HOW TO HIRE · MARKETING, DESIGN & TECH

How to hire a podcast editor in the UK
The checks, the questions and the paperwork.

No licence applies to podcast editors. Here is how to handle music licences, guest recordings and turnaround terms.

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THE 60-SECOND VERSION

Hiring a podcast editor in five steps

  1. Send a sample episodeLet the podcast editor show what they can do with your audio before you commit to a run.
  2. Supply your intro, outro and musicWith proof the music is licensed for podcasts, or ask the editor to source licensed tracks.
  3. Agree turnaround and formatsDays from upload to delivery, the file format and loudness, and how many revisions.
  4. Agree what happens to raw filesWhere recordings are stored, who can access them, and when they are deleted.
  5. Decide on extrasShow notes, transcripts and clips priced up front, not added later.

BEFORE YOU BOOK

Check before you book

No register applies

No law licenses podcast editors or audio editors in England, Wales, Scotland or Northern Ireland. A sample edit, a reference and written terms are what to rely on.

Ask for before-and-after examples and a podcaster you can contact.

Music licensed for podcasts

Sound recordings and music are protected by copyright automatically. A track you like, or one licensed only for live events, is not cleared for a podcast that is downloaded and kept.

Ask the podcast editor for the licence for every track and sound effect used. gov.uk →

Guests' recordings and personal data

Raw recordings can include guests' names, stories and off-mic remarks, all personal data. Data protection rules require it to be kept secure, and most businesses processing it must pay the ICO data protection fee.

Agree where raw audio is stored, who can access it and when it is deleted. gov.uk →

Ownership of the edited episodes

The edited episode and any clips are copyright works. Under the Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988 a freelance editor's contribution is theirs unless assigned in writing and signed.

Include a clause assigning the edit, clips and show notes to you on payment. legislation.gov.uk →

VAT

Audio editing is standard-rated, so a registered podcast editor adds 20% to the price per episode and to extras such as show notes and clips. Registration becomes compulsory once a podcast editor has VAT-taxable turnover over £90,000 in any rolling 12 months; from then VAT must be charged and shown as a separate line on the invoice.

Ask the podcast editor for the VAT number on the first invoice and for the episode price and VAT as separate figures. gov.uk →

“Can you edit a sample episode before we agree a run?”

A good answer: Yes, at a small fee or free, so you can hear the podcast editor's style.

“Is the music you would use licensed for podcasts?”

A good answer: Named tracks with licences that cover downloadable podcasts, or a request for your licensed files.

“What does the podcast edit include?”

A good answer: Cuts, noise removal, levelling, loudness to the platforms' standard, and intro and adverts placed.

“How long is the turnaround per episode?”

A good answer: A number of working days, and the cost of a faster turnaround.

“How do you store and delete raw recordings?”

A good answer: Secure storage, limited access and deletion after a set period.

“Are show notes, transcripts and clips in the podcast editor's price?”

A good answer: A clear list of extras and their prices.

“How many revisions are included?”

A good answer: Usually one round of changes per episode.

Getting the quote right

  • Price per episode and the raw audio length it covers
  • Who actually attends to the edit: the podcast editor you hired, or a subcontracted editor on busy weeks
  • What the edit includes: clean-up, levelling, mastering, music placement
  • Extras priced: show notes, transcripts, clips, video
  • Turnaround in working days and rush rates
  • Music licences, storage and deletion of raw files
  • The VAT number, with VAT at 20% under the price per episode

Walk away if

  • Uses popular songs with no licence
  • Keeps raw recordings indefinitely with no reason
  • No sample or before-and-after examples
  • Missed turnaround with no notice
  • Extras added to the invoice that were never agreed
  • Refuses to hand over final files in your name
LOW
£100
TYPICAL
£120
HIGH
£245

What a podcast editor costs: £100–£245 per episode

Podcast editors usually charge per episode, set by the length of raw audio and the extras, with packages for regular shows. Podcast Editor price guide →

Guide prices compiled by the Locufy team from published Irish and UK provider price lists and 2026/27 cost guides. Updated 2026.

