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How to Start a Publishing Company: 2024 Guide

You can start your own publishing company with these simple steps:

• Develop a business structure (usually an LLC)
• Choose the name and location for your company
• Register your business
• Obtain your EIN and set up a business banking account

Want more detail? Keep reading. This article is detailed, informative, and easy to comprehend — even for someone who was as legally inept as I used to be.

• If you should set up a publishing company
• The benefits of setting up a publishing company
• How to set up a publishing company

Table of contents

• What does a publishing company do?
• Should you start a publishing company?
• Benefits of Starting Your Own Publishing Company
• When should you start a publishing company? 
• 6 Steps for Starting a Book Publishing Company
• Setting up a Publishing Company with MyCompanyWorks
• WCU’s Publishing MA Program
• And don’t forget to check out my podcast where I spoke with my lawyer about publishing business structure.

A publishing company sells and distributes books (and magazines, newspapers, digital content, etc.) They may contribute to the editing process to ensure their published content is up to snuff. The publishing company decides what kind of marketing (and where to advertise) will best help sell their books.

Starting your own book publishing company is a crucial step in boosting your author brand, selling other people's books, or protecting yourself and your assets.

For many people, establishing your own company can be confusing, tedious, and downright painful. To be honest, it’s a lot of work.

Thankfully, this step-by-step guide will help you determine if you should start a publishing company and show you how to achieve such a daunting task.

Let me make 2 disclaimers:

• Although I have a lot of experience setting up LLCs, including my own book publishing company, I am by no means a lawyer or CPA and cannot speak on their behalf. If you have any questions, it is best to seek legal advice before moving on. This article does not constitute legal advice and should not substitute for the advice of an attorney.
• Some of the paperwork and legal steps listed in this article are pertinent to the US only. Each country will have its own laws for setting up such things. Many of the steps and recommendations below will be relevant to your startup, no matter which country you’re in.

There are 3 primary reasons to start a publishing company:

• Financial protection

Of course, there are many reasons to start a publishing company, but these are the big three. For example, if you want to publish other people’s books, you can do that without an LLC. But if you do establish an LLC, you are protected and legitimate.

With today’s publishing platforms, you don’t have to start a publishing business to publish your own work or even other people’s stories.

However, starting a publishing company has several advantages. Here’s a more detailed list of reasons you may want to establish your own publishing business:

• Conveys professionalism and expertise
• Protects yourself, your work, and your personal assets in case of a lawsuit
• Manages of your intellectual property
• Allows for certain tax write-offs
• Maintains control over your work
• Gives you access to more than one Amazon KDP account
• Shifts your mindset from a hobby writer to a business owner
• Fulfills your dream of being The Boss/CEO/Founder of your own publishing company
• Establishes a legal entity to contract co-writing and licensing properly
• Facilitates future opportunities to publish books by other authors

How do publishing companies make money? Publishing companies make money by taking in book sales, minus the royalties they pay out to authors and other artists. Royalties are 100% negotiable.

There are 6 excellent benefits to starting your own publishing company:

• Tax benefits, write-offs, and more
• Liability protection
• Increased credibility
• Ability to expand your brand
• Double the number of KDP accounts
• Co-writing and licensing

Of course, I could go on and on about the benefits — like being your own boss. But I’ll just take you through the main benefits, then along to the step-by-step process.

1. Tax Benefits, Write-Offs, & Wealth Building

Yes, there are tax benefits to having your own book publishing company. When April 15th approaches, you can write off a surprising number of business expenses.

A company helps you differentiate between your personal income and business income. All those business write-offs may save you a lot of money during tax season.

If you have your own company, I recommend getting a tax accountant (the fee for whom is a tax-deductible expense) to help prepare your taxes. During the year, an accountant can help you make the best choice in certain situations to take full advantage of the tax code.

The most common tax-deductible business expenses:

• Salaries, wages, and contract labor
• Most insurance policies
• Vehicle expenses
• Office internet
• Supplies and office expenses
• Business meals
• Advertising and marketing
• Accounting fees
• Interest on the business-related debt
• Conferences
• Rented office space
• Home office
• Property purchased for business use
• Depreciation on that property

Saving money on taxes isn’t just about short-term gain. The benefits of establishing a publishing company allow you to see this business as an opportunity to build wealth and plan for retirement.

2. Liability Protection

Starting your own publishing company gives you a certain level of liability protection. If someone sues you for writing-related reasons and you have an LLC, they cannot attack your personal assets — only the company’s assets. There are some cases of copyright infringement though, where the author would be held liable for their actions, but in total there is much more protection for such things.

If you don’t have a company and your book, product, or service gets sued, then your personal finances and a public record will be absolute fair game.

Although it’s rare, lawsuits happen.

Vocabulary time: LLC stands for Limited Liability Company.

Ask me about my own experience getting sued. It was a false claim from a competitor looking to knock my book off the shelf. The world is full of jerks who are willing to lie and cheat the system (shocking, I know).

Starting a company gives you legal liability protection and distinguishes between the business’s finances and your personal finances. The courts, or collection agencies, would not be allowed to come after you — only your company’s assets.

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3. Increased Credibility

When you start your own publishing company, it gives you increased credibility. Even though self-published authors are legitimate, having your own LLC sounds more legit and offers you and collaborators more legal protection.

Sharing that you’re a self-published author can be intimidating — you might have a fear that others will hear that you self publish and assume you couldn’t get published by a “real agency.” 

But sharing that you have your own publishing company, through which you publish your books, gives you a sense of legitimacy.

Credibility isn’t just important for your sense of accomplishment, though. Collaborators, authors, and business partners may also be more likely to work with an established publishing company.

4. Ability to Expand Your Brand

Starting your own publishing business improves your ability to expand your author brand .

Author branding is convincing someone to read your book over anyone else’s. This involves establishing credibility, proving your creativity, and maintaining a professional image that doesn’t distract from those books you worked so hard on.

This process is related to book positioning: convincing someone that your book is right for them. Good author branding makes book positioning easier and vice-versa.

Also, having a publishing company can make it easier to collaborate with other authors . Each author has access to each other’s audiences, expanding both author brands.

Having a publishing company not only adds legitimacy to your career but also allows you to maintain control over your book marketing and lets you expand your author brand in so many other little ways.

5. Double the Number of KDP Accounts

Another added benefit to starting a publishing company is that you’ll be able to create another Amazon KDP account and remain within your rights.

Amazon's Terms Of Service (TOS) state that an author can only have one KDP account.

However, the cool part of owning your own publishing company is that your company would have its own EIN and bank account, which allows it to open its own KDP account within the TOS of Amazon.

So the first account is your personal account, and the second one is the company’s publishing account. Two accounts come with the added benefit of increased author pages through Author Central, and therefore more exposure and the use of more pen names .

6. Co-writing & Licensing

Starting your own publishing company lets you co-write with another person or license another individual’s work while maintaining legal protection, liability protection, and legitimacy.

Going through a publishing company is the preferred method of contracting with others to bind with legitimate operating agreements legally. So it’s good to have your own company.

Having a publishing business becomes your platform for licensing and contracting future opportunities, such as co-writing or publishing someone else’s work.

Keep this in mind for later when we discuss naming your company .

You should start a publishing company if you have over $2,000 in book sales, want to protect your personal assets, want to publish other people’s books, and/or want to take full advantage of the US tax code.

I'll be real with you — not everyone should do this.

If you're just starting off or still see writing as a side gig or a hobby, then don't add the extra steps of starting a company to your already-busy schedule. Instead, focus on writing your book and nailing your marketing.

If you meet any one of the below requirements, I recommend you create a publishing company:

• You make more than $2,000 a month in book sales.
• You write in technical areas or health areas that could put you at risk of legal action.
• You want to publish other people's books.
• You're selling more than just books, such as courses, physical products, etc.
• You're an American citizen, but you live outside of the US and want a base of operations.

If you don’t meet any of these requirements, I recommend not starting your own publishing company.

So you've decided this is what you want to do. Now it’s time to actually start your own business!

Here is a step-by-step guide for starting a book publishing company:

• Evaluate your business goals.
• Develop a business structure.
• Choose a name for your business.
• Choose a location.
• Make it official.
• Grow your team.

That gives you a good idea of what to expect, but let’s dive into the nitty-gritty. I’ll detail each of these 6 steps below.

Step 1 : Evaluate Your Business Goals

The first step in starting your own publishing company is to evaluate your business goals. You need to figure out what your business’s point is — a business plan, of sorts.

A lot of you reading this want to publish your own books through your own publishing company. That’s great. You evaluated your business goals. But go beyond that. Write down a list of goals you can reach for.

For many of us, the goal is to provide extra legal protection and tax breaks.

For some, the goal is to encourage author collaboration or co-author ventures.

It’s smart to estimate what kind of income you plan on bringing in. This helps you plan ahead and lets you compare end-of-year income to expected income.

Ultimately, where do you see your publishing company headed in the next 5-10 years? It’s nice to have business goals set in place so you can aim for specific goals.

Step 2 : Develop a Business Structure 

Before you can start creating your own ebook or book company, you need to decide which type of business structure you would like to make.

There are many different types of businesses. Each has its own pros and cons.

• Corporation : A corporation is a group authorized to manage the company as a single entity. This includes stockholders, a board of directors, officers, company bylaws, etc. Establishing a corporation (S-Corp or C-Corp) requires a great deal more formalities and paperwork than the other items on this list.
• Sole proprietorship : This is a business owned and operated by a single person under their personal Social Security number rather than an EIN (Employer Identification Number). This is the simplest business form, though not the safest. The individual is personally liable in lawsuits. It’s wiser to get the liability protection of an LLC.
• Partnership : This is when multiple people (or entities) officially agree to manage/operate a business together. 
• Limited Liability Company : A Limited Liability Company (LLC) protects assets like a corporation, but with the pass-through tax benefits of a partnership or sole proprietorship.

Most self-publishers end up creating a Sole Proprietorship or an LLC. Here’s a great article that discusses in more depth the difference between a Sole Proprietorship vs. LLC .

In the end, the Limited Liability Company (LLC) is the best one for most book publishers.

An LLC is more flexible in how profit distribution and ownership are organized. It combines the features of a corporation and a sole proprietorship.

A corporation is a lot more rigid in its rules of operation than an LLC.

The controlling document in an LLC is called the “operating agreement.” You may write up this agreement in a myriad of different ways to suit your needs.

For example, your operating agreement may be where you create rules for how money comes in and goes out or for “successor members” (anyone who takes over after you).

An LLC has another benefit: It allows you to tax it as a Sole Proprietorship, Partnership, or S-Corporation. Basically, an LLC is the best of all worlds and fits nicely in the self-publishing business structure.

Chances are, your favorite authors or bloggers often use an LLC to protect their brand and business.

Before you decide which is best for you, do some additional research on each.

To find out more about each type, you can check out the IRS’s resource page on business structure .

Should I set up an S corporation?

Yes, you should set up an S corporation. In other words, you should charter an LLC, then file paperwork that tells the IRS to treat your LLC as an S corporation.

• Business charter — A corporation and a Limited Liability Company (LLC) are business charters issued by state governments and may have state income tax implications.
• Tax election — Subchapter S or an S Corp tax election is paperwork you file with the IRS for the unique tax treatment of a corporation or an LLC.

A business charter and tax election are tools to protect and preserve the wealth you create from your writing. The takeaway is that the S-Corp election would be something you do after you charter your company.

Authors should elect to have their LLC treated as an S Corporation. This is part of a broader tax optimization strategy and wealth creation. Instead of your company paying income tax, the company’s net income passes on to its shareholders to claim it on their personal taxes.

Yet you are still provided with liability protection.

Step 3 : Choose a Name for Your Business

It’s critical to choose a good name for your business that clearly says what you’re about, doesn’t potentially confuse your audience, and isn’t already trademarked or used in your area.

You may consider using your name or your genre, like “Chesson Publications” or “Space Pants Press.” It is a good idea to have backup names ready in case your first choice is not available.

There are 3 things to consider before choosing your business name:

• Make sure it’s not trademarked by anyone.
• Check that it’s not already used by someone in your state if you’re in the U.S.
• Do not use the words “corporation” or “inc.” unless you set up your business as a corporation.

If you’re setting up a Sole Proprietorship, you’ll likely file a DBA (doing business as), also called a “trade name registration” or “fictitious name.”

The good news is that the name availability is state-specific. This means that even though a company called “Intergalactic Press” is registered in New York, you can still use the name if it hasn’t been registered in the state you use to file.

How do you check if your company name is taken? Check to see if your company name is taken by going to your respective state’s name search, by typing “Secretary of State business name search (Name of the selected state)” into Google.

The desired website is often the first result. Start hunting to see if your potential business name is available.

Step 4 : Choose A Location

In setting up the business, you're going to need to choose the State you set up the company in and the actual place of business.

The State of the Business

States issue articles of organization for LLCs (articles of incorporation in the case of a corporation). The first step in location selection is the state of the organization.

For those thrifty business people looking for tax breaks or lower annual registration costs, you may have heard about incorporating in states like Wyoming and Nevada .

A word of caution: The state where you reside and do most of your work expects to be paid income tax . If you live and work in California, setting up an LLC in Nevada doesn’t get you out of California’s income tax.

In fact, doing an out-of-state charter can cost you more money as most states need you to register “foreign entities” to legally do business in the state. Some states are more lenient than others.

Remember, the primary purpose of setting up an LLC is to have the legal separation and protections that come with it. Don’t blow that by not having the appropriate registrations in the state you actually live/work in.

Place of Business

Now that you know your business state, you need a physical place of business where work actually happens.

When setting up an LLC, many self-publishers will make their personal home their place of business since they need a physical place of business. However, this may cause problems down the road.

The address of your business has to be a physical location where legal documents can be served. If you list your home as your place of business, your private information will become public.

In some states, while the owner’s name will be confidential, there must be a registered agent on the public record. You can be your own registered agent in most states, but your own name will be on public record along with your address.

Don’t list your personal home address as your place of business. Do the following instead:

• Rent a Physical Location: Renting a physical location may be nice if you actually need to go somewhere to do your work — for example, if your personal home is a distraction. I don't need to explain that renting is very costly and not a viable option for most of us.
• Get a UPS Mailbox: Most states do not allow you to put a P.O. Box number on the application. Luckily, you can get a UPS mailbox number that looks like a regular address. By choosing this option, you will need to show up in person to set up the mailbox. Once you set up your mailbox, you can have them forward your mail to your real address.
• Use A Registered Agent: Just about every state has registered agents that will act as your office for you. There is a fee associated with this, but it usually includes setting up your LLC as part of the service. This will eliminate your name as the registered agent being on the public record.
• Set up a Virtual Office: Personally, virtual offices are my favorite option. They’re professional offices that give you a specific mailing address, collect your mail, forward it to you, and can be your Registered Agent (an extra level of personal protection). Furthermore, most virtual offices will give you a 1-800 number and record and send your voicemail to you electronically. This option is excellent for those who travel or reside in a state with extraordinarily high business tax rates. You can set it up from your home in a different state or from a foreign country — such as Sri Lanka, as I did.

Step 5 : Make It Official 

Now that you’ve identified your business goals, business structure, business name, and business location, it’s time to make this official!

Below are 7 quick steps to making your new business official:

• Register your business.
• Obtain your Employer Identification Number (EIN).
• Set up a business bank account.
• Set up an accounting system.
• Register your domain name.
• Create a publisher's KDP account on Amazon.
• Schedule an annual business meeting and take minutes.

1. Register your business.

You have 2 main options on how to register your business:

• Do all the required registration and paperwork yourself . Each state has different requirements, so I can’t walk you through those specific steps.
• Or keep it simple and use the services like My Company Works or GovDocFiling to get your publishing company started fast and make sure it’s done right.

And just like that, you could be a President/Owner/Founder of your very own small business!

How much does it cost to start a publishing company? Costs to start a publishing company vary from state to state. Generally speaking, the lowest fees are $50, and the highest is $800. There are usually annual fees due each year. If you plan to use a registered agent, then expect additional fees for those services. Most authors see somewhere from $200-$500 a year in fees.

Some authors need to maintain extra levels of confidentiality — perhaps because of the genre they write in or their personal preference.

Certain states like Wyoming keep member information confidential. Only the registered agent is public, so you could set up a company there and use a registered agent.

In some cases, you may need to create two LLCs to form a legal barrier between you and the public. This doubles the cost of starting a business, but it might be necessary to give you the confidentiality you desire.

Now that you've become an official business in the eyes of the government, it's time to take specific actions to ensure you're a legitimate business. You need to do certain things to get the most out of your publishing company and ensure its legitimacy.

2. Obtain your EIN.

An Employee Identification Number (EIN) is used to identify a business entity. Also known as a Federal Tax Identification Number, an EIN is a 9-digit number that the IRS uses during tax season.

Upon registering your business, you'll get an EIN — like a Social Security number for businesses. When you have an EIN, ensure the documentation for any accounts that you've set up are associated with this number.

3. Set up a business bank account.

To keep your personal income and the business’s financials separate, you need to have a business bank account. Separation of personal funds from business funds is essential.

You may set up an account with a traditional brick and mortar bank or an alternative online banking service like PayPal.

4. Set up an accounting system.

Whether you hired a professional accountant or are keeping detailed Google Sheets, you have to keep track of your financials from the very beginning. And it has to be perfect. All those I’s dotted and those T’s crossed.

Two popular options for accounting software include Quickbooks and Wave Financial . 

5. Register your domain name.

People need to be able to Google your business. You don’t want those leads to go to waste. That’s the main reason you need to register your domain name — a URL.

A professional author website is the best way to tell people about your business and your books.

Official social media accounts also help like Instagram , LinkedIn, Facebook , etc.

6. Create a publisher's KDP account on Amazon.

If you've published books before on your own personal account and you want them to be in the business' account, then you need to do one of two things:

• Change your personal account to the business' by changing the necessary information in your settings to reflect the company (address, EIN, etc.).
• Make a new KDP account and move your books to it.

As per Amazon's TOS, a person is not allowed to have 2 accounts. But don't worry. You have an account, and your business has an account. Those are 2 accounts you control, which is still in compliance with Amazon’s TOS.

7. Schedule an annual business meeting and take minutes.

If you're an LLC or Corporation, you must have at least 1 annual business meeting a year and ensure you document it and place it as your minutes.

Without this, your legitimacy as a company wanes.

For example, my wife and I will schedule a dinner once a year on the company's dime, have a business meeting, and take detailed minutes.

8. Publish a book.

This is the whole reason for a publishing company! Imagine how sweet it will be when you publish that first book.

Whether it’s a children’s book , a biography , a mystery , a short story , an ebook only, or print-on-demand, you’re now a part of the publishing industry.

You need to purchase an ISBN (International Standard Book Number) for each work to sell books. An ISBN is an internationally-recognized 13-digit number that is supposed to simplify sales and distribution. Bowker is the official ISBN agency for the US and Australia.

Step 6 : Grow Your Team

You're now a full-fledged publishing company! With your business made official, it's time to grow your team. (If you intend to be the sole employee of the company or the only author represented by the company, then you’ve already finished the last step.)

Who do you need on your team? Here are some possibilities for expanding your publishing company beyond just yourself:

• A dedicated accountant
• Other authors you can now publish
• Freelancers for cover art , formatting, editing , web design, etc.
• Marketing or social media specialists to maintain your online presence

Look for authors whose works you’re interested in publishing. You can even split royalty through your new, legitimate publishing house.

If your newly minted publishing company manages co-authored projects, you'll have an extra challenge ahead of you.

Calculating royalties and dividends owed can be a hassle — especially if those need to be split up in any way. However, the good folks over at Draft2Digital have created a solution for that exact situation.

While PublishDrive led this charge with PublishDrive Abacus , Draft2Digital is our choice for book distributors, and they also have this revolutionary program in the publishing world. You can read their announcement here .

This program allows the authors to:

• Calculate royalties between co-authors
• Provide each contributor with detailed reports
• And streamline the entire accounting process

This program is geared entirely towards publishing groups that publish on Amazon and Kindle Unlimited.

In order to be part of the royalty split program, your books do have to be enrolled on Draft2Digital, even for platforms like Amazon. But the headache it saves you could easily be worth the cost of the commission D2D takes.

See also our review of Draft2Digital .

If going through all the steps above to form your publishing company sounds like a lot of work, you can significantly simplify the process (for an added fee, of course) with a company like MyCompanyWorks , which is a business that helps you set up your own business.

While MyCompanyWorks doesn't take all the work out of the process (you'll still have to do things like visit your bank to set up a business bank account), it does make the process a lot easier.

Here is a brief walkthrough to get started:

From the homepage, you can hover over Order Now then select Form an LLC .

Then you select the state the you want to register under, as well as the desired package.

MyCompanyWorks also has a lot of additional services, some of which are useful (like “Prepare S-Corporation Election”).

Next, you begin inputting your information. I won't screenshot everything here (because it's a lot), but it includes your contact info, your name for the LLC, the list of people that manage the company, and the information needed to get your Federal Employer Identification Number.

MyCompanyWorks walks you through the entire process easily, and before you know it, you'll have a business ready to go!

Resources For Setting Up a Publishing Company

Check out these fantastic resources for setting up your own publishing company. I personally use or have used most of these.

Setting up an LLC, Corporation, or Sole Proprietorship can feel daunting. If you're like me, then you probably conduct plenty of research before carrying out such a monumental task.

Before I jumped into setting up my LLCs, I did a bunch of research.

Get a Master’s degree in Publishing with this Publishing MA program.

If you're looking to create a legitimate company publishing many books and want to take yours to the next level, then perhaps a formal education in publishing is right for you.

Western Colorado University offers a full-fledged Publishing MA program , one of the only such programs to embrace indie publishing.

It is a 1-year program (from July to July) and only requires you to spend two weeks in the gorgeous Colorado mountains while the rest of the course is taught online.

It is equally balanced between traditional publishing and indie.

Students will engage in innovative projects, such as:

• Developing the concept for an anthology (which pays pro rates)
• Soliciting submissions
• Reading the slush pile and choosing the stories
• Issuing contracts
• Editing pieces
• Designing and producing a book and its cover
• Publishing that book
• Making a marketing plan

As the final project, students will select a public-domain classic, acquire the text, and work through every stage of producing and releasing the book via a mid-sized publisher (WordFire Press), which will list their name on the copyright page.

The program is run by the award-winning and legendary science fiction author, Kevin J. Anderson, who personally teaches all the courses. Kevin has 56 national or international bestsellers and 23 million copies in print in 30 languages.

His publishing company, WordFire Press, has released nearly 350 titles from 95 authors in ebook, trade paperback, hardcover, and audio. He is a highly qualified publishing professor.

If you are interested in taking this program, you need to act fast. The program fills up quickly every year, so don't delay!

More Info on Starting a Publishing Company

Need more info? Here are a few articles I found useful when I was doing my original research on starting my own publishing company:

• List of Resources for Setting Up a Publishing Company : This quick guide is great for the terminology and list of resources in each of the steps.
• How to Form an LLC by WSJ : Who better to give you more information than the Wall Street Journal in setting up your own company?
• 6 Mistakes to Avoid When Setting Up Your Corporation or LLC : What more can I say from that title than make sure you don't make any of these mistakes.
• Pat Flynn's Personal Details on Setting Up His LLC : Pat Flynn of SmartPassiveIncome.com does an excellent job explaining why and how he did his LLC setup.
• Nuts and Bolts: Nitty-Gritty Details, Incorporating, and Taxes : This one is my favorite.

Are you ready to start a publishing company?

With a few hundred dollars and some spare time, you are ready to start your own publishing company and establish legitimacy, legal liability protection, and valuable tax breaks.

Thanks to services on the Internet, it is easier than ever to set up your own book publishing LLC or Corporation.

Although annual costs persist each year, the benefits of starting your very own publishing company will quickly outweigh this.

Better taxes, increased personal security, and more publishing capabilities were the main reasons I started 3 different LLCs to support my entrepreneurial habits.

Now that you know how to start your very own publishing company , get started and become a book publisher today!

If you have any questions along the way, don’t hesitate to ask me. Leave a comment below to tell me what you found most helpful.

But do remember that I am not a lawyer — just an experienced entrepreneur.

Dave Chesson

When I’m not sipping tea with princesses or lightsaber dueling with little Jedi, I’m a book marketing nut. Having consulted multiple publishing companies and NYT best-selling authors, I created Kindlepreneur to help authors sell more books. I’ve even been called “The Kindlepreneur” by Amazon publicly, and I’m here to help you with your author journey.

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155 thoughts on “ How to Start a Publishing Company: 2024 Guide ”

Publishing companies often have a symbol for their company. Since they offer a service, this begs for trademarking the images used by the company.

Do you have suggested links or a blog piece on trademarking?

BTW: Good, solid content and suggested strategies on starting a publishing company. I appreciated your work; you are my “pathfinder!” =rds

Thank you for this information. I created an LLC for my coaching business and plan on publishing under the same LLC vs having two companies. That being said, my business isn’t structured as a publishing house. Will that be an issue?

It shouldn’t be.

I appreciate the wealth of knowledge in this article. I do have one question though.

If someone creates a new llc for their publishing company does that mean when creating the new kdp account we can avoid using our own name and instead only use the business name?

Dave, how do you move your books to a new KDP account? Wouldn’t you have to republish?

I’ve changed everything in my personal account to my business tax and business info, in the meantime, both on KDP, Smashwords, and D2D.

Is there a legal way to transfer ownership of books from ME to my business?

Yup – unpublish and republish. Although a cleaner way is to switch the current account info to the new account, keeping all your books there, like it sounds like you did. As for legal, I made mark in my LLC book that the ‘assets’ were transferred over to the company. (Again, not legal advice nor am I a lawyer).

Fantastic and valuable article. Thank you so much. I will definitely have to go to the LLC route. Thankfully, I have a bit of reading to do before I have to get busy with that.

I already have my company name, domain name, website, and logo, I just need to handle all the legalities of it.

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Publishing Company Business Plan

Soaring high demands, a wide target audience, and attractive revenue sources make the publishing business a lucrative and rewarding opportunity.

Anyone can start a publishing company. But if one wants to achieve revenue and growth goals with their reputed publishing business, they need a detailed business plan in action.

Need help writing a business plan for your publishing company business? You’re at the right place. Our publishing company business plan template will help you get started.

Free Business Plan Template

Download our free publishing company business plan template now and pave the way to success. Let’s turn your vision into an actionable strategy!

• Fill in the blanks – Outline
• Financial Tables

How to Write A Publishing Company Business Plan?

Writing a publishing company business plan is a crucial step toward the success of your business. Here are the key steps to consider when writing a business plan:

1. Executive Summary

An executive summary is the first section planned to offer an overview of the entire business plan. However, it is written after the entire business plan is ready and summarizes each section of your plan.

Here are a few key components to include in your executive summary:

• Introduce your Business: Start your executive summary by briefly introducing your business to your readers.This section may include the name of your publishing company business, its location, when it was founded, the type of publishing company business (E.g., trade publishing, educational publishing, self-publishing, boutique, digital publishing ), etc.
• Market Opportunity: Summarize your market research, including market size, growth potential, and marketing trends. Highlight the opportunities in the market and how your business will fit in to fill the gap.
• Products and Services: Highlight the publishing services you offer your clients. The USPs and differentiators you offer are always a plus.For instance, you may include editing, production, marketing, literary agent services, licensing and permission services, support services, consultation, etc as some of your USPs.
• Marketing & Sales Strategies: Outline your sales and marketing strategies—what marketing platforms you use, how you plan on acquiring customers, etc.
• Financial Highlights: Briefly summarize your financial projections for the initial years of business operations. Include any capital or investment requirements, associated startup costs, projected revenues, and profit forecasts.
• Call to Action: Summarize your executive summary section with a clear CTA, for example, inviting angel investors to discuss the potential business investment.

Ensure your executive summary is clear, concise, easy to understand, and jargon-free.

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2. Business Overview

The business overview section of your business plan offers detailed information about your company. The details you add will depend on how important they are to your business. Yet, business name, location, business history, and future goals are some of the foundational elements you must consider adding to this section:

• Trade Publishing: They publish content that is meant for wider audience consumption. Fiction/Non-fiction, Magazines, children’s books, etc are covered within this.
• Educational and Academic Publishing: They publish scholarly articles, research papers, textbooks, journals, and everything educational for professionals, students, experts, and researchers in different industries.
• Boutique Publishing: They focus on niche markets and niche content. Thriller fiction, books for autism, books on the cultural history of small local towns, etc. The target market here is niche.
• Digital Publishing: They offer digital publishing solutions in the form of EBooks, audiobooks, podcasts, interactive games, etc.
• Describe the legal structure of your publishing company, whether it is a sole proprietorship, LLC, partnership, or others.Explain where your business is located and why you selected the place.
• Owners: List the names of your publishing company’s founders or owners. Describe what shares they own and their responsibilities for efficiently managing the business.
• Future Goals: It’s crucial to convey your aspirations and vision. Mention your short-term and long-term goals; they can be specific targets for revenue, market share, or expanding your services.

This section should provide a thorough understanding of your business, its history, and its future plans. Keep this section engaging, precise, and to the point.

3. Market Analysis

The market analysis section of your business plan should offer a thorough understanding of the industry with the target market, competitors, and growth opportunities. You should include the following components in this section.

• Target market: Start this section by describing your target market. Define your ideal customer and explain what types of services they prefer. Creating a buyer persona will help you easily define your target market to your readers.For instance, academic and educational institutions, children in age groups 6-14, and kid stores would be an ideal audience for a trade publishing company that is launching kids’ storybooks.
• Market size and growth potential: Describe your market size and growth potential and whether you will target a niche or a much broader market.
• Competitive Analysis: Identify and analyze your direct and indirect competitors. Identify their strengths and weaknesses, and describe what differentiates your publishing company’s services from them. Point out how you have a competitive edge in the market.
• Market Trends: Analyze emerging trends in the industry, such as digitization, interactive media like AR and VR, etc. Explain how your business will cope with all the trends.For instance, the market for audiobooks and podcasts is immense for digital publishers. Explain how you plan on dealing with this potential growth opportunity.
• Regulatory Environment: List regulations and licensing requirements that may affect your publishing company, such as business licensing, getting ISBN, copyright and intellectual property rights, contracts and legal agreements, consumer protection laws, privacy, and data protection, and content regulation.

Here are a few tips for writing the market analysis section of your publishing company business plan:

• Conduct market research, industry reports, and surveys to gather data.
• Provide specific and detailed information whenever possible.
• Illustrate your points with charts and graphs.
• Write your business plan keeping your target audience in mind.

4. Products And Services

The product and services section should describe the specific services and products that will be offered to customers. To write this section should include the following:

• Books, academic papers, magazines, etc.
• Video games
• Reviewing and Editing
• Printing and Production
• Marketing and Promotion
• Consultation
• Quality measures: This section should explain how you maintain quality standards and consistently provide the highest quality service.This may include strict work evaluation criteria, top-notch editing, in-house publishing press, and use of advanced tools for market research that allows you to stay at the top.
• Additional Services: Mention if your publishing company offers any additional services. You may include services like print-on-demand, warehousing and distribution services, literary agent services, etc.

In short, this section of your publishing company plan must be informative, precise, and client-focused. By providing a clear and compelling description of your offerings, you can help potential investors and readers understand the value of your business.

