I almost fell out of my chair laughing yesterday.

A "podcasting guru" on LinkedIn claimed anyone could start a podcast for just $100.

Sure, and I could perform brain surgery with a butter knife and YouTube tutorial.

Technically possible? Maybe.

Recommended? If you're treating your show as an important part of your business, absolutely not.

Here's the truth about podcast costs that nobody wants to tell you.

After helping 130+ business owners launch their shows over the past decade, I've seen the same pattern play out countless times.

They start with unrealistic expectations about costs. They get frustrated when their DIY approach sounds amateur.

They wonder why nobody's listening. Then they either quit or finally invest properly.

Here's what I've learned about the real costs:

Most serious podcasters invest around $2,000 to start properly.

Many successful business owners start leaner ($500-$1,000) then scale up once they see traction.

Your first episodes will take about 8 hours each (planning, recording, editing, promoting).

With good systems, you can eventually get this down to 3-4 hours.

Professional support ranges from $500-$1,500 monthly for freelancers to $600-$15,000+ per episode for full production. Yes, the full-blown production gets up in that range.

And here's the cost nobody calculates: YOUR TIME.

DIY isn't free—it's just paying with hours instead of dollars.

The biggest mistake I see? Treating podcasting as a casual experiment rather than a strategic investment.

Your expertise deserves better than amateur hour.

Your audience can tell the difference between professional and "good enough."

The businesses that win with podcasting commit to at least 12 months of consistency.

Authority compounds over time—but only if you stick with it.

So before you jump into podcasting, ask yourself:

Is this a marketing asset worth investing in properly?

Or just another side project you'll abandon when it gets hard?

Your genius deserves the former.

And your future audience is waiting to hear from you—but only if you're willing to do it right.

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With gratitude,

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Harry 'Truth Bomb' Duran

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P.S. When you're ready to invest in a podcast that actually builds your authority (instead of undermining it), here's how I can help.

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