Content

Voice-overs for adverts, videos and e-learning

Record voice-overs for radio adverts, company videos, e-learning, YouTube and podcasts, from a quiet corner at home with a good microphone.

Some evidenceLast checked 24 Oct 2026

See how this fits you, freeAbout 6 minutes, no sign-up.

Is this for you?

Best for

People with a clear, warm voice who read well out loud, enjoy playing with tone, and can sit still in a quiet room for an hour.

In South Africa: Good: many SA adverts and training videos need local voices and languages.

What you need

  • A laptop or computer
  • Reliable internet
  • No camera needed
  • No cold selling
  • At least 5 hours a week · age 18+
  • Spoken English (competent or better)

The money

What it can earn

  1. Pocket money
  2. A top-up
  3. A second income
  4. Can become a full income

Part time, this can become a meaningful second income once you have regular customers.

What people charge

R800 to R2 800 per job

VOISA suggests R1,200 (podcast) to R2,800 (corporate) a session; the SABC rate card lists R1,090 for a pilot advert; newcomers often start at R800 to R1,000 (PRBLMTiC). Usage fees for big adverts are extra.

Costs to plan for

Start-up
R1 500 to R8 000
Every month
Data, a casting-site subscription if you choose one, and a better microphone later.
Payment fees
EFT from agencies; Payoneer or PayPal for overseas clients.
Margin
High once the microphone is paid for.

How it is paid: A fee per job or session, with usage fees for big adverts. Our viability score for it: 50 out of 100 (how we score).

How to start

  1. Test it cheaply Before you spend

    • Record the same 30-second script in two styles and ask three people which sounds more natural
    • Send your demo to five studios or agencies and count replies
    • Success signal: one paid job within 60 days

  2. First week Days 1 to 7

    • Find the quietest corner at home and test a recording on your phone
    • Read three real adverts out loud each day and record them
    • Write down the languages and accents you can do well

  3. First month Days 8 to 30

    • Record a one-minute demo with three short styles (advert, explainer, calm narration)
    • Join one casting site and send your demo to five SA studios

  4. By three months Days 31 to 90

    • Ask your first clients for a reference you can quote
    • Make a second demo for your strongest language or style

You need a demo first, and studios usually test you on a small job. First income usually takes 14 to 180 days. A day-by-day version for your situation is in the full plan.

Step-by-step guide

Voice-over work: from your first demo reel to your first paid recording

23 short lessons with scripts, templates and rand prices to copy. R149 once-off, and the first lesson is free.

See what is inside

Customers and demand

Who pays

Ad agencies, radio stations, e-learning companies, YouTubers and small businesses with videos.

A professional voice for a script, in the right language and accent, recorded fast.

Is there demand?

The SA voice artists’ association publishes suggested session fees: about R2,800 for a corporate video, R2,200 for a radio advert, R1,800 for e-learning and R1,200 for a podcast (VOISA). The SABC studio rate card lists R1,090 for a pilot advert voice-over. A 2026 SA guide says newcomers usually start at about R800 to R1,000 a job (PRBLMTiC).

Radio and online advertsCompany training and e-learning modulesYouTube explainers and podcast introsVoice-overs in isiZulu, isiXhosa, Afrikaans and other SA languages

Getting customers

A one-minute demo reel, casting sites, direct emails to studios and agencies, and repeat clients.

Freelance marketplaces (Upwork, Fiverr)Cold emailIn-person networkingResponding to enquiries

Risks and rules

Watch out for

  • Rates are a guide, so agree the fee and usage in writing before you record
  • Background noise and load-shedding ruin takes: record at quiet times with a charged laptop
  • Unpaid "test" scripts: keep free samples short

Competition: High for English; SA languages and clear accents are less crowded.

Room to grow: Grows with regular studio clients and higher usage fees for adverts.

Legal and tax in South Africa

  • Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs).
  • Use a simple contract or invoice that says where and for how long the recording may be used.

Questions people ask

How much does it cost to start voice-overs for adverts, videos and e-learning in South Africa?

Our research puts start-up costs at about R1 500 to R8 000. Recurring costs: Data, a casting-site subscription if you choose one, and a better microphone later.

How long until the first income?

Typically about 60 days, and between 14 and 180 days. You need a demo first, and studios usually test you on a small job.

Can I do it with only a phone?

Not really. You will need a laptop or computer for most of the work.

What about tax and legal rules?

Register for income tax with SARS once you earn above the tax threshold, and keep a record of every sale and every cost (stock, materials, transport and fees are business costs). Use a simple contract or invoice that says where and for how long the recording may be used.

Sources (4)

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Researched by the Earn Path team · editorial policy