In this blog post you’ll learn how much it costs to self-publish a book.
At no other point in history has it ever become easier to self-publish a book.
With platforms not even within the fancy of authors a few decades ago, self-publishing a book is a readily available and, most importantly, feasible alternative that allows authors to bypass traditional publishers altogether.
Amazon, Reedsy, and Kobo have revolutionized the book-buying experience and the publishing industry.
But with it comes a cost.
The actual cost of self-publishing a book will vary depending on factors such as the format, printing costs, marketing expenses, and others – some of which you may want to pay for to maximize your book’s success.
What is Self-Publishing?
Self-publishing is the process by which an author independently publishes their work, bypassing the traditional publishing industry.
This involves taking on the responsibilities typically handled by a publisher, such as editing, cover design, formatting, marketing, and distribution.
Self-published authors can choose to publish their work in various formats, including eBooks, print-on-demand (POD) paperbacks, and audiobooks.
Advantages of Self-Publishing
Creative Control: Self-publishing allows authors to retain complete creative control over their work, from the content and cover design to the marketing strategy and pricing.
Faster Time to Market: Traditional publishing can be a lengthy process, sometimes taking years from manuscript submission to the book’s release.
Self-publishing, on the other hand, enables authors to publish their work as soon as it’s ready, reducing the time to market.
Higher Royalties: Self-published authors typically earn higher royalties than traditionally published authors.
While royalties from traditional publishers can range from 10% to 15% of the book’s retail price, self-published authors can earn royalties of up to 70% on eBook sales and 40% to 60% on print-on-demand sales.
Niche Opportunities: Self-publishing allows authors to cater to niche audiences and explore genres or topics that may be deemed too risky or unprofitable by traditional publishers.
Disadvantages of Self-Publishing
Upfront Costs: Self-publishing requires authors to bear the upfront costs of editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing, which can be significant.
Limited Resources: Self-published authors must navigate the publishing process without the support and resources of a traditional publisher. This means that they are responsible for managing all aspects of the publishing process, which can be time-consuming and challenging.
Marketing and Promotion: With millions of books available, self-published authors face the challenge of making their work stand out and reaching their target audience. This requires significant effort in marketing and promotion, which can be difficult for authors with limited experience or resources.
Less Prestige: Self-publishing still carries a certain stigma, and self-published books may be perceived as less prestigious than traditionally published books.
Roadmap to Self-Publishing Success
Write and Edit Your Manuscript: Begin by writing the best manuscript you can, and once complete, engage in multiple rounds of editing to ensure your work is polished and error-free. Consider hiring a professional editor to help refine your work.
Design Your Book: Invest in a professional cover design and properly format your manuscript for the chosen publishing format (eBook, print, or audiobook).
Choose a Publishing Platform: Research and select the appropriate self-publishing platform, such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital.
Set Your Pricing Strategy: Determine the appropriate pricing for your book based on factors such as genre, target audience, and competition.
Develop a Marketing and Promotion Plan: Create a comprehensive marketing plan that includes social media promotion, email marketing, and outreach to bloggers and book reviewers.
Monitor Sales and Adjust Your Strategy: Track your book’s sales performance and adjust your marketing and pricing
What is Traditional Publishing?
Traditional publishing refers to the process in which an author partners with an established publishing house to publish and distribute their work.
In a traditional publishing arrangement, the publisher assumes the financial risk and handles the various stages of publishing, including editing, cover design, printing, distribution, and marketing. In exchange for these services, the publisher receives a share of the book’s revenue, while the author earns royalties on book sales.
The Benefits of Traditional Publishing
Professional Support: One of the main advantages of traditional publishing is the professional support authors receive throughout the process.
Publishers have teams of editors, designers, and marketing experts who work together to ensure the book’s quality and success.
Financial Investment: In a traditional publishing deal, the publisher covers the upfront costs of editing, cover design, printing, and marketing, reducing the financial burden on the author.
Distribution: Traditional publishers have established relationships with booksellers and distributors, ensuring that the book is widely available in brick-and-mortar stores and online retailers.
Credibility and Prestige: Books published through traditional publishing houses often carry a certain level of prestige and credibility, which can help authors gain recognition and opportunities within the literary world.
The Drawbacks of Traditional Publishing
Lower Royalties: Traditionally published authors generally receive lower royalties than self-published authors, as a percentage of the book’s revenue goes to the publisher.
Loss of Creative Control: In a traditional publishing arrangement, authors may have less control over certain aspects of the publishing process, such as cover design, marketing strategy, and sometimes even the content of the book itself.
Time-Consuming: The process of securing a traditional publishing deal can be lengthy and often involves multiple rounds of submissions and revisions, which can extend the time it takes for a book to reach the market.
The Traditional Publishing Process
Write and Polish Your Manuscript: The first step in pursuing a traditional publishing deal is to write and revise your manuscript, ensuring it is of the highest quality.
Craft a Compelling Query Letter and Book Proposal: Prepare a query letter and, for non-fiction projects, a book proposal that effectively conveys your book’s concept, target audience, and market potential.
Research Agents and Publishers: Research literary agents and publishers who specialize in your genre or subject matter, and create a list of potential partners to approach with your work.
Submit Your Work: Submit your query letter, book proposal, and sample chapters (as per submission guidelines) to agents and publishers on your list.
Negotiate a Publishing Contract: If your work is accepted, you will receive a publishing contract outlining the terms of your agreement, including royalty rates, advance payments, and rights management. It is advisable to consult with a literary agent or attorney to ensure you fully understand the terms before signing.
Editing, Design, and Production: Once the contract is signed, the publisher will guide your book through the editing, cover design, and production process.
Marketing and Promotion: The publisher will develop and execute a marketing plan for your book, which may include arranging book tours, interviews, and engaging with booksellers and book reviewers.
Traditional Publishing versus Self-Publishing
You’re about to wrap up your manuscript, which means it’s time to tackle the next step: deciding how to publish your book.
Traditionally, authors who wanted their work published had no choice but to sign a contract with a house so that their book be distributed and sold.
This meant they had to relinquish creative control, a portion of the royalties, and any decision-making that went along with it.
Self-publishing gives authors more flexibility in producing their work.
With self-publishing, you charge what you want for your book and keep most of the profits. You also control your production’s design, marketing, and other aspects.
The inconvenient truth about self-publishing is that you’re on your own regarding the business end.
Minus the financial backing of a publishing house, you’re responsible for the upfront costs – but it doesn’t mean you’d have to move a lot of money around to be successful.
How Much It’ll Cost to Self-Publish a Book
The average cost of self-publishing a book in 2023 ranges from $200 to $3000. However, it’s common for some authors to spend upwards of $20,000 for high-quality production. But you don’t have to take that route.
“Indispensable” Costs
Some of the expenditures are what we like to call “indispensable,” such as cover design, ISBN registration, editing, and formatting. The costs that should have your attention depend on the length of your book – longer books will cost more to create than shorter ones. Here’s a breakdown of the costs associated with self-publishing:
- Cover Design – $200-$1000
- ISBN Registration – $99/ISBN
- Editing – $0.02-$0.12/word
- Formatting – $50-$650
- Proofreading – $30-$60/hour
- Book Printing – Varies
The Necessity of a Book Designer
Getting a professional book designer is absolutely essential.
A good designer gives you high-quality covers to capture attention and make readers want to pick up your book.
As your book’s cover is the first thing any potential reader will see, it should be eye-catching and attractive enough to draw them in.
Book design is comprised of two components: interior and exterior. Interior design involves the layout of your pages and other elements, while exterior design applies to covers and dust jackets. Professional book designers will likely cost anywhere from $100 to more than $1,500, depending on your demands and experience.
There’s also the option of designing the book on your own. There’s no shortage of DIY design tools available online. There’s Canva – a great and inexpensive resource for both print and digital covers.
You can also try Adobe InDesign or Affinity Publisher, which are more expensive but offer an array of features if you want to create a professional-looking book.
Editor or Proofreaders?
Finishing your manuscript doesn’t automatically translate into a polished book.
You’ll need an editor or proofreader to ensure that the text is free of mistakes, inconsistencies, and other writing issues.
The editor is responsible for ensuring your book is reader-friendly and free of typos or grammar errors.
The cost will depend on the kind of editing you need, with full developmental editing costing more than basic copyediting.
Don’t forget to ask for an estimate before committing to an editor. The average hourly rate for a freelance editor is around $20 to $70.
Meanwhile, an editor isn’t the same as a proofreader.
A proofreader is someone who checks for errors in spelling, punctuation, formatting, and typos.
It’s often done after editing to ensure that all aspects of the book are correct before you publish it.
Be sure to compare rates since costs can vary depending on the length of your book and the type of service offered.
The average cost for proofreading services is $30-$80/hour.
So, would you rather spend money on an editor or proofreader?
The answer is both.
The best way to do it would be to edit and proofread in tandem. It will help you produce a quality book that won’t require too many revisions after publication.
If you go the traditional publishing route, the publisher will usually take care of the editing and proofreading, but you’ll still need to pay all the other associated costs, i.e. printing and marketing.
Self-Publishing Platforms
Since there’s no established system like that of traditional publishing, you will have to pick a platform from where you’ll publish your book. A handful of online publishing platforms offer self-publishing, such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Reedsy, Barnes & Noble Press, Apple Books, Lulu, and IngramSpark, to name a few.
These self-publishing partners work by providing a place for an independent author to create, distribute, and market a book project. While the concept is uniform, the way each platform works is different, and so are the associated costs.
The most popular self-publishing platform, Amazon KDP, charges no upfront cost for publishing a book but takes a percentage of every sale as its cut.
Other platforms also require a one-time fee to publish your book. For instance, Lulu requires a one-time set-up fee and a printing cost that varies depending on the book’s specifications.
Higher fees are usually attributed to better and more flexible marketing opportunities.
