How to Start a Podcast and Make Money from It – Everything You Need to Know

So you’ve had this idea. You’re sitting on your sofa, maybe after work or during a slow weekend, and you think, “I should start a podcast.” Maybe you’ve got strong opinions on Premier League drama. Maybe you’ve got stories from your hometown that deserve to be told. Or maybe you just want to talk about everyday life with your best mate and see where it goes.

Now comes the next part: “Can I make money from this?”

Short answer: yes, but not right away, and not without a plan. Long answer? Let’s walk through it.

Step 1: Get Clear on What You’re Making

Before you record a single word, decide what your podcast is for. Not for the world. Not for the trends. For you.

Ask yourself:

• Who’s this for? (Be honest—it’s probably people like you.)
• What kind of vibe will it have? (Relaxed chat, structured stories, interviews?)
• Can you stick to this for at least 10–15 episodes?
• Do you actually care about the subject?

Examples of solid podcast ideas:

• “Mums in Manchester” – a weekly parenting podcast with local flavour
• “Budget Bangers” – two flatmates rating UK supermarket ready meals
• “Football and Feelings” – a podcast where men talk about sport and mental health
• “High Street Histories” – weird tales behind British shopfronts and local legends

What doesn’t work:

• Random rambles with no structure
• Trying to copy famous shows without adding anything new
• Topics you don’t care about but think are “marketable”

Step 2: Record with What You’ve Got (Then Improve)

You don’t need a full studio in Shoreditch. You really don’t.

Here’s a basic setup that works for 90 percent of beginners:

• A USB mic – around £60–£90 (try the Samson Q2U or Blue Yeti)
• Free software – Audacity or GarageBand if you’re on a Mac
• Headphones – anything that helps you catch background noise
• A quiet room – throw a duvet over a clothes rail if the acoustics are bad
• A cup of tea – optional, but helpful

Don’t over-edit. Don’t try to sound like the BBC. Focus on clear sound and a relaxed tone. Be real, not robotic.

Step 3: Choose a Hosting Platform That Pays Attention to the UK Market

You’ll need a podcast host. That’s where your audio lives before it goes to Spotify, Apple Podcasts, Amazon, etc.

Good options for UK podcasters:

• Acast – UK-based, good support, built-in monetisation
• Captivate.fm – built in the UK, solid analytics, easy to use
• Buzzsprout – not UK-based, but simple and beginner-friendly
• Podbean – still solid, but more US-focused

Once you upload your first episode, your host sends it out to all the major platforms. Most of them give you a custom website too. Use it.

Step 4: Give Your Show a Name, a Look, and a Point

Your podcast name matters. Don’t try to be too clever. Avoid inside jokes. Make it obvious what it’s about, or at least make it memorable.

Examples of good UK-style podcast names:

• “Proper Telly” – a weekly breakdown of British TV
• “Shut the Cupboard” – a storytelling podcast about awkward family secrets
• “The Pub After Work” – two co-workers casually unpack news, life, and nonsense

Now the cover art: Keep it clean. Use bold text, no tiny details, and no dark photos with fancy filters. It needs to look good on a phone screen.

Step 5: Get It Out There (Even If You’re Nervous)

You will cringe at the sound of your own voice. Everyone does.

Upload the episode anyway.

Send it to 10 friends. Ask them to listen. Ask them to tell one person. Post it on your Instagram Story. Share a 30-second clip on TikTok.

Also, register with Podnews UK, join Facebook groups like UK Podcasters, and consider posting your first few episodes on Reddit UK subs that fit your topic.

Don’t be shy. You’ve made something cool—let people hear it.

Step 6: Build a Real Audience (Before You Think About Cash)

Money doesn’t come on day one. Or day ten, to be fair. But building trust? That starts from episode one.

Here’s what grows a UK podcast faster than any ad:

• Keep a regular schedule – weekly, bi-weekly, or even monthly
• Ask for feedback in your episodes – “What do you think? Message us on Instagram”
• Feature your listeners – read out their messages or shout out their names
• Join a niche – if you’re into true crime, British history, or parenting, find groups that match

It doesn’t matter if your first audience is 18 people from Leeds. That’s a start. From there, it grows.

Step 7: Now Let’s Talk Money

There are five ways UK podcasters are making money in 2025. And yes, even small shows can get in on some of them:

1. Sponsorships: Local brands are often keen to work with niche podcasts. Think of a Manchester meal prep company sponsoring a fitness pod.
2. Listener Support: Platforms like Buy Me a Coffee, Ko-fi, or Patreon UK let fans tip you or pay for extra episodes. Works best when you’ve built some trust.
3. Merch: You can sell simple stuff on TeeMill or Everpress. No upfront cost. Just make designs based on inside jokes, quotes, or themes from your show.
4. Affiliate Links: Recommend a book, a course, or a gadget? Link to it with a small commission. Use sites like AWIN or Amazon UK Affiliates.
5. Live Events or Online Workshops: If you’re doing something informative (like freelance advice, cooking tips, or mental health), people will pay for a live Zoom workshop. Or even a pub-based meetup.

Important tip: Don’t beg for cash. Offer value first, then let people know how they can support.

Step 8: Keep It Going When the Excitement Wears Off

There’ll be a week when you don’t want to record. Maybe you’re tired. Maybe you’re busy. Maybe the last episode got 34 plays, and it’s got you feeling low.

That’s normal.

Stick with it. Do it even if no one’s clapping yet. The consistency is what turns a podcast from a side project into something with legs and income.

Final Thoughts

Starting a podcast in the UK doesn’t have to be a tech-heavy, influencer-style production. It can be you in your bedroom, talking about real stuff, with real people listening.

The money? It comes later. After the effort. After the odd mic fail. After that one episode where your flatmate shouted in the background.

Keep showing up. Keep tweaking. Keep talking.

And one day, you’ll look back at episode one and think, “Wow—I really did start something.”