5. Sales And Marketing Strategies

Writing the sales and marketing strategies section means a list of strategies you will use to attract and retain your clients. Here are some key elements to include in your sales & marketing plan:

• Unique Selling Proposition (USP): Define your business’s USPs depending on the market you serve, the equipment you use, and the unique services you provide. Identifying USPs will help you plan your marketing strategies.For example, creating audiobooks, planning virtual launch events, etc could be some of the great USPs for a digital publishing company.
• Retail pricing
• Dynamic pricing
• Subscription models
• Freemium pricing
• Tiered pricing
• Marketing Strategies: Discuss your marketing strategies to market your services. You may include some of these marketing strategies in your business plan—social media marketing, Google ads, brochures, email marketing, content marketing, print marketing, influencer marketing, media outreach programs, collaboration with bookstores and retailers, etc.
• Sales Strategies: Outline the strategies you’ll implement to maximize your sales. Your sales strategies may include direct website sales, third-party platforms, media and music companies, sales through physical outlets like bookstores, retailers, wholesalers, and much more.
• Customer Retention: Describe your customer retention strategies and how you plan to execute them. For instance, publishing best work consistently, introducing loyalty programs, discounts on annual membership, early priority access, birthday discounts, etc could be some ways for you to get customer retention.

Overall, this section of your publishing company business plan should focus on customer acquisition and retention.

Have a specific, realistic, and data-driven approach while planning sales and marketing strategies for your publishing company business, and be prepared to adapt or make strategic changes in your strategies based on feedback and results.

6. Operations Plan

The operations plan section of your business plan should outline the processes and procedures involved in your business operations, such as staffing requirements and operational processes. Here are a few components to add to your operations plan:

• Staffing & Training: Mention your publishing business’s staffing requirements, including the number of employees needed. Include their qualifications, the training required, and the duties they will perform.A publishing company requires an editorial team, a production team, legal and contract specialists, marketing heroes, and a financial team to keep functioning at its best.
• Operational Process: Outline the processes and procedures you will use to run your publishing company business. Your operational processes may include acquiring new work for publishing, editing and reviewing, production processes, packaging and warehousing functions, forming and signing agreements, etc.
• Equipment & Machinery: Include the list of equipment and machinery required for the publishing company, such as printing machinery, scanners and digital imaging equipment, storage systems, etc.Explain how these technologies help you maintain quality standards and improve the efficiency of your business operations.

Adding these components to your operations plan will help you lay out your business operations, which will eventually help you manage your business effectively.

7. Management Team

The management team section provides an overview of your publishing company business’s management team. This section should provide a detailed description of each manager’s experience and qualifications, as well as their responsibilities and roles.

• Founders/CEO: Mention the founders and CEO of your publishing company, and describe their roles and responsibilities in successfully running the business.
• Key managers: Introduce your management and key team members, and explain their roles and responsibilities.It should include, key executives(e.g. COO, CMO.), senior management, and other department managers (e.g. editorial head, production manager, logistics manager, voice and sound head.) involved in the publishing company business operations, including their education, professional background, and any relevant experience in the publishing industry.
• Organizational structure: Explain the organizational structure of your management team. Include the reporting line and decision-making hierarchy.
• Compensation Plan: Describe your compensation plan for the management and staff. Include their salaries, incentives, and other benefits.
• Advisors/Consultants: Mentioning advisors or consultants in your business plans adds credibility to your business idea.So, if you have any advisors or consultants, include them with their names and brief information consisting of roles and years of experience.

This section should describe the key personnel for your publishing company services, highlighting how you have the perfect team to succeed.

8. Financial Plan

Your financial plan section should provide a summary of your business’s financial projections for the first few years. Here are some key elements to include in your financial plan:

• Profit & loss statement: Describe details such as projected revenue, operational costs, and service costs in your projected profit and loss statement . Make sure to include your business’s expected net profit or loss.
• Cash flow statement: The cash flow for the first few years of your operation should be estimated and described in this section. This may include billing invoices, payment receipts, loan payments, and any other cash flow statements.
• Balance Sheet: Create a projected balance sheet documenting your publishing company business’s assets, liabilities, and equity.
• Break-even point: Determine and mention your business’s break-even point—the point at which your business costs and revenue will be equal.This exercise will help you understand how much revenue you need to generate to sustain or be profitable.
• Financing Needs: Calculate costs associated with starting a publishing company business, and estimate your financing needs and how much capital you need to raise to operate your business. Be specific about your short-term and long-term financing requirements, such as investment capital or loans.

Be realistic with your financial projections, and make sure you offer relevant information and evidence to support your estimates.

9. Appendix

The appendix section of your plan should include any additional information supporting your business plan’s main content, such as market research, legal documentation, financial statements, and other relevant information.

• Add a table of contents for the appendix section to help readers easily find specific information or sections.
• In addition to your financial statements, provide additional financial documents like tax returns, a list of assets within the business, credit history, and more. These statements must be the latest and offer financial projections for at least the first three or five years of business operations.
• Provide data derived from market research, including stats about the publishing company industry, user demographics, and industry trends.
• Include any legal documents such as permits, licenses, and contracts.
• Include any additional documentation related to your business plan, such as product brochures, marketing materials, operational procedures, etc.

Use clear headings and labels for each section of the appendix so that readers can easily find the necessary information.

Remember, the appendix section of your publishing house business plan should only include relevant and important information supporting your plan’s main content.

The Quickest Way to turn a Business Idea into a Business Plan

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This sample publishing company business plan will provide an idea for writing a successful publishing company plan, including all the essential components of your business.

After this, if you still need clarification about writing an investment-ready business plan to impress your audience, download our publishing company business plan pdf .

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Frequently asked questions, why do you need a publishing company business plan.

A business plan is an essential tool for anyone looking to start or run a successful publishing company business. It helps to get clarity in your business, secures funding, and identifies potential challenges while starting and growing your business.

Overall, a well-written plan can help you make informed decisions, which can contribute to the long-term success of your publishing company.

How to get funding for your publishing company business?

There are several ways to get funding for your publishing company business, but self-funding is one of the most efficient and speedy funding options. Other options for funding are

Small Business Administration (SBA) loan

Crowdfunding, angel investors.

Apart from all these options, there are small business grants available, check for the same in your location and you can apply for it.

Where to find business plan writers for your publishing company business?

There are many business plan writers available, but no one knows your business and ideas better than you, so we recommend you write your publishing company business plan and outline your vision as you have in your mind.

What is the easiest way to write your publishing company business plan?

A lot of research is necessary for writing a business plan, but you can write your plan most efficiently with the help of any publishing company business plan example and edit it as per your need. You can also quickly finish your plan in just a few hours or less with the help of our business plan software .

How do I write a good market analysis in a publishing company business plan?

Market analysis is one of the key components of your business plan that requires deep research and a thorough understanding of your industry. We can categorize the process of writing a good market analysis section into the following steps:

• Stating the objective of your market analysis—e.g., investor funding.
• Industry study—market size, growth potential, market trends, etc.
• Identifying target market—based on user behavior and demographics.
• Analyzing direct and indirect competitors.
• Calculating market share—understanding TAM, SAM, and SOM.
• Knowing regulations and restrictions
• Organizing data and writing the first draft.

Writing a marketing analysis section can be overwhelming, but using ChatGPT for market research can make things easier.

What's the importance of a marketing strategy in a publishing company business plan?

Marketing strategy is a key component of your publishing company business plan. Whether it is about achieving certain business goals or helping your investors understand your plan to maximize their return on investment—an impactful marketing strategy is the way to do it!

Here are a few pointers to help you understand the importance of having an impactful marketing strategy:

• It provides your business an edge over your competitors.
• It helps investors better understand your business and growth potential.
• It helps you develop products with the best profit potential.
• It helps you set accurate pricing for your products or services.

About the Author

Vinay Kevadiya

Vinay Kevadiya is the founder and CEO of Upmetrics, the #1 business planning software. His ultimate goal with Upmetrics is to revolutionize how entrepreneurs create, manage, and execute their business plans. He enjoys sharing his insights on business planning and other relevant topics through his articles and blog posts. Read more

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How to Start a Publishing Company: 8 Steps (+ Insights from an Author Who Started One)

Starting a publishing company is exciting when you consider all the creative freedom it offers. Besides, it has many other advantages, and if done right, it can bring you significant profit. Let’s see how to start your own publishing company in the US and Europe. The process is similar, with some minor differences, which will be pointed out. ❕Disclaimer : This article does not constitute legal advice. If you have any questions, seeking legal advice before moving on is best.

Key takeaways:

• Start a publishing company for creative control and potentially high profits. Build your brand, gain tax benefits, and establish yourself as a leader, but be prepared for planning and legal considerations.
• Set publishing goals, create a brand identity, and choose a business structure like an LLC for protection. Register your business and get any permits needed.
• Publish books (yours or others), develop a marketing plan, and use tools like PublishDrive to manage distribution, royalties, and sales. Publishing companies earn money through book sales, licensing, subscriptions, and more.

This write-up goes over:

• What Is a Book Publishing Company?
• Why Start a Publishing Company?
• How to Start a Publishing Company in 8 Steps
• Your Publishing Company & PublishDrive
• How Do Publishing Companies Make Money

A. What Is a Book Publishing Company?

A publishing company is a business that produces and distributes written works. Larger companies release thousands of books yearly, while smaller ones may publish only a handful. A publishing company manages the book cover design and editing to ensure high-quality content. They also decide on the best marketing strategies to sell their books effectively. If you’re an author thinking about starting a book publishing company, know that it helps you build your author identity, sell other authors’ books, and safeguard your assets. Starting a publishing house can seem like a hassle, but it can be done. In this article, we’ll see how.

B. Why Start a Publishing Company?

Before getting to a few general reasons to start a publishing company, let’s hear from Christina Bauer, a self-published author who also started her own publishing company, Monster House Books .  Her journey highlights a key point for aspiring publishers: there's a middle ground between the starving artist stereotype and the unrealistic get-rich-quick schemes. She uses a unique analogy to explain this concept: “I've been self-published since 2013. As of writing this post, my portfolio includes more than forty-five books and nine audiobooks across five languages. USA Today, School Library Journal, Booklist, Foreword, Kirkus and Blue Ink have all reviewed my work. The Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi) has certified my revenue over a period of years to award me Authorpreneur membership.  In founding my company, I was torn between tales of starving artists and get rich quick schemes. Here's where I ended up: my organizational ideal is Doc Martens versus Nike.  No, I am not kidding. Let me explain. I have a unique voice and definite point of view across all my books and audiobooks. That's Doc Martens stuff. And while it's important to have wide distribution, my main job remains connecting with the folks visiting the equivalent of my 'physical shoe store'–that's social media–in order to develop direct relationships. By contrast, Nike shot to prominence with celebrity endorsements and sponsorships. Don't get me wrong; I'd love to hit a super-wide audience. That said, my readers are the cherished patrons to my virtual store and style. When they send notes about how my stories of kick-assery inspired them, then that's my true payday.  And I am the proud owner of a mini collection of Doc Martens.” By comparing her creative vision to Doc Martens, Christina emphasizes the importance of developing a distinct brand identity. This aligns with the concept of building a dedicated audience. While broad distribution can be a goal, her focus is nurturing a loyal following through direct engagement, contrasting the celebrity-driven approach sometimes associated with mainstream publishing.

Now, back to the general reasons.

Opening a publishing company is an excellent choice for authors because it has various advantages. Here are some:

1. Authorial autonomy 

Deciding between established publishers and your own company involves considering the degree of creative control you desire. Collaborating with a big publisher grants access to their resources but limits your say in cover design, layout, and marketing. Your independent company allows full authority over your work.

2. Supporting other authors

While initially focused on your creations, you can also start publishing other writers’ works. Transitioning your company into an independent publishing brand creates opportunities to assist other talented writers and introduce noteworthy books to the market.

If you’ve been in the self-publishing business for a while, you know starting from scratch can be difficult. This can be a great opportunity to help fellow authors.

3. Professional image

Highlighting your publishing company rather than just your name when you publish a book can enhance your credibility as an author. While investing in your name as a writer is a great decision, to really stand out, consider starting your own publishing company. This lets you work with other authors and become a bigger name in your niche. Moreover, starting your own publishing company showcases dedication to the industry, fostering connections with various professionals. This doesn’t mean under no circumstances that a self-published author’s writing isn’t to be taken seriously. However, having your own publishing company does sound more professional to some readers and authors you want to collaborate with. 

4. Brand growth

Starting a publication company has a direct impact on your author brand . And here’s why. Successful self-published authors can broaden their brand and publish similar works by other writers. This fosters a respected independent press, offering support to fellow writers and enriching the market with fresh voices. Associating your name with other influential writers helps your professional image in the industry (as I’ve mentioned previously). Having your own publishing company has many benefits, including control over your book marketing that lets you expand your author brand in the desired direction.

5. Tax benefits

Both in the US and Europe, owners of publishing companies can access various tax benefits and deductions. Here are some common ones:

• Business Expenses Deductions: Owners can deduct necessary business expenses, including office space, equipment, supplies, marketing, professional services (like editorial or design), salaries, travel, and more.
• Home Office Deduction: If a part of your home is used exclusively for business, a portion of related expenses (like mortgage interest, utilities, and insurance) can be deductible.
• Depreciation : Owners can depreciate the cost of certain assets (like computers, printers, furniture) over time, reducing taxable income.
• Health Insurance Deduction : Small business owners may qualify for a deduction covering a portion of health insurance for themselves and their employees.
• Retirement Plans : Contributions to retirement plans like SEP-IRAs or SIMPLE IRAs can be tax-deductible, helping save for retirement while reducing taxable income.
• Business Expenses Deductions: Similar to the US, business expenses such as office rent, equipment, employee wages, advertising costs, and professional services are deductible.
• Value Added Tax (VAT): VAT rules vary across European countries, but in some cases, VAT paid on business expenses may be recoverable, reducing the overall tax burden.
• R&D Tax Credits: Some European countries offer tax credits or incentives for research and development activities, which might be relevant for certain publishing endeavors involving innovation.
• Employment Incentives: Certain countries offer incentives or reductions in social security contributions for employing people, which could benefit publishing companies hiring employees.
• Regional Investment Incentives: Some regions offer tax incentives or subsidies to businesses setting up in specific areas, aiming to stimulate economic development.

6. Liability protection

Starting a publishing company, like any business entity, often offers liability protection through legal structures such as a Limited Liability Company (LLC) or a Corporation.  Here's how it generally works:

Limited liability

You create a separate legal entity when you establish your publishing company as an LLC or Corporation. This separation means that, in most cases, your assets are protected in case of lawsuits or debts incurred by the business. This "limited liability" shields your personal finances from being used to cover the company's liabilities.

Legal separation 

The business entity—LLC or Corporation—is responsible for its debts, obligations, and legal actions. If someone sues the company or if the business faces financial issues, your personal assets (like your home or savings) are typically safeguarded, assuming the company has been maintained properly and there's no evidence of personal wrongdoing. It's essential to understand that while liability protection exists, it isn't absolute. Certain situations, like personal guarantees on loans or if you've committed illegal acts or behaved negligently, might jeopardize this protection. Setting up a business structure for liability protection requires legal expertise, so it’s best to consult a legal professional. 

C. How to Start a Publishing Company in 8 Steps

If you have enough industry knowledge and you've built connections within the industry, you’re ready to start your own publishing company.  Here are the steps.

1. Set business goals

So, you have the idea of starting your own publishing company. This idea needs to be broken down into a list of goals. These goals will be your business plan that will guide you in the beginning, but also with many important decisions you’ll have to take throughout the process.  Here are a few possible business goals:

• Publication diversity

Aim to establish a diverse range of publications across genres, catering to various reader preferences. 

• Author relationships

Foster strong relationships with authors by offering fair deals, transparent communication, and supportive marketing strategies. Building a reputation as a publisher that supports and respects its writers can attract more talent.

• Market reach

Set goals to enter specific markets or niches, whether it's regional, genre-specific, or focused on certain demographics. This might involve marketing campaigns, partnerships, or distribution strategies tailored to those markets. If you are considering reaching out to investors, create a pitch deck for your business idea. You can also use various market research tools and resources to grow and find success .

• Quality and innovation

Strive for high editorial standards and innovation. Consider adopting new technologies or formats to stay ahead in the digital publishing landscape.

• Financial sustainability

Establish realistic financial goals to ensure the company's sustainability. This might involve targets for revenue, profit margins, cost management, and securing investments if needed.

• Brand recognition

Work towards becoming a recognizable and respected brand within the publishing industry. This involves building a strong brand identity, marketing campaigns, and consistent quality across publications.

• Adaptation to trends

Stay updated with industry trends , reader preferences, and technological advancements. Adaptation could include exploring audiobooks, multimedia content, or other emerging formats.

• Distribution networks

Develop efficient distribution networks to ensure wider reach and availability of publications. This means partnerships with bookstores, online retailers, and libraries or exploring direct-to-consumer sales models.

PublishDrive is an aggregator that can help you distribute your books worldwide. You can distribute ebooks, audiobooks, and print-on-demand books to various audiences on different continents.  Check out PublishDrive’s list of stores:

• Sustainability and responsibility

Incorporate environmentally friendly practices where feasible and demonstrate corporate social responsibility. Setting goals for sustainability initiatives can positively impact both the company and its stakeholders.

2. Create your brand

Once you've got your goals sorted, it's time to give your brand some shape.  First, you have to pick a name. Your company name should be like a magnet, pulling in readers, writers, and booksellers, so make it catchy. A brand that clicks with its crowd sticks around. It's about creating an allure that connects with what readers want, what writers dream of, and what booksellers look for. Before choosing your business name, make sure it’s not used or trademarked by anyone. Also, don’t use the words “corporation” or “inc.” unless you set up your business as a corporation – we’ll see that next. Then, create a mission statement that captures what you're all about, and decide what books you want to publish. You should also consider the style you want to infuse in all the book covers and the overall design of your books to have a cohesive design throughout all the titles.

3. Choose a business structure 

To get into the business of publishing, you need to decide on a business structure. You should research and decide which one is right for you and your goals. Here are the business structures you could opt for.

• Corporation: It operates as a unified entity with shareholders, a board of directors, and defined protocols. Setting up a corporation, whether as an S-Corp or C-Corp, demands more formalities and paperwork compared to other business structures.
• Sole proprietorship : Also known as a sole trader or self-employed, this structure involves a single individual running the publishing company. It's straightforward in terms of setup and decision-making but may carry personal liability for business debts. Choosing the liability coverage of an LLC is a wiser move.
• Partnership: Partnerships can be formed between two or more individuals who share the publishing company's ownership, responsibilities, and profits. Different types, such as general and limited partnerships, vary in terms of liability and management roles.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC): This structure combines elements of partnerships and corporations, offering limited liability for owners while allowing flexibility in management and taxation. It's a popular choice due to its flexibility and protection of personal assets.
• Societas Europaea (SE): This is a European public limited-liability company established under EU law. It allows companies to operate in multiple EU countries without establishing a separate legal entity in each country.

Most self-publishers opt for either Sole Proprietorship or LLC, the latter being the safest option. 

4. Choose a location

Besides a plan, a name, and a structure, your business needs a location. This can be a physical location or a virtual one.

Options in the US

Registered agent: When registering a business entity (such as an LLC or corporation) in the US, you typically need a registered agent. This agent serves as the official point of contact and must have a physical address within the state of formation. This address is where legal documents and official correspondence are sent. Physical address requirements: Depending on the state where you’re registering the business, you might need a physical address within that state. However, this address doesn’t necessarily have to be an office space—it can often be a residential address or the address of your registered agent. Virtual office services: Some businesses use virtual office services or professional registered agent services that provide a physical address for official correspondence, meeting regulatory requirements without needing a dedicated physical office space. Business operations: While a physical office isn’t mandatory for business registration, having a place to conduct operations, meetings, or store inventory may be necessary based on the nature of your publishing business. However, this doesn’t have to be a dedicated office space—it could be a home office, shared workspace, or rented office as per your needs. Many states offer flexibility regarding the address used for business registration, allowing the use of a registered agent's or virtual office address. Remember that each state in the US has its own regulations regarding business registration and physical presence requirements.

It’s essential to research the state's specific requirements where you plan to establish your publishing company.

Options in Europe

Virtual offices: Some countries allow virtual offices or registered agents to fulfill the legal requirement of having a physical address for business registration purposes. These services provide a legal address for official correspondence and registrations without needing a physical office space. Registered address: You may be required to have a registered address within the country where you’re establishing the publishing company. This can often be a legal requirement for official documentation and government communications, but it doesn’t necessarily mean you need a physical office space. Flexibility in location: Depending on the country’s regulations, you might have flexibility in terms of the type of address that’s acceptable. This could include using your residential address, renting a physical office space, or utilizing a virtual office service. Business structure: The type of business structure you choose (sole proprietorship, LLC, corporation, etc.) might also influence the requirements for having a physical location. Larger companies or corporations might be expected to have a physical office for operational purposes. It’s important to research the specific requirements of the country where you plan to establish your publishing company. Some countries might have stricter regulations that mandate a physical presence or a specific type of office setup. 💡Before starting your publishing company, consult with legal advisors or experts who are familiar with the specific country’s regulations.

5. Register your business

When you start a business in the US, you need an Employer Identification Number (EIN) from the IRS. This number helps the IRS track your company. You can apply for an EIN by mail, online, or fax. Once you register your business, make sure all your accounts are linked to this EIN. In Europe, you have to register your publishing company according to the laws of the specific European country. This involves choosing a business name, registering with the appropriate government authorities, and obtaining necessary licenses or permits.

6. Set up your business infrastructure

Another step in creating a publishing company is setting up the administrative parts, such as:

• Domain name
• Email address
• Bank account
• Accounting system
• Printing method (it can be print-on-demand )

In this phase of setup, it's vital to attend to every detail—from obtaining the manuscript and ISBNs (International Standard Book Numbers) to choosing your sales channels.

You’ll also need to decide on who’s going to design the book covers and edit the manuscripts. You can be part of these processes, especially if you have the skills and you intend to be the sole employee of the company or the only author represented by the company. Still, once you start publishing more books, you must delegate these responsibilities to others. Besides a designer and an editor, you’ll also need an accountant and marketing people to handle the book promotions. Another important aspect is to claim your business on Google , where you’ll be able to add information about your company, and people can leave reviews.

7. Publish books

This is the whole reason you want to start a publishing company, so once you have everything set, publish some books. You can start with your own if you’re also a writer. Then, go ahead and collect manuscripts to get them ready for publishing.

8. Market your books

After you publish books, you also need to promote them. You can easily identify your target audience according to the books you choose to define your publishing company. Once you do that, set in place a few effective ways to reach them. You can look at similar books in your genre, learn from their marketing approaches, and use their methods while highlighting what makes your book special (your unique value proposition). If you don’t want to get overwhelmed or you want to keep your marketing approach simple, you can use a few basic but effective promotional strategies:

• Set up social media accounts on the platforms you think your audiences are and reach them organically
• Use paid promotion on social media
• Use Amazon Advertising
• Use book promotion websites
• Send review copies

The good news is that you can create a solid marketing plan using PublishDrive. 

Here’s a write-up of what PublishDrive offers in terms of promotion. In short:

• Get your books featured in selected stores.
• Get your books featured on Written Word Media Websites (Freebooksy, Bargain Booksy, Red Feather Romance, Audio Thicket, NewInBooks, Readers' List).
• Set up price promotions in selected stores (Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, and Google Play Books).
• Run Amazon ads.
• Take part in sales events in selected stores.

This leads us to –

D. Your Publishing Company & PublishDrive

Opening a publishing company is one thing, making it profitable and successful is another.

So, once you know the ins and outs of how to start a book publishing company, you need to think about optimizing your day-to-day operations. PublishDrive handles global distribution whether you’re an author or you own an independent publishing company.  But since we’re talking about starting a publishing company, here’s how PublidhDrive can help:

1. Title management

Owning a publishing company means handling many book titles. PublishDrive simplified the entire process, helping you organize, import, and manage book titles effortlessly, covering ebooks, audiobooks, and print-on-demand. 

2. Distribution

Part of your publishing company’s success is the distribution. You can partner with local bookstores and list your books there, but this won’t be enough when it comes to sales. You need to go global and wide .  PublishDrive is an aggregator with the widest distribution out there. We cover ebooks, audiobooks, and print-on-demand in the US, Europe, and Asia. 

3. Royalty management

PublishDrive developed the perfect royalty-splitting solution – Abacus . This service makes it easy to calculate co-author royalties, keep track of team costs, distribute royalty reports to contributors, and more. Besides, you can also generate detailed reports and handle payments for contributors using an easy-to-use royalty tracking tool. With PD Abacus, authors and publishers have everything they need to manage royalties for collaborative publishing projects:

• Royalty calculation for teams
• Ability to easily import Amazon sales data for ebooks and print titles, as well as ACX audiobook sales data
• Downloadable royalty reports
• Option of inputting costs, advances, and additional revenue streams for comprehensive financial tracking
• Built-in message board to communicate with collaborators

⚡See what Michael Anderle, bestselling author and CEO of LMBPN Publishing , and others are saying about Abacus in this case study .

4. Sales analytics

We want to make it easier for you to find the data you need to run your business.  With PublisDrive’s Sales Analytics, you can filter your book sales by date, sales type (free or paid), book series, countries, stores, and formats. Additionally, you can see data for both sales and preorders. You can filter earnings by stores or series and display those results daily, weekly, or monthly.  Moreover, you can look at your best-selling titles and series and see the countries where you’re making sales and connecting with readers.

E. How Do Publishing Companies Make Money

Publishing companies make money through various avenues, but mainly by taking in book sales after paying authors the royalties they agreed on in a contract.  Here are some primary ways publishing companies generate income:

1. Book sales

Selling books is a core revenue source for publishing companies. This includes sales of physical books through retailers (bookstores, online platforms) and digital copies (ebooks) through platforms like Amazon Kindle or proprietary websites.

2. Licensing and rights

Publishing companies can earn revenue by licensing the rights to their content. This includes selling foreign rights for translation and distribution in other countries, as well as adaptation rights for films, TV shows, or other media.

3. Subscriptions and memberships

For publishing companies that produce periodicals, magazines, or subscription-based content, revenue comes from subscription fees or memberships.

4. Advertising and sponsorships

Some publishing companies generate income by selling advertising space within their publications or on their digital platforms. Sponsored content or partnerships with brands can also contribute to revenue.

5. Merchandise 

Publishing companies might sell related merchandise like branded items, educational materials, or ancillary products tied to their published content.

6. Events and conferences

Hosting events, book fairs, author tours, and conferences can be revenue-generating activities for publishing companies through ticket sales, sponsorships, and merchandise sales.

Wrapping Up

Starting a publishing company offers creative freedom and lucrative opportunities. Whether an author seeking autonomy or an entrepreneur supporting writers, it's a chance to build a brand, access tax benefits, and establish a professional presence. The process involves setting goals, choosing a structure, and understanding legal requirements. From infrastructure setup to global distribution and revenue streams, it demands initial investments but promises returns through book sales, rights licensing, subscriptions, and more. PublishDrive simplifies title management, distribution, royalty tracking, and sales analytics, aiding your publishing journey.

Get acquainted with PublishDrive and its benefits by watching this episode of The Self-Publishing with Dale Podcast : 

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Publishing Business

Back to All Business Ideas

How to Start a Publishing Company in 13 Steps

Written by: Carolyn Young

Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.

Edited by: David Lepeska

David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.

Published on November 24, 2021 Updated on August 6, 2024

Investment range

$4,150 - $18,300

Revenue potential

$60,000 - $600,000 p.a.

Time to build

Profit potential

$9,000 - $90,000 p.a.

Industry trend

These are the critical aspects you should evaluate when launching your publishing business:

• Niche — Decide on the types of publications you will produce, such as books, magazines, e-books, or academic journals. Consider focusing on a specific genre or market niche.
• Licenses — Apply for International Standard Book Numbers (ISBNs) for your books through an agency like Bowker in the US. Ensure all published works are properly copyrighted to protect intellectual property.
• Office space — Choose a suitable location for your office, whether it’s a home office or rented commercial space. Ensure it has adequate space for meetings, planning, and administrative tasks.
• Remote work setup — If applicable, set up a system for remote work, including secure communication tools and project management software.
• Register your business — A limited liability company (LLC) is the best legal structure for new businesses because it is fast and simple. Form your business immediately using ZenBusiness LLC formation service or hire one of the best LLC services on the market.
• Legal business aspects — Register for taxes, open a business bank account, and get an EIN .
• E-book platforms — Distribute e-books through platforms like Amazon Kindle, Apple Books, and Google Play Books.
• Distribution channels — Establish relationships with distributors, bookstores, online retailers, and libraries. Consider print-on-demand services for lower upfront costs.

Interactive Checklist at your fingertips—begin your publishing business today!

You May Also Wonder:

Is a publishing business profitable?

Yes, you can make a healthy profit from a publishing business if you’re successful. It will take some time and the right authors to get to a good profit level, but it’s an almost $110 billion industry globally so if you can capture even a small part of that, you’ll do just fine.

Are any special licenses needed for a publishing business?

There are no special licenses required for a publishing company on a federal level. You may need business licenses or permits through your state or local governments, so check with those offices for requirements.

How long does it take to start a publishing business?

It will take some time to find authors and get your first books to market. If you market yourself well, you could get started in three to six months.

If I start a publishing business, how do I find good authors?

You can market your new company with your website and through social media. There are thousands of aspiring authors out there who would be thrilled to find a new publisher interested in their work. You could also partner with a literary agency. They get thousands of book submissions and could send some your way.

How do publishing companies make money?

Publishing companies generate revenue through book sales, rights licensing, subsidiary rights, distribution services, and ancillary products. They earn money by selling books in various formats and languages, as well as licensing rights for adaptations, translations, and merchandising. 

Is publishing a hard career?

Whether publishing is a hard career depends on individual factors, but it can be competitive and demanding. It requires strong communication, organizational skills, and the ability to adapt to industry changes. Challenges include finding new authors, meeting deadlines, and navigating market trends.

Which book genre sells the most?

Popular genres include mystery/thriller, romance, science fiction/fantasy, young adult, and non-fiction. However, book sales can be influenced by factors such as popular authors, adaptations, marketing efforts, and cultural trends.

Step 1: Decide if the Business Is Right for You

Pros and cons.

Starting a publishing business has pros and cons that you should consider carefully before determining if it’s right for you.

• Rewarding – Boost writers and provide great books to readers
• Creative Control – You choose which writers and works to publish
• Profit Opportunity – Industry has sizable margins
• Competition – Publishing is highly competitive, hard to stand out
• Finding New Voices – Many author submissions to go through to find a gem

Publishing industry trends

Print publishing has declined somewhat in recent years, but the educational and scholarly segment of the market is growing. 

Industry size and growth

• Industry size and past growth – Market analyst IBISWorld values the US publishing market at $33 billion(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/market-size/book-publishing-united-states/ )) and global publishing at more than $112 billion.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/global/market-size/global-book-publishing/#:~:text=The%20market%20size%2C%20measured%20by,is%20%24109.3bn%20in%202021. ))
• Growth forecast – Digital publishing, a major market segment, is predicted to grow at least 6% annually and reach $38 billion in revenue by 2028.(( https://www.researchandmarkets.com/reports/5446278/global-digital-publishing-market-forecast-to-2028 )) 
• Number of businesses – There are nearly 2,000 book publishing companies in the US.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/number-of-businesses/book-publishing-united-states/ )) 
• Number of people employed – The industry employs almost 70,000 people.(( https://www.ibisworld.com/industry-statistics/employment/book-publishing-united-states/ ))

Trends and challenges

Trends in the publishing industry include:

• Faster internet speed and improved accessibility are driving demand for ebooks and audiobooks
• Children’s books are the most popular genre in publishing as a whole

Challenges in the publishing industry include:

• Online piracy is denting sales as ebooks are illegally shared
• High level of competition

What kind of people work in publishing?

