US audiobook sales revenue hit $2.43 billion in 2025, up 9% over the previous year, according to the Audio Publishers Association. Nonfiction is driving a growing share of that growth, with the category projected to expand roughly four times faster than fiction over the next several years, a sign that business authors and entrepreneurs are no longer treating audio as optional.
Finding an audiobook production company that is best equipped to meet your specific needs and help you produce the highest quality product possible is crucial. Whether you are prioritising done-for-you full service, or companies that specialize in individual services, you will benefit from external expertise, and improve your brand visibility.
Here you will find the top audiobook production companies suited towards a variety of differing needs, and learn about what sets each one apart from the rest.
Production Companies vs. Publishers
If you are unfamiliar with the process of producing and distributing an audiobook then these two terms may sound interchangeable to you, however this is not the case. When publishing your book yourself, partnering with a production company is typically what will work best for you, because this company will allow you to maintain a large amount of control over your audiobook and how the final product turns out.
Publishers, alternatively, are purchasing the rights to your book, meaning that you will sign a contract and be provided with an advance, allowing the publisher to make all major decisions and take over control of the production, distribution and marketing process. The publisher is also gaining all of the profits from your book, excluding your agreed upon royalty.
Production companies instead allow you to be involved creatively with the production process, including helping with decisions like who the narrator will be and what changes you want made. You are also keeping the rights to your book, and taking in the profit yourself. While some production companies may want part of the future royalties on your book, other payment options can include a PFH rate or a flat fee depending on the specific company.
When considering both of these options, it’s important to remember that because you are creating an audiobook, you will still be able to distribute through popular channels like Audible, Apple Books and Amazon if you choose not to pursue the traditional publishing route.
This means you can retain the rights to your work and still reach your audience, allowing you to repurpose that content into marketing assets for your business.
Here are the best audiobook production companies for entrepreneurs and business leaders:
1. Jony Studios
Jony Studios is a full-service audiobook production and distribution company that works with authors across a wide range of genres, but has built a specialized process for entrepreneurs, founders, and business leaders who want to turn their book into a long-term business asset.
Because the company is led by a B2B marketer, every project is approached with an understanding that an audiobook should do more than generate royalties. It should strengthen your brand, create marketing content, and build authority long after launch.
Casting isn't finalized until you approve a narrator who's the right fit for your brand and your book, not just whoever's available. For a recent Guilford Press audiobook, the team auditioned 10 narrators before landing on the final cast. Jony Studios has also produced audiobooks for Amazon, Penguin Random House, and Brilliance Audio.
Whether you choose to narrate the book yourself or work with a professional narrator, the team guides you through every stage of the process, from preparing your recording setup to final approval before distribution. Production, editing, and full distribution through ACX and Voices by INaudio (formerly Findaway Voices) to Audible, Apple Books, Spotify, and other major retailers are all handled by one team, giving you a single point of contact from manuscript to retail. You retain full ownership of your audiobook and its royalties.
Unlike companies that charge per-finished-hour rates, Jony Studios uses fixed package pricing, so you know your total investment before production begins. Pricing is based on your manuscript's word count and whether you narrate the book yourself or work with a professional narrator. Simply submit your approximate word count for a free estimate, typically sent within 24 - 48 business hours.
2. Scribe Media
Scribe Media is a done-for-you production company that handles the entire creation and distribution process, from recording to final delivery, best suited to entrepreneurs and business leaders who'd rather work with one company than coordinate several. Audiobook production is one part of a broader book-writing and publishing service rather than their core specialty. The company operates under new ownership following the original Scribe Media's 2023 financial collapse and bankruptcy, now led by CEO Eric Jorgenson and backed by Enduring Ventures. As with most bundled pricing, you'll pay for distribution as part of the package even if you don't need it.
Their done-for-you service means that they will take care of and include you in all aspects of the process, including recording, editing, sound engineering, quality control and distribution, allowing you to optimize the audio for specific distributors or platforms.
