Home studio session musician and recording

Songwriters and bands, YouTubers and podcasters, small businesses needing jingles or background music, and video makers.

A fee per track or per project, or an hourly rate for session work. Some musicians also sell their own music or licence tracks to creators.

• Skilled playing on at least one instrument or voice
• Recording and mixing basics
• Good communication with clients
• Meeting deadlines

• Agree in writing who owns the rights to the recordings and music you create
• Check you have permission before recording anyone else's songs or samples
• Home use for business may need permission from a landlord or mortgage lender, and noise can upset neighbours
• Income can be uneven while you build a client base
• Register as a sole trader with HMRC and check whether you need to join a collecting society for royalties

Startup costs are typically around £500 to £3,000, depending on the microphones, interface, software and instruments you already own. These are estimates, so start with what you have and upgrade as clients come.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around £150 to £1,500, depending on your skills, pricing and how many clients you win. Income can be uneven while you build a client base.

Agree in writing who owns the rights to recordings and music you create, and get permission before recording others' songs or samples. Check landlord or mortgage lender permission and noise, and register as a sole trader with HMRC.