Picture this: someone’s stuck in traffic, sipping their morning coffee, completely hooked on an audiobook. The narrator’s voice conveys tension and plot twists, stopping the person from going about their day until they know what happens next.
While that sounds like a good experience for listeners, it’s also worth it as a business. How? Well, for every minute they listen, someone makes money. That could be you. Whether you’re an author, a voice narrator, an agent, or a producer, Audible offers multiple ways to generate income.
And users don’t need to be famous, have a best-selling book, or own a recording studio. Anyone can turn audiobooks into a serious side hustle—or even a full-time business if they know where to start. Continue reading to find out more.
فهرست مندرجات
What is Audible? Why does it matter?
ACX چیست؟
4 awesome ways to make money on Audible
1. Sell audiobooks (Even if you’re not a best-selling author)
2. Get paid to narrate Audiobooks
3. Promote audiobooks and earn commissions
4. Offer audiobook production services
پسگفتار
What is Audible? Why does it matter?
Audible is Amazon’s massive audiobook platform, home to millions of books, podcasts, courses, journalism, and exclusive audio content. It’s where people go when they want to listen rather than read. But what makes Audible special isn’t just its catalog. It’s the fact that it pays people to create content for it.
Authors, narrators, sound engineers, and even everyday people promoting books can earn money differently. Whether you want a passive income from audiobook sales or paid gigs through the brand’s affiliate program, Audible has options.
ACX چیست؟
ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange) is where the magic happens on Audible. It connects authors and publishers with recording studios, narrators, and sound engineers, making it an audiobook marketplace.
Here, authors can easily find professional narrators (or new voice talents) to bring their books to life. On the other hand, narrators can earn money by applying to read audiobooks for a set fee. They may also choose royalty-sharing, so they’ll earn a percentage of sales instead.
4 awesome ways to make money on Audible
1. Sell audiobooks (Even if you’re not a best-selling author)
Ever thought about writing a book? Now’s the time to turn it into an audiobook. The demand is massive, as people love consuming books while commuting, exercising, or unwinding. And here’s the kicker: Audiobooks can generate money for years after publishing them.
How to sell audiobooks on Audible:
- Write a book (or hire a ghostwriter).
- Convert it to an audiobook through ACX (Audiobook Creation Exchange), Amazon’s production platform.
- Hire a narrator (or narrate it yourself).
- Upload it to Audible, Amazon, and Apple Books.
- Start earning royalties (up to 40%) every time someone buys or listens.
چقدر می توانید بسازید؟
Audible’s pricing depends on the length of the audiobook:
| طول | درامد |
| بیش از 20 ساعت | $ 25،35-XNUMX،XNUMX |
| 10-20 ساعت | $ 20،30-XNUMX،XNUMX |
| 5-10 ساعت | $ 15،25-XNUMX،XNUMX |
| 3-5 ساعت | $ 10،20-XNUMX،XNUMX |
| 1-3 ساعت | $ 7،10-XNUMX،XNUMX |
| Under 1 hour | زیر $ 7 |
Furthermore, the royalties depend on the contract:
- Exclusive to Audible/Amazon/Apple: Authors will earn 40% of all sales.
- Non-exclusive (sell on other platforms, too): Authors will earn 25% instead.
- Authors share royalties 50/50 if that’s the agreement with the narrator/producer.
نوک طرفدار: Shorter books sell well. People love quick listens, and churning multiple books faster (without losing quality) will be easy.
2. Get paid to narrate Audiobooks
Not a writer? No problem. If users have a great voice or can train themselves to read engagingly, they can get paid to narrate audiobooks for authors. Here’s how it works: Authors list their books on ACX and look for narrators. Users audition for roles, get selected, record the audiobook, and get paid.
How narrators get paid
Remember that payment depends on what you agree to with authors and publishers. Here are the three payment models for narrators on Audible:
- Per-finished-hour (PFH) rate or upfront: Narrators will get paid a set fee per hour of audio (common rates: US $50–400 per hour). However, a finished hour requires more than 60 minutes because of revisions and retakes.
- Royalty split: Instead of upfront pay, narrators can split earnings with the author. If the book sells well, they could earn more in the long term.
- Hybrid model (royalty share plus): Narrators can get the best of both worlds—upfront money and a royalty share. However, it depends on the contract with the rights holder, author, or publisher.
Example: If you narrate a six-hour audiobook at US $150 per hour, you’ll earn US $900 upfront. However, a high-selling audiobook could earn much more over time with a royalty share.
3. Promote audiobooks and earn commissions
Even if you’re not a narrator or author, you can still make money with Audible by promoting audiobooks. This means users will earn commissions for every successful referral and sale. More importantly, joining this program is easy.
Users can start by completing the signup and getting a unique link. Then, affiliates can share this link on their website, blog, or social media. Users will earn a commission when someone clicks the link, makes a purchase, or signs up for Audible.
چقدر می توانید درآمد کسب کنید؟
- $5 per free trial sign-up
- $10 per paid membership sign-up
- $0.50 per individual book sale
- $15 per sign-up (if you’re a podcaster in Audible’s Creator Program)
Here’s a great strategy: Create book lists, review books on YouTube or TikTok, or run a blog with book recommendations. This can be an easy passive income stream if the audience loves audiobooks.
4. Offer audiobook production services
Audiobooks don’t create themselves. They need producers, editors, and sound engineers to make them sound professional. So, if you have audio editing, directing, or post-production skills, Audible can pay you to produce audiobooks. Here’s what producers do on Audible:
- Helps authors cast the right narrator
- Directs the recording process (tone, pacing, pronunciation)
- Edits and masters the final audio
- Ensures Audible’s audio quality standards are met
Want to start? Build a home studio and offer basic editing services first. Work with self-published authors on small projects to gain experience and build a portfolio. After producing 25+ audiobooks, you can apply to be an ACX Approved Producer, leading to higher-paying gigs.
توجه داشته باشید: Consider running a full-service audiobook business where you handle everything behind the scenes. You’ll have a team of professionals, including directors, sound engineers, voice actors, and marketers, to handle all the work.
پسگفتار
Audible isn’t just for listening. It’s a serious income opportunity if you know how to use it. Anyone who loves writing can easily turn their books into audiobooks and sell them for passive income. And if they have a great voice, they can earn extra cash as a narrator or through shared royalties.
Additionally, anyone with some marketing skills can promote audiobooks instead, earning through Audible’s affiliate program, while those skilled in audio production can offer editing and production services. The demand for audiobooks is only growing—so whether you want a side hustle or a full-time career, there’s a way to make money with Audible.