You have the option of choosing a narrator, or narrating yourself, and the guidance and assistance of professionals and sound engineers to adjust the recording, all while keeping in mind your preferences. Since they are not a traditional publisher, your audiobook and its royalties stay entirely yours. Generally prices for audiobook production start at $8,000, but you will be quoted for the exact cost of your specific project.
3. Lucent Audio
Lucent Audio is a full-service audiobook production company that provides everything from pre-production to recording to distribution, and their team, including top sound engineers ensure that your product is high quality through their QC reviews that take place during post-production.
With services starting around $5,000, you also have the option to use the company for distribution only, which starts at around $1,000, meaning you can partner with other companies as well for the production process.
Your audiobook remains entirely your property when you partner with Lucent Audio, and you'll work directly with founder Jeff Guillot and his team to tailor the project to your specifications. This company is best suited to first-time audiobook authors, especially founders with no prior audio experience, or anyone who wants help specifically with distribution.
4. Mosaic Audio
Providing audiobook services that include all aspects of the process from production to distribution, Mosaic Audio is an LA based production company known for working with famous clients and creating high-quality audiobooks to meet celebrity standards.
Their studios however are only located in the LA area, meaning some of your recording options, like narrator and language choices may be limited.
In the past they have worked with both traditional publishers and independent authors, but have now shifted to working primarily with publishing companies, meaning that if you're self-publishing and want to hold onto ownership of your work so you can reuse it in your own content and marketing, this company is likely not your best option.
5. John Marshall Media
With versatile services and experience producing audiobooks of many different genres, John Marshall Media has the notoriety and skillset that comes from working with major publishers, but will still work with individual authors, helping founders and independent authors who want to keep full ownership of their content make a high quality product, through their network of sound engineers and narrators trained to keep listeners engaged with your content.
Their services include marketing, distribution, delivery, recording and script and narration guidance. If you want to narrate your own book, then you have that option because they have studios around the world.
They are best suited towards authors who want a full service experience, since things like marketing are included, meaning this may not be the best fit if you want to outsource promotion to another company.
6. Deyan Audio
With over 30 years of experience in audiobook production, Deyan Audio provides an extremely comprehensive list of done-for-you services that help to optimise your content, with their full package option including more unique options like direction, reformatting, overall management and pronunciation research.
With this company you are paying PFH rather than a flat rate, meaning that full ownership of your audiobook stays with you, and pay around $460–$750 per hour for full production. You also have the option of paying for individual services, like audio editing ($75 PFH), quality control ($50 PFH), and mastering ($25 PFH), plus distribution benefits through their partnership with Author's Republic where your royalty deal can be improved, making this a better fit for any business leader prioritizing individual upgrade options and paying for only what they need.
7. Novel Audio
Novel Audio is a production company that provides services for authors who are both published through traditional publishers and who are self-published, and take on both the production and distribution of the audiobook with connections to platforms like Nook and Audible.
Novel Audio claims that they accept submissions so long as there are previous sales connected to your book.
By partnering with Novel Audio, you will not be able to retain the audio rights to your book because they purchase them once they take on your project, meaning that you will have to relinquish control of your content, and there is no clear indication of whether you will receive royalties from the audiobook or if you will instead be granted an advance.
8. Punch Audio
Punch Audio is a production company based in both Los Angeles and Florida, making them best suited to founders and authors based near either location if they want to be closely involved with the work being done in the studio.
If you are looking to keep down costs while creating your audiobook, you are given the option to go in on their royalty share scheme as well.
You are able to maintain creative control over multiple aspects, including who will narrate the book, meaning that you can tailor the product to align with your brand image. If you want to narrate your own book the cost for around an hour of audio, or 10,000 words, ranges $600 - $725, while having a professional narrate ranges $575 - $750.
