Study and read as much as possible on the book publishing industry to learn how books are published and how publishing companies put audio books together for their writers (see Resources). Read publications such as Allaboutbookpublishing.com and "The Book Publishing Industry," second edition.
Listen to as many audio books as possible. Borrow them from your local library or buy them through websites such as Audible.com and Audiobooks.com. Listen to the way in which audio books are put together as well as the contrast in styles for narrators when reading fiction as opposed to non-fiction books.
Find opportunities to volunteer with existing audio book production companies for six months to a year. Learn as much as possible about recording software and gear, recording techniques, editing and disc reproduction (CD copies of finished audio books).
Create a full studio by purchasing the following online: soundproofing foam (between $70 and $300 for several cases of foam), a computer, cables, studio headphones and a microphone with a pop filter and microphone stand. Expect to pay a little more than $1,000 to build your studio. Purchase the basic recording software of Pro Tools or Logic Studio, which can cost as little as $300. Consult with a professional studio owner in your area to ensure you have everything you need.
Ask a studio owner in your community (or hire one) to help you set up your equipment. Use an electric carving knife to cut out and shape the soundproofing foam as you want it to appear on your walls. Purchase T-pins or mounting panels to attach your soundproofing foam to the walls. Use Tubetak or Foamtak to seal the foam. Check your studio room for noise areas including possible noise coming in from the outside.
Record a few test audio books of published fiction or non-fiction books to gauge how sound is produced in your studio as well as to hone your skills as a producer, which include learning how to direct talent to get the readings you want and deciphering word pronunciations. Hire actors or voice actors by putting an advertisement in your local newspaper and on actor and voice actor websites such as Backstage and Voices.com, respectively.
Begin auditioning actors and voice actors to select a few to be part of your rotation of narrators. Set up agreements to begin paying them once you find work and provide incentives for them to record your tests for free (for example, offering a performer the first paid job for recording your test audio books).
Evaluate your tests compared to other audio books to which you have listened. Create a company sampler on CD consisting of abridged recordings of your best work from the tests. Cut the best sections of each recording in your recording software and align them consecutively on a new track. Make the transition smooth from each section to the next. Burn the track onto a CD.
Purchase a CD label kit and business cards from a stationery store. Design your labels to include your company name and contact information. Press the labels onto your CDs using the stamp that comes with the kit.
Search online for small publishing companies and self-publishing companies. Contact the person who handles audio books at each company. Ask to send your sampler for review. Ask if any self-published authors are interested in having their books produced as audio books.
Hire actors for small hourly rate to record a few pages of books by interested authors as a way to entice them to pay for a full audio book production.