• Gender – 56% of publishers in the US are male, while 44% are female.(( https://www.zippia.com/publisher-jobs/demographics/#gender-statistics ))
• Average level of education – 72% of publishers hold a bachelor’s degree.(( https://www.zippia.com/publisher-jobs/demographics/#degree-level-types ))
• Average age – The average age of a publisher is 43 years old.(( https://www.zippia.com/publisher-jobs/demographics/#age-statistics ))

How much does it cost to start a publishing business?

Startup costs for a publishing company range from $4,000 to $20,000 or more. The high-end range includes the first printing run of your first book. By focusing on digital publishing you can keep costs toward the lower end of the range.

How much can you earn from a publishing business?

The average profit margin in publishing is about 15% which reflects a mix of print and digital publishing.

As a solopreneur, you could work from home and sell 5,000 $12 books in a year, bringing in $60,000 in revenue and $9,000 in profit, assuming that 15% margin. As your brand gains recognition, sales might climb to 50,000 books a year, giving you an annual revenue of $600,000 and a tidy profit of about $90,000.

What barriers to entry are there?

There are a few barriers to entry for a publishing company. Your biggest challenges will be:

• Finding authors – Agents can help, but this requires a lot of reading
• Marketing – Building a brand means spending on marketing

Related Business Ideas

How to Start a Magazine: Cost, Planning and Profit Potential

How to Open a Bookstore in 13 Steps

How to Start a Stationery Business in 13 Steps

Step 2: hone your idea.

Now that you know what’s involved in starting a publishing business, it’s a good idea to hone your idea in preparation to enter a competitive market.

Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.

Why? Identify an opportunity

Look at what types of books are trending with readers by reviewing the bestseller lists. Are thrillers hot? Or maybe it’s romances and memoirs. Your challenge will then be to find strong submissions from authors in trending genres. As a new publisher, you’ll be looking for new authors who are just getting started.

What? Define your publishing services

You’ll have to determine two things: how to best help your authors and what books to offer customers. For authors, you may want to focus on editing, design, and marketing to stand out over another publisher.

Next, consider whether you’ll offer print books or digital, or a mix of both.

How much should you charge for books?

The average cost of a printed book is $14 to $18, while ebooks generally run $3 to $10. Generally, prices depend on the popularity of the author, so your new author’s books will probably be on the lower end of the range. 

Once you know your costs, you can use this Step By Step profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.

Who? Identify your target market

Determine your most likely audience. If you’re publishing in the young adult market with books that target young women, for example, you can probably find them on social media sites like Instagram and TikTok.

Where? Choose your business premises

In the early stages, you may want to operate your business from home to keep expenses low. But as your business grows, you’ll likely need to hire workers for various roles and may need to rent out an office. You can find commercial space to rent in your area on sites such as Craigslist , Crexi , and Instant Offices .

When choosing a commercial space, you may want to follow these rules of thumb:

• Central location accessible via public transport
• Ventilated and spacious, with good natural light
• Flexible lease that can be extended as your business grows
• Ready-to-use space with no major renovations or repairs needed

Step 3: Brainstorm a Publishing Company Name

Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:

• Short, unique, and catchy names tend to stand out
• Names that are easy to say and spell tend to do better
• The name should be relevant to your product or service offerings
• Ask around — family, friends, colleagues, social media — for suggestions
• Including keywords, such as “publishing” or “books”, boosts SEO
• Choose a name that allows for expansion: “Infinite Ink Publishing Group” over “Business Brilliance Publishing Group” or “Travel Tales Publishers”
• A location-based name can help establish a strong connection with your local community and help with the SEO but might hinder future expansion

Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these. 

Find a Domain

Powered by GoDaddy.com

Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that set your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.

Step 4: Create a Publishing Business Plan

Here are the key components of a business plan:

• Executive Summary: Provide an overview of your publishing business, highlighting its purpose, target market, and how it will stand out in the publishing industry.
• Business Overview: Explain the focus of your publishing company, including genres or types of content you plan to publish.
• Product and Services: Specify the range of publishing services offered, such as editing, design, distribution, and marketing for authors’ works.
• Market Analysis: Evaluate the demand for publishing services and identify your primary customer segments, such as authors, educational institutions, or businesses.
• Competitive Analysis: Analyze other publishers in your niche and define your competitive advantages, like unique distribution channels or specialized services.
• Sales and Marketing: Describe your strategy to attract authors and sell books, whether through online platforms, book fairs, or direct marketing.
• Management Team: Present the qualifications and backgrounds of the management team that will drive the company’s success.
• Operations Plan: Outline the processes from manuscript acquisition to book production and distribution.
• Financial Plan: Summarize the financial aspects, including the budget, pricing model, and revenue projections.
• Appendix: Include additional documentation like detailed market studies, author agreements, or sample marketing materials that support your business plan.

If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.

Step 5: Register Your Business

Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.

Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business!

Choose where to register your company

Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you are planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as some states could offer real advantages when it comes to publishing. 

If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state.

Choose your business structure

Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your publishing business will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely.

Here are the main options:

• Sole Proprietorship – The most common structure for small businesses makes no legal distinction between company and owner. All income goes to the owner, who’s also liable for any debts, losses, or liabilities incurred by the business. The owner pays taxes on business income on his or her personal tax return.
• General Partnership – Similar to a sole proprietorship, but for two or more people. Again, owners keep the profits and are liable for losses. The partners pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC) – Combines the characteristics of corporations with those of sole proprietorships or partnerships. Again, the owners are not personally liable for debts.
• C Corp – Under this structure, the business is a distinct legal entity and the owner or owners are not personally liable for its debts. Owners take profits through shareholder dividends, rather than directly. The corporation pays taxes, and owners pay taxes on their dividends, which is sometimes referred to as double taxation.
• S Corp – An S-Corporation refers to the tax classification of the business but is not a business entity. An S-Corp can be either a corporation or an LLC , which just need to elect to be an S-Corp for tax status. In an S-Corp, income is passed through directly to shareholders, who pay taxes on their share of business income on their personal tax returns.

We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization , and answer any questions you might have.

Form Your LLC

Choose Your State

We recommend ZenBusiness as the Best LLC Service for 2024

Step 6: Register for Taxes

The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number , or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN.

Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.

The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist , and taxes can be filed online.

It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.

Step 7: Fund your Business

Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:

• Bank loans : This is the most common method, but getting approved requires a rock-solid business plan and strong credit history.
• SBA-guaranteed loans : The Small Business Administration can act as guarantor, helping gain that elusive bank approval via an SBA-guaranteed loan .
• Government grants : A handful of financial assistance programs help fund entrepreneurs. Visit Grants.gov to learn which might work for you.
• Venture capital : Offer potential investors an ownership stake in exchange for funds, keeping in mind that you would be sacrificing some control over your business.
• Friends and Family: Reach out to friends and family to provide a business loan or investment in your concept. It’s a good idea to have legal advice when doing so because SEC regulations apply.
• Crowdfunding: Websites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo offer an increasingly popular low-risk option, in which donors fund your vision. Entrepreneurial crowdfunding sites like Fundable and WeFunder enable multiple investors to fund your business.
• Personal: Self-fund your business via your savings or the sale of property or other assets.

Bank and SBA loans are probably the best options, other than friends and family, for funding a publishing business. 

Step 8: Apply for Publishing Business Licenses and Permits

Starting a publishing business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.

Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration ( OSHA ), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits. 

You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more. 

You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package . They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.

This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.

If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.

Step 9: Open a Business Bank Account

Before you start making money you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account .

Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your publishing business as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.

Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account.

Step 10: Get Business Insurance

Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.

Here are some types of insurance to consider:

• General liability: The most comprehensive type of insurance, acting as a catch-all for many business elements that require coverage. If you get just one kind of insurance, this is it. It even protects against bodily injury and property damage.
• Business Property: Provides coverage for your equipment and supplies.
• Equipment Breakdown Insurance: Covers the cost of replacing or repairing equipment that has broken due to mechanical issues.
• Worker’s compensation: Provides compensation to employees injured on the job.
• Property: Covers your physical space, whether it is a cart, storefront, or office.
• Commercial auto: Protection for your company-owned vehicle.
• Professional liability: Protects against claims from a client who says they suffered a loss due to an error or omission in your work.
• Business owner’s policy (BOP): This is an insurance plan that acts as an all-in-one insurance policy, a combination of any of the above insurance types.

Step 11: Prepare to Launch

As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business.

Essential software and tools

Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.

You can use industry-specific software for publishers like Xpublisher or Quark to help you automate your design and publishing processes.

• Popular web-based accounting programs for smaller businesses include Quickbooks , Freshbooks , and Xero .
• If you’re unfamiliar with basic accounting, you may want to hire a professional, especially as you begin. The consequences for filing incorrect tax documents can be harsh, so accuracy is crucial.

Develop your website

Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.

You can create your own website using services like WordPress, Wix, or Squarespace . This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.

They are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization ( SEO ) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google. 

Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:

• Leverage Social Media Platforms: Engage with your audience on platforms like Instagram, Twitter, and Facebook by sharing visually appealing content, behind-the-scenes glimpses, and interactive posts that spark discussions around literature.
• Website & SEO : Build a professional website that showcases your published books and author services, optimized for searches related to new book releases, author submissions, and publishing services.
• Collaborate with Influencers: Partner with book influencers and bloggers to review and promote your publications, tapping into their established audiences to increase visibility and credibility.
• Host Virtual Book Launches: Organize online events to launch new books, inviting authors, readers, and industry influencers to participate, creating buzz and fostering a sense of community around your brand.
• Utilize Email Marketing: Build and nurture a mailing list by offering exclusive content, discounts, and sneak peeks to subscribers, maintaining a direct line of communication with your audience.
• Explore Podcast Sponsorships: Identify popular literary podcasts and explore sponsorship opportunities, reaching a targeted audience of book enthusiasts who are likely to be interested in your publications.
• Participate in Book Fairs and Festivals: Attend and showcase your books at local and international book fairs, connecting directly with readers and establishing a physical presence in the literary community.
• Run Targeted Online Advertising Campaigns: Utilize platforms like Google Ads and social media advertising to target specific demographics interested in your book genres, maximizing your reach and return on investment.
• Implement Referral Programs: Encourage your existing readers to refer friends by offering incentives such as discounts or exclusive content, turning satisfied customers into advocates for your brand.
• Create Engaging Book Trailers: Produce visually compelling and shareable book trailers to captivate potential readers on platforms like YouTube and social media, providing a dynamic preview of your publications.
• Establish Book Clubs: Foster book club partnerships or create your own, providing a platform for readers to discuss and promote your books while building a dedicated community around your brand.

Focus on USPs

Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the unique characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they’re able to quickly grasp how your publishing business meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire.

Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your publishing business could be:

• The premier publisher for new authors
• The best romances, thrillers, and mystery novels
• Top non-fiction publisher

You may not like to network or use personal connections for business gain. But your personal and professional networks likely offer considerable untapped business potential. Maybe that Facebook friend you met in college is now running a publishing company, or a LinkedIn contact of yours is connected to dozens of potential clients. Maybe your cousin or neighbor has been working in publishing for years and can offer invaluable insight and industry connections. 

The possibilities are endless, so it’s a good idea to review your personal and professional networks and reach out to those with possible links to or interest in publishing. You’ll probably generate new customers or find companies with which you could establish a partnership. Online businesses might also consider affiliate marketing as a way to build relationships with potential partners and boost business.

Step 12: Build Your Team

If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you’ll likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a publishing business would include:

• Copy Editor – Proofreading, fact-checking, polishing manuscripts
• Designer – Cover and illustration design
• Editor – Review and shape manuscripts for publication
• Production Manager – Oversees book production process
• Marketing Lead – SEO optimization, social media strategy

At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need.

Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn or Facebook. You can also use free classified sites like Jobs and AngelList. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed , Glassdoor , or ZipRecruiter . Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent.

Step 13: Run a Publishing Business – Start Making Money!

Giving new authors real opportunity and seeing their work embraced by the reading public can be intensely rewarding. Yet publishing can also be a very profitable line of work. 

If you find just a few authors who become very successful, the sky is the limit. You could also create a long-term affiliate relationship with the world’s leading bookseller — just check out the Amazon Associates program . It’s easy and free.

You’re now ready to start publishing and making good money from good writing. You can start small and grow your company into something huge – maybe the next Simon & Schuster!

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• Decide if the Business Is Right for You
• Hone Your Idea
• Brainstorm a Publishing Company Name
• Create a Publishing Business Plan
• Register Your Business
• Register for Taxes
• Fund your Business
• Apply for Publishing Business Licenses and Permits
• Open a Business Bank Account
• Get Business Insurance
• Prepare to Launch
• Build Your Team
• Run a Publishing Business - Start Making Money!

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How to Start a Publishing Company: A Great Big Overview

There are several reasons a person might want to learn how to start a publishing company—like an official one with paperwork and a business bank account and all that.

Maybe you plan to self-publish and want to help bookstores and readers take your book seriously with the help of an imprint logo on the spine and an ISBN that belongs to an actual publishing company.

Maybe you’ve been self-publishing and are ready to turn your indie author experiment into an intentional business. Or you’ve been so successful at selling your own books you’ve decided to set up an LLC and start acquiring books from other authors.

Or maybe you’ve never written a book and don’t plan to. You just know great writing when you see it and want to team up with promising authors.

Whatever the reason, you’re at the beginning of a thrilling journey. It won’t be easy, though. Running your own business is complicated and time-consuming no matter what industry you’re in. And heaven knows publishing comes with plenty of its own unique challenges.

So I can’t promise you that this guide has everything you need to know to start a publishing company. You’re gonna want to read a lot of articles. And books. And listen to podcasts, attend publishing conferences, and definitely reach out to people who’ve already had success as publishers.

My goal in this article is to give you a clear overview of how to start a publishing company. We’ll talk about:

• How your company fits into the wider publishing world
• How to research and plan for success
• Legal and regulatory considerations
• How to set up your business
• Financial management tips
• The process of publishing, promoting, and scaling, whether you publish your own work or someone else’s

Hopefully, by the time we’re done, you’ll have a clearer sense of where you’re heading and what you need to do next. Let’s get started.  

Quick Overview of the Publishing Landscape

When a person sets out to publish a book, they essentially have two options: traditional publishing and self-publishing.

There’s technically a third option, hybrid publishing, in which the author pays a hybrid publisher to publish their book. But that particular approach is less common, potentially predatory , and not really what this article is about. If you want to know more about it, we discuss it in this article .

For now, let’s look at the two more typical options and how your future business fits into the larger publishing industry.

Traditional Publishing

In traditional publishing , a publishing company takes care of editing, producing, distributing, and (usually) marketing a book. They pay royalties to the author. Royalties are a percentage of the profits. You can learn more about those puppies here .

When people think of traditional publishers, they most often think of the Big Five, which include major publishing houses like Penguin Random House and Macmillan. But small publishing companies count, too.

So if you start your own company and acquire other authors’ books, those authors will be traditionally published through your imprint.

Self-Publishing

In self-publishing, the author does everything themselves. They might hire editors, a cover designer, or other professionals to execute aspects of the process that require special skills. But ultimately, it’s up to them to oversee the vision and put up the money to get it done.

If you start a publishing company with the goal of releasing your own books under that imprint, you’re still a self-published author.

Why Starting Your Very Own Publishing Company is a Thing

If you choose to self-publish, you’re technically a publisher. You don’t actually have to establish an official publishing company. You can self-publish your book under your own name and pay taxes on that income as an independent contractor. You know, keep things super simple.

So why do so many self-published authors choose to create publishing company?

Some do it because they actually want to own a publishing business. They don’t want to stop at their own work. They’d like to build a full catalog of books from a wide range of authors. To do that, they have to establish the proper business structure for building a team and paying authors.

Others like the air of legitimacy that comes with having the name of a for-real publishing company linked to their books. They also dig the legal protection involved in setting up a registered business, assuming they choose the right business structure for that. We’ll talk more about that in a bit.

Plus, when you start a publishing company, it’s a signal to yourself that you plan to treat your self-publishing journey as a business rather than a hobby or experiment. 

Add in the fact that starting your own publishing business is easier than ever in the digital age, and the choice feels obvious for many self-published authors. That doesn’t mean it’s the perfect path for everyone, but if you’re thinking it might be yours , read on.

Researching the Market and Creating a Business Plan

The first step in starting a publishing company is establishing a vision and determining what you need to do to make that vision work.

Who’s your audience? How will you find them and get them to buy your books? And what about your financial strategies? How will you get all those numbers to number the way you want them to?

The more specifically you can answer these questions, the likelier your odds of success once your publishing company is up and running. Let’s take a closer look at the details you need to nail down.

Finding Your Niche

How does your publishing company fit into the market?

You can start to answer this by looking at the high-level answers. Things like:

• Your genre and subgenre
• Your writing style
• The genre tropes you embrace

It actually helps a lot to create a mission statement, which is a declaration of your values and (non-financial) goals as a business. 

Honestly, I’ve always found mission statements to be pretty eye-roll-y, especially when they come from any for-profit endeavor. But in recent years, I’ve discovered that having that kind of clarity around what I want to put into the world has made me much better at focusing my writing and marketing efforts to connect with the readers who get me.

Do you want to publish dark mysteries that offer readers a spine-tingling escape? Spicy romance that challenges conventional assumptions about love? Narrative nonfiction that promotes empathy and understanding in a divided world?

A more specific vision will help you get a clearer sense of who your target audience is and how to grab their attention.

On that note, it’s also essential that you research your reader. Learn as much you can about their demographics and buying behaviors. Where do they hang out online? Where do they go for book recommendations? What are they saying about their favorite books?

Doug has a great article loaded with tips on researching your target market. I highly recommend you check it out.

Finally, get to know the current bestsellers in your genre so you can study what works. And keep tabs on emerging authors. If you hope to publish works other than your own, you might discover a self-published author who’s nailing the content but could really thrive with someone else overseeing the business end of things.

Creating Your Publishing Imprint

Once you have a sense of what your publishing company is all about, you can start thinking about your publishing imprint.

An imprint is the name you publish your books under. The major publishing houses have several imprints, each representing a specific area of focus. For example, Harlequin is a HarperCollins imprint that publishes romance.

As a small business, you’ll want to start with one publishing imprint. Think of this as your publishing brand. If you plan to only ever publish your own novels, this might overlap with your author brand .  

Your imprint's name and logo will appear on the spine of every book you publish. You’ll also want to set up a website, especially if you hope to attract other authors.

Developing a Business Plan

A business plan is a comprehensive document laying out how you plan to build and sustain a profitable publishing company. There’s way too much involved in a business plan for us to go over all of it here, but the short version is that you’ll want to include things like:

• Your mission statement
• Long-term goals
• Short-term goals
• Strategies for achieving those goals, including your publishing schedule and marketing tactics
• Financial projections, including budget, expenses, sales goals, and how long it will take to turn a profit

There’s a steep learning curve when it comes to running your own publishing business, so it’s a good idea to revisit and revise your business plan periodically. 

I also suggest doing a lot of research and staying conservative when it comes to those financial projections. You don’t want to drain your business bank account because you were betting on an immediate return on investment.

Legal and Regulatory Considerations

When you start a publishing company, you’re 1) starting a small business that 2) profits off of creative work that may or may not be your own. Both of those facts mean you’ll be held accountable for abiding by certain tax and copyright laws.

I’m going to give you an extremely general overview of what that could mean if you’re a U.S. citizen operating your business in the U.S. I’m not remotely qualified to give you tax or legal advice—plus, laws change—so this is just to give you a sense of the types of things you’ll want to consider as you set up your publishing company.

Please research current regulations and consult an accountant or lawyer before making decisions and drawing up contracts.

Registering Your Publishing Company as a Legal Entity

You’ll need to make your publishing company official in the eyes of the country and state. That means selecting which business structure you’d like to establish. Small publishing companies usually opt for either a sole proprietorship or a limited liability company (LLC). 

The biggest benefit of a sole proprietorship is that it’s cheap and easy. You’ll have to claim your business income on a Schedule C when you do your taxes, but you don’t even need to get an employer identification number (EIN) unless you plan to hire people. 

If you want to operate under a business name instead of your own name, you can file a Fictitious Business Name or DBA (“doing business as”). Fees vary by state, but they’re usually inexpensive.

A limited liability company comes with bigger fees, but it offers more legal protection. For example, if someone decides to sue your publishing company and you have an LLC, only your business’s assets will be on the line. If you’re operating as a sole proprietorship, they can go after your personal assets, too.

Whether you go with a DBA or LLC, you’ll need to decide on a business name. You can use your own name, the name of your publishing imprint, or something else entirely. 

Once you decide on a business structure and get an employer identification number (if you need one), you can set up a business bank account. Even if you’re operating as a sole proprietorship, it’s best to keep your personal finances separate from your company’s finances.

Copyright Laws and Intellectual Property Rights

Once again, I’m not remotely qualified to offer legal advice. So I won’t. What I will say is that if you plan to publish the work of other authors, you need to make sure you understand exactly which rights you hold under the contract.

Even if you realize their book would do great in Germany, you can’t start tapping into that market if the contract doesn’t grant you those rights.

You also need to watch for potential copyright violations in any book you publish, including yours. Make sure you work with a cover artist who knows how to determine which images, fonts, and elements are fair game, legally speaking.

Setting Up Operations

Now that you’ve got your own publishing company, it’s up to you to determine how this whole operation is going to work. You’re officially a business owner, which means everyone involved is looking to you to run the show.

Sounds like a lot of pressure, but with some careful planning, you’ll at least have a framework to start from. Plus, you’ve already got a business plan to help you stay focused on your goals, priorities, and strategies.

Let’s take a closer look at the things you’ll need to consider before you officially open shop. 

Processes and Guidelines

If you plan to publish the work of other authors, consider what the editorial process will look like. How will you acquire new titles? What standards must they meet in order to warrant the time and resources you’ll have to invest in them? 

Don’t just look for quality writing and a good story. You’re creating a brand and trying to compete in a saturated publishing industry. Consider what it means for a novel to align with your vision and what it will take to stand out in your target market.

Once you’ve selected a book, then what? How will you determine what you’re willing to offer the author in terms of advance and royalties? What will the contract look like? Again, it’s a good idea to consult with a lawyer on this.

From there, decide what factors will go into setting up your publishing schedule. How many books do you hope to publish in a year? Do you plan to do any season-specific releases, like holiday-themed books? 

How much time will you give yourself to deliver editorial feedback? How much time should you give an author to make changes? Once the content is ready, how long will it take for line editing, formatting, and packaging?

Remember to factor book launch strategies into your publishing calendar. Determine what you’ll need to do to create buzz and generate preorders. These details are important even if the only books you plan to publish are your own.

Of course, your systems are bound to change as you execute them. It’s important to adapt according to the market and your own capabilities, so leave a little room for flexibility. 

Building Your Team

When you first start a publishing company, you’ll probably want to hire other professionals on a contract basis. It’s just simpler and more affordable. Once you’ve had some success and are ready to grow your business, you might consider hiring employees.

Depending on your own skill set, you might choose to work with professionals like a developmental editor , line editor, cover designer, and/or marketing specialist. You might be able to handle one or some of these jobs yourself successfully. If you’ve already published a few books, you probably know what you do well. 

Ultimately, the key to building a great publishing team is being honest with yourself about your own skill set. You might save money by handling line editing or cover design yourself, but if you can’t do expert-level work, your readers will notice and point it out.

Having a logo and business name won’t make up for a product that your target audience perceives as amateur.

Financial Management

Let’s talk money. More specifically, let’s discuss what you’ll have to pay for upfront and where you can find the cash when you don’t have any books out there yet.

These are things you’ll want to think about when you first create your business plan and on an ongoing basis. Your business can only thrive and survive in the long term if you can get more money flowing in than going out before your resources run out.

What Goes in the Budget

You’ll likely have to make some tricky decisions about which business expenses to prioritize and which to skip, at least while your publishing company is still young.

This is not an exhaustive list, but remember to account for things like:

• Annual taxes and fees associated with registering and licensing a business
• Office supplies and equipment
• ISBNs (international standard book numbers—you’ll need one for every book you publish)
• Copyright registration fees
• Contractors (editors, sensitivity readers , cover designers, marketers, etc.)
• Advertising costs
• Website domain
• Subscriptions to trade publications
• Software and subscription-based programs
• Conferences and book festivals
• Associated travel expenses
• Author advances

Also consider additional expenses specific to the way you plan to do business. Will you release audiobooks or publish in foreign markets, for example? Then your budget should include things like narrators or translation services.

Plan for as much as you can ahead of time. When an unexpected expense arises, return to the budget to see if you’ll have to cut back somewhere else to make it work.

Funding Options

Now for the big question: how are you supposed to pay for all these things if you’re not already selling books?

One option is to keep your day job and fund your publishing company yourself. 

That’s not a fun suggestion, I know. If you’re already working while trying to start a publishing company, you won’t exactly be able to hit the ground running, as the business people say. But believe me, many publishing companies start that way, especially when it’s one author setting up a business to support their own novels.

You may be able to pursue grants created to support small businesses, but be aware that many grants are created for specific communities or missions, and even then, they’re unlikely to pay enough to let you quit your day job.

You could apply for a small business loan, but you’ll have to demonstrate that your business will be capable of paying off the loan. Not to mention, you’ll want to know you can pay off the loan, and it can be tough to predict when you’ll start making a profit if this is your first publishing adventure.

As for investors, publishing companies don’t have much luck with them in the traditional sense. That said, crowdfunding is an increasingly popular tactic for authors with a strong fan following. 

Brandon Sanderson is the most famous example of Kickstarter success(es), but many other writers have been able to get novels and special edition books funded by their own fans in advance. The caveat, of course, is that they already have a following or a super compelling nonfiction book that speaks directly to an unmet need.

If none of these options fit where you are right now and it’s looking like you’ll have to start small with your own money, that’s perfectly fine! The beauty of starting your own publishing business is that you can do it in your living room with the release of one novel and build from there.

Publishing Process

So you’ve got a business name, a strategy, a budget, and a vision. You’re ready to start knocking out some books. What does that look like?

Here’s an overview of the standard publishing process.

Manuscript Acquisition

If you only plan to publish novels you write, you can skip this section. If you’re hoping to add other authors to your catalog, stay right here.

First, you’ll need to make sure people know your publishing company exists and is legit. Make sure you’ve got a professional website up and running. Announce the founding of your company in trade publications. 

Then, when you’re ready, put out a call for submissions in places like Poets & Writers . Be clear about the type of work you’re looking for and whether you want to see the first chapter, 50 pages, or query only. Also, do your prospective writers a solid and mention how long they should wait to hear back from you.

Work with a lawyer ahead of time to draw up a contract so you can move quickly when you’re ready to make a deal. Just be aware that the author may wish to negotiate.  

Editing, Formatting, and Design 

It’s customary for the publisher to request some edits, so don’t be shy about sharing your notes . The author should be expecting it. Or, if there’s a developmental editor whose insight has already been valuable to you, you may wish to contract this work out to them. If you do, remember to factor their availability into your publishing schedule.

Once everybody’s happy with the story and prose, you’re ready for line editing and formatting . If either of these things are not major strengths for you, hire a professional. Typos and poor formatting will hurt you. More specifically, they’ll get called out in reviews.

The same is true for cover design. The book cover is your number one marketing tool, so make it a good one. You can find tips on cover design here .

Printing and Distribution

I would say that this is when you decide where and how you want to distribute the book, but that’s actually a decision for much earlier in the process so you can set up preorders and build relationships with bookstores.

So it’s more accurate to say that this is when you execute on your distribution strategy.

The options for how and where you sell are more expansive than ever, from staying exclusive to Amazon to managing direct sales through TikTok. It’s more than we can get into here, it’s an ever-changing landscape, and there are many factors to consider, so I’ll just recommend you do your research when the time comes to choose the best path for your business.

Marketing and Promotion

In today’s publishing industry, authors shoulder much of the marketing and promotion burden. Even the major publishing houses rarely give debut authors the same advertising push they used to.

Even so, promotional support and a wider reach are some of the biggest reasons authors choose to work with a publishing company instead of going it alone. Plus, you’re trying to make a profit for them and for yourself. 

So get ready to do some serious marketing, whether you’ve got a whole roster of authors or it’s just you on there. Your survival depends on it.

Developing a Marketing Plan

Take your target audience into account as you set up your marketing plan. What is the best way to reach them? What social media platforms do they hang out on? How do they interact with the authors they love? Where are they buying books? What resonates with them?

Study comparable titles and authors. Note what works for them as well as any efforts that seem to fall flat.

Once you’ve done a few bucket loads of research, do your best to lay out a plan for where, when, and how you’ll get this book in front of readers both leading up to the launch and after it’s released. 

Then, be flexible. As you move forward with your marketing plan, double down on what works and let go of what doesn’t.

Marketing Strategies

Of course, it’s easier to create a marketing plan when you have a sense of what tactics might be included in it. 

As always, the best strategies vary depending on your genre, target market, and shifting trends. That said, some common tactics include:

• Newsletter/email marketing
• Social media
• Paid advertising on platforms like Amazon and social media
• Book trailers
• Live author events
• Online author events 
• Cross-promotion with other authors
• Podcast appearances
• Newsletter swaps
• Launch party

You’ll also want to work on getting reviews out prior to the release of the book. And you’ll want to do a lot of this:

Building Relationships

The publishing business is just like every other business in that relationships can get you pretty far, especially when it comes to promotion.

Find ways to connect with bookstores and libraries. Engage with content from book influencers, podcasters, YouTubers, and book bloggers. Build relationships with other authors in the same genre. 

In time, all these relationships could open up more opportunities for cross-promotion, guest appearances, or—in the case of libraries and bookstores—more book sales.

Scaling Your Publishing Businesses

Making money is great and all, but at some point, you’ll want to figure out how to bring in even more income without investing an equivalent amount in time and resources. That’s the key to sustaining a publishing company over time.

Here are some scaling strategies to keep in mind as you grow your business:

Expanding Your Catalogue

One of the best ways to scale your business is to just have more products to sell. Go figure. 

Admittedly, each book you publish requires a significant investment of both time and money, but once it’s out there, it’s a product you can sell forever. You’ll still have to invest in marketing, but you’ll eventually have some word-of-mouth assistance from readers who love the book. Plus, every book you release under an author’s name will help sell other books by that author.

So make sure you treat your authors well so they’ll stick with you. And always keep an eye out for emerging self-published writers who might be a great fit for your publishing company. 

Also, regularly review your backlist to see if you need to make any changes to keep up with market trends, whether that means re-covering a book or creating a new ad campaign for an older novel that happens to be the exact thing readers are currently looking for.

Exploring International Markets

There’s a big world out there. If you’re only selling books in your country and language, you could be missing out on a lot of potential buyers.

Just make sure you do your research before you take on the expense of having a book translated. You never want to assume that a book will be a hit in another country just because it did well in your own.

