How To Make Money On Audible

While it might surprise you, there are numerous ways to make money with Audible. From selling your own audiobooks to making money with affiliate marketing, this leading audiobook platform is packed with potential.

If you're looking for a fun, creative side hustle, this could be the opportunity you're looking for. And I'm covering how to make money on Audible to help you get started.

Key Takeaways:

Make money on Audible by selling or narrating audiobooks, referring people to Audible, or creating podcasts through Audible
Audible audiobook narrators can make upwards of $200+ for each recorded hour after gaining experience
A microphone, microphone stand, headphones, and audio recording software are necessary equipment for Audible audiobook narrators
Freelance platforms like Upwork and Fiverr can be good places to find clients looking for audiobook narrators

Table of Contents

1. Create & Sell Audiobooks

Creating your own audiobooks to sell is probably the most straightforward way to make money with Audible.

Of course, this process can also take the most time and patience, as it involves writing a book, connecting with an audiobook narrator, and marketing the book. But if you’re an author who already has the gist of creative writing, marketing, and selling books down, moving into the audiobook space shouldn’t feel like too much of a transition.

ACX is a platform you need to become familiar with, though. It’s the brainchild of Audible and Amazon, (which now owns Audible), and it’s designed to help authors, audiobook narrators, and publishers connect to create a winning audiobook.

You can use the platform’s creator tools—like its audiobook cover art guide and audio production glossary—to help you make the most of your audiobook experience. Then, when you’re ready to turn your words into an audiobook, you can find a narrator on the platform, negotiate payment terms, and work together to turn your book into the lively story you envisioned.

ACX distributes your book to Audible, Amazon, and iTunes to get it in front of multiple audiences, and you can use promo codes and other marketing tactics to help sell your audiobook. And with steady sales, this could turn into a nice source of passive income that also scales as you sell more books.

2. Become an Audiobook Narrator

On the flip side, if you’re more of a speaker than a writer, audiobook narration could be the best way for you to earn money from Audible. Audiobook narrators bring an author’s story to life by voicing characters or reading the entire book.

You can use ACX to do this by signing up as a narrator rather than a writer. However, there are several platforms that can help you connect with audiobook writers who need narrators, including:

Upwork: Upwork is a marketplace for freelancers to offer their skills to clients, and audiobook narration is one of the many skills you can specialize in on the platform. You don’t have to pay to use Upwork, but the platform does take a percentage of your earnings from each gig.
Fiverr: Lots of audiobook narrators are on Fiverr. You create “gigs” that audiobook authors respond to, setting your own prices and the scope of your services. Fiverr also takes a percentage of earnings from each paid job.
Voices.com: Voices.com is specifically for voice-over artists and audiobook narrators to find clients, and vice versa. It’s free to sign up, but costs $499 per year improves your search visibility and offers more control when it comes applying to jobs and responding to offers.
Ahab: Ahab helps content creators and voice talent connect for projects, including audiobook narration. It’s free for talent to join.

It might take time to find your first clients, especially if you're new to the industry. But this can turn into a lucrative side hustle if you have the right voice for it.

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3. Make Money With Audible’s Affiliate Marketing Program

The Audible Creator Program allows you to promote Audible books you love to your friends, family, social media followers, blog readers, and more. You then earn commissions when people make a purchase or sign up for the platform.

There are two ways to make money on Audible through this program:

Encourage Audible Sign-Ups: Once you sign up for the Audible Creator Program, you get a unique link to share with others. When someone clicks the link, they'll be directed to Audible, where they can start a 30-day free trial and get one audiobook for free. For every valid trial sign-up, you’ll get $15 in commission.
Promote Books Through Amazon Affiliates: Earn a commission by sharing actual audiobooks on Audible. This happens through the Amazon Associates program, which you’ll need to sign up for separately. On Amazon, you can grab the affiliate link to books and Audible services you want to promote and share them with whoever you’d like. If someone makes a purchase through your link, you’ll earn a commission. You’ll earn $0.50 for each audiobook, $5 for every free trial sign-up, and $10 when someone purchases an Audible Gold membership.

Affiliate marketing is a very common way to make money with Amazon. And people do this all the time through social media, a blog, or some other type of digital following.

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4. Apply for The Audible Podcast Development Program

If you have big ideas to start a podcast, you can pitch the idea to Audible through the Audible Podcast Development Program.

This program looks for creatives who have a workable idea for a fiction or non-fiction podcast and are committed to bringing their ideas to life.

The program provides a $10,000 commission to create your podcast pilot, covering all the talent and production costs needed to do so. You even receive expert guidance from the Audible team, who knows what it takes to create a successful podcast.

The Audible Podcast Development Program has limited submission windows, so you need to wait for the next one to open. Visit the website to see when new submissions will be considered.

What Equipment Do You Need To Create An Audiobook?

If you’re serious about making money on Audible by creating and narrating your own audiobooks, you need look into getting the right equipment to make it happen. Audible is all about sound, so you can’t skimp on your audio equipment.

Here are a few must-haves:

Microphone With Filter: A high-quality microphone can help you earn money with Audible. Microphones are available for a wide range of budgets, but we recommend paying more attention to quality than cost, as it’s going to be a staple in your money-making strategy. The Rode NT1 is one of the most popular for audiobook narration, with the AKG C214 not far behind. Also, look into getting a pop filter, which improves specific speech sounds, like “p” and “s.”
Microphone Stand: Whether you sit or stand while narrating, a microphone stand—available in tabletop and stand-alone versions—can position your microphone at the best height and keep it steady while you record.
Noise-Canceling Headphones: Block out background noise as you record with noise-canceling headphones. Philips studio monitor headphones and the Soundcore Space Q45 are both excellent options.
Recording Software: Recording software allows you to record and edit your audio to create polished, professional narration. Adobe Audition and Reaper are two of the most popular options for audiobook narrators.

Of course, you can always start with some budget equipment while you learn the ropes and get the hang of things. But if you plan to make money as an audiobook narrator, you'll need a good setup since it's a competitive industry.

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How Much Do Audible Audiobook Narrators Get Paid?

Income from audible as a narrator can vary significantly depending on the price you negotiate with authors and your experience level. The rate for narrators is expressed as PFH, or per finished hour, which is the rate for each finished hour of audio.

Generally speaking, beginners earn between $50 and $100 PFH, while experienced professionals can earn closer to $200 PFH or more. Keep in mind that one hour of finished audio could take two to three hours to produce, so your actual per-hour rate may be lower.

Some clients might also pay you a lump sum for finishing a project. This could be thousands of dollars if you're narrating an entire book that's a decent length!

Extra Reading – How To Make Money Reading Books.

Can You Really Earn Passive Income With Audible?

Yes, Audible passive income is possible if you’re an audiobook writer who sells their books on Audible. Similar to Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, the Audible books you sell continue to earn you a commission every time someone buys them.

You can earn 40% royalties if you sell exclusively on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. If you split your royalties with the narrator, you’ll earn 20% from each sale. If you choose to sell on other platforms in addition to Audible, Amazon, and iTunes, you’ll earn a 25% royalty.

Is Making Money with Audible Worth It?

Yes, making money on Audible is worth it if you’re a writer or have voiceover skills. Even if you don’t have those skills, you can still earn money by promoting the platform or creating a podcast. And plenty of people make money through Audible/Amazon's affiliate program, myself included.

Granted, this income stream can take time and some digital marketing skills to grow. But it's an immense platform with massive potential. So, try out an idea from this list and put in the effort to see where it takes you!

If you’re not sure if earning an income from Audible is the right move for you, here are a few other potential side gigs for creatives: