The best thing about the self-publishing landscape is how much independent control you get over your completed story. Unfortunately, that independence comes with a cost. One that’s hard to get answers on.
Like most things in life, you’re going to get farther if you have at least a little bit of money to put toward your self-publishing journey. It’s likely this isn’t your main gig, so having an estimate would help you plan and save. That’s what we’re here to do. Here is an estimate of most self-publishing costs you’ll run into and have the choice of whether to take on a professional or try to DIY it:
Writing Costs
I know what you’re thinking. Writing is free! And you’re mostly right. It definitely costs your time, but it probably also cost you some money to get started.
Writing Machine
Though you may have used a device already in your home, a lot of writers keep a separate device just for writing. This helps protect your manuscript from risky behaviors you may engage in on your other devices like downloading a virus or abusing the hardware until it breaks. Some people even like to go old school and start on a typewriter to avoid this. The good news is that you can get away with a very basic model for a writing device. It doesn’t need an updated graphics card or even a large amount of storage. It just needs to write and google street names. Amirite?
$250-$1800
Microsoft Office
If you’re not already, you should be using Microsoft software to write your story. While services like Google Docs can be great if you’re using multiple devices to write, you’re going to want Microsoft for editing and beta reading. You won’t be able to see notes from your editorial team if you don’t! The good news is this comes standard on most PCs. Still, if you’re a fan of Google or Apple devices, it can get a little pricey.
$65-$99/year
A Backup System
Finally, if you are going to use your same computer for writing as you do the rest of your life (and even if you aren’t) you should consider a subscription to an automatic backup service like Time Machine, DropBox, or Backblaze that will save a snapshot of everything on your computer on a regular basis. This can be a lifesaver if your primary device dies and you lose your manuscript, but it’s also great during the editing process if you go over a scene too many times and want a look at how it read a few versions prior. Don’t overlook it.
$5-$20/month
Book Coaching
Ever feel like you’ve written yourself into a corner? Feel like you know a scene isn’t working but don’t know how to fix it? These are great considerations to schedule a session with a book coach. Coaches aren’t just for helping you meet word count goals. They’re industry professionals that would love to give you an outside perspective on what you’re up against.
$25-$100/session
Editorial Costs
Just because you’re self-publishing doesn’t mean you don’t want a professionally finished story. In fact, we suggest it. You’re more likely to find a dedicated readership if they don’t have to weed through editorial mistakes.
Professional Beta Reading
A lot of online writer groups are a great place to find mutual beta reads, but not all of them are dedicated to giving quality feedback (and not everyone is capable of it, either). Hiring a professional beta reader is a great way to give your entire beta reading team a boost by giving you more ideas on how to request feedback. This is especially helpful if you want to try and bypass a developmental edit.
$50-250 per reader
Developmental Editing
Working with a developmental editor is the closest experience you’ll have to the kinds of big-picture edits you would receive from an agent or acquiring editor at a major publishing house. It requires a lot of expertise in story structure, your genre, and industry knowledge, but it’s also tailored to take into account your unique perspective as an author. For these reasons, it’s the most expensive editing option, but it’s also the round of editing that you’re most likely to learn about the industry and grow your voice as an author.
$0.02-$0.08 per word
Line Editing
Oftentimes also referred to as copyediting, line edits look at your story on a line-by-line, paragraph-by-paragraph, scene-by-scene basis. It also covers substantial and grammatical editing, which makes it a great choice if you’re looking for opportunities to cut costs on self-publishing.
$0.01-$0.05 per word
Proofreading
Proofreading is the final step of polishing your manuscript before it gets sent out to the masses. Make sure that every word is spelled intentionally and every comma is in its place, or else resign yourself to reading an enormous number of reviews that complain about getting distracted by them. The good news is, this is often the least expensive editorial option, and some independent editors will offer it free if you use their more expensive services.
$0.005-$0.03 per word
Book Design Costs
Having a professional looking product to sell is enormously important when it comes to sales and marketing your book. They say don’t judge a book by its cover, but people do literally every day, and you should keep it in mind!
Interior Book Formatting
Ever notice how books look distinctly different from a regular word document? Readers expect it. And though they may not be able to put their finger on it, they will be able to feel it if proportions are slightly off. Some people hire book formatters to make sure they’re able to deliver the best possible reader experience.
$250-$1000
Book Cover
Your cover is your No. 1 asset when you’re marketing your book. It needs to capture the mood and genre clearly to ensure your readers will be hooked and feel satisfied with their purchase. And anyway, who doesn’t want a pretty looking book on their shelf? It’s like a trophy. After editorial, this is our pick for best investment in your story.