But if you’ve got good reason to believe a book will succeed in a particular foreign market, the cost of translation is fairly small when you consider the possibility of reaching a nation’s worth of new readers. That’s assuming you have the proper rights. On that note…

Subsidiary Rights and Licensing

Subsidiary rights are the rights to generate revenue from a creative work through processes beyond publishing print books and ebooks . For example, you might want to create audiobooks , graphic novels, translations, or merchandise from one of your bestselling books or series . 

These can all be great ways to get even more money out of your books for a comparatively lower investment. Be aware, however, that if you’re not the author, you can only do this if your contract grants you those rights.

Finding Support for the Journey

As I mentioned before, this guide is simply an overview of how to start a publishing company. By now, it’s probably clear to you that there’s plenty more to learn about each topic we’ve touched on.

That’s why it’s so important to keep a supportive community close as you set up and run your own publishing company. 

Connect with authors and publishers who understand how challenging and fulfilling this process can be. Join communities where you can ask for advice from people who’ve been there. Find ways to stay on top of trends and strategies in the publishing world.

Dabble can help with a bunch of those things. Join the Story Craft Café to connect with authors who are on similar journeys… or may be looking to collaborate with a small publishing company like yours. 

Hang out in DabbleU where you can find tons of advice on both the craft and business of writing and publishing. 

Subscribe to Dabble’s non-spammy newsletter and get new articles and insights delivered right to your inbox once a week.

As challenging as this journey can be, you’re never in it alone. So go ahead. Be bold. 

Create the publishing business you’ve been dreaming of.

Abi Wurdeman is the author of Cross-Section of a Human Heart: A Memoir of Early Adulthood, as well as the novella, Holiday Gifts for Insufferable People. She also writes for film and television with her brother and writing partner, Phil Wurdeman. On occasion, Abi pretends to be a poet. One of her poems is (legally) stamped into a sidewalk in Santa Clarita, California. When she’s not writing, Abi is most likely hiking, reading, or texting her mother pictures of her houseplants to ask why they look like that.

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How To Start A Book Publishing Company

• Last Updated: December 11, 2023
• By: StartUp 101

Advertising Disclosure

Are you an avid book lover with a passion for the written word? Have you ever dreamed of being at the helm of a thriving business that brings great stories to life? If so, starting your own book publishing company could align perfectly with your interests while also being a potentially lucrative business.

While a deep love for books and an eye for storytelling are undoubtedly important in the book publishing industry, starting a successful publishing company requires more than just these particular interests. To help you get started, our guide is here to walk you through the process! 

Business Overview

Book publishers acquire authors’ manuscripts, edit them into finished books, design visually appealing covers and layouts, and handle printing, marketing, warehousing, order fulfillment, and distribution. A book publishing company is like a bridge between writers and readers.

By taking on authors and producing their work, the publishing company makes money through royalties from the sales of physical books, eBooks, and audiobooks.

There are various book publishing models and specific target markets. The most common ones are: 

• The trade book publishers are perhaps the most traditional, creating books you’ll most likely see in a brick-and-mortar or online bookstore. Formats include hardcover, e-books, audiobooks, and mass market paperback and cover a wide range of genres and topics aimed at the consumer readership.
• Textbook publishers and academic publishers. These publishers specialize in textbooks and specific course materials for schools and universities.
• Self-publishing services or self-publishers. This model supports an author in publishing their book in print or online so that it is accessible to an audience. Typically, self-published books are print-on-demand. On average, a self-published author sells only five copies of their book. 1
• Professional publishers are creating reliable and widely accepted information and standards databases for professionals such as doctors, architects, and lawyers. Because of the constant updates of standards and guidelines, most of these books have now moved online. 

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Industry Summary

According to the Association of American Publishers (AAP), the US book publishing industry generates over $28 billion in annual revenue across approximately 2,000 companies. Major publishers include the “Big Five” – Penguin Random House, Hachette, HarperCollins, Macmillan, and Simon & Schuster. 2

While the industry saw a slight 2.6% revenue decline in 2022 compared to 2021, total sales remained 8.6% higher than pre-pandemic levels in 2019. This suggests resilience even with economic challenges. The 5-year industry growth rate from 2018-2022 was a steady 11%.

The largest category is trade/consumer books, at $17.4 billion in 2022 sales. Other key segments are higher education, PreK-12 materials, professional/scholarly books, and religious presses. Trade and education books drive most industry revenue.

Online retail makes up the biggest sales channel, now surpassing physical bookstores. Direct publisher sales to buyers and intermediaries like wholesalers are also major channels. Print formats continue leading, though ebooks and digital audiobooks gain market share.

Current shifts include consumers buying more books online, publishers enhancing ebook catalogs, authors utilizing social media marketing, and mergers/acquisitions for growth. Self-publishing also disrupts the landscape.

Steps To Start A Book Publishing Business

Step 1:  choose a niche.

The first step of starting a book publishing business is to decide what kind of books you want to publish. This is important for several reasons:

Differentiation: The book publishing industry is a crowded and fiercely competitive space. Each year, thousands of books are published, making it increasingly challenging for new publishers to make their mark. By specializing in a particular genre or theme, you can differentiate yourself from larger, more general publishers. This helps attract authors and readers who are specifically interested in your niche, increasing your chances of success.

Marketing effectiveness: Targeting a specific niche simplifies your marketing efforts. Instead of trying to reach a broad and diverse audience, you can create targeted campaigns that resonate with your niche audience. This improves the effectiveness of your marketing activities, as you can focus on channels and messaging that appeal directly to your target readers. This research also helps you when calculating whether you are entering a market with enough potential customers.

Niche expertise: Depending on the niche, by operating within a specific sector, there can be an advantage of being known as a go-to publisher in that area. This opens up opportunities for collaborations, partnerships, and industry recognition, further enhancing your reputation and credibility.

Choosing a niche at the beginning of your journey becomes the strategic decision that sets the tone for your entire business.

Step 2:  Develop a Business Plan

Starting a book publishing company is a big step, and after narrowing down your niche, the next thing you need is a good business plan. Think of this plan like a guidebook. It tells you where you want to go and how you plan to get there. Let’s talk about why this plan is so important.

First, a business plan helps you see the big picture. What kind of books do you want to publish? Who will read them? What are your main goals? Writing this down makes your ideas clear and keeps you focused.

Then, there’s money to think about. Starting a business costs money, and you’ll need to know how much it will cost to start and how you’ll make it back. This helps you see if your publishing company can make money and keep going in the long run.

Also, if you need money from others to start, a business plan is important because investors or banks will want to see your plan. They want to know that your publishing company is a good bet before they give you money. Your plan should show that you understand the market and have a solid strategy to market your authors.

Related:  How to write a business plan

Step 3:  Secure Funding

The next step in starting a book publishing business is to make sure you have the funds to launch and sustain the business. Here are some ways in which other founders procure the capital needed to start their book publishing business.

Personal savings: Given the low start-up costs of a basic office infrastructure and manuscript inventory purchases, many founders self-fund their business using their own savings. If personal savings aren’t enough, outside sources will be needed.

Friends & family: One outside source is borrowing start-up capital from friends or relatives. This can be a good option, but consider the risks related to personal relationships when borrowing money.

Credit cards: Using credit cards to fund the first few years of a book publishing company is an option for entrepreneurs. However, this method should be approached cautiously, as high-interest rates can quickly accumulate substantial debt if they aren’t paid back quickly.

Home equity loans: Borrowing against existing home equity is another option for entrepreneurs looking to fund their book publishing company. This usually offers a better interest rate and may be a better option than using credit cards or personal loans, but your property will act as collateral.

Bank small business loans: Traditional bank loans, or small business loans backed by a Small Business Administration (SBA), are an option for financing a new business. Although it can be a bit of a hassle to apply for these loans, they can be a common option to secure the capital required to start a book publishing company.

Angel investors: Wealthy individuals who have an interest in supporting book industry ventures provide capital in exchange for an equity share. This is a good option if the entrepreneur can find an angel investor with the same vision and goals for the book publishing company.

Crowdfunding: Another, though difficult, option to successfully pull off unless tapping into a very passionate niche is to use crowdfunding. If done effectively, crowdfunding can create a community of followers and buzz around the book publishing company.

Related:  Finding the money to start a business

Step 4:  Register the Business

The next step is to take care of the necessary tasks to properly register your business and ensure legal compliance. Here are some suggestions to guide you through the process:

Choose a business structure: The first task is to choose a business structure. The four common options are:

• Sole proprietorship: Offers simplicity and lower startup costs, but the owner is personally liable for the business.
• General partnership: A business owned by two or more individuals who share profits and liabilities.
• Corporation: Provides limited liability protection and separates personal and business assets, but are the most costly and complex.
• Limited Liability Company (LLC): Offers liability protection and flexibility, combining features of both corporations and partnerships.

Related: Comparison of business structures

Forming an LLC sounds complicated and expensive, but using an entity formation service guides you through the process so you know it was done right.

Some popular LLC formation services include:

IncFile  - $0 plus state fees & free registered agent for 1 year!

ZenBusiness  - Best for beginners. $0 plus state fees & free registered agent for 1 year!

Northwest  - Best privacy protection. $39 plus state fees & free registered agent for 1 year!

Business name registration: After registering the business structure, you may need to register your business name. This process will vary depending on what business structure you pick. Sole proprietors and partnerships will often be required to register a “Doing Business As” (DBA), while corporations and LLCs register with the state during the formation process.

During this time, it’s also a good idea to check if the name you want is available as a web domain, even if you’re not ready to set up a website yet.

Related: Finding a domain name for your business

Obtain business licenses and permits: Every state has different requirements, but in general, a book publishing company will likely need general business registrations, such as a local business license, EIN (Employer Identification Number), and state sales tax number.

Related: State guides for general business licensing

Intellectual property rights: As a book publisher, it’s important to understand copyright law and protect the works of your authors. Familiarize yourself with the basics of copyrights and how to obtain copyright protection from the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO).

Step 5: Set Up the Production & Distribution Process

After your business registration is complete, it’s time to set up the production and promotion process for your new book publishing company. A few points to consider:

First, establish clear workflows for each step of the publishing process, including editing, designing, transmitting to printers, converting to ebook formats, and archiving source files and past versions. This will help streamline operations and ensure efficient collaboration between the different departments, team members, and freelancers involved in the book production process.

Understanding your sales channels is another part of this phase. This means knowing where your target audiences discover books. It could be online retailers, physical bookstores, libraries, and so on. By knowing where the books are going, you can understand the process of getting them there effectively.

Finally, developing a book promotion plan is next, which involves deciding on the marketing tactics you’ll use, such as social media marketing, email marketing, public speaking events, or advanced review copies. A clear and precise promotion plan can help streamline your marketing efforts and ensure that your books reach the right audience at the right time.

Step 6: Prepare to Launch!

Starting a book publishing company involves a series of steps, and once the core ones are completed, there are several additional tasks that need attention. These tasks will vary depending on individual needs and the specific nature of your publishing business, but a few to consider include:

Business insurance: For a book publishing company, common types of business insurance include general liability insurance, which protects against everyday risks, and professional liability insurance, which covers claims related to errors or negligence in publishing. These insurances safeguard your business against unforeseen circumstances.

Setting up bookkeeping: Establishing a system for handling daily transactions, taxes, and financial statements is important. You can either hire a bookkeeper or use accounting software to keep your financial records organized and up-to-date.

Obtain an ISBN: Each book published by your company needs an International Standard Book Number (ISBN). This unique identifier is crucial for the distribution and sale of your books in the global market.

Check contracts and agreements: Have properly drafted contracts for author agreements, distribution agreements, and other key documents. It’s a good idea to have these documents reviewed by legal counsel to ensure they are thorough and legally sound.

Opening a business bank account: Setting up a dedicated bank account for your business helps keep personal and business finances separate and makes financial management more straightforward.

Common Questions When Starting A Book Publishing Company

How much does it cost to start a book publishing company.

Starting a book publishing company involves various costs that potential business owners should be aware of. While the exact expenses can vary depending on factors such as location and the scale of operations, a rough average cost to start a book publishing company can range from $10,000 to $50,000 or more.

Location: When considering the location of your publishing company, one of the decisions is to open a physical office or run the business from home. To save on expenses, you can easily start your business from home and use a remote team to conduct operations. If you would rather meet with clients in person and employ permanent staff, an office space will be needed, which will come with deposits and any office setup expenses. Initial deposits can range from $2,000 to $5,000, assuming a modest space in a moderately priced area.

Equipment and software: Basic office equipment (computers, printers) and software (publishing and bookkeeping software) can cost between $1,000 and $3,000.

Business insurance: As a rough estimate, you can expect to spend around $500 to $2,000 for your initial insurance premium.

Marketing: This includes expenses like designing and printing business cards, creating a professional website, and developing initial marketing collateral. In total, you might spend around $1,000 to $5,000 on your initial marketing efforts.

Obtaining an ISBN: On average, you can expect to pay around $100 to $500 for a block of 10 ISBNs.

Book production: The production costs for initial titles, including editing, design, and printing, can vary. For a small batch of books, expect costs between $5,000 and $10,000.

Business registration: Registering your business, including filing fees for your chosen structure (LLC, corporation, etc.), can cost between $50 and $500.

How profitable is a book publishing company?

The profitability of a book publishing company depends on various factors such as the number of titles published, the number of units sold per title, the selling price of each book, and the costs associated with publishing.

Assuming a publishing company sells 10 titles per year, with 1,000 units sold per title, the total number of books sold would be 10,000 units. If we assume the selling price of each book to be $20 (a typical price for a new paperback novel), the total revenue would be $200,000 (10,000 units * $20/unit).

The costs associated with publishing a book can vary widely, but for simplicity, let’s consider the main costs: printing, author royalties, and overhead costs.

– Printing costs: If we assume a cost of $2 per book, the total printing cost for 10,000 books would be $20,000 (10,000 units * $2/unit). – Author royalties: Typically, authors receive a royalty of around 10% of the retail price of a book. In this case, the royalty per book would be $2 ($20 * 10%). For 10,000 books, the total royalty payment would be $20,000 (10,000 units * $2/unit). – Overhead costs: These include costs for editing, marketing, distribution, and general administrative expenses. Let’s assume these costs amount to 30% of the total revenue, which would be $60,000 ($200,000 * 30%).

Adding these costs together, the total cost would be $100,000 ($20,000 + $20,000 + $60,000).

Subtracting the total cost from the total revenue, the profit would be $100,000 ($200,000 – $100,000). This is a simplified example, and actual profits can vary based on several factors.

What is the NAICS code for a book publishing business?

The NAICS code for a book publishing business is 511130.

The NAICS code (North American Industry Classification System) is a federal system to classify different types of businesses for the collection and reporting of statistical data.

Related: What is a NAICS code?

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Business Plan Template for Book Publishers

• Great for beginners
• Ready-to-use, fully customizable Subcategory
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Are you a book publisher looking to take your business to new heights? Whether you're a seasoned professional or just starting out, having a solid business plan is the key to success in the publishing industry. And ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Book Publishers is here to help you every step of the way!

With this template, you can:

• Outline your publishing goals, vision, and strategies
• Create detailed financial projections and budgets
• Identify target markets and develop effective marketing strategies
• Plan for distribution, sales, and author acquisitions
• Track progress and make adjustments to ensure success

Don't leave your publishing dreams to chance. Get the ClickUp Business Plan Template for Book Publishers today and turn your passion into a thriving business!

Business Plan Template for Book Publishers Benefits

A Business Plan Template for Book Publishers offers a range of benefits to help publishers successfully navigate the industry:

• Provides a clear roadmap for launching or expanding a publishing business, outlining the vision and goals.
• Assists in identifying target audiences, understanding market trends, and developing effective marketing strategies.
• Helps publishers analyze competition and differentiate themselves in the market.
• Allows for comprehensive financial projections, including revenue streams, expenses, and potential funding sources.
• Ensures a structured approach to managing operations, distribution channels, and author relationships.
• Facilitates strategic decision-making and adjustments based on market dynamics and industry shifts.
• Provides a professional document that can be shared with investors, partners, and stakeholders to secure funding and support.
• Enables publishers to demonstrate a deep understanding of their industry and the viability of their business concept.

Main Elements of Book Publishers Business Plan Template

When it comes to creating a business plan for your book publishing venture, ClickUp has you covered with a template tailored specifically for the industry. Here are the key elements of ClickUp's Business Plan Template for Book Publishers:

• Custom Statuses: Keep track of your progress with statuses like Complete, In Progress, Needs Revision, and To Do, ensuring your business plan stays on track.
• Custom Fields: Use custom fields such as Reference, Approved, and Section to add important details and track the status of each section of your business plan.
• Custom Views: Take advantage of five different views, including Topics, Status, Timeline, Business Plan, and Getting Started Guide, to organize and visualize your business plan in the most effective way possible.
• Document Collaboration: Collaborate with your team members and stakeholders using ClickUp's Docs feature, allowing you to work together seamlessly on your business plan.
• Task Management: Break down your business plan into actionable tasks using ClickUp's tasks feature, assigning responsibilities, setting due dates, and tracking progress every step of the way.

How To Use Business Plan Template for Book Publishers

Creating a business plan for a book publishing company can be a daunting task, but with the help of ClickUp's Business Plan Template, you can break it down into five simple steps:

1. Define your vision and mission

Start by clearly defining your vision and mission for your book publishing business. What is your ultimate goal? What do you want to achieve? This will help guide your decision-making process and set the tone for your business.

Use the Docs feature in ClickUp to write down your vision and mission statements for easy reference.

2. Identify your target audience

Next, identify your target audience for the books you plan to publish. Who are the readers you want to reach? What are their preferences and interests? Understanding your target audience will help you tailor your publishing strategies and marketing efforts accordingly.

Create custom fields in ClickUp to track important information about your target audience, such as demographics and reading preferences.

3. Develop your publishing strategy

Now it's time to develop a comprehensive publishing strategy. This includes deciding what genres and types of books you will focus on, establishing relationships with authors and agents, and determining your distribution channels.

Use the Gantt chart feature in ClickUp to create a timeline and visually plan out each step of your publishing strategy.

4. Create a financial plan

A solid financial plan is crucial for any business, including book publishing. Determine your startup costs, projected revenue, and expenses. Consider factors such as printing costs, marketing expenses, and royalties for authors. This will help you understand the financial feasibility of your business and make necessary adjustments.

Utilize the Table view in ClickUp to create a spreadsheet and track your financial projections and expenses.

5. Set goals and milestones

Lastly, set specific goals and milestones for your book publishing business. These can include targets for the number of books published, revenue generated, or market share gained. Break these goals down into smaller milestones to track your progress and keep yourself motivated.

Use the Milestones feature in ClickUp to set and track your goals and milestones, ensuring that you stay on track and celebrate your achievements.

By following these five steps and utilizing ClickUp's Business Plan Template, you'll have a comprehensive and well-structured business plan for your book publishing company.

Get Started with ClickUp’s Business Plan Template for Book Publishers

Book publishers can use the Business Plan Template for Book Publishers to create a comprehensive plan for their publishing endeavors.

First, hit “Add Template” to sign up for ClickUp and add the template to your Workspace. Make sure you designate which Space or location in your Workspace you’d like this template applied.

Next, invite relevant members or guests to your Workspace to start collaborating.

Now you can take advantage of the full potential of this template to create a successful business plan:

• Use the Topics View to organize your plan into different sections such as market analysis, marketing strategies, and financial projections
• The Status View will help you track the progress of each section, whether it's complete, in progress, needs revision, or to do
• Utilize the Timeline View to set deadlines and milestones for each section of your plan
• The Business Plan View will give you an overview of your entire plan, allowing you to easily navigate and make updates
• Use the Getting Started Guide View to access helpful resources and tips on how to create a successful business plan
• Add custom fields like Reference, Approved, and Section to provide additional information and track important details
• Update statuses and custom fields as you work through your plan to keep stakeholders informed of progress
• Monitor and analyze your plan to ensure it aligns with your goals and objectives
• Business Plan Template for Technology Consultants
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Creating a Business Plan for a Publishing Company

Table of contents, introduction.

This write-up will dive into the crucial yet often overlooked topic of creating a business plan for a publishing company. Yes, business plans can seem tedious. But stick with me because mastering this fundamental skill can differentiate between a floundering startup and a successful, sustainable publishing business.

With some effort and guidance, you can learn how to craft a winning business plan tailored specifically to the publishing industry. When done right, your business plan will:

Let’s get started.

The Basics of Creating a Business Plan for a Publishing Company

A business plan is an essential strategic document that outlines the goals, objectives, and tactics needed to launch and grow a successful publishing company. At its core, a business plan serves as a roadmap that guides essential decisions and aids in securing funding from investors.

Defining the Business Plan

Key components of a publishing business plan.

While the exact structure can vary, most publishing business plans contain the following key sections:

Attracting Investors with a Strong Business Plan

A well-crafted business plan instills confidence by thoroughly understanding the industry’s competitive landscape and showcasing a path to sustainability and growth.

Why You Need a Business Plan for Your Publishing Company

A clear vision and effective strategy are crucial for any successful publishing company. A well-crafted business plan allows you to define your company’s purpose, set goals, and map out a strategy to achieve them. Without a plan, it’s easy to lose focus or be swayed by passing trends instead of pursuing activities that align with your core mission.

Examining the financial viability of your publishing company is another key reason to create a business plan. You can assess if your company model is sustainable by projecting sales, costs, and profit margins over time.

A business plan allows you to spot potential cash flow issues or shortfalls in advance so you can modify your strategy. It also provides essential documentation if you seek funding from banks or investors.

With a solid plan, you can pursue your publishing goals strategically and purposefully.

Key Reasons for Creating a Business Plan for a Publishing Company:

Step-by-step guide to creating a business plan for a publishing company.

Creating a comprehensive business plan is essential for any new publishing company. A clear roadmap can help you secure funding, attract investors, and guide your strategy. Here is a step-by-step guide to crafting a winning business plan:

Conduct Thorough Market Research

Before anything else, you need to understand your target market inside and out. Research reader demographics, analyze competing publishers, identify gaps and opportunities in the market, and determine where your company fits in the competitive landscape. A data-driven approach is key.

Define Your Company’s Mission and Objectives

Describe your products and services.

Provide an overview of the types of books and services you plan to offer. Will you publish fiction, nonfiction, children’s books, or a mixture? What value do you bring to authors and readers? You want to convey what makes your offerings unique.

The Legal Structure and Ownership

This business plan section should detail the legal structure you’ve chosen for your publishing company. Common structures include sole proprietorship , partnership, limited liability company (LLC) , or corporation. Each has pros and cons, so consult a legal advisor or business consultant to determine the best fit for your situation. For instance, a sole proprietorship is the simplest form but offers no personal liability protection. An LLC provides liability protection without the formalities of a corporation. A corporation is more complex but allows for outside investors and protects personal assets from business liabilities. Here’s what you need to include in this section: 1. Legal Structure: Clearly state the legal structure of your company. If it’s an LLC, specify whether it’s member-managed or manager-managed. If it’s a corporation, note if it’s an S corporation or a C corporation . 2. Ownership Information: List all owners and their percentage ownership. If there are multiple owners, describe their roles and responsibilities. If you plan to seek external investment, mention the equity share available for investors. 3. Registration Details: Include information about where your company is registered, the date of registration, and any relevant registration numbers. 4. Licenses and Permits: Detail any necessary licenses and permits you must obtain. This might include a business license, sales tax permit, or ISBN registrar for a publishing company. 5. Intellectual Property: Discuss how you plan to protect your intellectual property, such as copyrights for the books you publish. By clearly defining your publishing company’s legal structure and ownership, you’ll provide potential investors with crucial information about the risks and rewards associated with investing in your business.

Outline Your Marketing Plan

Start by identifying what you want to achieve with your marketing efforts. This could be increasing brand awareness, reaching a new audience segment, boosting book sales, or attracting high-quality authors. Make sure these objectives align with your overall business goals. 2. Identify Your Target Audience

Use the information from your market research to define your target audience. Include demographic information like age, gender, education level, and psychographic details such as interests, values, and reading habits. 3. Understand Your Competition

Define your unique selling proposition (USP) – what sets your publishing company apart. This could be the type of books you publish, the authors you work with, your editorial standards, or your innovative marketing techniques. 5. Choose Your Marketing Channels

Determine which marketing channels will be most effective for reaching your target audience. This might include social media, email marketing, content marketing (blogs, podcasts, videos), public relations, events, and advertising. Consider both online and offline channels. 6. Develop Your Promotional Strategy

Determine how much you’re willing to spend on marketing activities. Remember to factor in website development, advertising, event hosting, and content creation costs. 8. Measure Your Success

Define key performance indicators (KPIs) to measure the success of your marketing efforts. These might include the number of books sold, website traffic, social media engagement, email open rates, or event attendance. 9. Plan for Adjustments

Project Financials and Funding Needs

Provide projected sales, costs, profit margins, and funding requirements. Analyze expected revenues and expenses. This will demonstrate the viability and profitability of your publishing company.

Describe Your Management Team

Introduce your experienced leadership team and their qualifications. This gives investors confidence in your ability to execute your plan. This step-by-step guide will help you create a rock-solid business plan tailored specifically for a publishing startup. With clear goals, thorough market research, and financial planning, you’ll be poised for success.

Crafting the Executive Summary for Your Publishing Company’s Business Plan

Convey the essence of your business.

Briefly explain what your publishing company does, your target audience and market, and your competitive advantage. This helps readers quickly understand your business model and value proposition.

Emphasize Financial Highlights

Include key financial projections and metrics like expected revenues, profit margins, break-even point, and return on investment. These numbers showcase the money-making potential of your publishing company.

Discuss Your Goals and Objectives

Keep it concise.

The executive summary should be about 1-2 pages at most. Use clear, concise language and avoid unnecessary details. Focus on grabbing attention and interest.

Highlight Your Qualifications

Briefly summarize your team’s skills, experience, and expertise to showcase why you are the right people to lead this publishing company.

Include a Call-to-Action

With these tips, you can craft an executive summary that piques interest in your full business plan. Remember to make it skimmable, focused, and persuasive. This summary could make or break whether potential investors dig deeper, so perfect it!

Financial Projections and Analysis for Your Publishing Company’s Business Plan

Creating accurate financial projections is critical to any publishing company’s business plan. These projections allow you to forecast expenses, sales, and profitability over the next several years. While financial projections require some guesswork, they should be based on thorough market research and realistic assumptions.

Key Financial Statements

Financial analysis.

Conducting this financial analysis will provide invaluable insight into the economic feasibility of your publishing business. It enables you to identify potential issues and adjust your projections as needed.

Presenting the Financials

Well-prepared financial projections are hugely important for attracting investors to your publishing startup. Master this complex but essential aspect of the business planning process.

Editing and Proofreading Your Business Plan

Thorough editing and proofreading are crucial when creating a business plan for a publishing company. This is because your business plan is more than just an internal document—it’s a tool to persuade investors, partners, and other stakeholders that your publishing company is a viable investment. Here are some reasons why meticulous editing and proofreading are essential:

Professionalism

Editing ensures that your ideas are communicated clearly and effectively. It helps you eliminate unnecessary information, clarify complex concepts, and structure your content logically. A clear, concise business plan is easier to read and understand, which increases its persuasive power.

Proofreading helps you catch and correct grammar, spelling, punctuation, and formatting errors. Even small mistakes can undermine the credibility of your business plan. They can also lead to misunderstandings or confusion about key details, such as financial projections or marketing strategies.

Consistency

Persuasiveness.

Ultimately, your business plan must convince readers that your publishing company is a good investment. Effective editing and proofreading help you build a compelling case by ensuring your arguments are clear, your evidence is accurate, and your language is persuasive. In conclusion, thorough editing and proofreading are vital steps in creating a business plan for a publishing company. By dedicating time and attention to these tasks, you can enhance the clarity, accuracy, consistency, and persuasiveness of your business plan, increasing your chances of securing investment and achieving your business goals.

In this post, we’ve covered a lot of ground on mastering the art of creating a business plan for a publishing company. Let’s recap some of the key takeaways:

When crafting your business plan, conduct thorough market research, analyze the competition, set realistic goals, and project financials. The executive summary should capture the essence of your business plan and excite investors.

Creating financial projections will demonstrate the viability of your publishing company. Include key statements like your income, balance, and cash flow statements.

Don’t let the business plan writing process intimidate you. Please start with the essential components we outlined, do your research, and get feedback from mentors. The hard work you put into your business plan will pay off tremendously.

Remember, success doesn’t happen overnight. Stay committed to your goals and keep moving forward one step at a time. With focus and perseverance, you can master the art of business planning and make your publishing company dreams a reality.

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How to Start a Publishing Company

Publishing is the act of producing and distributing literature, music rights, video games, and information. The industry is made up of many types of publishing companies. Some companies publish materials for wider public consumption, while others cater to niche markets.

How to Start a Publishing Company — Checklist Download

This free checklist will help you set up your own publishing company.

Publishing Company Business Plan — Free Template

This template will help you to build your business plan from gathering vital information to presenting it professionally.

How to Start a Publishing Company:

A step-by-step guide on how to create a publishing company.

Decide on a type of publishing.

Choose what sort of publishing company you want to start..

The first step in starting a publishing company is in deciding what and how it will be publishing. Consider the options below.

Trade: Aims for wider public consumption. Companies that publish magazines, newspapers, popular music, popular video games, and books for the general reading public all fall into this category.

Academic and educational: Focuses on research and educational material. Academic research journals and syllabus-oriented textbooks fall into this category.

Independent and regional: Made up of small presses focusing predominantly on materials of local or regional interest, such as local histories and tourism pamphlets.

Boutique: Specializes in narrow, niche markets. Small presses publishing genre-specific fiction fall into this category, for example.

Self-publishing: The creator of the material pays the publishing costs and plays a much bigger role in the process.

Electronic: Offers an alternative to traditional publishing, sharing content across digital platforms only.

Name your business.

Come up with a name..

Give your company a name. There are a number of things to consider when naming your publishing company to successfully convey the values and mission of your brand, but you'll want to be creative. A unique name will set your company apart from the rest and will make it easier later when securing a domain name.

Think specifics: What genre are you working in? What subject, and for what age groups?

Revisit values: What are your business's core values? And what values does your market hold as important?

Your name should be easy to remember, spell, and say.

Check availability.

Use the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office’s trademark search tool to see if your name isn't already in use.

Follow this guide on How to Check Business Name Availability for a more thorough check.

Trademark your business name.

If you have decided on a publishing company business name, secure a trademark so that no one else takes it. You can register a trademark at www.uspto.gov .

Go to the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office website .

Click on "Trademarks."

Click on "Trademark basics."

Make sure you fully understand what is required of you.

Click on "Apply for a trademark."

Register on the Trademark Electronic Application System (TEAS).

Pick a distribution model.

Consider the print-on-demand model..

Check to see if print-on-demand works for the publishing you're doing, your goals, and your budget. With this model, nothing is printed before-hand. Someone purchases your publication online, the order is sent to the printer, and then sent to the customer.

Without having to print ahead of time and store inventory in a warehouse, print-on-demand is less risky and requires a lower investment in each title. However, the cost of printing is higher per unit .

Consider the traditional distribution model.

Find out whether printing ahead of time and storing publications in a warehouse fits the kind of publishing you do, your budget, and your goals.

While this model does allow for bulk printing and ensures consistently good quality , it is expensive upfront because it carries storage, returns, and shipping fees.

Consider the direct-to-reader model.

Consider whether cutting out most of the distribution chain and selling digital publications directly to readers through an online sales page makes sense for your company.

