Media Server Setup
A media server is your own personal Netflix — a library of your movies and shows, stored on hardware you own, that streams to your TV, phone, or laptop anywhere you have internet. Once it's set up, a lot of people find they can cancel some of their streaming subscriptions entirely, since the content they actually own or collect is sitting on their own server instead of scattered across five different apps.
I'll walk you through setting up tools like Jellyfin (a free, open-source media server) and configuring it so it actually works the way you'd expect a streaming app to — browsable, organized, and accessible from wherever you are, not just when you're on your home network.
What this covers
- Setting up Jellyfin (or a similar media server) from scratch
- Configuring remote access so you can watch on the go, not just at home
- Organizing your library so shows and movies are easy to find
- NAS and storage setup for where your media actually lives
- Cleaning up and troubleshooting an existing setup that's not working right
What to expect
- Typical setup takes 1–3 days depending on library size and hardware
- You get a walkthrough so you can add new media yourself afterward
- Ongoing tuning and troubleshooting is available if you want it — never required
| Tier | Rate | When it applies |
|---|---|---|
| Launch rate | $65/hr | Standard rate for new projects right now |
| Retainer | ~$300–400/mo | Ongoing support, a set block of hours each month |
Most setups run $300–$600 total depending on library size and hardware, billed at the hourly rate above.