I started a small podcast about local gardening with a friend. I do all the editing, booking, and ad sales. He co-hosts and brings in guests. Now he wants 20% of every sponsor sale I close. I feel like that's way too much, I'm the one doing the actual selling. Am I wrong to push back?
Podcasting
My co-host wants a percentage of every sale
20% of every sale? Is he also going to come to my house and do my taxes? That's a co-host, not a business partner.
What's the split on expenses right now? If you're both paying 50/50 for hosting and gear, then his ask isn't totally insane. If you're covering everything, 20% is a joke.
Did he give you a reason or just throw out a number number? Sometimes people say 'percentage of sales' when they mean 'I want to feel like a real partner.' The number might be negotiable.
I had a co-host like tzhis. He wanted 30% of merch. I said sure, but then he has to handle all fulfillment, shipping, and customer emails. He backed down in about 4 minutes.
For context: we split hosting costs 50/50. I pay for editing sofware and the mic I use. He bought his own mic. I handle all sponsor outreach and invoices. He's never closed a sponsor deal.
Then 20% of sales is wild. Maybe offer him a flat referral bonus if he brings a sponsor lead that actua lly converts. Otherwise, no.
So he wants 20% of the money and 0% of the awkward follow-up emails? Sign me up for that deal.
Since you split hosting, he has a point that the show is a joint product. But the sales work is yours. A commission-only structure for you on sponsor revenue, then split the remaining profit, might be cleaner.
Honestly I'd ask him to write down exactly what he thinks he's contributing to the sales process. The silence will be loud.
Also, is the podcast making real money yet? If you're splitting $120 a month, this whole argument is kind of adorable.
We're at about $400/month from two sponsors. So 20% is $80 a month to him for doing nothing on the sales side. Not huge but it's the principle.
$80 now, but what happens if you land a $2k sponsor? He wants $400 for a meeting he didn't attend.
Counter with 5% of net after expenses, and only for deals he sources. Watch how fast 'it's about fairness' turns into 'never mind.'
This is why i podcast alone. My co-host is a dog and he accepts payment in cheese.
Somewhere a business school professor just felt a chill and doesn't know why.