Ona here, your friendly neighborhood Podcast Trapper!
One of your most frequently-asked questions is, “How much did it cost to open Adode Media Studios?”
People take one look at our full-service studios, furniture, decor, and equipment and we immediately start talking numbers.
So without further ado, let me tell you a little more about how I saved, what I bought and what you can learn from it!
Where Did I Get the Money?
I hear a rumor that sugar daddies are really popular here in Atlanta. But folks, I don’t have one!
(Sugar daddy, if you’re out there, you’re fallin’ short.)
I don’t have rich parents. I didn’t even take out a massive loan or go into credit card debt to launch Adode. I saved money by working a corporate job, working a second job, and renting out the lower part of my house.
I am sharing all of this for transparency. I want you to know some of the advantages I had and what work I had to do.
Know the realities of your life before you compare! Y’all, I do not have children yet. I did not have anybody depending on me so I could take some risks, work constantly and save money without many unexpected expenses. If you’re a parent or have a totally differently structured life than me, take my advice and put a fresh spin on it as you begin your own podcasting journey!
I bought my house several years ago and began renting out the bottom part of the house, effectively covering my mortgage. After this cost was covered, I was able to begin putting money aside.
Before Adode Media, I worked full-time in healthcare at a stressful job. I have also always had a second job - in this case, I worked for $17/hour sitting in a booth giving directions at the hospital. It wasn’t glamorous or high-paying, but I believed in my power to maximize every dollar I made. People could not understand at the time why I was working this lower-paying second job. They were like Ona, why! But now, as I look around at my studios, I feel proud that I put the work in to create all of this for myself and my clients.
The lesson here is, do whatever you have to do to make your dreams a reality. People will not understand, probably. But that’s okay. Because they don’t have to.
Through constantly working and saving, I was able to set aside about $25,000.
Before launching Adode Media Studios, it was just me, editing and promoting podcasts alone after working my two jobs. I hustled so hard!
I’m grateful to be growing and expanding our brand, but before the launch was the work ethic. (You’ll understand Why I Think Work-Life Balance is a Fraud when you first launch a new business.)
Setup Costs for Adode Media Studios
We have three recording studios at Adode Media. Check out our beautiful studios on our website to see what we did with the space!
Studio A Cost: $4,000
The most expensive setup at Adode Media is Studio A. I wanted to give our podcasters a deluxe setup with a beautiful leather couch, coordinated wall art and textiles, plants and sleek equipment. This studio feels like a lounge and can fit several people at a time.
Studio B Cost: $3,000
Studio B is intended to capture a midcentury modern vibe with a custom wood wall and masculine clean lines. It’s simple, contemporary and perfect for recording up to four speakers.
Studio C Cost: $2,000
This studio is dear to my heart because I got to use refurbished furniture and decor, saving money and providing a relaxed vibe. The blue chairs, macramé wall hangings and greenery make the studio feel like a beautiful living room. This studio is perfect for one or two speakers having a cozy conversation.
Where Did I Buy the Furniture and Decor?
I went all out purchasing furniture for the studios. I knew that it would be well worth the investment when this space felt comfortable for our podcasters and Youtubers!
When creating Adode Studios, I felt that it was part of my mission to set us apart from other recording studios - which feel distinctly technical and not super comfortable. I feel like we’ve accomplished that goal because we invested in decor that feels cozy, relaxing and modern.
Studio A Furniture
The most expensive piece of furniture I bought was the leather couch in Studio A. It is from Albany Park and it cost me about $1,200. I paid for it over six months using Affirm with zero interest. I also purchased the two black armchairs in Studio A for $450 apiece, also paid for with Affirm. I also bought a bar cart, plants, decor and a rug for Studio A. I actually found a rug outlet store here in Atlanta and got our massive rug for only $80, which is an amazing price.
Studio B Furniture
In Studio B, I purchased the table from IKEA for $250 and the chairs off Amazon for $400 total. Our big cost of opening Studio B was the $2,000 custom wood wall with hidden sound panels, to provide a beautiful background for our podcasters. It was worth it - we get compliments on that wall all the time!
Studio C Furniture
Studio C was the cheapest studio to open, because I used refurbished and repurposed furniture and art. I spent very little on the actual decor in this studio and put my efforts into reusing things I had in creative ways!
Where Did I Buy Our Recording Equipment and Cameras?
You can find a super comprehensive list of everything on my website, under the “Resources” tab. Click Here to browse all of our suggested equipment, cameras, software, programs and marketing apps.
I won’t lie to you, podcast fam - recording equipment is expensive.
In fact, if you’re looking for a new career path, might I suggest that you go into the production of metal pole stands? Because apparently we’re spending hundreds for those!
Each recording studio has multiple GVM Lights, which are $300+ apiece. It’s important to have excellent light when recording shows! To be ultra-specific, Main GVM Lights are $319 and GVM Video Backlights are $215. In Studio C we use a $435 NAN Light as well, creating gorgeous light. We use several C-stand metal poles, which are $150-200 each. Just holding things up costs money, y’all.
When launching Adode, I had to invest significantly in our recording equipment.
For video and photography, we use three Canon Vlogging Cameras at $600 each and three Sony cameras. The Sony Alpha Main Youtube Camera is $1800 and we use two smaller Sony cameras which are $980 each.
We use Rode Wireless Microphone Systems which are each $279, MXL Dynamic Microphones which are $110 each and the Rode RODECaster Pro Integrated Podcast Mixer Bundle, which is $600+. Whew…it adds up!
On top of all of this, each studio is sound treated. And we have rent to pay, etcetera.
And I invest in marketing and branding programs to make sure we are successful!
Was This a Good Investment? I Say Yes!
Not only do we make rent plus plenty every month, but we are steadily growing.
I attribute this to the uniqueness of our studio - I don’t see a podcast studio quite like ours anywhere!
I also think we are successful because we put the time in to build community, engage with our listeners and explore the best marketing for our brand. If you’re thinking of launching a podcast this year, I say: Go for it! You can start with some of the equipment I mentioned above and record in your own home.
If you’re ready to go all-in and bring professional podcast recording to your area, I would recommend that you fully understand the startup costs and then make your audio dreams come true.
Be sure to Subscribe to The Podcast Trapper wherever you listen to get current, relevant tips and tricks to grow your podcast!
That’s all for this week! Please leave a review for the show and be sure to follow on Instagram for more podcasting tips.