For example, a common addition called “aggregators” allows authors to distribute their books to multiple online databases where readers can review and rate their work.
So, if you’re looking to self-publish your book, see that the platform you choose fits you and your goals.
You may not feel the need to spend on marketing and distribution, but it’s better to look into all the expenses attached to a particular platform.
Marketing Costs
Finishing a book is already a milestone on its own, but there’s no denying that you’re still missing a key ingredient – readers.
To get people to read your book, you need to make sure it’s visible and well-promoted.
That’s why marketing is an essential part of the publishing process.
Marketing is what sells a book, period. And while you’ve read countless tips online about how you’d spend zero dollars on marketing, that’s not always realistic. At the very least, you should budget for an effective book cover design and create a website for your work.
Marketing costs usually include social media campaigns, search engine optimization (website), paid advertisements, author events and book signings, and the prospect of investing in influencers to promote your book.
- Social Media – Like it or not, social media is a part of the publishing industry. You will need to set up accounts on different platforms and post regularly to get people interested in your work. On top of that, you might have to look into paid advertisements as well. It’ll cost you money, but both will help you build an audience.
- SEO – A website is a must-have for any book author. And while free website builders are available, you should invest in SEO. This helps your site appear on the first page of search results, where potential readers can find it easily. The cost of SEO will vary depending on how much time and effort you put into it. And while SEO doesn’t cost a lot of money, hiring people to do it for you will come with a fee. An SEO campaign only takes effect once you have a website; you don’t have to do this yourself.
- Advertising – To get your book out to the masses, you may need to invest in paid advertising. This could include banner ads, Amazon Ads, Google Ads, and sponsored content. The cost of such services will depend on the platform you go with and any promotions they offer. For some, organic campaigns, i.e., SEO, may be enough to get the message out there, but if you want to target specific audiences, you’ll need to invest in paid advertising.
- Author Events and Book Signings – You don’t have to attend book signings to get your work seen, but it’s a proven way to build relationships with potential readers and make sure they pick up your book. Such events usually come with a cost, depending on the location and duration. But if you want to build a personal connection with your readers, this is something you should consider.
- Influencers – If you want to go beyond the traditional methods of book promotion, enlisting the help of influencers can be a great way to reach new audiences. This usually comes with its own cost but could pay off in the long run. Influencer marketing is a popular trend, and since influencers usually have an audience of their own, they can help you reach more potential readers – people you normally don’t have access to.
Printing Expenses
Aside from marketing, you’re looking at shouldering the print expenses.
The cost of printing depends primarily on the size and number of pages and how many copies you’re ordering. You may want to print copies of your book for local readers or have it printed if you decide to self-publish.
Printing costs range from $0.50 to $1.50 per book, but if you want to get a large number of copies printed, it can be much cheaper – anywhere from $0.10 to $0.50 per copy. You may pick between ordering a shipment of books upfront or printing them on demand. The difference is that the latter costs more but could save you time and money in the long run.
Self-publishing platforms have varying printing policies, so read up on what they offer before you decide. Expect to have minimum orders and some extra costs for things like shipping.
Shipping Your Self-Published Book
And since we’ve mentioned that, let’s talk about shipping. If you’re planning to ship books to your readers yourself, you’ll have to pay for them.
The cost of shipping depends on the weight and size of the book, as well as the distance it needs to travel.
On average, domestic shipping costs around $3-5 per book, while international orders are more expensive, ranging from $15 to $30 per book.
It’s best to research the different shipping options and compare prices before deciding on a provider.
You could also look into partnering with an established fulfillment service provider, as they offer bulk discounts, which should lower your costs significantly. Remember that there are two options here: you pay the printing shop to do the shipping, or you do it yourself and pay the courier.
One way to save on shipping costs is to print your book in paperback.
Books printed in paperback are smaller and lighter, meaning they cost less to ship.
The downside is that hardcover books will likely be more expensive, but they offer a higher perceived value and durability that could potentially be worth the extra cost.
Is Self-Publishing a Book Worth It?
All things considered, self-publishing a book is no easy endeavour, and it will cost you more than just time and effort.
You must consider all the costs involved before deciding whether it’s worth it.
But if you’re passionate about your work and think that the potential rewards outweigh the expenses, then self-publishing can be an incredibly rewarding experience.
You have the potential to reach a wider audience and grow your author platform, something that could benefit you in the future. Also, it makes sense for an author with no other publishing options or experience.
It’s like a crash course in the publishing industry and marketing strategies, something that could be useful later on as you progress in your writing career.
Further Reading
Hiring An Editor For Your Book
How To Become A Ted Talk Speaker
Joel Mark Harris graduated from the Langara School of Journalism in 2007. Joel is an award-winning journalist, novelist, screenwriter and producer.
He has ghostwritten numerous books in all types of genres including true life crime, business, memoir, and self help. With over 1,000 blog posts to his name, he has helped hundreds of business owners scale their business and increase their visibility. You can email him at info@ghostwritersandco.com
