Does a voice actor earn a fixed monthly salary?

No, most voice actors work on a freelance basis or via project contracts. Their income fluctuates based on the number of assignments, the nature of the projects, and the associated usage rights.

Why does a radio commercial cost more than e-learning?

With a radio commercial, the voice has a direct commercial value for the brand and reaches a large audience. This includes a buy-out. For e-learning, you only pay for the time and word count to record informative content.

What happens if I want to use a recording for longer?

When the agreed term for the usage rights expires, you can easily extend the buy-out. The voice actor will then receive an extension fee for the additional period. [FAQ_BLOCK]

How do I order a phone message?

Pick a voice you like for your phone system. Enter your texts. You can also use our simple text generator. Add hold music if you want. Within 3 days at most, you receive the finished audio files.

How does ordering work?

Here is how it works: 1. Listen to the demos and pick a voice for your phone system. 2. Enter your texts. You can also use our simple text generator. 3. Add hold music if you want. 4. Pay securely with Bancontact, iDEAL or credit card. Within 3 days at most, you receive the finished audio files by email.

What does a professional phone message cost?

The price depends on how long your text is and which message you need (welcome, menu or hold). As soon as you pick a voice, you see what it costs. Hold music is optional.

What does a professional telephone message cost?

A welcome message or phone menu from a professional voice is surprisingly affordable. The price depends on the length of your text and the type of message (welcome message, phone menu, on-hold message). At Voices, you can see the price instantly for your chosen voice. On-hold music from our library can be added separately. Most clients receive their audio within 1 to 2 working days.

Can I provide my own music?

Yes, you can! You can add your own audio file using the upload button. Please ensure you have the correct broadcasting rights for any music you provide.

How much does it cost to add music on hold?

Adding a track from our library costs a one-off fee of €59. This gives you unlimited usage rights for your project.

Are the tracks optimised for telephony?

Absolutely. All our on-hold music is specially mixed and optimised for the frequency range of telephone systems (300Hz - 3400Hz), so it always sounds clear.

How Much Does a Voice Actor Earn? A Clear Guide to Fees

How Much Does a Voice Actor Earn? A Clear Guide to Fees | Voices

Step 2: Determine the factors that influence the buy-out

Because the reach determines the cost of usage rights, we look at a few fixed factors. The larger the audience that hears the voice, the higher the value of that voice to the brand, and the higher the fee.

The fee for usage rights scales up based on these points:

The medium: An internal corporate video requires a lower licence fee than a national spot on radio or television.
The duration: Will you use the recording for four weeks, a whole year, or indefinitely?
The distribution area: Will the message remain within one region, or will the campaign extend across Belgium or Europe?

Director's Tip: Want to keep costs manageable? At the start, opt for a shorter licence period, for example, three months. If the campaign performs well, you can easily extend the buy-out afterwards.

Step 3: Differentiate between commercial and non-commercial work

Not every assignment involves a buy-out for advertising. For non-commercial assignments like e-learning, audiobooks, or telephone exchanges, a different calculation applies.

For these types of assignments, the fee is usually calculated per word or per project. A professional voice, such as Béatrice (who records the French-language announcements for Belgian railways) or Petra (the Dutch voice for Google's customer service), works on such informative texts with rates based on effectiveness and volume, rather than advertising reach.

Director's Tip: For long texts, such as e-learning, always have a short trial sentence recorded beforehand. This ensures that the pace and articulation suit the learning material before the entire project is recorded.

Step 4: Account for potential post-production adjustments

A voice actor is paid for the completed studio recording. If you adjust the text after the recording because the marketing strategy changes, that will incur additional studio time and sometimes an adjustment to the usage rights.

If the error lies with the voice actor, for instance, a mispronounced brand name, this will, of course, be corrected free of charge. However, substantive changes to the script after the recording day fall under a re-recording rate.

Director's Tip: Always read the text aloud once before the recording. Words that seem smooth on paper can sometimes sound awkward when read aloud. This prevents costly re-recordings afterwards.

Step 5: Request a clear, bespoke quote

Because every campaign differs in terms of reach, medium, and duration, professional voice agencies do not work with general price lists for commercial work. Determining the exact cost of a project requires a clear brief.

By gathering the correct information beforehand (script length, medium, duration, and region), you will receive a transparent quote that clearly separates the recording rate and the licence fee. This way, you'll know exactly what to expect, with no hidden surprises.

Director's Tip: If in doubt, always ask for advice on the right voice profile. An agency will help you match the ideal voice to your budget and target audience.

Frequently asked questions

Short and to the point. Click to see the answer.

How do I order a phone message?: Pick a voice you like for your phone system. Enter your texts. You can also use our simple text generator. Add hold music if you want. Within 3 days at most, you receive the finished audio files.
How does ordering work?: Here is how it works: 1. Listen to the demos and pick a voice for your phone system. 2. Enter your texts. You can also use our simple text generator. 3. Add hold music if you want. 4. Pay securely with Bancontact, iDEAL or credit card. Within 3 days at most, you receive the finished audio files by email.
What does a professional phone message cost?: The price depends on how long your text is and which message you need (welcome, menu or hold). As soon as you pick a voice, you see what it costs. Hold music is optional.
What does a professional telephone message cost?: A welcome message or phone menu from a professional voice is surprisingly affordable. The price depends on the length of your text and the type of message (welcome message, phone menu, on-hold message).
At Voices, you can see the price instantly for your chosen voice. On-hold music from our library can be added separately. Most clients receive their audio within 1 to 2 working days.
Can I provide my own music?: Yes, you can! You can add your own audio file using the upload button. Please ensure you have the correct broadcasting rights for any music you provide.
How much does it cost to add music on hold?: Adding a track from our library costs a one-off fee of €59. This gives you unlimited usage rights for your project.
Are the tracks optimised for telephony?: Absolutely. All our on-hold music is specially mixed and optimised for the frequency range of telephone systems (300Hz - 3400Hz), so it always sounds clear.
Do you also record voice prompts for IVR and phone systems?: Yes, we can record complete phone menus (IVR) for your telephone system. You provide the options you need, and we will ensure that everything is recorded clearly and professionally. This is ideal for businesses with multiple departments.
How long should my telephone message be?: Keep it short and concise. A welcome message is ideally between 10 and 15 seconds. A phone menu should guide the caller to the correct department within 30 seconds. Think from the caller's perspective: they want to be helped as quickly as possible.