You’ve got a book in you and want to share it with the world. The problem is that you don’t know what it will cost or what expenses to consider. Most people get stuck at this point, asking, “How much does it cost to publish a book?”

The answer is simple— it depends on the route you take. In this guide, we’ll break down the current costs of both traditional and self-publishing so you can make a decision that gets your book into the hands of readers without draining your wallet. 

Understanding the Publishing Process

Before diving into the costs, it's important to grasp the high-level steps involved in publishing a book:

1. Writing: Completing your manuscript.

2. Editing and Proofreading: Refining your work to ensure clarity and correctness.

3. Cover Design and Formatting: Creating an appealing cover and formatting the interior for print and digital versions.

4. Publishing: Choosing between traditional publishing and self-publishing.

5. Marketing and Distribution: Promoting your book and author website to make it available to readers.

Each step plays an important role in the success of your book and comes with its own set of expenses. Let’s go ahead and dissect the difference between traditional publishing and self-publishing. It’s a huge help when setting yourself up for success.

Traditional Publishing vs. Self-Publishing

• ‍Traditional publishing involves partnering with a publishing house to produce and distribute your book. This route typically means the publisher covers many upfront costs, including professional editing, cover design, and marketing. While you often receive a cash advance, the process can be lengthy and competitive, requiring you to secure a literary agent and navigate through publisher contracts.
• ‍Self-publishing allows authors to maintain full control over the publishing process and retain a larger share of the profits. Although it requires some grunt work on your part, publishing through sites like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, you’ll enjoy a greater return on royalties. Authors are responsible for all aspects of publishing, from editing to marketing book sales, but they also have the flexibility to manage expenses according to their budget.

Factors That Influence the Cost Of Self-Publishing a Book

Publishing a book can sometimes feel like you're hemorrhaging money. From editing to cover design and marketing to printing and distribution costs – the bills can pile up.

Luckily, there's a way to slash these expenses without sacrificing quality. Later in this article, we’ll reveal a proven blueprint that's helped countless writers navigate the self-publishing maze without breaking the bank.

So, before resigning to emptying your wallet, let's break down these influencing factors. Once you understand the game, you can bend the rules in your favor!

Editing

Once you have your manuscript ready, the next step is editing. Some people looking to publish a book prefer professional editing and proofreading. Depending on the length and complexity of their manuscript, editing services can cost from $4,000 to $7,000. Conversely, self-publishers often opt for AI editing, which can cost between $0 and $50. Check out these different AI book editing tools.

Cover Design

A compelling cover is huge when attracting readers. Professional book cover design services typically range from $100 to $2,000, depending on the level of detail. Do-it-yourself options are available for less than $20/month, so many self-publishers use easy-to-learn and simple-to-use graphic design tools to create their own eBook covers.

Formatting

Proper formatting ensures your book looks professional in both print and digital formats. If you want someone else to do formatting for you, you're looking at costs between $50 and $200, depending on the book’s length and the complexity of its layout. However, resources are available to teach you how to format your book for free.

Marketing & Promotions

If you’re looking to publish a book, chances are you want people to find it so that you can make money; marketing and distribution are how you do it! Costs vary widely based on your chosen strategies, including book tours, advertising, and giveaways. Budgeting for marketing can range from $0 to $5,000 or more, depending on the scope of your efforts. 

The bottom line is that cost factors depend on your budget and the time you will dedicate to see your book come to life. Whatever you choose, your goal is to enhance your book’s professionalism and visibility.

Can You Self-Publish for Free?

Absolutely! In recent years, self-publishing has become an easy and quick way to publish your book in your own time, in your own way, for virtually free. Even those with a small budget can access resources that will take your self-publishing journey to the next level. Below are some ways to minimize costs for self-publishing:

• ‍Do Everything Yourself: You can significantly reduce costs by handling tasks like editing, formatting, and cover design yourself. It requires a willingness to learn but also keeps money in your pocket.‍
• Free Publishing Platforms: Platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) allow you to publish your book for free. These services handle distribution, making reaching a wide audience easy without upfront costs.‍
• Leverage Free Marketing Strategies: Marketing strategies, such as social media promotion, blogging, and engaging with online communities, are free and can help you promote your book without incurring significant expenses. Although they require some of your time, they are highly effective in building an audience and generating interest in your book before it hits digital shelves.

While free is great, we’ve heard that finding reliable information is sometimes difficult for those wanting to cut out the middleman in traditional publishing and try their hand at self-publishing. We want to put the power back in your hands, so let’s discuss self-publishing.

Save Money and Time with Self-Publishing

Do you want to save money and time?
Are you looking to have control over your writing process?

Do you want tips and advice from self-publishing professionals?

Well, you’re in the right place! At Publishing.com, we’re self-publishing pros who want to help writers like you find reliable information to help you on your self-publishing journey. We’ve accumulated a wealth of knowledge both during our own self-publishing endeavors and from our students who have used our resources; now, we want you to have it!

High-Value Course

The AI Publishing Academy (AIA) was created to offer our students easy-to-follow courses and valuable resources that aren't available anywhere else. Our AIA course was designed to streamline the self-publishing journey, covering a proven process that easily guides you through each step. 

Real People. Real Success.

Laura C.

