3 Podcast Hosting Business Success Stories [2024]
The rise of podcasts has created a unique opportunity for technically adept entrepreneurs: a podcast hosting business. Essentially, this involves offering storage, distribution, and analytic services for podcast creators.
Your role would be to provide a seamless platform where podcasters can upload episodes, manage shows, and access listener statistics. You'll need to ensure your platform is easy to use and reliable, as content creators depend on consistent support. Initial steps include securing robust servers, developing user-friendly interfaces, and integrating with popular podcast directories.
Interest in this market is growing as more individuals and businesses discover the power of podcasting. Reliable hosting is crucial for their success, which means there's a consistent demand for quality services. Starting a podcast hosting business not only taps into a thriving industry, but also allows you to support creative voices while building a sustainable venture.
In this list, you'll find real-world podcast hosting business success stories and very profitable examples of starting a podcast hosting business that makes money.
1. Guestio ($1.8M/year)
Travis Chappell came up with the idea for Guestio after realizing the difficulty entrepreneurs faced in getting booked on good podcasts for promotion. He leveraged his experience as a podcast host and created a Saas marketplace that connects podcast guests to hosts, helping them have better conversations. With an initial investment of $1.3 million and a recent $220k month in revenue, Guestio is rapidly growing in the podcasting industry.
How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $90K
How many people on the team: 7
Guestio, a Saas marketplace connecting podcast guests to podcast hosts, founded by Travis Chappell, recently raised $1.3 million in a pre-seed round and clocked in a $220k month in August 2022 through their software subscription and agency, featuring an impressive marketing funnel strategy.
2. Ecom Crew Podcast ($420K/year)
EcomCrew, an ecommerce blog and podcast, was founded by Mike Jackness and an unnamed co-founder in 2014. With a passion for content creation and a desire to share ecommerce knowledge, they started EcomCrew and eventually monetized it through a membership program. They now generate around $35,000 a month in revenue.
How much money it makes: $420K/year
How many people on the team: 3
EcomCrew is an ecommerce blog and podcast that took three years to monetize and now brings in around $35,000 a month by selling a membership to a private ecommerce group that includes exclusive access to ecommerce courses, webinars, events and more, with plans slowly becoming more expensive to expand with new content.
3. Sober Powered Media ($60K/year)
Gill, the founder of Sober Powered Media, came up with the idea for her business after growing her own podcast to become a top mental health podcast in just two years. She saw an opportunity to bring together other top mental health podcasts to monetize their shows with sponsorships and share their expertise in a mastermind group. With her background in biochemistry and a passion for helping others, Gill launched Sober Powered Media to support and connect mental health podcasters.
How much money it makes: $60K/year
How much did it cost to start: $1K
How many people on the team: 0
With a successful podcast already under her belt, Gill founded Sober Powered Media to monetize mental health podcasts through sponsorships, cross-promotion, and a mastermind group, with income streams from podcast and Instagram coaching, writing, and a membership for her listeners.
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Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.
Download the report and join our email newsletter packed with business ideas and money-making opportunities, backed by real-life case studies.