There are very little upfront costs and risks with this model, but a comprehensive marketing strategy is needed .

Create a publishing company business plan.

Write the business description section..

Leave a page for the executive summary, which should be written last, and start with the business description section. This section includes legal structure, location, the expected launch dates of publications, and all sources of revenue.

Write the operations and management section.

After describing your business, move on to describe the leadership and management structures. This section includes the backgrounds of all members of your leadership team and demonstrates why they are a good fit. Include information about the major departments such as editorial, sales, legal, operations, etc.

Run through your marketing strategy.

Once you've finished discussing your leadership, break down your business's marketing strategy. Include information about your target market, genre, and promotional outlets.

Do a full SWOT analysis and include the information about your strengths, weaknesses, opportunities, and threats in this section.

Write about your competition.

Unpack in detail industry revenues for the last few years, paying attention to growth. Then describe what you know about other publishing houses in your area. In particular, note what aspects of their business may be in direct competition with yours.

Talk about your financials.

Discuss your start-up expenses, sources of funding, financial operations, revenue projections, and break-even point.

The better you know your competition and target market, the more accurately you will predict your first-year revenue.

Share your future plans.

Describe any plans you have for your company. Once it has covered all opening costs and is able to maintain strong cash flow, what is next? You can include hiring more people, publishing a few other titles, expanding the office building, creating an app, etc.

You don't need to be as detailed as in the rest of the business plan. A few details will be fine.

Now write your executive summary.

Now that you've written your business plan, it should be easier to distill everything into a snappy, thoughtful, evocative executive summary.

Include your mission statement.

List anything about your company that helps to distinguish it from the rest.

Focus on investment opportunities.

• Form a legal entity.

Choose one of four legal structures for your company.

For professional, financial, and tax purposes, set up your company as a sole proprietorship, partnership, limited liability corporation (LLC), or corporation.

Independent publishing companies generally go with setting up a limited liability corporation to avoid personal liability and double taxation. It is also more flexible in terms of ownership and profit distribution.

Sole Proprietorship: A business that is owned and operated by just one person, who is then solely responsible for tax and liability issues.

Partnership: Two or more partners who share the business's tax and responsibilities.

Limited Liability Corporation (LLC): An entity that protects owners from liability, while passing taxes on to them. May use corporate or partnership tax rules.

Corporation: A distinct legal entity that assumes all liability and is taxed as a business at corporate tax rates. Has members and shareholders.

Secure start-up financing.

Approach a bank or government program..

Meet with your local bank to find out more about small business loans, or find a qualified lender that offers SBA loans .

Choose an option with interest rates that aren't too high.

Pitch to investors.

Sell equity in your business to interested investors. Investors give you money in exchange for part ownership.

Apply for a business credit card.

Approach a bank and apply for business credit. Interest rates for credit cards are high but are an option for a short term injection of capital.

Try crowdfunding.

Create a crowdfunding campaign to reach as many people as possible and offer them something for their financial help.

• Purchase insurance.

Find coverage against libel and copyright lawsuits.

Buy several types of insurance including Media Liability Insurance, Publisher's Perils Insurance, and Business Interruption Insurance.

Search for an insurance company that offers packages designed particularly for publishers.

• Find an office.

Lease commercial real estate.

If your home office won't suffice, start looking for an office space to rent. You'll need to take a serious look at your budget before approaching an agent.

Buy International Standard Book Numbers.

Buy an isbn number from an isbn service..

Help buyers and sellers identify your business as the publisher of a given book by buying a unique ISBN for each title. You can buy an ISBN from any number of ISBN services. A single ISBN costs between $18.00 and $150.00. Buying them in bulk often brings the price per number down.

They can be used for e-books, but aren't necessary.

• Hire employees or freelancers.

Recruit the talent you need.

If you have started your company to self-publish, you'll play most of the roles found in the average publishing company. For a larger operation, you'll need help to produce, market, and distribute your published materials. You can decide to employ fulltime or make use of freelancers to fulfill different functions. Such functions include editing, sales, design, public relations, and bookkeeping.

Use hiring software to streamline the process of posting jobs, accepting applications, scheduling job interviews, and sending out final job offers. Or you can connect to freelancers through gig-economy platforms such as Upwork .

Approach a staffing agency. They often have access to large talent pools and can, therefore, reach more candidates.

Advertise your publishing company.

Create a company website..

Register a domain name and build a site that explains who you are and what you offer. Use a website builder to design a website or pay an expert to help you. Having a website increases your visibility, discoverability, and legitimacy.

Start social media accounts for your business.

Facebook and X pages, in particular, will make it easier for people to engage with you. Be sure to keep these pages active and don't underestimate the value of engaging directly.

Publish a blog.

Keep your website active and full of fresh, topical, and interesting information by publishing a blog. They're a great way to showcase your authors, books, magazines, newspapers, and games, and give you a strong platform for conveying your values, approaches, and mission.

Join your local publisher's association.

Become a member of your local publisher's association. This will give you access to exclusive events, professional development, networking opportunities, and the latest industry intelligence. It will also increase your company's visibility and credibility as a serious business.

Publishing Company Metrics:

Contribution margin per book sold..

The contribution margin in book publishing is the earnings from each title after all the variable costs accrued in the production and distribution of the book have been covered.

It is important to calculate the contribution margin from each book because it tells you how much each sale contributes towards paying your fixed costs and establishes a benchmark for how many books you need to sell before turning a profit.

Here are the three steps for calculating the contribution margin for each book:

Book list price x number of books sold = total sales.

Total sales - variable costs = total contribution margin.

Total contribution margin/number of books sold = contribution margin per book.

A book sells for $16 and a total of 10,000 are sold. This adds up to the total sales of $160,000.

Take the $160,000 total sales and subtract the associated variable costs, which for this example come to $100,000. This gives you a total contribution margin of $60,000.

Now, divide the $60,000 total contribution margin by the 10,000 books sold, and you have your contribution margin per book: $6.

Each book you've sold has contributed $6 towards paying your fixed costs. If all your fixed costs have been paid, then each book is contributing $6 towards your profit.

List price: The price on the cover of the book in the bookstore or online store.

Variable costs: Retailer discount, distribution, paper, printing, binding, cover design, cover art, line editing, copy editing, text design, layout, proofreading costs, marketing, and royalties.

Fixed costs: Rent, salaries, insurance, licenses, permits, property tax, utilities, etc.

Expert Advice on Starting a Publishing Company:

Must-Reads Before Starting a Publishing Company:

• Book Business: Publishing Past, Present, and Future by Jason Epstein.
• The Self-publishing Manual by Dan Poynter.
• Publishing for Profit by Thomas Woll.
• The Book Publishing Industry by Albert Greco.
• The Elements of Style by William Strunk Jr. and E.B. White.
• The Chicago Manual of Style by The University of Chicago Press Editorial Staff.

Publishing Logos

How do I start my own publishing company?

• Decide on the type of publishing .
• Name your company.
• Choose a distribution model.
• Create a business plan.
• Secure financing.

What does a publishing company do?

Publishing companies produce and distribute literature, music, games, and information.

How much does a publishing company make?

It is difficult to say how much publishing companies make on average. According to the latest Association of American Publishers (AAP) report , the book publishing industry had estimated revenue of $258 billion in 2018.

What is an independent publishing company?

Independent publishing companies are small companies that are not part of large conglomerates or multinational corporations. The terms "indie press," "small press," and "independent press" are all used to describe these businesses.

How much does it cost to publish a book?

It costs anywhere from $0 to $50,000 or more. You could literally post a book to a free blogging site like WordPress, or you can have it printed on fine paper, distributed around the world, and heavily marketed.

How do publishers make money?

Publishers take a small percentage of every sale after paying retail, distribution, author, production, and overhead costs. This percentage ranges between 5% and 12%.

How do I get an ISBN?

You can buy an ISBN from Bowker , an official source of ISBNs in the U.S.

How much do publishers pay authors?

Publishers often pay authors an advance on predicted sales and then pay royalties on every book sold. Royalties can follow a sliding scale such as up to 10 percent on the first 5,000 books sold, 20 percent on the next 5,000, and so on.

How do I start an online publication?

• Pick a topic.
• Choose a name.
• Do market research.
• Secure a domain name .
• Build a website.
• Build your team.
• Generate content.
• Monetize the site.

How do I start a music publishing company?

• Decide on the type of music.
• Find an office and recording studio.
• Hire employees.

How do publishing companies work?

Book publishing companies and music publishers buy the rights to produce and sell the works of authors and musicians and pay them royalties on each unit sold.

How much does it cost to start a publishing company?

It costs between $50.00 and $500.00 to register your company. After that, there are advertising costs, rent, and the expenses associated with getting an initial product out to market. These costs can range from thousands to millions of dollars, depending on the size of your operation.

How much money does a publisher make?

Publishers make between $60,000 and $280,000 a year, according to our research. Publishers salaries depend on the type and size of the publishing company.

Does every book have an ISBN number?

Every edition of a book should have its own unique ISBN.

How much does it cost to get an ISBN number?

A single ISBN costs between $18.00 and $150.00.

Do authors pay publishers?

Not traditionally, no. Publishers pay authors royalties on sales.

Does your business need media liability insurance?

Yes, if your business needs media liability insurance to protect itself against libel, plagiarism, and invasion of privacy lawsuits.

How much does media liability insurance cost?

Media liability insurance policies cost $2,500.00 a year on average but can cost as little as $500.00 a year.

How do bookstores get their books?

Bookstores order books directly from publishers and distributors, but they also receive books from wholesalers.

What is an ISBN?

An ISBN is a 13-digit number used to help buyers and sellers identify your business as the publisher of a given book. Each title requires its own ISBN. They can be used for e-books, but aren't necessary.

What genre of books sells the most?

The top three best-selling genres are Romance/Erotica, Crime/Mystery, and Religious/Spiritual, in that order.

Can I be my own music publisher?

Yes, you can set up a music publishing company to publish your original music.

What is a micro-publisher?

Publishers with total revenues below a certain level are considered to be micro-publishers. Publishers publishing for a specific micro-market and those creating predominantly digital content shared across social media platforms, email, and public websites are also forms of micro-publishers.

How much money can you make from a self-published book?

Self-published authors can earn up to 35 percent on every printed book sold, and as high as 70 percent on every ebook sold.

How long does it take to publish a book?

According to our research, it can take anywhere from three weeks to six months. The process includes writing, editing, production, printing, and binding.

What goes into a business plan for a publishing company?

• Executive summary.
• Company description.
• Products and services.
• Marketing plan.
• Operational plan.
• Management description.
• Financial plan.

Related Articles

How to start a social media marketing agency, how to write a business letter, how to write a business proposal, how to start a production company.

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Your Author Business Plan: A Framework for the Creative Entrepreneur

by Kimberley Grabas

Does the thought of writing a business plan make you wince?

You’ve been struggling valiantly through most of the non-writing, left-brained activities that have been thrust upon you as a modern writer – do you really need to go through the formality of crafting your “executive summary”, “sales forecasts” and “market analysis”?

Well…yes. (sorry)

But if you’d prefer to skip the spreadsheets in favour of a more “writer-friendly” planning process – because deep down you know you could use a bit more direction to move your writing career to the next level – you’re in luck!

I’ve designed this business plan framework with the creative entrepreneur in mind.

Yep, it’s still a business plan.

But I’ve tried to soften the corporate jargon, as well as give you ideas as to how you can use each section to grow your writing career.

I’ve also created a free downloadable workbook to guide you through the process and that you can complete at your own pace:

Click the image to download your free 30-page Author Business Plan workbook:

Prioritizing Your Business Plan To Get The Most Out Of Your Writing Career

It’s time to overcome your resistance to the idea that, as an author, your job is no longer just to write (if it ever was).

If you want to turn your passion for writing into a business, you’ll need to have a solid and strategic plan in place.

And a b usiness plan is simply a guide to what you hope to accomplish, how you plan to meet those objectives, and your financial projections based on these efforts.

It’s a field guide to your writing business – that you navigate with your readers in mind.

Here’s what you can expect a thorough business plan to help you accomplish:

It will help you to

• clarify and articulate a clear vision for your writing career, which will help guide your business actions and decisions
• nail down the specifics of what you need to get done to move your business forward
• share your strategies, priorities, and specific action points with others (agents, assistants, collaborators, or even your spouse)
• recognize and filter out the distractions, so you can concentrate only on those activities that will help you grow
• determine future needs ahead of time (software, skills, tech, or other resources) so that you can plan for the cost or time expenditure
• beat inertia and take confident action on those things you’ve determined will move your business forward
• notice opportunities to reward yourself for both small accomplishments and big wins

One of the most important (and often ignored) steps to effective goal setting and increased productivity, is to write your goals down and review them daily . This can be a game changer.

By dedicating the time to write your business plan – and review it frequently – you can change the trajectory of your writing career.

Developing Your Author Business Plan: The Key Components

Whether you are working toward a traditional publishing contract or self-publishing, a carefully crafted business plan will help you establish a plan of action, and guide how you will allocate your (often limited) resources.

A. BUSINESS VISION + AUTHOR BRAND

1. Mission Statement (Message)

Clarify your business values and vision. Define why you write and get very clear on the essence of your work–what problems are you solving or what desires are you satisfying? What is your promise to your reader and how will you deliver on that promise? (You can also include a “vision statement” that inspires you, and is a reminder of your purpose and your commitment to your writing career.)

2. Your Ideal Reader

Identify and define the group of people whom you wish to reach. How do they see themselves, and how does your work fit with that perception?  Who already ‘speaks your language’ or conversely, whom does your work speak to? We’ll be digging deeper into this in a later section of the business plan, so the information you gather will help to create a succinct description of your ideal reader here.

Related Content:  Identifying Your Target Audience: The Top 8 Mistakes Writers Make

3. Brand Personality and Culture

What is your brand story and personality? What do you want people to feel or experience when they read your book, a post on your blog, or see you speak at an event? What tone, colors, and visuals characterize your writing, and how does your branding reflect the purpose or message behind your work? What values, standards or best practices will you adhere to? What can your community of readers consistently expect from you in terms of your style, authenticity, voice, and professionalism? Make sure that your branding is relevant to the audience you seek, distinct and meaningful.

Related Content:  Discover and Build Your Author Brand

4. Career Goals, Objectives, and Expansion Plans

Many people do not even think of goals, and of those that do, very few write them down. Forbes reports a remarkable 10-year study about goal-setting carried out in the Harvard MBA Program.  Those students who wrote down their goals accomplished significantly more (i.e., earned on average, 10 times as much as the other 97 percent of the class combined). So write down your goals and objectives. Make sure they’re both S.M.A.R.T and what you really want. Are you willing–and able–to sacrifice the time and effort required to achieve what you’ve outlined? How will you determine your success?

B. BUSINESS DESCRIPTION + PUBLISHING PLAN

1. Your Difference

This is your secret sauce or unfair advantage. Describe who you are as a writer, and how you will portray that uniqueness to your audience. How do you solve their problem or desire and why is it valuable to your readers? The goal here is to answer the question in your reader’s mind, “Why you?”. What sets your work apart from others in your genre or niche? Develop your “brand story”.

Related Content: How to Build Your Brand From Scratch (And Why You Need To)

2. Who Do You Serve

Describe your target audience (demographics, psychographics), and how you can help meet the needs, wants, and desires of that specific group. Often writers make the mistake of working on their projects in a vacuum – with no feedback, input, or even acknowledgment of the reader. Another conundrum authors face, is writing in multiple genres, which makes building a community even more challenging. Note if either (or both) of these are concerns you face, and how you will address them going forward.

Related Content:  Thinking About Writing in Multiple Genres? Here’s What You Need to Know

3. Production

In this part of your business plan, include your writing, editing, and publishing schedule. How many words per day will you write, and at what times? If editing, how many hours per week will you devote? How many books do you plan to publish (and launch) this year? How often will you post new content to your blog or social media? Also note your genre focus, project lengths, and additional projects (workshops, courses, presentations, etc.) you plan to produce per year.

4. Business Structure

What is your writing business structure (sole proprietor, publishing company, or LLC, for example)?  Are you traditionally published, self-published, a hybrid author, or not yet published? Describe the components of your business, like books (digital, print, audio), courses, seminars, workshops (in-person/virtual), speaking, and so on. Is your business primarily online or offline?

5.   Business Tasks + Schedule

It’s important that you treat your writing business as a business . So make a list of regular tasks (everything from sales tracking and accounting, to editorial calendars and words written per day), and add them to your calendar, Asana , your day planner, or whatever system works for you.

6. Distribution Channels

You’ve defined your audience, so now you need to determine how they want to be reached. Where are they already and what are other ways that they will find you? Think social media, email, traditional media, video, podcasts, conferences and events, website, clubs, Amazon and other retailers, and so on.

Click to download your free 30-page Author Business Plan workbook :

C. MARKET ANALYSIS

1. Bestselling Authors/Comparable Titles in your Genre or Niche

Identify bestselling authors, top bloggers, and other influencers in your niche or genre. Look for those that already have the audience you want to reach (search through social media, relevant keywords, Facebook, and other groups). Who are the movers and shakers? The up-and-comers? Start making a list, including their contact info, website, and email. (These people may also become your partners and allies in the future.)

2. Pricing Models

What pricing model(s) are currently being used in your genre or niche? What are readers used to paying for books, products, or services similar to yours?

3. “Competitor” Strengths and Weaknesses

Choose 3-5 authors from the list you made in section C. 1., and break down their strengths and weaknesses. How do they reach and promote to their audience? Are there any strategies that many of your competitors seem to use (for example, are most of them using email marketing strategies)? What are they doing well and what can they improve? What can you add to the mix that draws upon your unique skill set and brand? Use this knowledge to craft your own, well-rounded strategy.

4. Trends and Opportunities

Note current events and what’s new and noteworthy in the publishing world. Note predictions and future trends that may impact your writing or bottom line. Are there any collaboration or partnership opportunities that you wish to pursue, both within your topic area and with industries or businesses that reach the same audience as you?

D. AUDIENCE RESEARCH

1. Identify Your Ideal Reader

Knowing your target audience has come up several times in this business plan–and for good reason. It is absolutely vital to the growth of your writing career to have a firm understanding of the audience you wish to reach. This section of your business plan informs the other sections, and it’s where you will get crystal clear on who your ideal readers are through research and data (not through guessing or assumptions). (Follow the link below for instructions on how to create an ideal reader persona.)

2. Understand Their Needs and Desires

Your goal is to understand and articulate your readers’ problems or desires better than they can themselves. But remember, this is their most pressing problem or desire, not yours.  Don’t try to create desire or interest where there is none. Outline how you will share your work in a way that encourages people who are already interested, to take action. (To gain a deeper understanding of your audience, spend time and ask questions of your “real” readers, engage in “social listening”, conduct surveys and examine your Google Analytics.)

3. Differentiate Yourself and Your Work

Given what you now know about your target audience, what is the intersection between your unique talents and your readers’ needs or desires? What can they get from you and your work that they can’t get anywhere else?

4. Determine How to Engage With Your Readers

It is much, much easier to create interesting, relevant, and valuable content for your audience now that you know exactly what they are searching for . You can’t possibly develop a marketing and book promotion plan when you have no idea who might be most receptive to your message. How will you learn (and continue to learn) about your readers, but still stay connected to the reasons for creating the work that you do?

E. COMMUNITY AND PLATFORM BUILDING

1. Social Media Plan

What are your (and your readers’) preferred platforms? Where will you place your emphasis and what strategies will you use to develop visibility and interest for your writing? What will you share, how will you create it, when will you share it, and where will you share it, to get the most engagement? (Create a specific plan for each social media platform you’ll engage on).

Related Content:  Social Media Strategy for Authors Plus 4 Tweets to Never Send

2. Email List Building Plan

Developing a responsive email list is one of the most important things you can do to grow your business and stay connected with your readers. What strategies will you implement to grow your list? How often will you communicate with your subscribers, what will you share and what opt-in incentive will you develop to encourage sign-ups? 

Related Content: The Writer’s Guide to Building an Email List

3. Content Strategy

A content strategy is your publishing plan of action for what to create , how to create it, when to create it, and for whom to create it. Develop an editorial or content calendar to map out and keep track of your content plan o’ action. Ensure your “brand story” is woven into the content you share.

4. Speaking, Appearances, and PR Plan

Keynote speeches, personal appearances, and other speaking opportunities all allow you to connect with your readers and fans in real life . Add presentations, interviews, and other appearances you have booked (or plan to book) into your business plan. What strategies will you implement to increase bookings?

5. Reviews, Testimonials, and Endorsements

What steps will you take to encourage reviews (ARCs, email requests, build relationships with influencers, and book bloggers)? How will you gather testimonials and endorsements for your work? Keep in mind that relationships take time to develop, so ensure you include steps to build these connections and goodwill before you ask for something in return.

Related Content: How to Get Reviews For Your Book (Without Begging, Bribing, or Resorting to Subterfuge)

6. Engagement + Exclusivity

How will you ensure your readers feel special? Will you offer special perks, bonuses, and a sneak peek behind the scenes? Or, create a street team or other type of “membership” for your most avid supporters? How is what you have to offer different from other authors in your niche, and how can you add more value? 

7. Networking and Relationship Building

Who are people talking about, sharing content from, and influenced by? What strategies will you use to develop relationships with industry influencers, advocates, and supporters of your work? How do you plan to build connections with organizations, institutions, schools, bloggers, reviewers, businesses, and media outlets? 

F. OFFERINGS + MONETIZATION

1. Your Products and Services

What will you offer to your audience? Books (digital, audio, print, series, bundles), services (speaking engagements, teaching at conferences, and hosting workshops) courses, freelance work, or other products and programs that relate to your work? How will your readers benefit? How will it impact their lives? Given what you’ve discovered about your target audience, will they want, need or desire what you have to offer?

2. Pricing Strategy

What pricing strategy will you employ? Premium, freemium (free + premium), permafree, or discount pricing? Given your goals for your business, will your pricing strategy help you meet your objectives? Does your pricing meet or challenge genre standards? How will your target audience view your pricing? Map out your pricing structure for your books, services, courses or workshops, series, and bundles.

Related Content: Pricing 

3. Collaboration and Partnerships

Affiliate marketing, book bundles, co-writing, and cross-promotion (via email lists) are all great ways to boost your business, visibility, and sales. What methods will you use to develop partnerships and encourage collaborations with other authors?

G. MARKETING STRATEGY

1. Marketing and Promotion

In this section, outline the methods you’ll employ to market and promote your books, products, content, and brand. You’ll want to develop a separate book marketing strategy for each book, as well as an overall strategy that ties current projects together with future plans for your writing career.  

Related Content: 71 Ways to Promote and Market Your Book

2. Resource Commitment

Finding time to write is difficult enough, but your business won’t run itself. You need to schedule time and resources for both the writing side of your business and the marketing side (and then squeeze in family and personal commitments, too 😉 ). How much time, money and other resources are you prepared to realistically commit? 

Related Content:  The Big Question: How Can I Build My Platform and Still Have Time to Write?

3. Launch Strategies

Designing, organizing, and implementing a book launch action plan is not easy. There are a lot of moving parts, so it requires the careful preparation (and execution) of just the right mix of launch activities to propel your new book out into the world. Layered launch strategies (where you use the momentum from one launch to boost the next) can create urgency and excitement, and further establish your brand, message, and authority. What actions will you take to leverage the assets and relationships you’ve established through your marketing activities to promote an upcoming book?

H. FINANCIALS

1. Monthly Expenses

Make an itemized list of all the things you will need for your business to run monthly (website, hosting and domain name, email marketing service, business cards and other promotional items, office supplies, membership dues, etc.). If you are saving for some larger future expense (computer, software, cover design ), then note this in your budget, as well.

2. Monthly Revenue

Record your monthly income from all sources related to your writing business (royalties, freelance work, affiliate income, speaking, etc.). At first, this may seem like an exercise in futility, but with a solid business plan in place, you’ll soon start to see your revenue streams grow. 🙂

3. Production Budget (Per Book or Project)

Copyediting , line editing, proofreading, formatting for publishing, formatting for print, cover art, copyright registration, ISBNs, review copies, shipping, and research costs can all be budgeted on a per-book basis. These input costs will help you determine the potential viability (and profitability) of each project. If you also have a website and blog, there may also be production costs for blog posts, email newsletters, and other items (image or graphic fees, costs for giveaways, apps or software, etc.).

4. Sales + Income Projections

If you’re just starting out, creating sales projections may be difficult to do, but it’s certainly a good habit to develop if you’d like to ensure you’re making good business decisions. Forecasting is vital to planning sales, marketing, and spending. (For a free Amazon sales rank tracker, try NovelR ank.com  or SalesRankExpress.com .)

I. ADDITIONAL GROWTH + EXPANSION STRATEGIES

1. Professional Development

Your talent is your best asset. Continuing to improve upon both your writing AND your business skills, is a wise investment. Use this section of your business plan to note any classes, workshops, or conferences you plan to attend, if you plan to find a critique partner or writer’s group to join, or even add specific books you plan to read (for genre or topic research, or to gain additional skills).

Related Content: 39 Things to Remember When Struggling to Build Your Writing Career

2. Paid Advertising and Other Paid Options

Paid advertising, hiring a publicist, or anything else that requires cold hard cash upfront–without a guarantee of return–may not be on the top of your priority list. However, if you are considering some paid options, ensure you note your strategies here. Tracking your return on investment may be easier for some options than others, but it’s always wise to note your efforts and results.

3.   Repurposing

Continuously developing new content can take a lot of effort. Get more mileage out of the excellent content you produce (articles, newsletters, blog content, short stories, guides, updates, videos, etc.) by repurposing it into something fresh. You can change the format, share it on different mediums, turn a book or post into a course or workshop, and reach all new audiences. How will you stretch and repurpose each piece of content you create?

Related Content:  Create Great Content? How to Get More From It Through Repurposing

4. Outsourcing

Wise outsourcing can not only increase your efficiency and help level the playing field, but it allows you to focus on the core of your business–your writing. If you decide to outsource, determine what tasks you’ll pay someone else (editors, virtual assistants, designers, accountants, etc.) to handle.

Writing Your Author Business Plan Doesn’t Have to Be Hard

Kudos to you for making it this far! It may seem like a daunting task to compile your business plan, but I assure you it is well worth the effort.

Plus, your plan can be developed over a period of time and doesn’t have to be nailed down all in one sitting.

A business plan is fluid and ever-evolving. As new info comes in, circumstances change, or as results and analysis dictate, adjust your business plan accordingly. Remove sections from this plan that you feel don’t apply, and add sections that you feel are more relevant to your specific business needs.

Review and re-examine your plan on a regular basis to help keep yourself–and your writing career–on track.

And be sure to reward yourself when you’ve reached certain milestones and objectives. You’ll have most certainly earned it!

Questions? Comments? Please share your thoughts below.

Reading through your posts can be long and tedious, especially for people like me who always take notes. But in the end, it’s worth it. Thanks for another awesome post.

Yes, I’m nothing if not thorough… 😉

That’s why I’ve included the workbook – all the info, without the need to write it all down yourself.

This is just awesome .. Love it!!

Happy to hear it, Ashima. Hope you can put the plan to good use! 😉

Thanks so much, Kimberley! This is super helpful and so timely — my community of Queens, NY, is conducting a business plan competition with nice prize money. Glad to have your insights and guidance in the final days of preparation.

http://www.queensbooks.nyc

My pleasure John! 🙂

I was hoping to grab this fabulous download, but when I entered my email address and went through to the next page, the error message said the pdf could not be found. I thought this was because I was on mobile, but I tried several times on my PC and it still was appearing as not found.

My apologies Kieran – there is a bit of a glitch with the media file. Shoot me a quick email (Kim-at-YourWriterPlatform.com) and I’ll send it to you directly.

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For a self-published author, a business plan begins with a mission statement that will help direct your decision making at every stage of the book writing, book promotion, and book selling processes.

As a self-published author, your business plan, even a short one, will help set expectations and reach your goals. Creating a business plan requires that you study the marketplace, research a competitive analysis, and make financial projections.

If you are a one-book author, your business plan might consist of one simple document. If you are planning many books, or your book is tied to a product or service, it will necessarily be more complicated. There are many business plan templates on the web and in books that help.

Your mission and goals

Possibly the most valuable thing a business plan can do is to help you articulate your mission. Whenever you have to make a decision, you can return to your mission statement to help determine if the action you are about to take serves it. You may be tempted to skip this step and just blindly jump into publishing your book, but think it out, write it down and modify it as you become more aware of the challenges of becoming an author.

Authors have told me again and again that this step has helped give them a reality check and eased their mind about writing and publishing.

For example, why are you writing this book? Is your mission to change the world, to make money, to support your business, to leave a family legacy? Your goal may be to entertain or inform a small audience‚ a family or community‚ or a larger audience in a geographic area, profession, lifestyle, or interest group. Maybe you are writing to establish yourself as an expert in your field or to promote other products and services you offer. (Do you envision spinoff DVDs, workshops, a line of gourmet cookware?) Perhaps you are shooting for an international bestseller? It has been known to happen!

Perhaps you are among the many traditionally published authors disillusioned with the industry who are turning to self-publishing and creating your own small press. Will you use your book as part of a book proposal to try to attract an agent and publisher?

Raising funds

While it may be difficult to make a living as an author, it’s actually not all that hard to raise enough funds to create, produce, and publish your book. You may self-fund with your day job, or perhaps you’re retired with a small income. There are other ways to raise funds, too. Pre-selling is an option and crowdfunding has enabled lots of authors to finish their books and spread their message. Pre-selling is rather easier than crowdfunding, which requires lots of thought, planning, and marketing.

If you have a store on your website, you can begin pre-selling whenever you like, and you keep the profits (minus shipping and any store merchant account fees you may incur). Gumroad, Sellfy, and Selz are great storefronts with widgets that you can embed on your site to sell beta and final versions of your eBook and print book. They’re easier to use than PayPal, eJunkie, Amazon’s solutions.

Author crowdfunding

Many authors are choosing to crowdfund their work, and there are now many platforms to choose from. The most well known are Kickstarter, IndieGoGo, and PubLaunch. To explore the pros and cons of each platform, I interviewed successful authors from each of them to find out why they chose it and to get tips for you from their success. Publisher-crowdfunded platforms have also cropped up and below I describe Inkshares and Unbound. The information here is adapted from my in-depth PBS MediaShift series on author crowdfunding. [Ed. note: we also profiled Publishizer in a previous blog post.]

Kickstarter

Since Kickstarter ’s launch in 2009, more than 5.2 million people have pledged more than $900 million, funding nearly 53,000 creative projects like films, games, books, music, art, design and technology. Project creators set a funding goal and deadline. If people like a project, they can pledge money to make it happen. Funding on Kickstarter is all-or-nothing. Projects must reach their funding goals to receive any money. To date, nearly 44% of projects have reached their funding goals. Kickstarter takes 5% of the funds raised. Funders pay via Amazon Payments (only), which then will apply credit card processing fees (between 3% and 5%).

PubLaunch acquired PubSlush this year and will officially relaunch in February 2016. I don’t know how much of PubSlush’s business model they will keep, but it’s clear that their crowdfunding platform will remain focused on authors, so stay tuned. So far they promise a crowdfunding service and a vetted industry marketplace where you can find the right publishing professionals for your book.

IndieGoGo was founded in 2007 as a place where people who want to raise money can create fundraising campaigns to tell their story and get the word out. It charges 4% of the money you raise if you meet your goal or 9% if you do not.

