced than that. But we can promise you one thing: you get what you pay for.

Cut corners on production and you get “just get it done” content. Technically finished, but forgettable. It might tick some boxes, but it won’t drive real results. If you’ve got a big idea and big goals, you need production that matches that ambition.

This guide breaks down what you're really paying for, what it costs, and why it matters. Let’s get into it.

What Do Podcast Production Costs Cover?

Before we start crunching numbers, let’s talk about what a podcast production price tag actually includes. Popping your bubble right away: it’s not just a quick edit and slap of intro music.

The best podcast production agencies act as creative partners from start to finish. Here’s a breakdown of the key services and deliverables you can expect:

Pre-production

Way before recording a producer—or full agency team—helps shape a winning concept.

At Lower Street, we kick things off with a full competitive landscape analysis to craft a show idea that doesn’t just blend in, but stands out in your industry. But that’s just the start of pre-production services. 

Once a concept is nailed down, production teams move into the full scope of podcast planning: mapping out episodes for clear structure, pre-interviewing and prepping guests, and making sure your show has a through-line that makes it easy to follow and hard to forget.

If your format calls for scripting, expert podcast producers write for the ear—not the eye. That means conversational, engaging narration that sounds natural, not like reading off a prompter. It’s a specific skillset, writing for voice, and one that makes a huge difference in how your podcast ultimately lands with listeners.

So how can we do that when we’re not experts in your field? Simple: you bring the expertise, a production agency brings the storytelling and production know-how. Together, we shape your knowledge into a podcast that sounds great and connects with your audience.

Recording

Whether you're working from a studio, home office, or spare closet, your production team will guide you to the best recording setup.

A producer will coach you on mic technique, equipment, and environment to get clean, professional sound. They can also help source a show host—some brands go internal, but bringing in a confident, experienced voice can also be a great move.

Post-production

After recording, the team gets to work on bringing it all together. This includes audio editing, tightening content flow, adding music and sound design, mixing, mastering, and handling music licensing. When done right, these elements create an immersive experience that pulls your listeners in and keeps them hooked.

Publishing & distribution

Production teams handle the details that keep things moving smoothly. They title the episodes and draft show notes for search optimization, create a transcript for accessibility (and a bit of a discoverability boost), and upload it all so it is ready for audiences. They’ll keep a close eye on your RSS feed to ensure your show gets published and distributed to leading podcast platforms, reaching your target audience. 

Marketing & strategy

Alright, this one is not always included in podcast production services. But it’s good to note that great production companies can help you with podcast promotion. This could be strategy development, ad campaigns, PR, or even repurposed content creation. 

Our team at Lower Street always includes an Audience Development strategy in our contract. During launches, and even in our reporting or review phase. We don’t want you to launch a great show into the void, we’re there to help build your audience from the start.

Every company does things a little differently. Some bundle these services, others offer them à la carte.

What’s the Average Price Range for Podcast Production?

Podcast production services pricing isn’t one-size-fits-all. It depends on what you're trying to build.

Are you aiming for an internal comms podcast? Or are you launching a branded show to compete with Smart Money? That scope—and the kind of audience you’re trying to reach—will shape the budget more than anything else.

Here’s the thing: if you do a quick Google search for “podcast production pricing,” you’ll find a few rough categories:

• Low-level: Around $500–$1,000 per episode. This typically includes basic editing and little else. It works for DIY-style shows where you’re handling strategy, scripting, and guest wrangling yourself. But you’ll end up doing a lot of work.

• Mid-tier: Think $1,500–$5,000+ per month, often on a retainer. Here you may get more hands-on support—more creative editing, guest coordination, and some content planning. It's a solid option, but growth and results are limited, you’ll find you’ve got to put in some work too.

• High-end / Full-service: You’ll see ranges of $40,000–$100,000+ for a full season. These teams typically offer end-to-end services, better sound design, and light marketing support. That said, many of them still focus on generalist audiences—or apply a formulaic approach, with little creativity. 

But, as you can see, these really don’t touch everything you need.

If you’re a brand looking to reach a specific, technical, or niche audience with a standout show—and you want real creative collaboration, strategic thinking, and high-end execution—those numbers don’t tell the full story.

That’s where another tier lives– let’s call it the Strategic tier.

And these may range $100K to $250K+. Why the higher investment? Because we’re not just stitching together episodes—we’re crafting distinctive, long-term content that positions your brands as industry leaders.

This tier brings you a team that specializes in:

• Deeply collaborative strategy and creative development

• Writing for audio that connects with technical, executive, or niche audiences

• Narrative formats, branded storytelling, and unique show structures

• Long-term growth strategy and premium production across every touchpoint

You get a production team that is solely focused on brand podcasts – not other content projects. And each podcast has a unique approach and process to make it truly one-of-a-kind.

And that’s just what you’ll get at the start. Looking toward the future,  a great podcast production company keeps tabs on your show’s performance. They take those analytics and audience feedback to learn from past seasons or episodes to strategize for the future. They’ll also follow the impact on brand metrics to truly understand whether your show is achieving the goals you set out for it.

