How Expensive is Self Publishing?

In traditional publishing, a publishing house 'buys' your book and pays you, investing in your work and taking on the financial risk. The opposite is true in self publishing. The author is responsible for funding the creation of their book in the same way any business invests money to create a sellable product that's attractive to its target audience.

How Expensive is Self Publishing?

The major costs of self publishing (AKA independent or 'indie' publishing) are:

• Editing: developmental editing, line and copy editing, and proofreading (perhaps even mentoring/coaching)

• Design: artwork, typesetting/formatting, and cover design

• Marketing: advertisements (including social media), and/or hiring a publicist or marketing professional

These can come at all kinds of prices, depending mostly on who you hire and how much work you're hiring them to do. Some authors choose to skip the above entirely and self publish for free, particularly when they don't have money to invest. In general, however, for the best chances when self publishing, I caution authors to expect at least several thousand dollars' investment.

Does Self Publishing Cost a Lot of Money?

What does editing cost for self published books?

For a professional editor, you can expect fees to start at AUD$1000. The range, however, varies greatly based on how the editor charges and how much. Typically, a book that is longer and needs a more intensive edit will cost more, while shorter books that are already in good shape won't be as costly.

For an idea of what an edit on your book might cost, visit your country's editing association website. In Australia, we have IPEd, and here is their pay rates sheet.

There are also different types of editors. Developmental editors, who look at wider aspects like structure and characters, often charge the most. Line and copy editors look at your prose, suggesting improvements to your writing, and sit in the middle for pricing. Proofreaders, who check the final version of your book for niggling errors like typos, tend to be the least expensive.

Is there a free/cheaper option for book editing?

There are certainly ways to save money when it comes to editing for your books. Many authors, especially those with novel writing experience, don't need a developmental editor. They can be very helpful, but if you already have a strong grasp of storytelling, beta readers should suffice.

A copy editor is vital, and it's especially helpful to find an editor who will do a copy/line blend to look at the overall prose in one go. If you edit your own work as much as possible, you can save your editor time by presenting them with a cleaner manuscript. This is a good way to save on editing costs. Check out my book HOW TO EDIT YOUR OWN NOVEL to learn more about this.

Proofreaders are also vital, as they find the typos that would otherwise make your book look unprofessional to readers. Poor spelling, grammar, and formatting distract from the story. When money is an issue, you can look to students or aspiring editors. They will often edit or proofread your work at a lower price (even free) to build their portfolio. The work may not be as high quality, however, as they aren't professionals.

What does design cost for self published books?

Design costs depend on what kind of work you need done. Will you engage an artist to create cover art, or do you only need a graphic designer to put together the cover itself? Will you format/typeset yourself (programs like Atticus come in at around $250), or hire a professional? I'd budget at least $500 each for a designer, artist, and typesetter.

What's the free/cheaper option?

Like with editing, you might be able to find a student or aspiring book cover designer to do the work at a cheaper price. Artists also range in costs depending on their level of skill and how in-demand they are.

You can also DIY your cover using a program like Canva, but if you don't have design skills, you may struggle to make it look professional. Canva may also retain rights to elements of your cover.

What does marketing cost for self published books?

Marketing for books is what you make it. You could spend thousands on advertising, or hiring a marketing person or firm, or you can DIY and focus on organic methods.

Major marketing channels for self publishing authors are usually:

• Social media (paid or organic)

• Publicity campaigns (appearing in magazines, on podcasts)

• Local outreach (going to markets, holding book signings)

There are so many options that it's impossible to put a price tag on the cost of book marketing, but I'll say this: it takes time to find what works, and often, financial investment. You can't simply throw money into an ad and expect a return on investment right away. You might have some failures before you find what works best for you - and that's okay!

If you can't take that risk, you can focus on organic outreach like posting on social media. Remember that your book is very unlikely to make sales if you ignore marketing completely. The market is too saturated for your book to magically appear in readers' hands. Organic marketing methods are a great option.

Should you traditionally publish instead?

The great thing about traditional publishing is that you get paid. They invest in you, rather than you fronting all the costs. This makes it a more attractive option for many writers.

Drawbacks, however, include that:

• It's a lot harder to get traditionally published, with more roadblocks and gatekeeping

• Traditional publishing takes a long time

• You may not make as much money in royalties per book sale

• You may not have control over elements like the cover and marketing

Learn more about self publishing

I'd love to help you get started with your self publishing journey. I can help mentor you and show you the ropes, or provide editorial services to make your book shine. Contact me today!

Poppy Rose Solomon’s creative pursuits are a manifestation of her passions for the whimsical and magical. Evoking inspiration and escapism is the goal of her storytelling. From her home in Lutruwita/Tasmania, she freelances as a YA editor and coach through her business Poppy’s Pages. Woken Kingdom is her first series, with plenty more novels to come, and she has also released a book to help other authors titled How to Edit Your Own Novel.