Other good crowdfunding programs are Inkshares (San Francisco) and Unbound (in the UK). The Leanpub iterative publishing platform allows you to sell as you write your book, or to serialize your book.

Your sales strategy

Your bookselling journey may be a short one, or it might be a long, fluid, and creative process. It can sometimes take years for a book to take off, so set up good channels, good relationships, and good communities. Never stop marketing. There are many ways to sell.

POD sales. By printing and distributing with a POD service, your print book is mailed to customers on-demand when they order from online retailers in their expanded distribution program.

eBook sales. Create and sell eBooks in many formats for many eBook readers, for sales and distribution in the widest possible array of online markets.

Direct. Use your website for direct sales in your own on-line store for both print and digital books. You can sell using PayPal , eJunkie , Gumroad , Selz , Sellfy or by using any number of integrated payment systems.

Mailing physical books. Books fit nicely in a free USPS Priority Mail envelope, and a stamp costs about $5. (You can charge the customer for shipping.) Customers will receive the book in two days, which makes them very happy, especially during the holidays, and especially if it’s autographed. Do send your books priority or first-class mail. The drastically lower cost of media mail might be tempting, but it can take a very long time to deliver, and sometimes (especially during the holidays) your book is likely to arrive to the customer later than they want. It also may be damaged, as media mail bangs around at the bottom of the pile.

Retail sales. Sell to brick-and-mortar booksellers and retailers in your niche. When you sell direct to retailers, you can negotiate their discount. 40 to 50% is standard. You will probably be asked to sell on consignment, which means you won’t be paid until the books are sold.

Back-of-room sales. Take advantage of back-of-room sales at personal appearances to earn 100% of profits. At some events, you may be asked to pay a small percentage to the organization or tip a cashier.

Specialty distribution. It’s also possible to sell through specialty distributors‚ for example, someone who travels to conferences and sells books for you. Expect to discount your book 50 to 55%.

Exclusive distribution

If you’ve written a book to boost your business you may want to offload sales and distribution to a company who specializes in these tasks. These kinds of companies only take on books they think they can sell, so you’ll need to pitch them. They also take a lot of your profits, 65% and up. The most popular solution for indie authors with commercially viable projects is IPG’s Small Press United (SPU). SPU was formed as a branch of IPG’s distribution service for traditional publishers to serve self-publishers. All the authors I know who have used them like them a lot. You may also choose a specialty small press to serve as your distributor. The sooner in the book creation process you can contact them, the better. They may have valuable insights and advice on editing, design, and production.

Pricing your book

You may be tempted to calculate the price of your book based on what it cost to produce it. That doesn’t work; you really need to price your book to compete in the marketplace. eBook prices are all over the place, but are becoming standardized at 20% to 25% less than the least expensive print edition. $9.99 also seems to be a consumer-accepted price for eBooks.

Image vis ShutterStock.com .

This post was excerpted and adapted from Carla King’s Self Publishing Boot Camp guide for authors. Published with permission.

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How To Publish a Book in 5 Steps

The book publishing process is arduous, time-consuming, and incredibly difficult to do on your own. However, with our independent publishing model, we take the heavy workload, and you keep the rights to your book. Learn how to publish a book in 5 simple steps with our independent publishing model. 

How Long Does it Take To Publish a Book With Forbes Books?

Each author’s experience is different, based on the package you choose and your individual pace. Once your book is ready for print, it’s important to remember that  printing can take 6-22 weeks, depending on your cover choice, so please be sure to budget for that additional time.

There are a few questions you can ask yourself to get an idea for how long the process will take.

• Do you need a ghostwriter? 
• Do you already have a manuscript? 
• Do you want your book in brick & mortar stores? 

Finding the correct compatibility with a ghostwriter takes time to work through. If you already have a manuscript, you can save yourself time without hiring a ghostwriter. 

If you’d like your book in brick & mortar stores, we can do that too! Since printing timelines are so long, we’ll have to get started 7-9 months ahead to ensure the book is ready for retail. 

Furthermore, once you decide on a publishing date , it can’t be changed. This is why it’s vital to hit certain milestones we set during your Blueprint meeting. 

We have some of the best in business to guide you through the process, so listen to your member team. This will ensure you have your book in retail stores across the country (we have international publishing packages too).

Step 1: Decide on a Independent Publishing Model

There are 3 types of publishing models to choose from, including self, traditional , and independent publishing . If you’re wanting to learn more about each one, we explain them in our blog, How to Write a Book in 10 Simple Steps . 

Forbes Books is an independent publishing company , meaning our authors make all decisions on their book and keep 100% of their book rights . We’re here to guide you through the entire publishing process and offer our professional insights. 

Step 2: Vision Session

Your Master Book Planner works with you and your editorial and strategy team to discuss your goals, ideas, and desired outcomes. We’ll brainstorm with you to develop your content concepts, narrowing down an approach that is both engaging to your readers and builds on your authority in your field.

Approximately 10 business days after your vision session, you’ll receive a robust Master Book Plan . 

The Book Plan will not only outline the structure and flow of your chapters and overarching theme, but also break down important elements such as target audience, purpose, summary, and voice/style. 

We will review the Master Book Plan with you as part of your Blueprint Day, adjusting the structure as needed and delivering an updated version to you shortly thereafter.

Step 3: Decide on Publishing Program

Forbes Books has three publishing programs : Standard, Select, Global . Each program requires the same review and selection process from the Forbes Books team. However, each program offers a different tier of value and services to help expand your brand authority and awareness. 

It’s important to consider your goals as you decide which program fits you best. The Select and Global programs offer extended reach by using advanced book promotion and distribution strategies . 

From a book creation perspective, the main difference between the three programs is the use of premium versus elite ghostwriters . For a comprehensive list of differences in the overall programs, view our comparative chart .

Which Publishing Program Is Best for Me?

Before we discuss each publishing program, it’s important to understand the Forbes Books Application process. Each prospective author must be approved to join the select men and women that make up Forbes Books. If you qualify, one of our 3 exclusive publishing programs will be open to you.

Choosing the right publishing program for your needs can be an arduous task that causes unnecessary stress. There are positives to every program, but not every program is right for every author. Let’s go through each program and discuss which programs are best for specific authors.

Tier 1: Standard Publishing Program

Our Standard Publishing Program is the most affordable package that we offer our members. First, we’d like to dispel the myth that “affordable” means “cheap.” Although there may not be as many services as you will find in the Select and Global packages, you’ll be given every opportunity to excel. 

The important thing is all three programs provide the same amount of book creation and publishing services. The differences are in programs that align to your book distribution goals, such as the number and types of platforms we sell your book from and additional services that provide credibility, such as the best seller recognition programs. 

Our Standard Publishing Program includes:

• 45,000 word ghostwritten manuscript with your own editorial team
• Our award-winning design team, led by our Creative Director & Director of Production , David Taylor , will design your book cover.
• We will package both an eBook and your print copy for sale
• Forbes Books creates and publishes an audiobook version for added promotion
• The Forbes Books writing team ( Henry Clougherty , Dan Dunkin , and Max Coffey ) led by Lead Writer Ronnie Blair , writes an exclusive news release announcing your signing as a Forbes Books or Advantage Media member. 
• Forbes Books also publishes a news release on Forbes.com, announcing your publication to the millions of readers on their platform. 
• 1,000 print copies of your hardcover book are included in your initial price for all three packages.
• Placement at Amazon and Barnes and Noble online to distribute your book to the masses. Corrin Foster , our Sr. Director of Book Marketing and Promotions, will organize and curate a 4 month book reviewer campaign. This campaign includes an exclusive book seeding and reader review campaign.
• Our Public Relations team will also craft and execute a 4-month book launch publicity campaign to promote your book through earned media channels.

Why Should I Choose the Standard Publishing Program?

The Standard Publishing Program is not only the most affordable, but it’s perfect for new authors that aren’t tying their authorship success directly to book sales.. For example, if your goal is more about using the book as a “business card “to build credibility with your target audience and less about book sales directly, then this plan will save you time and money.

Tier 2: Select Publishing Program

Our Select Publishing Program is the middle ground of branding and book distribution. For those authors that want their books in as many places as possible without the extensive international reach features of our Global program, the Select Publishing Program is ideal. 

Our Select Publishing Program includes:

• We will sell your book in online and brick and mortar stores across the country (Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, ect…).
• You’ll be given one of our Elite Ghostwriters to write your book.
• Forbes Books has the connections to place your book in public libraries across the United States.
• You’ll be entered into the exclusive Amazon Best Sellers program , which will display your eBook book ahead of the pack for your genre and industry. 
• Our Corporate Marketing team will provide a customized Amazon advertising campaign, targeting your audience.
• Forbes Books provides an exclusive Branding and Visibility program to ensure your brand is top of mind.

Why Should I Choose the Select Publishing Program?

Not only will we leverage your book to build your authority online, but the Select Publishing Program also gives you access to brick and mortar stores across the country. Brick and mortar stores made about 863 million dollars in 2022 , according to Statista . 

With hundreds of millions of dollars still being spent in stores, our Select Publishing Model grants you access to malls and bookstores all over the United States.

Tier 3: Global Publishing Program

The Forbes Books Global Publishing Program is the highest level of publishing services we offer. This is for members that want to reach readers on the global scale. 

Our Global Publishing Program includes:

• Elite Ghostwriter for your book
• Foreign language rights sales representation
• A 3-month front table book promotion in airports all over the world !
• We’ll add your book to the Wall Street Journal  book campaign

Why Should I Choose the Global Publishing Program?

If you’re looking to expedite your process to greater brand visibility and name recognition, the Global Publishing Program is right for you. An impressive aspect of the Global Publishing Package is the access to airports across the world. 

Our Global Publishing Model positions your book in front of hundreds of thousands of travelers across airports worldwide. Become the international authority you always dreamed of with our Global Publishing Program.

What’s the Difference Between Premium Ghostwriters & Elite Ghostwriters?

All of our ghostwriters are highly rated, so you’re in excellent hands no matter what platform you choose.

All of our ghostwriters go through an extensive vetting process, and we pride ourselves on representing the best in business, only presenting you with ghostwriters with A+ ratings across the board. 

What Makes a Great Ghostwriter?

Along with being an excellent writer, our ghostwriters also excel in areas such as client/writer relationships, communication, and adaptability.

Where we distinguish between premium and elite ghostwriting tiers is simply a matter of seniority and proven quality, professionalism, and results over time. Elite ghostwriters have:

• Written a greater number of well-received books
• Are veteran writers with our company
• Are regularly in high demand

If you want to work with an elite ghostwriter, consider choosing the Forbes Books Select or Global program .

Step 4: Establish Publishing Roadmap

To become a published author with Forbes Books, we focus on three foundational meetings . The roadmap for each author will look differently, based on the publishing program you choose.

Manuscript Review

If you’ve written a full or almost-complete manuscript, a professional manuscript reviewer will write a detailed analysis, providing feedback on elements such as structure, appropriate length/tone for your audience, and potential areas for improvement. Once the review is complete, we will discuss the edits in your Blueprint Session .

Blueprint Session

Every author receives a Blueprint Session, regardless of their publishing program. A Blueprint Session builds on the vision of your book, with the media team. We will walk through authority-building opportunities opened up by your book as part of your unique Authority Strategy Plan . 

Your Authority Strategy Plan will focus on how we can strategically build your authority and thought-leadership through the utilization of multiple types of media. 

Step 5: Book Creation

Forbes Books has three paths to choose from when deciding how you want to create the book. Most of our authors choose to use one of our expert ghostwriters for their manuscript. However, you can also write your own manuscript and have us review and edit, or write with the help from our book coaches or book doctors . 

Choosing a Ghostwriter

We have some of the most talented ghostwriters in the world working with us and each one has a remarkable range of knowledge and skills. Choosing to work with a ghostwriter is by far the most popular approach for  our authors, who rarely have time to write for several hours, and who are often far more comfortable speaking rather than writing. 

If you choose to work with one of our ghostwriters, our careful, highly customized process will introduce you to a curated selection of writers based on your book’s topic and your own unique personality. The ghostwriter selection process considers many aspects of compatibility before kicking off the book writing process, including:

• A face-to-face online interview with each candidate
• A written pitch post-interview demonstrating each ghostwriter’s understanding of your book concept and approach

Ghostwriter Kickoff Call

As you select your ghostwriter, we’ll set up a meeting for you to meet your team of experts! During this call, you’ll meet your editorial manager and speak with your ghostwriter. This call establishes a working interview cadence with your ghostwriter. 

For the next 6-8 weeks, we’ll schedule future calls to create chapter 1 of your book. Throughout these 6-8 weeks, your editorial manager will review and edit your chapter with you. We give each author time to review the edits and offer feedback calls to work through any hang-ups. 

Book Doctor or Book Coach

If you’re a CEO or thought-leader and want to write your own manuscript, then a book doctor or coach is best for you. 

Our best in business book coaches will help you refine the organizational structure of your manuscript, offering verbal feedback on written content and helping with the brainstorming process before writing. They’ll also discuss with you any problem areas in your manuscript that could distract or confuse your readers. 

Choosing to use a book coach is best for authors who enjoy guidance from an experienced writer, but prefer to do the writing on their own. 

A book doctor is typically needed when an author has completed – or almost completed – a manuscript but is in need of deep, reconstructive editing. A book doctor will tease apart a manuscript and piece it back together in a way that clarifies the core theme, cleans up linearity concerns, and identifies any gaps in content.

They work hand-in-hand with the author as they work through the edits, first considering the manuscript as a whole, and then rebuilding it chapter by chapter, consulting with the author in the process. The author may need to add missing material along the way, which the book doctor will incorporate, delivering the final manuscript at Line Edit quality.

Finished Manuscript

If you’ve written a manuscript and want to get the white-glove editorial treatment, we’re here to help. 

Following an evaluative manuscript review and consultation, we will conduct edits through your preferred process before moving into our standard Copy Edit phase, followed by layout and design.

With a finished manuscript, the book design process is the same for all three book creation paths. 

Until your first chapter is complete, your timeline is still a rough estimate. But once you’ve had a chance to review and approve the first chapter draft, your team will put together a firm timeline with set deadlines and milestones based on your pace and needs. We’ll also present you with estimated final sign-off and publication dates based on your timeline and binding selection.

Forbes Books Editorial Process

There are multiple editorial stages for each manuscript. Your manuscript will go through a Developmental Edit , Line Edit , Copy Edit , Editorial Proof, and Final Manuscript Proof, along with minor editorial reviews in between.

What Is a Developmental Edit?

This initial writing stage focuses on the interview process and developing the first draft based on your book plan.  Your writer will craft the initial draft in thirds, focusing more (at this stage) on content development and flow rather than detailed copy editing.

Our experts will provide editorial feedback throughout the manuscript development process. At this stage, they will provide insight from the reader’s perspective, suggesting where content can be improved. Once the full first draft of the manuscript is complete, you’ll move to the Line Edit . 

What Is a Line Edit?

The Line Edit is the polishing edit of your manuscript. Your ghostwriter will read through the full manuscript, ensuring there are no gaps, incomplete thoughts, or un-cited facts, and that transitions are smooth. 

You will then have the opportunity to do the same, reading through the manuscript in full to ensure nothing is missing and to do any final adjustments. The ghostwriter will then take one last pass, incorporating your edits before your manuscript is sent to a copy editor.

What Is a Copy Edit?

In Copy Edit, our experts review the technical aspects of your manuscript to ensure it’s in keeping with the most recent edition of the Chicago Manual of Style. They will review and fix any grammatical errors, checking for accuracy of spelling, syntax, and citations, among others. Once completed, your manuscript goes on to Editorial Proof.

What Is an Editorial Proof?

During this step, our editorial team once again reviews your manuscript, checking behind the copy editor to ensure accuracy before it goes to layout. After layout, you will receive a print-ready digital copy of your manuscript for review. 

At this stage, we’re 98% ready to go to print , so the review will consist mainly of correcting any minor inaccuracies and missed grammatical errors.

With your approval of the print-ready digital copy, our team will once again complete a Final Manuscript Proof , working in edits and checking again for any remaining errors. Once completed, your book will be ready for print and distribution.

Final Thoughts on How To Publish a Book

Over 2.2 million books are p ublished each year , according to wordsrated , a website that tracks book sales across the planet. Of those 2.2 million books, the vast majority will never be seen by more than a few people. If you’re a CEO or business thought-leader, and want to expand your brand awareness and extend your authority, Forbes Books is for you. 

We represent the best in business, in almost every industry, including over a dozen other countries. Our specialized team will help you become the authority in your field if you qualify for our services . 

If you’re interested in working with us, we encourage you to apply to be Forbes Books author and see if you qualify. 

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How to Self-Publish a Book in 2024: A Beginner’s Guide to Success

Learning how to self-publish a book is one of the best things you can do for yourself as a writer. Self-publishing is taking the book world by storm…so what is self-publishing exactly?

If you’re a writer researching how to self-publish a book, you’re taking the right step by weighing all of your publishing options.

Self-publishing has become a household term for writers and authors all around the world, thanks to technology.

Being a writer in today’s digital age means you have more options than ever on how to become an author —and learning how to self-publish a book is among the best for those who want full creative control over their work. What’s the big deal, you ask? Well, until recently, writers didn’t have much of an option outside of traditional publishing if they wanted to write a book.

The problem with traditional publishing is that it’s insanely competitive, and there are a lot of hoops to jump through to even have a chance at getting your book accepted by a traditional publishing house.

But now, the game is changing, and it’s never been easier for writers to learn how to self-publish a book.

In this comprehensive beginner’s guide, we’ll walk you through all the points you need to know about how to self-publish a book on your own. Of course, before you learn how to self-publish a book, let’s make sure you understand a bit about what self-publishing is .

This guide to how to self-publish a book will cover:

What is self-publishing.

Self-publishing is the act of publishing media yourself without the use of a publishing house or company. Self-publishing is commonly referred to in the author and book publishing industry, but people can self-publish other works of art, such as music and visual art.

In terms of self-publishing a book, an author writes a book and completes the entire publishing process themselves, such as editing, designing, and formatting the book without the aid of a traditional publishing company.

An author who learns how to self-publish a book typically has complete creative control, higher book royalty rates, and full autonomy over the publishing process.

To self-publish, an author will publish a book at their own expense using a self-publishing platform, such as Amazon KDP , and typically maintains full rights to the book.

In short: When you learn how to self-publish a book, you will oversee the entire book writing and production process, from start to finish, at your own expense, and with full ownership of your book rights.

Here are the steps on how to self-publish a book:

• Write the book
• Self-edit the book
• Professionally edit the book
• Format the book
• Get illustrations (if you’re writing a children’s book)
• Get a book cover design
• Market the book
• Keep up with book maintenance
• Work with a self-publishing company if you so choose

You may feel a little overwhelmed looking at the steps for how to self-publish a book, but don’t worry! You don’t actually have to do all of those tasks yourself, but rather you will oversee and fund the process.

Because the entire book writing and production process is your responsibility when you learn how to self-publish a book, it’s important to make room in your publishing budget to hire professionals for the services you need, such as book editing and cover design.

The history of publishing

Now that you know what self-publishing is, it’s important to realize that authors weren’t always able to publish a book on their own.

Let’s embark on a quick journey through the history of publishing, which can help you understand how self-publishing is revolutionizing the modern author’s journey.

The printing press was created in 1440 , which was a breakthrough technology in making books widely distributed. Thus, the traditional publishing industry as we know it came to be.

In the past and even still today, traditional publishers bought certain rights from the author in order to publish the work.

However, this took the power away from the storyteller , since the traditional publishers served as a “gatekeeper” – ultimately deciding which books would be widely shared, and which would not.

But along came the digital revolution. As with many aspects of our society, the internet revolutionized many industries, including publishing.

The rise of self-publishing

• Step 1.0: This phase began in the 1990s when eBooks began to be sold online. During this time, desktop publishing and print-on-demand technology came to be.
• Step 2.0: In 2007, Amazon launched the Kindle eReader and Apple released the iPhone. These two devices changed how people read books.
• Step 3.0: The industry is headed towards this third wave, which is characterized by direct sales from author to reader. We’ll cover more about this in a later section.

Self-publishing a book today

Today, writers can use powerful technology and the internet to learn how to self-publish a book and share their stories with a global readership.

Traditional publishers no longer control the storyteller’s narrative.

The only one that decides when to write and publish a story is the author themselves.

In fact, the $1 billion self-publishing market is evidence that it’s become the first choice for many authors.

With today’s growing industry, the road to being a self-published author has widened considerably.

How to self-publish a book in 10 simple steps

Successfully learning how to self-publish a book on your own can be a time-consuming process, but it’s usually a lot quicker than the traditional publishing route.

While it does require time and effort, the good news is that the self-publishing method can be pretty clear-cut.

Here are the basic steps for how to self-publish a book:

1. Write a book

There’s no getting around it, if you want to learn how to self-publish a book, then you need to write one first! Of course, most writers think this is the fun part of the process. It’s also probably the step you are most accustomed to!

2. Choose a title for your book

If you want to publish your own book, then you absolutely need a title for it. Do some research to help yourself craft a catchy title that will sell (and that isn’t already taken). You might try a book title generator if you aren’t sure how to write book titles .

3. Hire a book editor

I don’t care how well you can edit other people’s work – we are all our own worst editors. We know exactly what we meant to say, so sometimes we skim over errors as if they weren’t even there. Hiring a professional book editor will save you a ton of trouble when learning how to self-publish a book.

4. Finalize your manuscript

It will probably take multiple pass-throughs with copy editors and line editors before you have the perfect manuscript. Don’t get yourself down during this process. It will be worth it to have your finished product in the end! Plus, you really do want to catch all those mistakes.

5. Hire a book cover designer

If you don’t have the skills to design one yourself, hire a book cover designer to create an eye-catching cover for your finished manuscript.

6. Decide where to self-publish your book

The next step in learning how to self-publish a book is to determine whether you would like to self-publish on Amazon KDP, Apples iBooks, or Kobo (more on these options later). This is also a good time to learn how to copyright a book if you haven’t already.

7. Format & publish your book on the platform

Next comes book formatting. You wouldn’t want to release a book with different size fonts or uneven margins. Nor would you want to use a font that gives your readers a headache. There is plenty of book formatting software that you can use before letting a professional formatter take a pass at your manuscript.

8. Plan and launch your book marketing campaign

There are so many fun book marketing ideas for before, during, and after book launch. Working with a self-publishing company can help you master these marketing techniques if they aren’t something you are accustomed to.

9. Price your book

Now it’s time to price your book. When learning how to self-publish a book, you should think of the price based on format, genre, and publishing goals. Take a look at some similar books and how they are priced. You may also want to offer a lower price for a limited time during pre-sale or launch to get some early reviews.

10. Continue to promote, market, and distribute your book

Book marketing never ends. If you want to keep making sales, you should keep promoting your book! When you run out of ideas, you can always write another book or create a special edition to market.

Remember, this is a condensed process of how to self-publish a book. You’ll want to educate yourself on the best process for each step to avoid making publishing mistakes .

And you’ll notice that many of the steps involved can be tailored to your specific situation.

For example, you can hire a book cover designer , or with the right tools and skills, you can make your own .

It’s important to dive deep into each step when you are working through the process of how to self-publish a book.

If you aren’t sure how to do a lot of the steps above, that’s okay! A self-publishing company can help you.

What are self-publishing companies?

A self-publishing company helps authors learn how to self-publish a book through the use of technology, services, education, and other means.

Self-publishing companies are mostly for-profit, and depending on the type of services offered, can assist authors and writers in using a publishing platform, helping with editing and other publication services, and assistance with navigating the publishing process and industry.

These are the main types of self-publishing companies:

• Self-publishing platform: This is the actual medium that you will publish your book on, which we’ll explain more about later.
• Author services: These are companies that provide author services such as editing, formatting , and designing. They’re like a one-stop shop for book publishing services, such as Reedsy . It can also include tools, like Publisher Rocket . Please do your research before using these types of services since many can lack transparency and quality.
• Self-publishing education: These are companies that teach authors how to self-publish a book . Since successful self-publishing can be tricky to navigate, these companies exist to provide authors with learning resources and mentorship. Self-Publishing School, Self-Publishing 101 , and Your First 10K Readers all offer guidance if you want to do it yourself, but need a bit of hand-holding.

Traditional publishing vs self-publishing

It’s important to understand the differences between self-publishing vs traditional publishing as you determine how to navigate your own author career.

In order to see the big picture and decide whether you want to learn how to self-publish a book, taking an in-depth look at what exactly each publishing type entails is crucial.

What is traditional publishing?

In traditional publishing, you first need to land an agent, which can be a very competitive and time-consuming process, with no guarantees.

Once you have an agent, you need to find a publisher to accept your manuscript, which is also a very competitive and lengthy process (and again, no guarantees).

Then, the publisher will offer you a contract that essentially buys the rights to your book.

The publisher will take care of the publishing process from editing, formatting, and designing. You earn royalties based on how many books sell.

Here are the steps to traditionally publish a book:

• Secure an agent with a query letter.
• Secure a publisher with your manuscript.
• Agree to the publishing contract (if offered).
• Publisher buys the rights to your book and publishes your book at no upfront expense to you (the author).

Pros of traditional publishing

• Fewer upfront costs for the author. Since the publisher handles the production expenses, the author doesn’t worry about paying directly out-of-pocket so the cost to publish a book is less.
• Social prestige.  Having publishing connections means your book will be easier to get into major bookstores. It can also be validating for some authors.
• Fewer responsibilities. You write the book, and let the publisher deal with the rest (ideally).

Cons of traditional publishing

• Extremely competitive. The chances of being traditionally published are very slim, and it’s very challenging to be accepted by a publisher.
• Less earnings. Royalty rates are often significantly less for authors in traditional publishing.
• A ton of rejection. To even be considered by an agent or publisher nowadays, writers often must have a social following or fan base.
• Not much marketing support. The publishers handle the actual book publishing, but marketing is often left up to the author.
• Less creative control. Authors typically don’t have any say-so in the final product. So, your book may be edited and designed without your input.

Pros and cons of self-publishing

To recap self-publishing, it goes something like this: You learn how to write a book , you write it, and then have the book edited, formatted, and designed.

Then, you have a printer or publishing platform publish your book, while you market the book and do book maintenance.

When you learn how to self-publish a book, it can be rewarding for a number of reasons. In fact, many self-published authors chose this route simply because of its many benefits.

However, there are also some cons to publishing a book on your own, which we highlight in this section. It’s important to be mindful of the possible advantages and disadvantages as you decide whether or not to learn how to self-publish a book.

P ros of self-publishing

• No gatekeeper. There isn’t anyone standing in your way of getting your book published. The only person that can stop you from sharing your book with the world is YOU!
• Your own timeline. Authors who learn how to self-publish a book can get their book to market quicker than with the traditional publishing process.
• Complete creative control. You have the final say in how you want your book to be edited, formatted, and designed.
• Opportunity for greater earning potential. Royalty rates on publishing platforms like Amazon are significantly higher than traditional publishing rates.

For some authors, learning how to self-publish a book can have its downsides. Be sure to consider your own needs and preferences as you weigh the possible cons.

Cons of self-publishing

• Less support. It’s all in your hands, which can be very scary for some authors. Learning how to self-publish a book also be lonely without a supportive community.
• No one is pushing you. It’s up to you to set your own deadlines, make realistic writing goals , and get the ball rolling on your published book.
• More upfront costs. When learning how to self-publish a book, you may have to hire professionals for publishing services like editing and designing.
• Some stigma. Because traditional publishing has been the standard for so long, self-published authors are sometimes considered the underdog. But the tide is changing. We’re seeing waves of successful authors who were traditionally published switch over to self-publishing, like Michael Hyatt , Ruth Soukup , and more. They’re realizing they can invest in professional services to produce high-quality books and they can leverage their own platforms to sell more books at a higher royalty rate.

If you’re curious to know whether traditional publishing or self-publishing has greater earning potential, try using our Book Royalties Calculator ! It may help you determine if you want to learn how to self-publish a book.

Book Royalties Calculator

1. my book will be published by a..., 2. my book will be an:, 3. my royalty rate will be:.

*Please note that this royalty rate is based on the market averages for paperback books. Actual royalty rates for traditional and indie publishing can vary by author depending on several factors.

4. My book’s retail price:

5. the # of books sold:, your results, your profit per book sold, for books sold, you earn:, for 1,000 books sold, you earn:, for 10,000 books sold, you earn:, royalties comparisons for 10,000 books sold, want to receive personalized tips on how to sell more books right in your inbox, how much does it cost to self-publish a book.

Since the author oversees all aspects of the process, the costs to self-publish a book will vary. You can self-publish a book for as little, or as much money as you can afford.

On average, the costs to self-publish a quality book will be about $1,500 – $5,000 depending on the professional services you use during the publishing process.

Many platforms to self-publish are actually free, but where the costs accrue is during the editing, illustrating, designing, and marketing phases.

Several factors affect how much it costs to self-publish and it really depends on each author’s needs.

This means that you can determine the budget when learning how to self-publish a book. Just remember – don’t cut too many corners as this could negatively affect your book’s quality!

The actual cost to publish a book yourself is free on self-publishing platforms like Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

But at the minimum, authors need to hire a professional editor and cover designer.

For example, the table below covers the average cost of common professional services used to self-publish a book.

Again, it all falls back on you as the author, and what your motive is for publishing your book.

Are you looking to build a career? Then you’ll want to invest in hiring experienced professionals that can provide the best quality, this may include investing in a self-publishing company, like Self-Publishing School , to help you do it right.

Other services you may need to budget for as you consider how to self-publish a book are marketing tools and promotional sites to promote your book.

You can use this Book Profit Calculator to determine how much you can make off your book based on your book price and royalty fees.

Where to self-publish your book

Because there are many platforms to publish your book available, it can be confusing to decide which self-publishing company to actually choose.

However, there are some self-publishing platforms that offer services that you may or not may need. Not every platform is the same, so once you have a solid understanding of the type of services you seek from your publishing company, the easier it will be to narrow down the options and decide where to publish your book.

First off, you’ll need to know the two different types of platforms: retailers and aggregators, which have some overlap in services they offer, but there are some fundamental differences as well, which we’ll cover below.

Tips on where to self-publish your book

• Decide between a retailer or aggregator company
• Determine your publishing budget
• Choose the type of book you want to publish
• Select the best publishing platform based on your region
• Figure out which markets you want to reach
• Decide your end goal for publishing
• Research company reviews
• Determine your technical skills and if you will need more assistance

Self-publishing retailers

Book retailers are platforms that host and sell your book directly. With a retailer, you will upload your book and it will sell directly to readers on the platform. Examples are Amazon’s KDP, Apple’s iBooks, and Kobo.

• Amazon’s KDP has the most retail power. It dominates the self-publishing market with over 80% of the eBook market . When considering where to self-publish, KDP is a must. You will get paid 35% or 70% royalty rates, depending on which you choose.
• Apple’s iBooks is steadily gaining more traction for self-publishing. It’s reported to have 10% of the market. If you use a Mac, this could be an option on where to self-publish. You will be paid 70% royalty rates.
• Kobo holds a small but powerful percentage of the self-publishing sphere. But it has access to an international market, so don’t pass it up! To have your book available in Canada and over 190 countries, consider Kobo when figuring out where to publish. Royalty rates depend on the price of your book.

