How much does self publishing cost?
Something new writers who plan to self publish don’t often think about before they start writing a book is how much it’s going to cost to get it published. After all, it costs nothing (except their time) to write it and putting it on Amazon is free. Well, if that’s what you’re counting on, I have news that may surprise you.
How much you spend on publishing a book depends on how much you are willing to invest in its quality. Quality sells, and quality costs money. If you go cheap, you run the risk of ending up with a book that doesn’t sell well.
Here is a breakdown of the cost of goods and services you will likely incur to self publish a 200-page book (or about 60,000 words).
When determining self publishing costs, consider:
1. Editing
There is substantial work involved when it comes to shaping a manuscript into a market-ready book, and one of the most important aspects of this process is in the editing. While there is a certain amount of self-editing you can and should do yourself, a professional editor will help you make your work accurate, clear, credible, and marketable—comparable to traditionally published books.
There are arguably five different levels of editing:
- manuscript assessment
- developmental editing
- line editing
- copy editing
- proofreading
I say arguably because there appear to be no industry standards for what is included in each of these categories. Talk to one publisher, and he’ll list ten different things his line editors look for in a manuscript. Talk to another and she’ll list six of the same things and add three of her own.
Following are what I most often see differentiating the levels of editing and their associated costs. The cost ranges are wide depending on the skill level of the editor and the condition of the manuscript.
Manuscript Assessment ($600–$3,000)
This is the most basic level of editing—the big-picture evaluation of a manuscript where a content editor points out the strengths and weaknesses of the manuscript, usually in a multipage report. The elements assessed may include all or some of the following.
- Story line
- Character development
- Setting
- Narrative flow and style
- Plot structure/scene development
- Point of view
- Organization
- Pacing
- Format
- Suitability for intended audience and marketability
- Accuracy of facts
- Clarity
- Tone
- Voice
- Dialogue
- Book title and chapter titles
Developmental Editing ($3,600–$6,000)
A developmental editor provides fixes or suggested fixes for the manuscript (chapter by chapter, paragraph by paragraph, scene by scene) that will correct the deficiencies identified in the assessment. This intensive edit is ideal for writers who have been made aware there are problems with their work but don’t know how to fix them.
Line Editing ($1,800–$4,800)
A line editor analyzes and then polishes each sentence with respect to clarity and style. Some or all the following elements may be taken into consideration.
- Sentence and paragraph structure and flow
- Syntax
- Clarity
- Repetitiveness
- Transitions
- Paragraph breaks
- Vocabulary level
- Use of clichés and undesirable verbal tics
- Diction
- Grammar
- Punctuation
- Spelling
Copy Editing ($600–$3,000)
Copy editing focuses on technical errors, including the following.
- Subject-verb agreement
- Verb tense
- Diction
- Grammar
- Spelling
- Punctuation
Proofreading ($600–$1,800)
The proofreader does a final check of the manuscript before it gets published and is responsible for correcting any remaining technical errors (primarily spelling, punctuation, typographical, and formatting).
2. Cover Design
The good news for self publishers is there are book cover designs available for just about any budget—you can pick up a decent pre-made, full-color cover for $50 or have one designed that will compete with books published by Penguin, Harper Collins, and Random House for up to $1,200.
Here are typical price ranges for different types of covers:
- Pre-made: $50–$100
- Designed using stock photographs: $125–$400
- Custom designed: $500–$1,200+
3. Formatting
If they have the expertise, writers can obviously format their book themselves. It’s not that complicated and there are plenty of tutorials out there. But there are so many things that can go wrong in book formatting that I think it pays to have a professional do it, or at the very least it’s worth investing in professional-quality tools like Atticus or Vellum for formatting.
There are differing processes and requirements for formatting books in paper and ebook formats—the formatting that looks good in print isn’t necessarily the best or easiest to read for Kindle readers, for example. If you can take the time to learn proper formatting techniques and use software specifically designed for formatting books, you can do this for less than a couple hundred dollars.
4. Printing
There are numerous places where you can have your book printed. If you choose IngramSpark (who I think are in line with other printers), expect to pay about $0.02 per page for a 6×9, black-and-white interior, full-color cover with no inside illustrations. For a 200-page book, this adds up to around $4 per copy.
