How Much Does It Cost To Start A YouTube Channel?

After working for years with personal brands, small businesses, and large corporations to create video content for YouTube, I can vouch firsthand for the value a healthy YouTube channel can bring. I am often shocked at the apathy around starting and growing a YouTube channel in the small business world. The hesitation usually surrounds the costs or time needed to create the video content to support a YouTube channel. Even as a video professional who knows better, I’ve lacked the necessary dedication to allocate resources to my own channel. However, I realize that not everyone has access to the equipment or software you feel you need to maintain a healthy YouTube channel. Assuming you already have a content plan, I would like to share the costs of starting a channel and give you some options that cost nothing.

First Question: How Much Should You Spend?

A common question is cost: "How much should I spend on starting a YouTube channel?" The great news is YouTube is completely free to use! There is no need to buy a channel or pay a subscription to post your videos. Stop and let that sink in for a moment: with over 122 million active daily users and 500 hours of video uploaded every minute, YouTube is a massive platform full of potential. That's many eyeballs looking for something to watch, and you can get started without spending a dime—at least not right away.

Equipment: What Do You Need?

Camera

The days of viewers tolerating subpar video quality are gone. However, there is no need for an expensive camera right away. Your smartphone is literally all you need to get started. Most new phones can shoot in 4K, and free apps like iMovie (iPhone only) or Capcut are easy enough to navigate that you’ll be editing your footage in no time.    

However, once you're ready to upgrade from a smartphone, you'll want to look for a camera with good autofocus and microphone input. The Canon Rebel series is a solid entry-level choice, costing almost $400 for the new T7i model. I've used the Canon T2i for over ten years as a backup camera, and it's still going strong. If you've got a bigger budget, the Canon 90D is a fantastic option with excellent autofocus that is more than enough for most businesses.

Microphone

Audio from a camera or phone is only so good, and sound quality can make or break a video. While you can start with your phone's built-in mic or the one on your camera, upgrading to a good microphone should be a priority. For smartphones, search “Wireless Lavalier Microphone” on Amazon and find an option compatible with your model phone. If you have a camera with a microphone jack, look for Rode Video Mic. It’s an excellent option to clarify your audio and will only cost you about $200. If you can't afford a mic right now, consider using Adobe's free Speech Enhancement tool to clean up your audio.

Lighting

Good lighting elevates your video quality significantly, making content more visually appealing and professional. While the complexity of lighting setups can vary, a primary light is all you need to get started. Depending on your setup, and if you just need to illuminate a face, you can get by with a dimmable ring light. Also, a shop light from Home Depot pointed at the ceiling is a low-cost solution to light up an entire room.  

Editing Software

Editing software is crucial to refining your videos, and the cost of editing tools varies widely. As mentioned above, Capcut is a free entry-level solution. If you have time to learn a pro tool, I’d suggest DaVinci Resolve, although be advised that it tends to be a resource-heavy program if you are trying to run it on a basic laptop. Once you get the hang of it, editing is not as daunting as it may seem, and good software can make the process smoother. I prefer Final Cut Pro, but I’m hesitant to recommend it because it depends on having an Apple laptop. Recently, Apple released a version for iPad that is about $5 per month, although I have not yet tried it out. Adobe Premiere Pro is also an option; however, it will set you back $30 per month and has a sharp learning curve, but there are lots of tutorials available on YouTube to help you along the way. 

Budgeting: How Much Will It All Cost?

So, how much do you need to get started? Let's break it down:

Camera: $500 (optional at first)

Microphone: $200

Lighting: $50

Editing Software: Free or $5–$30/month

Conclusion: Time to Start

Your total investment should be at most $800, which is more than reasonable for most marketing budgets. The best part? You can begin with your smartphone if you need more time to justify the expense. You don't need to spend thousands or even hundreds of dollars to start. Just start! All you need to do is take the leap. As a seasoned video professional, I can help you navigate the costs and provide tailored advice about creating great content without breaking the bank.

YouTube Video Content: Get Your Business Started Quickly

Today the ability to create videos and distribute them at scale is truly a marvel of modern technology. The quality of cameras available on most cell phones only gets better each year, and the convenience of editing video on the very device it was shot is a reality that many of us tend to take for granted. So why is it that so many of us struggle to get started with YouTube video content? Whether your business is new or has been around for generations, the answer is easier than you probably realize.

ROI For YouTube Video Content 

For most entrepreneurs and marketers working in the small business arena, the concern usually surrounds limited resources. Will content creation provide a return on investment needed to justify expending the precious energy, time, and money to make it worthwhile? I can attest that I’ve personally seen businesses get huge results when they take producing YouTube video content seriously. The good news is it doesn’t take as many resources to get started as you may think.

Video Content Strategies

The first strategy I will usually suggest to clients for getting with video or content creation, in general, is to make a list of their most commonly asked questions. Sometimes it’s as easy as looking at the FAQ page on the business’s website if they have one. Think of all the inquiries you may be tired of answering. It’s straightforward to map out a series of videos based on these topics, and you know the videos will be watched over time. The video links themselves can be a great resource for salespeople, service, or any department that is customer-facing.

Another option to figure out what your audience wants to watch is to simply borrow from your competitors. What are others in your industry doing? Is there a way you can do it better? Figure out which of their videos get the most views and engagement, and then make your version.

Some of the safest bets on YouTube are product reviews, how-to videos, and best-of lists. These are a good option even if you don’t have a large catalog of products but if you do it’s a great option. Just be sure to group everything into playlists so it’s easier for viewers to search them out. The “how-to” genre tends to perform well and is an amazing way to showcase products or services while showing authority in your industry.

YouTube Likes Consistency

Before you get started, it’s important to remember to publish your YouTube content regularly as possible; this requires you to plan out your content calendar in advance and stick to the schedule. The more you follow your calendar, you’ll start to see results, as the YouTube algorithms seem to reward consistency. Finally, and most importantly, make sure to optimize your channel and uploads so your video content can be easily found by people researching your topics.

If you’re still not sure how to start creating video content for your type of business, would like an honest evaluation of your YouTube channel, or maybe have questions about successfully running video ads, contact me today. I’m available for consultations, training or can handle the entire video creation process from start to finish.