Aggregators

Book aggregators are mediums that you submit your book to, and they send it to retailers and libraries all at once. While it may be more convenient so you don’t have to figure out where to self-publish, the cost to use these companies may be higher.

These are examples of self-publishing book aggregators:

• Draft2Digital
• PublishDrive

Decide where to self-publish your book after assessing which markets you want to reach, as well as your budget and needs. Some authors even use a combination of retailers and aggregators when learning how to self-publish a book.

Self-publishing industry trends in 2024 and beyond

All this talk about the past and the present, but what about the future?

It’s safe to say that self-publishing is not a fad – it’s here to stay as long as the internet is around, and will only continue to evolve.

In fact, the industry is now entering Self-Publishing 3.0. This phase will be direct sales from author to reader by way of subscription models, crowdsourced funding, and other income streams.

Self-publishing trends focus on the increased opportunities for authors to use technology and the internet to build sustainable businesses and writing careers.

Some forecasted industry trends for self-publishing are:

• Direct author to reader without any middleman
• The rise of the “authorpreneur” and indie authors
• Blockchain technology
• Decline of major publishers
• Expanded eBook subscriptions
• Less stigma
• Voice marketing as a new avenue for authors
• Increase in self-published books in the retail world

A clear best choice for aspiring authors

Learning how to self-publish a book allows you to publish your writing and share your stories with the world.

If you can make time for writing , execute a publishing strategy, and invest in the quality of your book, you can create a legacy from your book.

Whether you want to write a nonfiction book , write a novel , or create a children’s picture book , the options for publishing a book on your own are virtually limitless.

In fact, you don’t even have to pass through the traditional publishing gatekeeper to become an author.

Today, writers and storytellers are more empowered than they ever have been in history.

Are you ready to self-publish your book?

Join the community.

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The Kindle Publishing Business Model Explained: Is It Worth It?

Everything you need to know about self-publishing online!

As far as side hustles go, self-publishing isn't exactly brand new. The thing is, it's already generated millions of dollars in royalties, has a better track record than most side hustles on the market, and has only gotten more accessible over the past few years. There are tons of book aggregators, distributors, and publishing platforms out there for self-publishers these days, yet Amazon's Kindle Direct Publishing consistently ranks at the top because it has virtually no barrier to entry and costs nothing. But is it worth it? That's the question of the day.

We know self-publishing won't be everyone's cup of tea, but hopefully, this blog post will help you make sense of everything if you've been seeing our ads and want to get a better idea of what the publishing process actually looks like.

Would you rather watch the video version instead? Skip straight to our 100% free publishing webinar to see how anyone can tap into Amazon's multi-billion-dollar market with zero writing or publishing experience!   Click here to sign up.

What's the Scoop on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing?

Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, or KDP, is a platform that lets you publish and sell your books to Amazon's massive audience just by creating an Amazon account and uploading your manuscript/cover directly to the platform. It even has step-by-step prompts to guide you through the entire process.

KDP eliminates the hassle of going through traditional publishers and lets you sell paperback books and Kindle eBooks to make money . The platform allows you to do it without any upfront costs or inventory management, and you get paid by the royalty system for each and every book sale. These royalties are automatically released to you within two months of the actual book sale.

Just how big is the Kindle eBook market?

Well, according to Statista :

• The eBooks market worldwide is expected to generate nearly $15 billion by the end of this year alone, and that revenue is expected to remain steady through the next decade.
• The number of eBook readers is expected to hit over 1 billion by 2027.
• The United States dominates the market and is expected to keep generating the highest revenue for eBooks this year.
• Over 2 million self-published books have been published on the Amazon marketplace.
• It's estimated that nearly 40% of all authors publish with KDP.

A fun fact is that many of these books are published under a pen name or author alias, which means you don't have to give up your anonymity to generate income online.

While we're on the topic, here's a pen name generator to play around with:

(Slight disclaimer: Be sure to double-check that a pen name hasn't already been taken if you decide you want to move forward with it. This goes for any AI generator you use online.)

Why You Should Publish Books on Kindle

These are some major reasons to consider joining the Kindle eBooks game:

• Cost-Effective : With print-on-demand services automatically available for every publisher, publishing on Kindle eliminates the need for printing and inventory. You can upload and update your book on Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing for free, making it a budget-friendly and accessible option for most people.
• No Website Required : Because Amazon gives you instant access to your own KDP dashboard and promotion tools, you won't need to create your own author website unless you really want to. Amazon exposes your work to millions of potential readers and handles all the customer service for you.
• Higher Royalties : A traditional publishing house typically offers only about 10%- 20% in royalties, while Amazon KDP offers up to 70%, putting more money directly in your pocket.
• Brand Development : Kindle lets you build and expand your author brand with author pages and promotional programs like KDP Select and Kindle Unlimited without paying extra for these services.
• Accessibility and Global Reach : A lot of other publishers only focus on one market, but Amazon lets you publish in several book markets all at once at the same time that you upload your manuscript.
• Flexibility and Control : You maintain complete creative control over your book’s content, cover, and marketing, which means you can update or remove your content at any time, no questions asked.
• Immediate Publishing Turnaround : You get to skip the lengthy waits associated with traditional publishing and publish on your own terms as soon as your manuscript is ready. Amazon will still have to review the manuscript to make sure it meets all their standards, but this process is mostly automated and usually done within two weeks. Just a heads up!

Cons Of Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

As we mentioned earlier, Kindle publishing works but only for those who work it.

Here are some things you might want to consider before you decide to start your Kindle publishing business:

• Side note: While being tied to Amazon's KDP can seem limiting due to the exclusivity required by the KDP Select program, it also places your book in one of the largest marketplaces in the world, and three months really isn't that long in the grand scheme of things.
• Side note: This range is specially designed to maximize earnings while keeping books affordable for a broader audience. In other words, it balances earning potential with competitive pricing, which can help you reach more readers. The Amazon algorithm also regularly boosts books and changes the pricing on their end without taking away from your royalties. This is a GREAT thing!!
• Side note: Although focusing primarily on Amazon might limit visibility on other platforms, it simplifies the marketing process by letting you concentrate your efforts on one single platform. Piggybacking off the last point, you can still choose non-exclusive agreements with other platforms and explore wider distribution after the initial exclusivity period.

Can You Really Make Money with Kindle Publishing?

Anyone can turn publishing on Kindle into a solid side hustle or profitable business if they're willing to put in the work. We can't stress that enough.

But let's break the numbers down!

Is It Profitable to Publish on Kindle?

Business Insider and Forbes have showcased plenty of authors and publishers who are making well over six figures from their self-published books on Kindle, including this couple who make up to $17,000 a month selling their journals and coloring books.

Of course, not everyone who gets their book published is going to strike gold like they did, but making decent book sales might still be more common than you'd think.

Our Student Success Hub features the stories of couples, single parents, and college students who are all making more money with their books than they ever would if they tried to sell physical products instead.

The income from Amazon KDP varies quite a bit among indie authors and publishers, but it's pretty straightforward: Every time that your book is purchased, Amazon automatically owes you royalties that range between 35% and 70%. And they owe you these royalties in perpetuity. Yes, even if you haven't touched the book or published anything else in months (or even years).

Of course, recurring income takes work on the front end to get the flywheel turning, so you won't exactly be printing money the first day your book goes live. Still, most indie authors and publishers find that the prospect of working for themselves and eventually creating recurring income is more than worth it, especially compared to the corporate grind (that, let's face it, just isn't working for most people anymore).

The average newbie publisher might only make a few hundred dollars their first month , but publishing is one of those businesses that compounds with time.

The better you get at it and the more high-quality content you publish, the more the royalties can start stacking on top of each other to bring in recurring income.

It's nearly impossible to make six figures with a traditional publisher these days, but the same can't be said about self-publishing!

Check out our Amazon Kindle publishing course to find out more about our proven process, which hundreds of students have used to earn supplemental income every month.

Cost-Benefit Breakdown

KDP offers two royalty options: 35% and 70% .

Choosing between these options will affect your profits, and you do have a choice!

The 35% royalty rate is available globally for books with a minimum list price of $0.99, whereas the 70% royalty rate has certain eligibility criteria you can find on the KDP pricing page . Keep in mind that there are no delivery fees for the 35% option, so your profit will be 35% of the listed price.

Now, we know math isn't everyone's forte, which is why the next section has a handy tool we recently released to the public for the very first time.

Calculate Your Potential Earnings

To estimate your earnings potential, you'll need to consider factors like your book's price, royalty rate, printing type, and projected sales.

For instance, if you sell a book at $4.99 with a 70% royalty rate, you will earn $3.49 per sale.

If you sell 100 copies, you'll make $349.

To save yourself the trouble of crunching all the numbers, you can also just head over to our Free Kindle Direct Publishing Royalty Calculator , and we'll walk you through each part of the equation to show you instantly how much you can earn from your book titles.

Alternate Revenue Streams for Authors & Publishers

Apart from royalties, there are other ways to earn money with Kindle Publishing, too.

Some authors and publishers use their books as lead magnets to generate revenue from online courses, coaching, speaking engagements, and affiliate marketing (though you can definitely just stick to selling books and expand your offering with book series, book bundles, or exclusive book covers).

That's the beauty of this business model. You get to mold it however you want.

How Page Reads Convert into Commissions

Aside from outright sales, you can also earn money through Amazon's Kindle Unlimited (KU) program.

KU is a subscription-based service where readers can access a giant library of books for a monthly fee. Authors and publishers are paid based on the number of pages read by people who have borrowed your book through the program instead of traditional book sales.

This means that even if your book isn't being directly purchased, you can still make money from KU subscribers who read your work.

Publishing.com Student Testimonials

Hear from three students who never thought they'd start online businesses or publish books and haven't looked back since starting!

Jamie talks about overcoming massive debt and a business failure by pivoting to publishing online with KPD:

In less than five years, Brock went on to earn over $100k from his books.

He made tons of mistakes along the way that he shares below:

Stephanie had to overcome some major challenges on her self-publishing journey, but she's been able to use that as fuel to inspire teenage girls and really make a difference with her books:

Content Creation Strategies

You've got two options to self-publish a book: Take on all the work yourself or outsource the parts you don't have the skills or time for.

(The majority of our students end up doing the latter.)

Writing Your Own Books

Writing your own books is obviously going to be much more time-intensive, but it might be your only option if your budget is really strapped.

You'll be responsible for:

• Conducting market research (which consists of competitor research and customer research)
• Planning your series and branding
• Continuously working on your writing skills
• Maintaining consistency in style and tone throughout your manuscript and/or series
• Conduction keyword research to make sure your books show up in customer searches on Amazon

Outsourcing Book Creation

If writing isn't your strong suit or you lack the time, you can opt for outsourcing the book creation instead. This involves hiring skilled ghostwriters or content creators to collaborate with you to write your books.

Even though they'll be doing most or all of the writing, you'll still be responsible for:

• Keeping the project on track with deadlines and voice/tone
• Providing consistent and constructive feedback
• Editing and formatting the manuscript (or finding another formatting service or professional to help)
• Marketing and promoting the book

We'll get more into all of this later!

Types of Books You Can Publish with Examples

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) offers a ton of book categories you can explore, but there are three main types of books you can publish with your KDP account:

1. No Content Books

No content books typically include journals, diaries, or planners.

These books contain formatted pages with little to no text but serve a specific purpose for the reader.

The audience can use the loose structure provided to record their thoughts or organize their day, but ultimately, they have a lot of freedom.

Here are a few examples:

• Dot grid journals : Intended for bullet journaling, feature evenly spaced dots on each page.
• Sketchbooks : Blank pages suitable for drawing, doodling, or sketching.
• Weekly planners : Designed to aid users with time management skills, these books have a weekly overview of tasks, appointments, and events.

2. Low Content Books

Low-content books have some content within them, but their primary focus is providing templates or frameworks for the readers to interact with.

These books encourage readers to contribute their own input, and they're especially popular in the productivity and relaxation niches.

Examples include:

• Coloring books : These books contain various illustrations or patterns for readers to color in, and they're not just for kids! Adult coloring books are huge these days!
• Activity books : These books are geared towards children and adults and include puzzles, crosswords, mazes, trivia, and more.
• Workbooks : Ideal for self-improvement, workbooks serve as guided instruction in specific areas like fitness, finances, or therapy. They generally contain exercises, prompts, and additional resources.

3. High Content Books

High-content books are much more content-rich and text-heavy and usually contain more specialized knowledge or ideas on a specific subject.

The genre can range from fiction to non-fiction, depending on the author or publisher's intent.

Here's a tiny list of examples:

• Biographies & Memoirs
• Self-Help Books
• Reference Books

How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Book on Kindle?

The short answer to how much it costs to publish a book on Kindle is that it's technically free . Amazon doesn't charge anything to create an Amazon account, house your books, or sell books on the KDP platform.

The longer answer is that the cost of publishing depends on how much of the work you want to DIY. Getting help with writing, editing, formatting, and designing your book in different formats (i.e., an eBook version, audio book version, paperback, and hardcover) is going to set you back anywhere from a few hundred dollars to the $1.5k-$2k range.

Hiring Writers

If you're not writing the book yourself, you'll need to hire a writer to create your manuscript.

The cost of hiring a writer varies depending on the length and complexity of your book and the writer's experience.

Generally, prices can range from $0.03 to $0.10 per word , which means a 30,000-word book could cost $900 to $3,000 on the high end.

Once your book is written and polished, you'll need to start formatting it with all the correct page breaks, line spacing, font styles, and images. You can either learn to format the book yourself or hire a professional formatter.

If you choose to outsource this task, prices can range from $100 to $1,000 depending on the complexity of the project and the formatter's experience.

You can also find affordable options such as pre-made templates and DIY formatting tools (like Reedsy).

Promoting your book is the step that makes a lot of new publishers groan, but this is how you'll reach your target audience and increase your sales. There are tons of great promotional strategies, such as paid advertising on Amazon and social media, book giveaways, email marketing, and reaching out to reviewers and influencers.

Depending on your campaign goals and tactics, the cost of your promotion efforts can range from $50 to $2,000 or more per month.

The good news is that Amazon also offers programs like KDP Select, which provide additional promotional opportunities for authors and publishers who choose to list their books on Amazon exclusively.

Building and Operating a KDP Business

If publishing is just a hobby on the side, that's cool! But if you're looking to scale, you'll eventually need to make the mental switch to being a business owner running an online business.

Business owners know how to see the long-term vision and how the day-to-day will get you there with the right habits and routines. They're not afraid to invest in themselves or their business because they know that, at the end of the day, that's the only way to grow.

You definitely don't need to run out and establish an LLC right away, but it's not a bad idea somewhere down the road. In the meantime, you can publish eBooks as a sole proprietor while still having that business mentality that you're working towards the bigger picture.

Step-by-Step Publishing Guide

Here's the rundown of bringing a book to life:

• Choose a winning topic : Pick a topic that resonates with your target audience and has a proven demand in the market. (The proven part is non-negotiable for our students because we want them to actually make $$$)
• Outline your book : Create a detailed outline to organize your thoughts, making it easier to write your book. (You can totally outsource this to ChatGPT and then go back in and make tweaks btw)
• Design the book cover : Craft an eye-catching cover that stands out and attracts readers. (It sounds so obvious, but we've seen book covers be the ONLY thing in the way of sales sometimes)
• Format your book : Properly format your book to meet Amazon's KDP standards and test it out on different screens like a Kindle device. (Formatting isn't always fun, but it does make a world of difference to the reader experience)
• Create an account and upload your book : Finally, sign up for a KDP account and upload your book to the platform. (Yes, you can use your regular Amazon Prime login)

And here's how to scale your publishing business from there:

• Diversify Your Formats : Beyond eBooks, consider offering paperbacks, audiobooks, or even hardcovers to reach different reader preferences. (the more formats, the merrier the royalties)
• Develop Complementary Titles : Build out your non-fiction series by adding titles that complement the original book. For instance, if your first book is on personal finance, you could expand with titles focusing on investing, saving for retirement, or budgeting for families. (having a solid book title for your series helps keep it in your readers' minds...everyone's heard of the "For Dummies" series)
• Branch Into Related Niches : Use the authority and audience built from your initial publications to explore related topics. (never ever fake authority or a degree—it's super illegal—but if you know what you're talking about and you know you can help others, go for it!)
• Offer Translations : Reaching a global audience can boost your Kindle publishing income. By offering translations of your best-selling eBooks, you can tap into non-English speaking markets. (This expansion strategy requires investment for hiring professional translators because AI isn't quite there yet, but this is a growing trend we're seeing in the publishing market right now that isn't going to go away for a long time.)
• Offer Bundles : Bundling your eBooks provides your readers with a discounted option, encouraging them to buy several books at once. (The best part? Bundling can also create additional upselling opportunities. For example, a reader who only intended to purchase one book from your series might instead opt for the discounted bundle.)
• Sell Your Publishing Business : After establishing a profitable series (we're talking years down the line), consider selling your publishing business. A well-organized operation with strong brand recognition and a loyal reader base can attract buyers looking for a proven, scalable venture. This is where the big bucks are!

Selling his publishing business for over $120k is exactly what Ed Fahy (one of our kickass coaches) did.

Listen to his story here:

Steps to Hiring a Ghostwriter

Scouting for talent:.

Kick off your search on platforms like Upwork and Fiverr, which house ghostwriters and other creatives from all backgrounds and experience levels.

• Craft a compelling job post detailing exactly what you’re looking for. Be specific!
• Pro Tip: You'll get more bites if you have a verified payment method on your profile. You won't actually be releasing the money upfront to the freelancer. Instead, you'll release it to the platform once you choose somebody, and the platform will only release it to them once you approve their work.
• Consider searching for audiobook narrators from Upwork or ACX if you’re expanding into audio formats, too!

Choosing the Right Match:

• Test the waters with a trial project to see how potential writers handle your content, or check their portfolios for a sense of their style and consistency.
• Focus on writers who have a track record in your niche or who have penned books similar to what you’re envisioning.
• If the budget is tight, you can also give a beginner a chance. Don't take a lack of reviews to mean a lack of talent. There are SO many great writers out there who just need someone like you to give them their big break!

Fine-Tuning the Partnership:

• Begin with clear and to-the-point constructive feedback. Writers are used to it and want to know what's working and what's not. Protecting their feelings isn't going to make a great book! (We're not saying to be a jerk here, but sometimes hard conversations are necessary for the greater good.)
• Give them a chance to make revisions, set reasonable timelines, and try to check their work every few chapters to avoid any major overhauls in the future. If things aren't working out midway, then they're not working out.
• If you ARE a fan of the writer, ask them to stay in touch for future projects. This is another win-win. They get regular work, and you get a reliable collaborative partner, which makes scaling so much faster and easier.

Finding the perfect ghostwriter isn't always a smooth process—Just because someone has a book written doesn't mean they're going to be the right person for the job to write your own book. If you're early on in the process and have already given them the chance to make the requested revisions and it's still not working out, sometimes it's best to just move on.

Yes, this sucks, and yes, it's going to feel like a total waste of time/money, but should it get in the way of you putting out a really great book? Heck no! Easier said than done, sure, but you're much better off channeling any frustration into things that keep your business moving forward.

What You Need to Know About Publishing on Amazon & KDP Hacks

Here are some more Kindle Direct Publishing quick tips:

• ISBNs and Rights : Amazon will provide free ISBNs for every book, but acquiring your own can offer more flexibility, like publishing on other platforms.
• Amazon Author Central : Set up your Amazon Author Central account and claim your books to build out your author profile. You can add your biography, photos, videos, and upcoming events, which helps in building your brand.
• Cross-Promotion Techniques : Link your books to each other by mentioning them within your eBook and on your Author Central page. Use your back matter to promote other works or your email signup to keep readers within your ecosystem.
• Pre-Orders : Setting up your book for pre-order can build anticipation and lead to a spike in sales on release day, which can boost its rankings and visibility. ( Learn about the 3 phases of a book launch here! )
• HTML in Descriptions : You can use basic HTML tags to format your book descriptions on Amazon. This includes bolding, italics, and bullet points, making the description easier to read and more attractive to potential buyers.

What Are the Pros and Cons of Choosing Kindle Direct Publishing Over Traditional Publishing?

How does KDP self-publishing compare to the traditional publishing model ?

Pros of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP):

• Greater control over your book's production, design, and marketing
• Faster time to market compared to traditional publishing
• Higher royalty rates, usually between 35%-70%
• Global distribution through Amazon

Cons of Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP):

• Limited exposure to brick-and-mortar bookstores
• Reduced chance of receiving professional book reviews
• No advances, unlike traditional publishing deals
• Increased responsibility for editing, design, and marketing efforts

Optimizing for Kindle Search Algorithms

"Optimizing" might be one of the most overused words on the planet right now, but it typically has to do with SEO or "Search Engine Optimization." This basically means making sure the right results pop up when a person searches for a particular word or phrase. So, in the book world, it relates to how your book appears in the Kindle store. Is it on the first page or page 30?

Be honest: When's the last time you looked at anything past page 3 or 4 during your own searches? It doesn't happen often, right?

Think about the Kindle store as a candy store. Your readers will be faced with distractions and temptations left and right. What makes YOUR book stand out?

Here’s how to pinpoint the best keywords for Kindle Publishing :

• Define Your Core Topics : Start by identifying the central themes of your book.
• Brainstorm : List possible keywords that relate to your themes, considering what a reader might search for.
• Research Tools : Utilize tools like KDSpy to expand your list and see how your competitors are performing.
• Selection and Application : Narrow your list to 5-7 optimal keywords. These should be highly relevant and have a strong search presence without being overly competitive.
• Metadata Matters : Incorporate these keywords into your book’s metadata fields in the KDP dashboard, including the book title, subtitle, description, and keyword sections.

SEO isn’t a set-it-and-forget-it deal. It requires ongoing adjustments and updates:

• Monitor Performance : Regularly check how your keywords are performing. Are they bringing readers to your page?
• Adapt and Update : As market trends shift, so should your keywords. Refresh your metadata every so often to stay relevant.

Maximizing Visibility and Sales

Pricing strategies for maximum impact.

Knowing how to price your Kindle books can be hard for a newbie publisher. You want to make sure you're getting paid a fair amount, but you also don't want to scare your potential readers away.

Here’s how to refine your pricing strategy:

• KDP Select Promotions : Enroll your book in the KDP Select program to take advantage of promotional opportunities such as Kindle Countdown Deals or Free Book Promotions.
• Dynamic Pricing : Test different price points to find the sweet spot that appeals to your target audience without undercutting your profits. Start with a lower introductory price to attract readers and reviews, then gradually increase to your target price point as your book gains traction.
• Competitive Analysis : Regularly review the pricing strategies of similar books in your genre. Adjust your pricing based on market trends and seasonal demand to stay competitive. We tell our students that the sweet spot after the book launch is usually just above the competition.

Customer Reviews

Positive customer reviews boost your book’s credibility and improve its search discoverability on Amazon.

Here's how to generate more reviews :

• Free Review Copies : Consider giving away a limited number of free copies to readers who are likely to enjoy your book and politely asking them to leave an honest review about their experience.
• Engage via Email : Use your email list (if you have one) to connect with your readers. Provide them with updates and insights about your publishing journey, and kindly ask for reviews. Personalized communication increases engagement and the likelihood of receiving feedback.
• Community Engagement : Participate in online communities related to your book’s genre. Interaction in social media groups, book forums, and other reader communities can help you increase your book’s exposure and encourage reviews while staying compliant.

The easiest ways to break Amazon's terms and conditions regarding reviews are to:

A) Have close friends and family or anyone that's connected to your address leave reviews

B) Incentivize or bribe people for reviews

How Does Amazon KDP Compare to Other Publishing Platforms in Terms of Profitability?

While platforms like Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble Press also provide competitive royalty options, Amazon KDP's real edge comes from its massive audience. With millions of Kindle users browsing daily, your chance to earn more significantly increases by publishing with KDP.

Some might want to debate this, but Amazon is on track to fully take the publishing industry's market share. Check out these Amazon KDP facts as proof!

Navigating Intellectual Property in Kindle Publishing

Intellectual property rights and publishing pretty much boil down to three things:

Understanding Your Rights

• Copyright Ownership : You automatically own the copyright to your original work, which gives you exclusive control to reproduce, distribute, and display the book. Platforms like Reedsy make it easy to insert copyright disclaimers at the front of your book to discourage others from stealing your work.
• Amazon's Assurance : Publishing through Amazon KDP means you retain your rights to the content forever, giving you the freedom to publish your work elsewhere too or take it down at any point.

Using Third-Party Content

When incorporating external content like images or quotes, keep in mind:

• Permissions Required : Make sure you secure the necessary permissions to use third-party content to avoid legal issues.
• Public Domain and Creative Commons : You can use any content available under these licenses, but make sure you adhere to any specified attribution requirements. These are usually in the terms and conditions of the stock image sites or tools you find online.

Canva Images in Your Kindle Book

Canva provides a versatile toolkit for creating book designs:

• License Awareness : Use only those images you have rights to, whether through a free or Pro Canva account. Pro accounts typically offer broader usage rights, which are suitable for commercial projects.
• Avoid Editorial-Only Images : To comply with legal standards, do not use images marked for editorial use in your commercial book projects.

Canva has grown a bit controversial over the years, and some publishers claim their books have been taken down by Amazon because of Canva's images. If this happens, you usually just need to email them proof that you are a pro user, along with a screenshot of the terms and conditions that allow you to use certain images.

Of course, if you're nervous about potential account penalties, you can also take your Canva design to a graphic designer and have them tweak it to make it truly original.

Troubleshooting Common KDP Issues

Here are some problems you might run into as a newbie publisher:

KDP Won't Accept the File Format

If you upload your book in the wrong format, KDP will automatically kick back an error, letting you know that your manuscript wasn't accepted. For your eBook publication, KDP accepts common formats such as Word (.doc/.docx), ePub, and Kindle Create (KPF) files.

If your file isn't in one of these formats, consider converting it using a reputable conversion tool like Reedsy! PDF is the preferred format for print books, and ePub is more common for Kindle eBooks.

KDP Won't Accept the Book Cover

Your book cover consists of the front cover, back cover, and spine, and KDP has specific requirements for dimensions and resolution.

Make sure your cover image meets these requirements:

• eBook: Minimum size of 1000 pixels on the longest side. Preferred ratio 1.6:1 (e.g., 2560 x 1600)
• Print Book: Dimensions are determined by your chosen trim size. Submit the cover file as a PDF.

KDP Won't Accept the Book Title

Your book title should be unique, relevant, and follow KDP's content guidelines .

If your title is being rejected, check for the following issues:

• Duplicate or misleading titles: Make sure your title doesn't closely resemble an existing book or confuse readers by appearing too similar to another work.
• Prohibited keywords: Avoid the use of keywords that are misleading, offensive, or restricted (e.g., "Free," "Bestseller").
• Offensive or inappropriate language: Refrain from using derogatory or explicit language in your title. This one sounds like a "duh," but even adding asterisks or punctuation marks to cuss words can hurt your sales, so we usually tell our students to avoid it altogether whenever possible.

If you've addressed these concerns and are still experiencing issues, consider reaching out to KDP support and keep following up (In our experience, sometimes you need to be persistent).

What Affects Your Best-Seller Rank on Amazon KDP?

Your best-seller rank on Amazon KDP depends on various factors, such as sales, reviews, and the competition in your specific niche. The more copies you sell and the more reviews you receive, the higher your book will rank in the best-seller list. Additionally, showcasing a well-designed cover, providing an engaging book description, and targeting the appropriate keywords will improve your chances of reaching higher rankings.

Overall, your BSR is affected by things like...

• Sales Volume : The more copies you sell, the better your ranking. Even a burst of sales over a short period can boost your rank temporarily.
• Customer Reviews : High-quality, positive reviews can improve your book's visibility and appeal, indirectly boosting sales and your rank.
• Cover Design : A professional and appealing cover can make a significant difference in attracting readers.
• Engaging Description : A well-crafted book description grabs potential readers' attention and can increase sales. It should be clear what the book is about, but you shouldn't give too much away to the point that readers feel they don't even need to read your book to get the answers they need to solve their problems.
• Keyword Optimization : Using the right keywords can help your book appear in more relevant searches, increasing visibility and sales. (We covered this earlier)
• Competition : The level of competition within your book's category or niche also affects your rank. More competition might require additional marketing efforts to stand out.

What Is the Success Rate of Authors Using Kindle Direct Publishing?

The success rate of authors using Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) who fail to put in the work is 0%, but that can be true of any business venture at all. Ultimately, it's always going to vary based on things like writing quality, marketing efforts, and finding the right target audience.

Some authors and publishers start crushing it in their first six months, while others may not see the results they desire. What we can tell you without a doubt is that dedication, perseverance, and a strategic approach all but guarantee success on the KDP platform.

The publishing business is all about learning...and, yes, failing too.

You can read about some of our own mistakes here in an exclusive interview featuring Rasmus Mikkelsen , one of the co-founders of Publishing.com!

What Can Self-Publishing Lead to?

Self-publishing can lead to pretty much anything you can think of—sailing the world, funding your kids' college tuition, retiring at 40. The proof is in the pudding!

Becoming a Speaker at Live Events

By successfully establishing yourself as an author or publisher in your niche, you create opportunities for participating in live events. Event organizers often seek out experts in the field to speak at their conferences. As a publisher, you'll have a platform to showcase your knowledge, expand your network, and even sell your books.

Hosting Webinars

Another potential avenue you can explore is hosting webinars. This can be an excellent way to share your expertise, grow your audience, and generate additional passive or recurring income. With webinars, you can provide valuable content to your target audience while also promoting your Kindle books.

Hosting a Radio Show or Podcast

Similar to webinars, hosting a radio show or podcast can help you reach your audience. You can use these platforms to share insights, interview industry experts, and discuss current trends in your field. Podcasts and radio shows help you connect with listeners and enhance your credibility as a publisher.

Just ask Jacob, whose books led to non-stop podcast, radio, and interview requests:

Traveling More

Publishing gives you the flexibility to set your own schedule and work from anywhere. This gives you the opportunity to travel more and even attend international events related to your niche. Moreover, you can use your experiences to inspire new book ideas.

This couple is set to retire in their 40s and travel the world together:

Spending More Time with Family

The flexibility that comes with publishing doesn't only apply to traveling. You can manage your workload, write or publish at your own pace, and control your income streams. This translates into more time for spending with your loved ones, while still growing your publishing business.

As a single mom, Carolina just wanted more time with her 3 boys, and publishing made that possible:

Long-Term Sustainability

Most side hustles are better suited for short-term cash grabs, but that's not at all how publishing works.

We teach our students how to create long-term stability, even through recessions and iffy market conditions. Building a Kindle publishing business is a long-term commitment that can pay dividends for years to come if you approach it with integrity.

Adapting to Market Changes

We all know a lot of people are going through some hard times right now. Companies are laying people off, the real estate market is absolutely bonkers, and AI advancements are moving crazy fast.

Publishing is an industry that requires agility and constant adaptation.

Here’s how you can maintain relevance and cater to your readers more effectively:

• Content Updates : Regularly refresh your eBooks to align with current reader interests and incorporate the latest information, which can extend their relevance and appeal. (At the same time, try not to fall into the trap of "SOS" or "Shiny Object Syndrome" and make too many changes in a short period of time)
• Working On Your Presentation : Continuously improve your eBook formatting and design to meet evolving reader expectations and enhance their experience. (The better you become at publishing, the more you'll pick up on small formatting nuances like line spacing and page breaks. It all takes practice!)
• Improving Your Marketing : There's a bit of a learning curve to running Amazon ads , but it's 100% worth it to get your book in front of the right readers. Think about it this way: People hate being bombarded with ads on random websites and Facebook, where they're scrolling to forget about their day, but people scrolling through Amazon are happy to buy something then and there.