“I knew absolutely nothing about publishing when I first started, but now I have my very first book out, which generated $ 8,000 during the very first month of publishing.”

Taig and Anthony

“When you're investing your money, understand that that money is going to come back to you.”

Christel P.

"You can try to figure all of this out on your own and move ahead at a snail's pace, or you can join the twins and the team at AIA and spend a few hours a day turning your dreams into reality."

A Free AND Robust Webinar

“I’ll believe it when I see it.” We get it! Our Founders, Christian and Rasmus or the Mikkelsen twins, felt it was necessary to be the voice they didn't have when they started self-publishing. That’s why we offer a free webinar that covers essential topics and previews our AIA course, helping you decide if it’s the right fit for your publishing journey. Don’t miss this opportunity to learn from experts and take the first step toward publishing your book.

The Pros and Cons of Traditional Publishing and Self-Publishing

In the spirit of giving free, helpful resources, we took some time to compare these two methods side-by-side, jot down a pro-con list, and create a sample budget to help you visualize the potential costs involved with publishing. 

The Traditional Publishing Route

Let’s visualize your journey if you work with a traditional publishing company.

Pros

• Established Distribution Networks: Traditional publishers have established relationships with bookstores, distributors, and online retailers, ensuring your book reaches a wide audience.
• Professional Editing and Design: Publishers have access to professional editors and designers, which can elevate the quality of your book.
• Advance and Royalties: Authors typically receive an advance payment and ongoing royalties, providing financial security before the book is released.

Cons

• Long Wait Times: The process can be time-consuming, often taking years from manuscript submission to publication. This includes securing an agent, pitching to publishers, and navigating the editing and production phases.
• Loss of Creative Control: Authors often relinquish significant creative control over their work, including the cover design, title, and even content changes suggested by the publisher.
• Lower Royalties: Traditional publishing usually offers lower royalty percentages, as a significant portion of the profits go to the publisher and other intermediaries.

Sample Budget for Traditional Publishing 

Here’s a sample budget for traditional publishing, highlighting common expenses and potential profits when working with a traditional publishing house. Keep in mind that most of your costs will come from agent fees. However, since the publisher typically covers services like editing and formatting, they won’t be part of your out-of-pocket expenses.

Disclaimer: In traditional publishing, the publisher covers many costs. Authors may be given an advance upfront to help cover some expenses, which the publisher recoups through book sales. Everyone’s experience is different, and costs vary greatly. These estimations were pulled from our independent research.

Remember, every publishing house offers different options, so you may need to research a bit to find the right one.

The Choice to Self-Publish

Self-publishing offers a different path with a unique set of benefits and challenges:

Pros

• Faster Publishing Process: Self-publishing allows you to bring your book to market much faster to earn money, often within months.
• Full Creative Control: You retain complete control over every aspect of your book, from content to cover design, ensuring your vision remains intact.
• Higher Royalties: Compared to traditional publishing, self-published authors can earn significantly higher royalties, often 60-70% of the book's price.

Cons

• Upfront Costs: Self-publishing requires you to cover all costs, including editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing.
• Responsibility for Success: Your book's success largely depends on your marketing and promotion efforts, which can be time-consuming and challenging.
• Learning Curve: There’s a learning curve as you manage self-publishing, from production to distribution.

Sample Budget for Self-publishing a Book

Below, you’ll find a sample budget for self-publishing. It highlights common costs that self-publishers face and demonstrates the wide range depending on your level of input.

‍Disclaimer: Self-publishing costs can vary widely based on the services chosen and the author’s skills. Some authors may handle certain tasks themselves, further reducing costs. Everyone’s experience is different, and costs vary greatly. These estimations were pulled from our independent research.

As you can see, self-publishing is what you make it. Let’s quickly talk about how you can stay as close as possible to that “low-end” figure.

How to Minimize Costs When Self-Publishing

Self-publishing doesn't have to be prohibitively expensive. With strategic decisions and the right resources, you can minimize costs while maintaining the quality of your book.

Tool Recommendations

Within our AIA course, we recommend tools that self-publishers can use, so we’ll give you a quick glance behind the curtain for free!

Research, Planning, and Writing

• ChatGPT offers a free version to help you get started or relieve writer's block.

Editing

• Grammarly has a free option, but if you find it lacking guidance, its premium option is available for as little as $12 monthly.

Cover Design

• Canva is great for beginners; the best part is its free. They also offer a “Canva Pro” plan for $15 monthly that includes tons of images, templates, and more.

Formatting

• Reedsy Studio offers a free version with professional templates and an intuitive design.

If these low-cost options have piqued your interest, we want to give you yet another one of our free resources:

Our blog page is packed with even more knowledge and industry secrets that we’ve made so people like you can feel ready to take on the world of self-publishing!

So, How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book?

The cost of publishing a book boils down to the path you choose. Traditional publishing might look attractive because the upfront costs are lower, but the trade-off is waiting for what feels like forever and seeing a smaller cut of your book’s earnings. On the flip side, self-publishing puts you in the driver’s seat—more control, more profit—but it also means you’re the one footing the bill upfront.

When you weigh the pros and cons, self-publishing often becomes a no-brainer. You get your book out faster, keep more of the profits, and control every aspect of the process. If you’re serious about getting your book into readers’ hands and making extra income, self-publishing is the way to go.