If you’re reading this, you probably wrote a book. Or you’re thinking about it. Either way, you want to know how much it costs to self-publish a novel.
The truth is that there is no set price. But there are some general guidelines to help on your journey.
DIY Self-Publishing: Savings & Costs
You wrote a book, so you can do everything else necessary to get it published, right? With a little patience and hard work, you can. When self-publishing all on your own, you can expect the following fees:
- Developmental Editing: $0
- Line Editing: $0
- Proofreading: $0
- Cover Design: $0
- ISBNs: $0 (if you use a free ISBN from IngramSpark or Amazon KDP)
Pretty exciting, right? You can get your book in readers’ hands without spending a dime. That’s a low cost for self-publishing. There are, however, unexpected costs to releasing your book all on your own. These include:
- Developmental Editing: Because you’re so close to the story, you don’t notice plot holes or characters in need of development. So, your story may not be as strong as it could be with a professional’s eye.
- Line Editing: A good story has varied word choice and sentence structure to create a stable flow. Do you know what words you use most often, and can you identify problem sentences that need fixing? If not, your story is going to suffer.
- Proofreading: Spellcheck is a blessing for writers and editors alike. But do you know the difference between lay and lie and what words to capitalize or leave lowercase?
- Cover Design: Your book cover should look like it belongs inside Barnes & Noble, not at the front of a middle school creative writing assignment.
- ISBNs: Using free ISBNs from IngramSpark or Amazon KDP is a great way to offset cost. The only downside: Your publisher is listed as “Independent” or some other term that screams “Self-published, low quality.”
How Much It Costs to Self-Publish with a Partner
Most authors work with one or more partners. This ensures a higher quality end product and takes a lot of heavy lifting off the author’s shoulders.
How much does it cost to self-publish when working with professionals? The price ranges vary.*
- Developmental Editing: $1,000–$3,500
- Line Editing: $1,250–$3,150
- Proofreading: $600–$2,500
- Cover Design: $50–$3,000+
- ISBNs: $125 for a single ISBN, $295 for ten ISBNs
- Total: $3,025–$12,445
*Editorial estimates as reported by the Editorial Freelancers Association (of which Argyle Fox Publishing editors are members) for a 50,000-word manuscript. ISBN costs based on Bowker.
By working with a company that provides all these services and more in a package deal, you can often save cash and time and get an end product that’s better than you could have imagined. What companies offer such services? There are quite a few. Argyle Fox Publishing is one of them.
Think we may be the publisher for you? Take a peek around our website and get to know us. Then submit your manuscript for consideration!