5. ISBN
The International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a thirteen-digit number that identifies the registrant as well as:
- the specific title
- edition
- format of the book
It is essentially a product identifier used by:
- publishers
- booksellers
- libraries
- Internet retailers
- other supply-chain participants
for ordering, listing, sales records, and stock control purposes. ISBNs may be purchased from an affiliate of the International ISBN Agency, such as Bowker, for $125 if you purchase a single one and $295 if you purchase ten. They are required only if you want your book available in libraries, bookstores, and other retailers.
Editor’s note: The ISBN price mentioned above is for US ISBNs. Cost and where to purchase ISBNs varies country to country. If you are not in the US and plan to publish, please find your country here and contact that agency for information specific to your country.
6. Distribution
Today, more than half of all book sales (regardless of format) take place online, and self-published authors have the same access to online retail distribution as the major publishers and without many up-front costs.
If you choose to sell your book on Amazon—the number one retailer of books in both print and digital formats—there is no cost involved in the distribution of your books. Or you can choose to work with any number of distribution services for a nominal fee or percentage of your profits. For example, IngramSpark charges a $49-per-title setup fee for print books, and then wholesale distribution is free.
7. Paid Promotion and Advertising
In most cases, self-published authors have limited money to spend on promoting their books. But free promotional opportunities go only so far in helping your book gain the exposure it needs to become profitable.
The amount of money you budget for book promotion and advertising really comes down to how much you can afford to spend, and the figure I hear very often is $100 per month. This may be too high or too low for some, but it’s a starting point. See how far it will go, track results, and modify it as needed.
8. Education
One can learn a lot about writing and the publishing industry for free, but there will be times when you will want to take a class or attend a webinar that isn’t free. Self publishing costs in this category start from $50 for a decent webinar and $135 for a college-level class. There are also mastermind groups, online courses, and other opportunities for education, which can range from less than $100 to well over $1,000, depending on the quality of the offering and who’s leading it.
9. Reference Materials, Dues, and Subscriptions
Self publishing costs vary in this category depending on your needs. You may opt to do all of these things or none of them. Included in this category are:
- how-to books
- software licenses
- website domain fees
- online subscriptions
- trade journals
- writing association dues
10. Office Supplies and Equipment
Don’t forget to budget for things like business cards, mailing envelopes, printer ink, and anything else you might need in the way of office supplies. If you need to purchase computer equipment specifically for the purpose of writing books, include the associated cost in your budget as well as the cost to maintain them.
11. Postage
You will probably send out copies of your printed book to friends, family, and reviewers. Depending on the number of books sent and their destinations, this cost will vary. One way to save money in this area is to use media mail, which takes a lot longer to receive but is also significantly less expensive.
How much does self publishing cost? A summary
So, let’s recap. You can expect the following self publishing costs to publish a 200-page (60,000-word) black and white book with a full-color front and back cover:
Editing—As little as $600 if your manuscript is in excellent shape and all you need is minimal proofreading. As much as $18,000 if your manuscript has multiple issues, and you engage services from experienced editors for all five levels of editing.
Cover design—As little as $50 for a pre-made, fully-illustrated cover. As much as $1,200 for a custom-made one.
Formatting—Free if you do it yourself with software you already own. Professional packages start at around $200 for print and ebook formatting and go up from there.
Printing—Paying $3 a copy for a 200-page printed book is standard.
ISBN—As little as $29.50 each if you purchase ten. As much as $125 if you purchase a single one.
Distribution—As little as $0 for standard online retail distribution. $60 per title is a common price to pay for expanded distribution.
Promotion & advertising—As little or as much as you want to invest in getting exposure for your book.
Education—The national range for a single community college class is $135 – $750. Webinars usually start at $50.
Reference materials—This cost will vary depending on individual needs. Consider how-to books, software licenses, website domain fees, online subscriptions, trade journals, and writing association dues.
Office supplies & equipment—This cost will vary depending on individual needs. Consider business cards, mailing envelopes, printer ink, and computer equipment.
Postage—Consider the cost to send copies of your book to friends, family, and reviewers.
As in other aspects of our lives—personal and business—having a budget in place before the spending begins is a wise thing to do to keep on a good financial track. Expenses required to write, publish, and promote books can get out of hand quickly if not properly managed, so it’s beneficial to take time early in the process to prepare a budget.