KNOW WHAT TO LOOK FOR? NOW FIND ONE

Podcast editors near you, with the badges that matter shown

ID checked, trader status and one score from every review — on the card, before you message anyone. Nearest first. No account needed to look.

Or post the job free and let them come to you.

  1. UploadRaw tracks, notes on cuts, intro, outro and adverts sent to the podcast editor.
  2. Clean-upMistakes, long pauses and background noise removed.
  3. Levelling and masteringVoices balanced and loudness set for podcast platforms.
  4. AssemblyMusic, intro, outro and adverts placed.
  5. DeliveryThe final file, extras if agreed, and one round of changes.

Mastering
The final processing that sets loudness and polish for release.
Levelling
Balancing the volume of different voices.
LUFS
The loudness measure podcast platforms use.
Multitrack
Recording each speaker on a separate track for easier editing.
Show notes
The written summary and links published with an episode.
Royalty-free music
Music licensed for a one-off fee; still licensed, not free of rules.

AFTER

When the job is done

Listen to the whole episodeAt normal speed, on headphones and a phone speaker; flag errors in the revision round.
Keep the music licencesWith your show files, in case a platform ever queries a track.
Confirm raw files are deletedAsk for confirmation once the agreed storage period ends.
Your reviewReviews on Locufy come only from booked jobs, so yours counts. If the podcast editor fell short, use the make-it-right step first and they get the chance to put it right.

STEP 1Tell the podcast editor, in writingDescribe the fault and give a fair deadline to fix it. The Consumer Rights Act 2015 expects reasonable care and skill from the podcast editor as a trader, so you can insist on the work being put right or the bill cut.
STEP 2Use Locufy's make-it-right stepA rating under four stars asks whether the podcast editor should hear about it first. Agree, and the make-it-right step runs before your review appears.
STEP 3No regulator: use the consumer helplineFor advice on your rights against the podcast editor, or to report a trader who breaks the law, call Citizens Advice on 0808 223 1133 in England and Wales, Advice Direct Scotland on 0808 800 9060 or Consumerline on 0300 123 6262 in Northern Ireland.
STEP 4Claim the money backSmall claims is the last step against the podcast editor: the limit is £10,000 in England and Wales, £5,000 in Scotland (simple procedure) and £5,000 in Northern Ireland.

Hiring a podcast editor: questions people ask

No. No licence, register or qualification applies in any UK nation.

Yes. Music and sound recordings are protected by copyright, so each track must be licensed for podcast use.

Yes. Recordings can hold guests' personal data, so they must be stored securely and not kept longer than needed.

Expect £100–£245 per episode; £120 is typical. Raw audio length, the number of speakers, audio quality and extras such as clips set the price per episode. Our podcast editor price guide breaks the figures down, and your town above brings up podcast editors close by.

You should, through a clause assigning the edit to you on payment.

Most episodes are turned around in two to five working days.

MORE GUIDES

More hiring guides in marketing, design & tech

How to hire: Sound EngineerHow to hire: Content CreatorHow to hire: Motion Graphics DesignerHow to hire: AnimatorHow to hire: CopywriterHow to hire: Social Media ManagerHow to hire: Blog WriterHow to hire: GhostwriterAll 701 hiring guides →

Podcast editors near you

Podcast editors in LondonPodcast editors in ManchesterPodcast editors in BirminghamPodcast editors in GlasgowPodcast editors in BelfastAll podcast editors on Locufy →

Sources — checked October 2026

  1. gov.uk — how copyright protects your work
  2. gov.uk — data protection and your business
  3. gov.uk — pay the data protection fee
  4. Copyright, Designs and Patents Act 1988, section 90 — assignment in writing
  5. Consumer Rights Act 2015, section 49 — reasonable care and skill
  6. Citizens Advice — more help with a consumer issue
  7. gov.uk — make a court claim for money: court fees
  8. VAT rates — VAT rates for goods and services: standard rate 20% on most goods and services
  9. GOV.UK — Register for VAT: when to register