9. ACX
ACX, or the Audiobook Creation Exchange, is a production marketplace made by Audible. While Audible does sometimes buy rights and produce audiobooks directly, ACX serves a different purpose: it's a marketplace connecting authors who want to keep ownership of their work with the narrators, engineers, and producers who can bring it to life. Think of ACX as the middle-man, not the buyer.
Something to keep in mind is that you will be responsible for reaching an agreement with these industry professionals about payment, which typically is a PFH rate or taking a share of the royalties, which could be up to half through the ACX royalty share program where you will have to also distribute your book only through ACX.
Their other options for distribution include both non-exclusive and ACX exclusive, meaning you have to choose between distributing everywhere and gaining less of the royalties or distributing to only Audible, Apple and iTunes.
10. Author's Republic
Author’s Republic offers done-for-you and independent audiobook production services that allow you to be involved with creation process yourself, connecting you to and letting you audition narrators and then facilitating your exchanges and helping you to distribute the product, or connecting you with a production manager who takes over the entire process and does things like finding a narrator and editing the audiobook for you.
The cost typically ranges from $150 - $400 PFH, and Author’s Republic receives part of your audiobook’s revenue once it has been distributed through their channels.
Since their services are focused primarily on aggregation of professionals like narrators, and customer support through the process, this company is best suited to independent authors, like up-and-coming entrepreneurs who are looking to find an accessible way to produce their content.
11. Voices by INaudio (formerly Findaway Voices)
Voices by INaudio is an audiobook production company that optimises the process of audiobook creation and gives you the opportunity to widen your audience and turn your audiobook into an asset for your business. They do this by not only helping you to make and non-exclusively distribute your content, but by providing you with reports about the performance of your audiobook, and marketing tools and connections to help make your book more visible to your audience.
The platform is independent, and many of the team members are former Findaway Voices industry professionals.
Since they are not a traditional publisher, ownership stays with you, and you choose which distribution channels to use. As a newer platform though, Voices by INaudio is still limited in the production services that they can provide.
The Big 5/Traditional Publishers
If you want to partner with a traditional publisher, some of the top options include:
The main benefit of partnering with a traditional publisher is the increased possibility for media coverage, which can help you reach a wider audience and build authority in your field faster than going the independent route.
However, a publishing deal is extremely difficult to procure, and for audiobooks, the main distribution channels can be the same whether or not you partner with a publisher or a production company, meaning your content is still available to interested consumers.
How to Choose the Right Audiobook Production Company or Publisher
With more than a dozen credible options above, the right choice comes down to answering a few honest questions about your priorities:
Do you want to keep full ownership of your work?
If yes, a production company is the right lane. Traditional publishers and companies like Novel Audio, which purchase rights, take that decision out of your hands.
Will you reuse the audio in your own marketing?
If your audiobook is going to fuel podcast clips, social content, or sales material, prioritize companies that let you keep full rights and don't restrict how you use the finished files.
Do you want one company handling everything, or are you comfortable managing a few vendors?
Full-service options like Jony Studios, Scribe Media, or John Marshall Media simplify the process into one relationship. Marketplaces like ACX or Author's Republic can save money but require more of your own time managing narrators and logistics.
What's your budget and timeline?
PFH-based companies like Deyan Audio let you pay only for the specific services you need, while flat-fee, full-service options offer more predictability if you'd rather not estimate hours in advance.
There's no universally "best" answer here, only the best fit for what you're trying to build.
Conclusion
The right audiobook partner comes down to one trade-off: how much control you want to keep versus how much you want handled for you. Marketplaces like ACX reward authors willing to manage the process themselves. Traditional publishers offer reach in exchange for giving up rights and creative say. Full-service production companies sit in between, and for founders and business authors specifically, that middle ground usually wins, since it lets you keep ownership of the content while still getting a polished, professional result you can put to work in your marketing.
If you want that experience without piecing together multiple vendors, Jony Studios handles production and full distribution in one place, built specifically for entrepreneurs and business leaders turning their book into a growth asset.
Written by Eva Geimer
