Choices in self-publishing options and book profit
About self-publishing options and book profit.
Book profit and self publishing options go hand in hand. If you are like most authors, you want to know what is it going to cost, and how much can I make? Let’s start with the bottom line …
If you print books with Star Print Brokers, you should expect to make more profit as well as print better books. If you use an on-demand service, do you actually get your book into brick-and-mortar bookstores, or just have access to those bookstores? We have a secret for you. If you have your own ISBN and barcode, you already have access to brick-and-mortar bookstores. You are in the database already.
How does this work so that either the novice or the seasoned indie author can decide what self publishing options are best for their book title or publishing company?
This is a general overview. There are so many variables that it is impossible to address them all. If considering any or all of these self publishing options, it is best to get a quote using the same specifications, so you can have a fair comparison. Ask for shipping and delivery costs to your door, and make sure it is included in the quote. We include all foreseeable costs in our quotes.
Here are some of the variables …
- Hardcover or soft cover. If hardcover, is it cloth or is it printing? Since print on-demand and book packagers either do a poor job with hardcover books — or they are extremely expensive — we will use only soft cover books (paperbacks) in our comparison of self-publishing options.
- Page count
- Quantity
- Dimensions
- Black and white, color, or premium color
- Paper weight and finish – matte, gloss or woodfree
- Cover varnishes or matte, gloss, or soft touch lamination
- Shipping and delivery destination
- Fulfillment company or by author. If author fulfillment, add cost of padded envelope or box.
- Distribution
Assumption: Estimating the book profit to the author. We are trying as closely as possible, to base comparisons on a soft cover book, 8.5 x 11, 100 pages, color, with a retail price of $25.00. Plan on up to a 55 percent wholesale discount to the US market.
Let’s break it down …
Star Print Brokers — Self-publishing options:
Authors pay only for book printing. If you need book design, we can supply that as well for an additional cost.
Author expenses:
About $4.00 per copy if printing 2,000 copies. If you list the book on Amazon, they expect a deep discount of around 30 percent or more off retail price. Additionally, they charge 15 percent of the list price to put the book on Amazon. “Look inside” is extra, as are other options.
Book profit to author: $14.88 to $21.00
Sell at full price on your website: $21.00 per copy. Sell on Amazon with 30 percent discount, and pay 15 percent to Amazon. Your book profit is: $14.88.
Proofread the manuscript yourself. Buyer pays for shipping and handling. If you need other services, you have plenty of book profit to use for additional services.
Traditional publishers — self-publishing options:
Traditional publishers pay only royalties. They generally pay 10 percent on the first 5,000 books.
Author expenses:
Since traditional publishers cover production costs, your book must first be chosen to publish. They do not have a limitless marketing budget, and expect authors to also spend time and money for social media. This could include advertising costs, hiring an SEO firm, and having a website on your own domain.
Book profit to author: $2.50
That is 10 percent of retail. If the book is on sale for $15, the book profit would be only $1.50.
Print on-demand — self-publishing options:
With most of the online publishers, authors can print on-demand, (POD). We’ve written a number of articles about printing on-demand. Please read them as well.
POD means that you can print a few books at a time, or a short run. Much of the time, they give you an ISBN and barcode to use. But, this means that they are the publisher of your book.
You can also buy your own ISBN and barcode from Star Print Brokers. We are authorized agents. If you need more than one ISBN as you would for a print copy and an ebook, go directly to ISBN.org. Once you have your own ISBN, you are in the database using the book title, author, and publisher. You don’t need to buy advertising in the catalog unless you want to.
Author expenses:
Estimated cost for physical books. Sometimes there is a set-up fee per title, set-up of cover file, book file, costs to be listed in catalogs, cost to advertise in catalogue, revisions to files, lamination.
If you list the book on Amazon, they expect a deep discount of around 30 percent or so off the retail cost. Then they charge 15 percent of the Amazon price to list the book. Look inside is extra, as are any other options.
Book profit to author: $1.41
The printing charge is $4.92 and publisher compensation $6.33. The POD provider is paying you only a royalty, but call it publisher compensation in this scenario. They are also handling distribution which does not mean that you get into physical bookstores.
Book packagers — self-publishing options:
A book packager has a variety of packages available, depending on your needs. Most often, they are using POD services or outputting the books themselves. Depending on what they are doing behind the scenes, you may have your own ISBN or not. The variables for them are the services they add like, editing, proofreading, reviews, maybe a trailer, and the number of books you will receive. If you don’t need these services, then the cost per book is high. You get either books that are digitally output, or printed, but don’t expect high-quality books or bindings, and options are limited.
Book profit to author:
In this scenario, authors get services and just 5 physical copies for $1,700. More books would need to be printed to arrive at a book profit per copy.
Be sure to choose Star Print Brokers self publishing options, and make more book profit! Read about all of our services.