$250-$750
Author Photo
Can you guess what the No. 2 piece of your marketing package is? It’s you! Not only do readers want books about topics that are interesting to them, they want to read books by people they find interesting as well. So, you have to put your best foot forward. It’s worth springing for a mini shoot for your headshots, and you can use them all across your online presence in addition to the back of your book.
$50-$250
Synopsis & Bio
Did you know that you can hire someone to write the blurbs on the back of your book? Many authors don’t, but it’s another opportunity to get a perspective on marketing from an industry professional that could help you set the tone for the rest of your campaign.
$50-$250 each
Bringing to Market Costs
Yeah, believe it or not, there are still a few things that need to be done before you can publish your book. It gets tiring, but these are all the bits and bobs before you can shout it from the rooftops: I’M AN AUTHOR, BITCHES!
ISBN
If you want to sell your book at any retail location online or otherwise, you’re going to need an ISBN. Plus, it makes your book look that much more professional. You’ll be in the Library of Congress’ filing system!
$85 for one or $295 for ten
A Barcode
Yeah, they’re going to need to be able to scan your book!
$5-30 each
Printing & Distribution
Printing and distribution often get lumped together these days in deals that we suggest you take advantage of. For some online retailers, they’ll opt for a percentage of your total revenue (think 30% for ebooks and 65% for physical books). This is great because it means no up-front costs to authors. However, it often limits your book sales to one retail platform.
Another option to ensure you don’t have any costs in advance is finding a printer that offers print-on-demand services in which you can link a variety of online retail accounts to their automated printing service. That way every time someone orders your book online, they print it, ship it, and then charge you. On-demand printing has higher costs for the printer, which means higher overall costs for you too, though.
The final option is to go old school and order a run of books in advance of making them available for purchase and then either handling distribution yourself via USPS, FedEx, or UPS or hiring a logistics company to handle the packing and distribution for you. This option is going to have the lowest costs per book for you, but it also requires the risk of paying up front and more legwork. But it’s also the best way to go if you’re hoping to get your books into brick-and-mortar retail as well as ecommerce.
30-75% of retail price
Marketing Costs
You finished your book! It’s out in the world! Now you just need people to read it. There are some great free options for marketing your book, but investing at least a little bit can make a huge difference in your ability to reach an audience and build an algorithm that keeps paying back.
Author Website
Websites can vary in complexity greatly, but having a hub where the rest of your online presence points to will help build legitimacy and create opportunities for you. It could also be a place to sell your novel directly for a higher profit margin. You’re going to want a custom domain, a page for each book, one about you, and a place to contact you for the media at the very least.
$50-$1000 a year
Social Media
It’s likely you already have a plan to use social media to get the word out about your book. That’s awesome! The reading community is everywhere, so just use the platforms you think fit your audience and your own interests best. Doing everything may spread yourself too thin. But in addition to free social media, you should consider investing in at least a little paid promotion on these sites. It can add a real boost to your existing page.
$100-$1000
Advance Reader Copies
ARCs are free printed copies of your book (sometimes they’re even test prints before everything is finalized) to send to friends, family, book clubs, book reviewers, buyers for book retailers, or influencers. They serve the purpose to give someone a free look at your story in hopes to receive a review online, future sales, or recommendations to others. It’s the oldest marketing tip in the industry, and it’s still the best way to get attention quickly. And all it takes is a little research, a few books, and a few shipments.
$100-$500
Author Events
People love meeting authors and having their books signed. It’s prestigious, especially if they’re also receiving a first edition book. People who meet authors at events are more likely to recommend a book, post about it on social media, and remain lifelong readers. So, get in on the experience. How much it costs to set up a reading or get a booth at an event can vary quite a bit, but fixed costs you should consider adding are posters and stands with your book cover on it and maybe some freebies like bookmarks or candy. Nothing draws people to a booth like snacks. Then pile up your books high and have a sharpie ready to sign.
$25-250
Total
Wow. That was a long list. It’s easy to see how a major publishing house invests about $100k per book up front, isn’t it? If you were to pay for every single service on this list, your total would be $4500-$18,500 for a 70,000 word book. Even at a budget release, books can add up fast. But the good news is that you’re probably not going to be spending that much.
The average author bringing a book to market actually spends $2000-$5000 overall. You’re likely to have other skills that you can bring to the publishing process to cut down costs, and it’s likely you have talented friends who would love to help too. You have the ability to decide which services it’s worth shelling out big on and which deserve a meager budget, but it’s always a good idea to get a professional perspective. Reach out to our team today to get a free assessment of the most lucrative way for you to bring your self-published book to market.
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