So when evaluating podcast production services pricing, don’t just ask “What’s the cost per episode?”
Ask: “What will this show do for our brand?”

If the goal is thought leadership, audience loyalty, and long-term brand equity, then the right investment will pay back well beyond your launch.

What Affects Pricing?

Beyond the skills and capabilities of the production team there are a few key factors that affect podcast production pricing. What’s most important to consider is what kind of podcast you’re trying to make (how much support you need).

For starters, format matters.
A simple interview show is one thing. A narrated, multi-voice story with custom music, layered editing, and scripting? A bit different. 

Support level and editing level also plays a huge role.
Do you need a bit of editing, or a strategic partner guiding you through concept, scripting, guest booking, promotion, and more? Editing will depend largely on your format, but it makes a huge difference in time and resources. An interview that is well-prepared might be quick. But guiding a narrative layered story will take more time.
Good to mention here, that it also will be a better result, in fact narrative podcasts are one of the best formats for brand podcasts.

Then there’s content volume and frequency—one 20-minute episode per month is a lighter lift than two 45-minute episodes every week, especially with video involved.

Video is another big cost driver.
Some shows are audio-only. Others require full video production and editing for platforms like YouTube or LinkedIn. These are entirely different workflows. If you want to have a successful podcast, and a successful video podcast, they take different approaches, and different strategies.

Marketing expectations count, too.
Are you hoping to have a few social video clips to send to your internal team? Or are you looking for a full growth strategy from people who really know podcasts? An expert podcast growth team knows how to launch strong, use PR, SEO, and campaigns to boost your show. 

And yes, location and team can factor in.
Are you hiring a full production team who are experts at every phase, or just freelancers? Outsourcing production outside the US can lower costs, but may come with trade-offs in brand alignment, collaboration, and strategy.

In the end, pricing reflects not just “a show” but the creative complexity, production craft, and the level of partnership you want.

It’s not rare for a brand to invest $100K+ into a podcast launch, because they know it’s not just a content piece to scroll past, it’s a long-term brand asset.

Like we said before, when evaluating it all, think less about the cost and more about the value. Are you just checking a box, or building something that’s going to keep your brand on listeners' minds for the long run?

You Get What You Pay For: Why Quality Matters

Yes, we’re repeating ourselves. But honestly, it’s the only rule to go off in this territory. 

To show you what we mean let’s just pull an example:

Revamping The Breakout

Dr. Keri Ohlrich and Kelly Guenther from the Abbracci Group had already put in the work. They produced 76 episodes of reCHARGE® Your Life all on their own. But the returns just weren’t there. Growth was slow. And deep down, they knew the production quality didn’t reflect the high standards of their brand.
Recognizing that they weren’t podcast experts, Keri and Kelly decided to outsource the project. They found Lower Street (hey, that’s us!). Together, we helped them totally rebrand the show to become The Breakout. 

With a tighter format, cleaner production, and extra support, The Breakout soared to #7 on the Apple Podcast Charts, and met an insane 16730% increase in downloads. Since then, the show has sustained long-term growth, built a massive loyal community, and even inspired Ohlrich and Guenther to publish a book about the conversations and lessons they shared on the show. 

(You can read the full case study and see how we approached a rebrand here.)

Investing paid off, no?

If you're still thinking about keeping it all in-house, here’s the hard truth: most top-tier brand podcasts aren’t doing that. The ones that are—think The Daily—are coming from massive media companies, not your average B2B. They’ve got dedicated teams, studios, and resources. Unless you’ve got that kind of firepower (and if you do, congrats), you’re better off partnering with pros.

Because here’s the thing: your podcast is a brand extension.

If it sounds cheap, clunky, or inconsistent, that’s how your audience will perceive your brand. Just like you wouldn’t launch a glitchy website or hand out pixelated business cards, you shouldn’t release audio that sounds like it was recorded in a bathroom.

A well-produced podcast builds trust, thought leadership, and connection. It shows your audience that you take their time seriously and that your brand has something meaningful to say.

When you invest in your audio content, the ROI is very real. We’ve seen it firsthand. High-quality production brings:

• Long-term brand trust

• Raised brand awareness

• Stronger client engagement and loyalty

• Brand Lift

• Opportunities to connect with new leads and partners

And to put it honestly, no other medium can beat the amount of time your brand gets to spend in the ears of your target audience.

So sure, you can skimp on podcast production. But if your goals are bigger than “just have a podcast,” then invest accordingly. Quality matters—and it pays off.

Podcast Production Services Pricing: What’s it Worth

A podcast isn’t just another piece of scrollable content —it’s a strategic brand asset that keeps on giving.. So when you’re looking at podcast production services pricing, don’t just ask, “What does it cost?” Ask, “What is it worth?” The right investment delivers long-term returns, loyal listeners, and a show you’re proud to put your name on.