How Much Does It Cost To Publish a Book

Many aspiring authors wish to publish their own books but are often pushed aside by one major question: “How much does it cost to publish a book?” As you may probably expect, the answer is bound by the types of publishing, the desired quality level and the traditional or self-publishing option sought compared to mere digital books. The costs involved, therefore, need to be understood in order to budget accordingly.

This article breaks down key costs to publish a book on Amazon, focusing on self-publishing and digital formats. It is a clear guide to get you started.

Self-Publishing VS Traditional Publishing! 

Knowing how these two differ will help lay the groundwork before comparing the costs. Traditional publishing typically requires an agent, submittals to a publisher for their selection, and significant delays. On the other hand, an author typically pays very little or nothing upfront, and the publisher pays for editing, formatting, and all necessary to distribute your product. The problem here is you do not get as big a chunk of profit for each sale because so much of this goes to the publisher.

Self-publishing puts you in the driving seat. That means you decide everything that goes to make your book. It also means you pay for everything that a traditional publishing house would pay for. You will need resources for editing, designing, and marketing too. The prices are infinitely different for the caliber and type of book self-published.

Cost of Self-Publishing? Let’s Know!

The cost would differ depending on the range of services necessary to achieve self-publishing. Considering commonly available data, most authors can expect to pay between $1,299 and $4,999 to publish a book, which will include all the necessary services for editing, cover design, and distribution. Authors who wish to publish a digital book might have lesser costs; however, that does not mean it comes at zero.

The following is the typical breakdown of cost while publishing a book:

Editing

There are steps in the publishing process, and editing is one of those not-so-important things because cutting corners on editing often leads to a poorly received book, terrible reviews, and low sales. The actual types include: The actual types include:

1. Developmental Editing: This is a deep review of your manuscript about the structural, content, and flow setup. Developmental editing usually costs more but guarantees to keep your story prosperous.
2. Copy Editing: Copy editing focuses on grammar, punctuation, and style, thus polishing your manuscript.
3. Proofreading: This is the last editing stage with proofreading that still catches the previous errors.

Efficiently, editing will cost you between $500 and $2000, depending on the type of your book and its enhancement. 

Cover Design for a Book

For some people, “Don’t Judge a Book by Its Cover” means word to word! A professionally designed cover makes your book stand out in a traffic marketplace. The cost of custom interior and exterior designs for print and digital books ranges between $200 and $1,000, depending on the designer’s skill.

Formatting and Interior Design

Formatting is the biggest priority, whether it is a print or digital book. An eBook needs to appear just as professional in iPad form as a paperback to target your market audience in a tremendous crowd! This usually costs around $100 to $500.

ISBN and Distribution

An ISBN is a unique identification number for most physical and digital books sold. There is an added cost of at least $125, with purchases that range up to $150, depending on if you are buying one ISBN or a block of ten. Most eBook publishing platforms include free ISBNs from organizations such as Amazon and Kinetic Digital Publishing; these may limit your distribution possibilities. Distribution cost has to be added in the list as there is a setup process that usually occurs through places like Amazon, IngramSpark, Digital Books, and many more. In most cases, the distributor has a setup fee, while in others, it is taking a percentage on every sale of your books.

Nonetheless, Marketing and Promotion

Once you believe your book is ready for the world, you must market it. Paying for advertising, hosting a book launch event, or even a social media campaign are some ways. The cost of marketing can vary widely depending on your plan. While others may spend as little as $300, one might spend a few thousand dollars if book marketing services are involved. You might hire the service of a professional publicist or book marketing agency in a push for more publicity.

How Much Will it Cost to Publish an E-Book?

For example, the total cost of eBook Publishing can be more affordable. You would never have to worry about printed copies as you save on printing and shipping, and eBook formatting is less complicated and inexpensive. The average cost of publishing a digital book is around $1299 for basic to $2999 for advanced editing or marketing services.

However, even though you are lowering costs, you should still ensure that your eBook is professionally edited, well-designed, and effectively marketed. Additionally, in eBook Publishing, the market is highly competitive, so be very innovative and do not compromise on anything else, even if you publish digitally.

DIY vs. Hiring Professionals

Many self-published writers assume that they can save by performing parts of the work themselves; however, most parts are usually better handled by a professional. Editing and even cover designs need the touch of a professional. While you may save on the money you spend upfront, people will not want to waste their time reading your book if it has low quality in them.

However, areas to cut costs prevail. You can do your marketing or take advantage of Amazon KDP for your eBook publishing as well: free self-publishing. These options will really reduce your costs while still rendering you a professional book.

Other Factors to Consider

Over and above the overheads mentioned above, here are other things to consider:

• Time Cost: Another cost to consider in self-publishing is time. You spend much of your time on writing, editing, marketing, and so much more in getting your book out.
• Printing Cost: The printing cost must be factored in if you print hard copies. This can vary depending on the size and number of pages. It can run anywhere from $2 to $5 per copy. 

Conclusion

So, lastly, how much does it cost to publish a book and meet the desired requirements of the marketplace? The answer to this typically relies on goals, including how much investment you put into your fortune!  At the bare minimum, producing a high-quality book incurs a cost. Most authors invest in the $1299 to $4999 range to produce their books and marketing. You can cut costs by publishing eBooks yet still reach thousands by submitting them via online channels such as Amazon, Smashwords, and many more.

Remember, the more one invests in a quality book, the greater the likelihood of success!