How Much Does It Cost To Start Affiliate Marketing?

How much does it cost to start affiliate marketing?

I get asked this question all the time, which is why I'm going to break down the costs associated with this business model.

Affiliate marketing is the process by which you earn a commission by promoting someone else's product or service.

Together with email marketing, affiliate marketing is one of the largest sources of online income, accounting for over 16% of all e-commerce orders in the USA and Canada.

If you want to make money online with affiliate marketing but are worried about the investment required to do so, keep reading!

Watch the video below:

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Want me to show you, step-by-step how to make money with affiliate marketing? CLICK HERE to join my FREE affiliate marketing masterclass!

This description may contain affiliate links. If you purchase a product through one of them, I will receive a commission (at no additional cost to you). I only ever endorse products that I have personally used and benefitted from personally. Thank you for your support!

Affiliate marketing is a lucrative way to make money online.

Technically speaking, it doesn't cost anything to get started with affiliate marketing. That's the beauty of this business model. First and foremost, affiliate programs are free to join. More importantly, there are so many free platforms that you can create content on, for the sole purpose of promoting your affiliate products. That being said, if you want to do affiliate marketing the right way, there are some expenses that you will need to invest in.

Ideal Assets

When you are first starting your business, I suggest that you take a cost-effective approach. Don't put a lot of money into expenses that won't make a big difference to your business growth at the onset. That being said, I believe that the below assets are ideal if you want to start your affiliate marketing business the right way.

1. Domain Name 

The easiest and most effective way to build a successful affiliate marketing business is to build a brand. A domain name is going to help establish who you are in the affiliate marketing niche.

Think of a website or blog like your very own piece of real estate. If you choose to go with GoDaddy, a domain name will cost you about $10 per year.

With any product that you're promoting, building trust with people is one of the most valuable commodities that you can have. The reality is that people who like, know and trust you will be more likely to buy whatever it is that you're selling or promoting.

2. Web Hosting 

Web hosting gives you the ability to create a blog or website for your affiliate marketing business. For my hosting, I use WordPress, which is a free platform where you can publish your content. The biggest companies in the world use it.

If you use Bluehost, which is what I recommend for beginners, it will cost you $3.95 per month. In addition, it gives you a free domain name for the first year. I use WP Engine, which is very expensive (roughly $1000 per month). However, it's great if you are looking to get a lot of traffic to your website fast.

If you are going to create your own website, you will need a logo. This will cost you anywhere between $5-10 by hiring a designer on Fiverr. I recommend that you order a logo from three different people so that you have options. If you want to spend more money, you can.

I also use a service called, 99 designs. This platform allows you to host a contest where multiple designers can submit their logo ideas to you. However, this will cost you about $300.

3. ClickFunnels 

This is an online sales funnel drop and drag builder that helps you market, sell and deliver your products to people online. ClickFunnels costs $97 per month. One of the great things about this tool is that it's super easy to use.

When it comes to building your business, it should always be your goal to get someone's contact information. It allows you to follow-up with people and builds long-term relationships.

3. AWeber

Your money is in the list. AWeber is one of the top email opt-in services and email marketing/broadcasting tools on the market. This is what I use to build my mailing list and newsletter.

With this tool, you can also build an auto-responder series so that when people opt-in, they are automatically added to a series of e-mails. A lot of people on my email list have bought my products and services multiple times because I did the work to build a raving fan culture.

Optional Assets

If you want to grow your affiliate marketing business faster, there are many optional assets that you can invest in.

Panasonic GH5

If you are publishing YouTube videos, I suggest that you start with whatever you have. Most computers have webcams built into them. I still record videos on my iPhone and the quality is awesome.

Keep in mind that, when it comes to creating content, what matters is you and the message that you're getting across, not the equipment that you use. That being said, a great camera can be worth investing in.

I use the Panasonic GH5 which gives you pro performance and cinematic video. This camera is expensive, valued at $2,200 with the lens. However, as I said, this is something that you could invest in down the road when you are making more money in your business.

Sennheiser EW 112

With a camera, you will need either a built-in microphone or a Lavelier. For recording my video content, I use a wireless mic setup called the Sennheiser EW 112. It costs about $600. This is probably the most flexible wireless microphone system available on the market.

Blue Yeti Microphone

If you don't want to film YouTube videos, but instead are interested in starting a podcast, you will need a microphone. I suggest that you invest in a Blue Yeti microphone. You will also need a platform to host your podcast. I use BuzzSprout which costs $12 per month.

This is how to start affiliate marketing the right way.

Keep in mind that investing more money can help accelerate your business. However, when you are first getting started, you don't need to invest a lot.

You could build a 6-figure affiliate business solely by investing in the ideal assets that I outlined above. This is why I believe that affiliate marketing is the best online business model to start with.

Which asset will you invest in today?

Want me to show you, step-by-step how to make money with affiliate marketing? CLICK HERE to join my FREE affiliate marketing masterclass!