Balancing Content Types

Part of running a stable Kindle Publishing business is balancing evergreen content with seasonal content:

• Evergreen Content : This forms the backbone of your catalog, providing steady revenue as it remains relevant throughout the year.
• Seasonal Content : This type of content might have temporary spikes in interest and boost short-term earnings instead.

Mixing these content types diversifies your portfolio and stabilizes your income stream across different periods. Read about the best time to publish in each niche here !

Common Misconceptions About Publishing

Here are three common misconceptions that we hear about publishing all the time:

You Have to Have a College Degree

Many people believe that to be a successful publisher, you need to have a degree in English, Journalism, or a related field. Cue the buzzer! This is simply not true!

Some of the most successful publishers don't have any formal education in writing or literature. Instead, they've honed their craft through practice, learning from others, and staying updated with industry trends.

You Have to Invest a Ton Upfront

Another misconception is that self-publishing is costly, requiring a large upfront investment.

While it's true that you need to invest some money into the process, it can be much more affordable than most people might believe.

Unlike a degree that could set you back six figures in debt, you can DIY every step of the publishing process with AI tools or outsource 90% of the work, knowing that more work and more investment upfront can lead to even greater returns in the future.

And you are always 100% in control of your budget.

Self-Publishing Isn't Respected as Much as Traditional Publishing

The idea that self-publishing is less respected than traditional publishing is fading fast. Over the years, numerous self-published titles have become bestsellers, proving that it can be just as successful, if not even MORE successful, than traditional publishing.

How Do I Become a Kindle Publisher?

If you got bit by the publishing bug after reading this blog post, all the information you need to become a publisher is already out there in this blog and out on the interwebs for you to figure it all out on your own. It's just a matter of how much time you have to make your income and schedule dreams a reality.

If You Want to Take the Long Way: Peruse Amazon KDP Resources

Amazon has tons of guides, flowcharts, tools, and help articles on pretty much any publishing topic you can imagine, including a file setup calculator, file previewer, and cover templates.

When in doubt, check out their free KDP resources !

Combing through all their online resources is going to take a hot minute, but if time is on your side, knock yourself out (and take notes).

If You're Ready for the Quick Way: Drop By Our Free Webinar

We've already combed through every online publishing source imaginable and made all the mistakes, so you don't have to. We condensed it all in one tiny webinar , so if you're looking to skip Netflix tonight and take ONE step towards this next phase of your life, we'll see you there!

We'll show you:

• Why publishing is one of the lowest-barrier side hustles out there on the market right now
• What technology Amazon, Microsoft, and Google are pouring billions of dollars into, and how to make it work for you
• How you can get started publishing on a part-time schedule that fits around your family obligations and values

Stop by here!

FREE WEBINAR

Call : 1-877-977-3779

Book Business Plan: How to Create a Successful One

Salmaan Ahmad

June 1, 2023

Thinking about a book business plan? Your perfect vision of being a writer might be sitting in a coffee shop with your laptop out, busily typing away at the next Great American Novel you’ve always wanted to write. Writing is a passion, an interest, and a skill, but is it a business? Whatever your vision of a writer is, it should include viewing your book writing as a business.

Because while writing may be something you simply want to do, as a self-publishing author, thinking of your writing as a business will help you get your books into the hands of your readers.

Treat Your Book Writing as a Business

Thousands of people begin small businesses every year. According to Intuit, 17 million small businesses were started in 2022 alone. But for most of those companies, the doors didn’t open until a business plan was in place to make sure that the operations will run smoothly.

Business plans help to set the expectations for a business while solidifying the business’s purpose and goals as well as help to clarify what steps are needed to reach success. And writers can benefit from each aspect of this kind of planning, too. When authors treat their writing as a business and create a book business plan, it may initially seem less of an artistic endeavor and more of a financial one.

But selling books to build a readership is the goal for aspiring authors just like making money is the goal of a small business, so making a book business plan to map out your steps is a smart move for writers seeking success as published authors.

1. Identify Your Brand in Your Book Business Plan

Before a new business owner fires up a new website or opens the storefront doors, they begin by researching the niche they want to pursue, looking at what other businesses are doing in that niche, and defining what will make their new business different from others.

This step of brand identification is key to authors, too, because it will help authors to better understand how potential readers see them as an author, and, more importantly, how their writing will fit into the established genre.

• Define yourself as an author . Create an author’s website to introduce yourself to your readers with a short bio, genre information, and anything that will help you connect with potential readers. Snag social media handles with your name or even your next book or project’s title and link them to your website to begin connecting your work with who you are as a brand.
• Hone your writing voice . Although this is something you will continue to do throughout your writing career, being aware of your writing voice and what makes you unique as a writer early on can help you to sharpen your voice faster so you will be easily identifiable by readers.
• Learn about your competition . Part of the branding process is studying the competition. Take a close look at the popular books in your genre to see what readers love, how the book covers are used to attract readers, and what types of stories are missing in the genre. Use this industry information to guide your work in the future so readers will be interested in your writing while still creating unique work that doesn’t sound or look like all of the other books on the shelf.
• Pinpoint your audience . Knowing who is reading your book can help you to make sure to include themes, topics, and even small details in your writing that they will love, helping you to build a strong readership and fanbase for your work.

2. Calculate Your Resources in Your Book Business Plan

As a writer, you have two key types of resources to contribute to the business of writing. Your book business plan should address both the time you will spend on your work as well as any financial resources that will go toward the process of writing, printing, and marketing your books.

• Time: One of the critical resources that writers contribute toward their own business of being an author is the time they put into it. Consider carefully how much time you can allot to writing so that you can create reasonable, reachable goals for yourself.
• Money: Self-publishing authors will need to develop a plan for both the operational and financial resources required to take a book from concept to print to the reader’s hands. Many businesses use Kickstarter-type campaigns to help fund their new businesses, but authoring a book doesn’t come with the staggering price tag that opening a brick-and-mortar business might. Creating a book business plan that considers those initial costs, like upgrading a laptop or buying a book template is a good idea. And operational resources should be a part of your plan as well, especially for self-publishing authors that may need to consider using a professional editor, expert cover designer, or graphic designer in addition to the printing costs.

3. Partner with Businesses That Share Your Views and Values

The third part of your book business plan concerns choosing the vendors or professionals that you plan to work with as an author. Authors will now know what financial and operational resources they may want to use, so the next step is determining whom to work with and how to select those business partners.

• Engaging a cover design expert is a good idea so you can be sure that your book will look appealing to your genre’s fans.
• Hiring an experienced editor is key to removing those little errors from the final draft of your book that keeps it from looking professionally produced.
• Using a trusted digital printer like Publishing Xpress ensures that your final product will be made with quality materials, your books will be delivered quickly, and you can reorder copies as needed without large minimum reordering requirements.
• Working with a graphic designer can assist in developing the visual elements of your book resulting in a highly professional appearance.

4. Develop a Marketing Plan in Your Book Business Plan

This part of your book business plan will determine how you will get your book into the reader’s hands. Marketing can take place before the book is launched, during the launch, and indefinitely afterward until you meet your goals. First, establish your short-term and long-term goals for the book’s circulation and sales. Prepare for your marketing by crafting a media packet for your book that includes an author’s bio, book summary, any advanced reader reviews or industry influencer reviews as well as any other information that will help sell your book to distribution channels or promotional opportunities.

Next, determine the distribution channels you will need to utilize including retail sites, author’s websites, indie bookstores, and online sellers like Amazon. Create a strategy to contact each channel with a media packet once your book arrives or with an advanced print copy if you decide to create those. Detail your plans for promoting your book including setting up a comprehensive social media plan, organizing paid and unpaid advertising, and pursuing organic promotional opportunities like book reviews from media outlets and other respected authors.

 5. Periodically Review Your Book Business Plan

Schedule check-ins on your book business plan to evaluate how well you are meeting your short- and long-term goals as well as the effectiveness of your marketing strategies. Update your media packet after your book is launched if your book has garnered attention since its release.

Organic promotional materials like great reviews from literary outlets or other authors can also be inserted into the media packet to show initial successes with your book’s launch. And by setting specific timeframes to review your business plan, you will be better able to manage your book business now and with any future books you write.

A Book Business Plan Prepares Authors for Success

The creative side of writing should be balanced with a thoughtful book business plan so you can make sure that your books are found by the right readers, building your fan base and setting you up for future success as an author.

And while it’s commonly understood that a new business needs a concrete plan, attainable goals, and a strategy for success, writing a book is essentially the start of your personal brand as an author. Intentionally building your brand should go hand in hand with writing, and creating a book business plan makes the most sense for authors who hope to find future success as a writer.

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How To Self-Publish a Book in 8 Steps (2024)

Have a great book idea? Learn how to self-publish a book and sell it on multiple platforms with this step-by-step guide.

Every writer dreams of authoring a bestselling book, but for decades it’s been very hard to do this successfully without the help of a publishing company. 

Getting the attention of a big publishing company isn’t easy. It means sending out drafts, nervously waiting for a response that might never come, and trying to stay positive in the face of rejection.

For the few who are lucky enough to move past this stage, there are still months of negotiations over the creative direction of your work and your cut of the profits. 

Working with publishers is far from a dream-come-true, but what if you could skip the process altogether? What if you could write, edit, publish, and sell your own book⁠—all without having to answer to the whims of gatekeepers?

In today’s creator economy , you can. Self-publishing tools are more widely available now than ever before. You just need to know how to use them.

8 steps to self-publish a book

• Write a book that’s marketable
• Edit like a professional
• Develop an eye-catching cover
• Choose your self-publishing platform
• Format your book
• Launch your book like a store launches a product
• Market yourself on social media
• Start work on your next book

1. Write a book that’s marketable

Entrepreneurs use market research to validate product ideas . This process involves closely examining competing products, evaluating their strengths and weaknesses, unearthing untapped niches, and establishing their ideal customer.

An author might scoff at the idea of performing market research, but the “author-prenuer” knows that understanding their audience early will make it easier to sell their book down the road. 

You might already have books written, you may have a few book proposals, or you may be starting from scratch. Either way, use these methods of evaluating the market potential of your book before you begin the self-publishing process:

• Identify your genre. Genre is more than just a “category” for your book. Aspects like story structure, verbiage, writing style, and visual content can all differ depending on the genre of your book. For example, a children’s book might describe a rotting apple as “squishy” or “slimey,” whereas a murder mystery might describe it as “putrid” or “festering.” Considering the peculiarities of your genre will give you a better understanding of the audience you’re writing for. 
• Explore how people talk about your genre. Browse message boards to learn more about how fans of your genre (and your potential buyers) decide what to read. What appeals to them about your genre? Are there any common frustrations with the genre?
• Evaluate bestsellers in your genre. Conduct competitive analysis by evaluating the bestselling books in your genre on marketplaces like Amazon and the New York Times Best Sellers list .
• Evaluate your competitors’ positioning. Positioning is the messaging, values, and overall business strategy being pitched to audiences. Ask yourself what sets apart the most popular books in your genre. What do the titles, cover art, and synopsis pitch? What’s the hook that grabs the reader’s attention?
• Find out what’s missing . In the high-volume book publishing industry, marketing is all about differentiation . Put yourself in the shoes of your genre’s audience and ask yourself, what’s missing from these bestsellers? Are their stories left untold?
• If possible, identify a niche in your genre. A niche is a subsection of your genre’s audience. Niching is a great way to differentiate yourself in a crowded market and lower the scope of your competition.

If you already have a written manuscript in mind for self-publishing, consider its market potential now before moving on to the next steps. You may be able to easily identify what sets your book apart, or you may want to make some revisions. 

Either way, having an understanding of the audience for your book will help make future marketing decisions a lot easier.

2. Edit like a professional

Self-publishers will have to compete in the same stores and marketplaces as traditional publishing companies, meaning your book needs to look just as refined and polished as it would coming from a major publishing house. 

You might not have the vast well of editors that a large publisher has, but that doesn’t mean you can’t create a product that can compete. 

Start by editing the manuscript yourself

Before handing your first draft off to anyone else, read it yourself, start to finish, as though you’re a member of your  target audience . It’s easy to get lost in the weeds during the writing process, and a start-to-finish read-through will help you to understand how your book translates as a whole. 

Once you have a manuscript that’s ready for another set of eyes, put your entrepreneurial hat back on and start getting feedback from prospective fans. 

Get feedback from your intended audience

During the product development process , entrepreneurs polish their product by getting feedback from target audiences, with the goal of improving the usability of the product. This is important for self-published books as well. 

Before sending the book off to a professional editor, provide copies to people and have them give you feedback. It’s important that the feedback you get comes from the intended audience of your book. 

Browse message boards pertaining to your genre, send your manuscript to friends and family (if they fit your target audience), and get as much feedback as you can about your manuscript. The point of this stage isn’t to fix mechanical errors, or typos, but to get an overall read on the book’s marketability as a whole. 

Have your manuscript copy edited by a professional

Copy editing is a very meticulous process that involves the line-by-line revision of a manuscript with the intention of improving readability and making sure the piece is free of grammatical and factual errors. 

While you should do your own copy edit before passing your manuscript along, it’s important to have a professional take a look and gain outside perspective on your book’s content. It can sometimes be difficult for writers to recognize issues with the readability of their own work. 

Where to hire a freelance editor

Hiring a freelance editor lets self-publishers work with a professional editor within the confines of their budget. There are a number of places where you can hire freelance editors to help edit your work. Freelancing sites have a wide variety of freelancers, with varying costs and degrees of experience:

• Reedsy . Reedsy is a freelancing site specifically dedicated to matching up indie authors with freelance editors. What makes Reedsy unique is the ability to hire editors that specialize in your specific genre.
• Upwork . Upwork specializes in connecting businesses with a wide variety of freelance talent, including editors and proofreaders. Upwork has search filters that allow you to view freelancers by hourly rates, so it’s easy to work within your budget. 
• Fiverr . Fiverr bills itself as the world’s largest marketplace for digital services. Users are divided into “buyers” and “sellers.” Sellers offer a wide variety of services, including proofreading and editing.
• Guru . Guru allows business owners to create job postings for freelancers to explore. Freelancers respond to posts quoting their fee and business owners can evaluate applicants and select the one that best fits their needs. 

Once you have a freelance editor, you can have them professionally edit your piece. From there, you will have a completed, professional manuscript. Next, you’ll need to move on to cover design.

3. Develop an eye-catching book cover

You shouldn’t judge a book by its cover, but most people will. Your cover acts as your book’s primary visual aid to users browsing online retailers, marketplaces, your online store, and just about every other place your book will be sold. 

Should I hire a professional designer?

Author-preneurs wear many hats and graphic designer is often one of them. Designing your own cover will take a bit of time, but it can also save a lot of money. The answer to this question depends entirely on how experienced you are with the task. 

Whether you design the cover yourself or hire a freelancer, you’ll need to think like a marketer when it comes to evaluating your cover design. Here are some things to keep in mind: 

• Use inspiration to inform your decision. Gather together a couple of cover designs from successful books in your genre and evaluate what works best for them. Why is one cover more appealing than another? What does the content of the cover say about your book?
• Think in terms of thumbnails. When customers browse your online store, Amazon, or physical bookstores⁠—your cover art will be significantly reduced in size. Remember that small details of your book cover design might be missed in this context. During the design process, try to remember to view your cover in its thumbnail form to make sure prominent details aren’t missed and that the cover doesn’t look too busy. 
• Make your title legible. An eye-catching cover design could go to waste if readers aren’t able to quickly and easily associate it with your book title. Having the title featured prominently will help readers associate the image with the name of your book and make them more likely to remember it. 
• Keep the spine and back cover in mind. Although the spine and back cover may not be visible in thumbnails, they will be visible in the physical incantation of your book. A lot of readers care about what the spine looks like on their bookshelf. Follow the same aesthetic as your cover, and make sure the design is coherent. 

If you’re looking to hire a designer, you can use freelance services above that you used to hire an editor to also hire a designer: 

Free tools for designing your own cover

If you have design experience and want to try your hand at designing your own cover, here are some free design tools you might consider using: 

At this point, you should have a well-edited manuscript and a strong cover design, but there are still more steps to bringing all those elements together in the creation of a physical product.

4. Choose your self-publishing platform

A self-publishing platform is a tool used to turn all the elements of your book into a physical product and distribute it to buyers and retailers. The self-publishing company you use will affect your distribution channels, so at this point it’s important to start thinking about how you want to sell books online .

Selling in-store with Lulu and Shopify

Lulu is a self-publishing platform that provides tools for printing and distributing your very own books and ebooks. Lulu offers a wide variety of sizes, bindings, and page types that give you a ton of options for developing your manuscript and cover into a physical product. 

What makes Lulu advantageous is the Lulu Direct Shopify app, which easily integrates with your Shopify store. Using the Lulu app on your Shopify store, you can have books printed and shipped at the point of purchase, automating the process of logistics. 

Self-publishing with print on demand

Print on demand is a fulfillment method wherein your books are printed and shipped at the point of sale . This means that you don’t need to print a bunch of copies of your book, hold them as stock, and ship them yourself. 

Print-on-demand books are perfect for self-publishers, because it’s low cost and saves time by letting you outsource the manufacturing and distribution of your products. 

Selling on Amazon using Kindle Direct Publishing

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) is Amazon’s self-publishing platform that allows users to print their books on demand at the point of sale. Readers are used to Amazon’s interface, making it easy for them to navigate and find your book. 

On top of this, Amazon will suggest your book to readers who its algorithm thinks might be interested. Although KDP will directly upload your book to Amazon, you don’t necessarily need to use it to sell printed books. 

How much does it cost to use KDP?

Since KDP uses print-on-demand fulfillment, charges for using KDP are only incurred once you’ve sold a book. Paperbacks sold on Amazon marketplaces using KDP are subject to a 60% royalty rate, meaning you earn 60% of the listed price. 

That being said, printing costs (which can vary based on your paper type and number of pages) are also deducted from your total. Thankfully, Amazon has a printing cost and royalty calculator that will give you an estimate of the total amount in royalties you can expect to receive.

One downside to note about KDP is the exclusivity clause: if you sell ebooks on Amazon using KDP, you won’t be able to sell the same ebooks elsewhere. Physical books sold through KDP can still be sold on other platforms, however. 

Other self-publishing platforms

There are a number of self-publishing companies that allow users to create physical copies of their books and sell them via major retailers. Most have a print-on-demand option for selling on Amazon, but this might not be available for selling in-store. 

If you decide to use a self-publishing platform other than Lulu, you’ll need to have copies of your book printed, stored, and shipped in the traditional fashion, meaning there might be more overhead costs than with a print-on-demand service. 

• Reedsy . On top of being a platform to find freelancers, Reedsy also offers self-publishing services. Its book-formatting tool helps self-published independent authors create professionally designed ebooks and printed book files for free. 
• IngramSpark . IngramSpark offers tools for designing your print books and built-in distribution features to over 40,000 retailers and libraries.
• Blurb . Blurb is a platform that offers a ton of digital software for creating your book layout and selling it through major retailers like Amazon. Blurb’s tools are especially useful for large photo books with more unique page-to-page design. 

5. Format your book

At the formatting stage of self-publishing, you’ll be putting the finishing touches on your product, making sure it has all of the accoutrement of a professionally published book. 

The reason the formatting step comes after the find a self-publisher step is because self-publishing platforms typically have their own built-in layout and formatting features. The tools you use might vary depending on the platform you’re using, but the end product is the same. 

How book formatting works

Self-publishing platforms like KDP require users to upload two distinct files. The first is the manuscript file , which includes all of the interior pages of the book and the second is the cover file , which contains the outside of your book: the front cover, spine, and back cover. 

Formatting your manuscript file

Though your manuscript may be written and edited to perfection, there are still a few formatting choices to make as you begin to prepare it for publication. 

Set your trim and margins

Your trim is the height and width of your pages. Self-publishing platforms typically have a number of page sizes to choose from, but you still need to set margin sizes. 

Front matter

A book’s front matter is all of the pages that come before the start of your manuscript. Books typically have five types of front-matter pages:

• Half-title page: Often the very first page of a published book, the half-title page is a right-facing page that contains the book’s title and nothing else⁠—not even page numbers.
• Title page: Your title page doesn’t include page numbers either, but it does typically contain the author’s name and a subtitle. Publishing companies will also usually include their logo here, but for self-publishers, a logo is optional. 
• Copyright page: Your copyright page should always fall on the first left-facing page on the reverse of the title page, and contains all of the book’s copyright information. If you’re not sure what to include, here’s a handy template from publisher Scribe.
• Dedication page: This falls on the next right-facing page and usually doesn’t include page numbers or headers. Dedication pages should be short, usually one or two sentences. 
• Table of contents pages: Table of contents pages typically list the chapter and section titles of your book, along with the page numbers where they appear. 

Body matter

A book’s body matter contains all the text of your chapters. Body matter pages start with the first chapter on a right-facing page. 

• Chapter title page: Your chapter title page appears at the start of each chapter in your book. Chapter title pages do not include page headers, but they do include page numbers. 
• Body pages: Each page of your book that does not start a chapter will be a body page. Body pages typically include a header: usually if they’re left-side pages, the header will be the author’s name; on the right, the header will be the book title. 

Back matter

Your book’s back matter will include all of the pages that come after the chapters of your book. Here are the back matter pages to include: 

• Bibliography and reference pages : These pages may not be required for fiction books, but non-fiction books typically require attribution pages. 
• Author bio page: Contains a photo of you, the author, alongside a brief biography. 
• Index pages: Non-fiction books that cover a wide range of topics typically include an index page that lists topics in alphabetical order next to the page numbers where these topics are discussed. If you include index pages, they will come last. 

The last element your book will need to have is an International Standard Book Number (ISBN).

What is an ISBN?

An ISBN is a 13-digit code that uniquely identifies each published edition of your book, along with its publisher and physical properties. 

They’re useful because they provide a universal reference number for your book that will work across many different platforms, libraries, and marketplaces. They also act as proof of ownership over the content of your book, so they’re important for self-publishers to have. 

How do I get an ISBN number?

Most self-publishing platforms, including Kindle Direct Publishing , will provide you with a free ISBN number for your book when using their platform to publish. If your self-publishing platform does not, you can acquire a universal ISBN via myidentifiers.com . 

6. Launch your book like a store launches a product

If you want to set yourself up for success, your next task will be to plan a product launch. You may not have the experience of a professional publishing house, but you’ve prepped for marketing by creating a book that has an audience you know inside and out. Our handy ecommerce launch checklist can get you on the right track.

There’s a lot to consider before a book launch. Let’s go over some important steps:

• Make sure your Amazon sales channels work . Amazon is an incredibly important platform for selling books. Whether you sell on Amazon via KDP or are using a different self-publishing platform synced with Amazon, you’ll want to make sure you’re able to accept payments via Amazon. Go through with a test purchase, and let a copy of your book get sent to you as though you’re a customer. 
• Set up an author website with an online checkout . Your book should have a “home base” for all your sales channels and social media content to lead to. It will make it easier for users to find more information about you and help people get in contact with you for interviews and other promotional opportunities.
• Prepare standard pages on your website . Your author website should include a homepage, About Us page, Contact page, and a product page for your book. Additional blog content and books can be added after launching, but you’ll want to have these pages complete before opening your store. 
• Set up a way to capture visitor email addresses . Email marketing is a very powerful tool for building an audience. Use an email marketing app like Shopify Email , Seguno , or Klaviyo to send notification emails and provide visitors with a way to receive updates about you and your books.
• Install an analytics tool . Website analytics can give you valuable insight into visitor behavior and help make improvements to your online store. Use Shopify Analytics or a third-party analytics tool like Google Analytics .

Once your book is formatted and your sales channels are set up, users will be able to purchase your book. Now it’s time to show them how.

7. Market yourself on social media

You’ve written and edited your book. You’ve tested all your sales channels and everything functions seamlessly. You’ve got a great looking website and a great looking book, but how do you find customers?

Social media provides a huge marketing opportunity to small businesses, and self-publishing authors are no exception. Social media offers low-cost access to huge audiences, and having a good social media marketing strategy will help build an engaged audience that can boost book sales and help widen the reach of awareness of your book.

Growing your social media following should be an ongoing process, something you’re doing on a consistent basis alongside writing, editing, and publishing your works. For self-publishing, here are a few good ideas for social media content you might try to promote your book: 

• Share excerpts across social media platforms . Give users a sample of your writing to get them hooked, then direct them to purchase your book to read more. 
• Encourage user reviews on Amazon . User reviews help boost your visibility on Amazon. Encourage early purchasers to leave reviews to help build the visibility of your book. 
• Start a Facebook ad campaign . With Facebook ads , you can reach your ideal customers based on what they like, their interests, and their behaviors. Set aside a Facebook ad budget to help bring awareness of your book to users most likely to purchase. 
• Collaborate with social media influencers . Work with influencers that have a crossover audience with yours to build awareness of your book with an audience that might enjoy it. 
• Reach out to publications and podcasts . The literary world is ripe with online publications and podcasts that cover a wide range of literary genres. Follow publications and podcasts within your niche and see if they’re willing to offer an interview. 
• Write on your blog and share articles on social media . Since you have a website, why not publish blog articles and share them on social media? Audiences that enjoy your writing will be far more likely to purchase your book.

Growing your audience on social media takes some time, but as more and more audience members become familiarized with your work, your online book sales will grow. 

Reach customers everywhere they are with Shopify

Shopify comes with powerful tools that help you promote and sell products on Facebook, Instagram, TikTok, Google, and YouTube from one back office. Make sales on multiple channels and manage everything from Shopify.

8. Start work on your next book

Self-publishing authors must act as both authors and entrepreneurs. In the early stages of a business, with fewer employees and a lower budget, entrepreneurs tend to wear many hats. 

At times, they must act as marketing strategists, social media managers, web designers, product developers, shipping coordinators, customer service representatives, and everything in between. 

For self-published authors, the journey is the same. 

Don’t be discouraged if your first launch doesn’t skyrocket you to the New York Times bestseller list. Few authors, whether self-published or not, reach the height of their success after publishing their first book. 

Continue boosting your social media presence and building your audience. Each interaction on social media will help build up your online profile a little more. With each book you release, you’ll gain a deeper understanding of your audience and become more accustomed to the self-publishing process. Plus, you'll earn passive income along the way.

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How to self-publish a book FAQ

How much does it cost to publish a book.

The cost of publishing a book varies significantly depending on the type of book and the publishing method. Generally, it costs anywhere from $0-$4,000 to publish a book. Self-publishing can cost anywhere from $0-$2,000, while traditional publishing can cost anywhere from $500-$4,000.

Is it worth it to self-publish a book?

It depends on your goals. Self-publishing can be a great way to get your book out into the world, but it can also require a significant investment of time and money. If you are looking to make a profit, self-publishing may not be the best option. If you are looking to get your book out there and reach a wider audience, it may be worth considering.

How much does it cost to self-publish a novel?

The cost of self-publishing a novel depends on a variety of factors, such as the length of the novel, the format in which it will be published, and the services that you choose to use. Generally, the cost can range from around $100 to upwards of $5,000.

Do I need an LLC to self-publish a book?

No, you do not need an LLC to self-publish a book. You may want to consider forming an LLC to protect your assets and limit your liability, but it is not required.

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Guides • Understanding Publishing

Last updated on Feb 15, 2024

How to Self-Publish a Book in 2024 [+ Checklist]

About the author.

Reedsy's editorial team is a diverse group of industry experts devoted to helping authors write and publish beautiful books.

About Dario Villirilli

Editor-in-Chief of the Reedsy blog, Dario is a graduate of Mälardalen University. As a freelance writer, he has written for many esteemed outlets aimed at writers. A traveler at heart, he can be found roaming the world and working from his laptop.

Are you looking to self-publish and join the thousands of authors every year who enjoy complete creative control and a greater portion of royalties? If so, we're here to show you how to get your book out into the world on your terms with the help of a seven-step process and a host of extra resources.

How to self-publish a book in 7 steps:

1. Write a book with market potential

2. edit it to near perfection, 3. get a beautiful book cover, 4. prepare your ebook and print files, 5. list your book on a self-publishing platform, 6. price the book to maximize sales , 7. self-publish and promote the book.

If you want to know how to self-publish a book, it’s likely that you’ve just completed your manuscript or you’re actively working on it.

If your masterpiece is finished, congratulations! That’s an impressive milestone in and of itself. This article will guide you through the next steps to publish your work. 

Meanwhile, for those still in the writing phase, we recommend checking out our post on how to write a book, which will help you validate your book idea and navigate the entire writing process.

While the appeal of self-publishing lies in its limitless creative freedom, this post will assume that you aim to release your book for market success . This implies that in addition to being unique, your manuscript aligns with its book genre and resonates with an existing audience of readers .

Having done your market research and drafted your manuscript, you’re now hoping to take the literary world by storm. But before we get ahead of ourselves, you need to refine and edit your manuscript to ensure it reaches its highest potential.

Seasoned authors will know that editing isn’t just a chore that needs to be tolerated, but also a creatively exciting part of the writing journey. It’s where the raw material of your first draft gets shaped and honed into a book that readers will want to cherish. The way we see it, this process can be broken down into a few stages.

Self-edit your first few drafts

Before anyone else sets eyes on your manuscript, try to write the best book you possibly can. For novelists, that means working through a few drafts to really nail the storyline  and the believability of your character's motivations . For non-fiction writers, it could mean tightening up your chapters and re-evaluating how your central message is conveyed. 

Share your draft with beta readers

Having fresh eyes review your manuscript is also invaluable. Share your work with beta readers to receive constructive feedback and with sensitivity readers to get help with spotting cultural inaccuracies and biases.

Before you share anything with these first readers, you may wish to clear your work of basic grammar mistakes and typos, which you can do using free proofreading tools. You’ll be focusing on the sentence-level edits later on in the process, so there’s no need to lose sleep over dotting every “i” at this point.

🤓 Here are two free courses we offer to help you revise and self-edit your manuscript: Novel Revision: Practical Tips for Rewrites 一 A 10-part course that includes great lessons on working with critique partners and beta readers. How to Self-Edit Your Manuscript Like a Pro 一 Learn how to spot the ten most common writing mistakes .

Let a professional help you cross the finish line

Even your best self-editing efforts might not be enough. Traditionally published books undergo multiple rounds of professional editing before hitting the shelves, and you should aim for the same standard of quality. There are various types of editing to consider, with the most crucial being :

Developmental Editing: This type of editing focuses on addressing overarching issues in your manuscript, such as structure, plot, and character development, ensuring the foundation of your book is solid.

Copy Editing: The editor reviews the text line-by-line to correct grammatical errors and punctuation mistakes and resolve any voice or tone inconsistencies.

Proofreading: The final polish to catch any remaining typos or minor errors, ensuring your manuscript is flawless and print-ready.

Depending on what your book needs the most, consider bringing in the right professional. These days, finding your ideal editor is easier than ever. On the Reedsy Marketplace, you can search for (and request quotes from) professionals with specific experience in your genre.

The cost of editing will depend on the service you choose, your word count, your book’s genre, and the freelancer’s experience. For example, for a 60,000-word book, you can expect to pay between $1,000 and $2,000 for most editing services. Try out our calculator below to determine  how much you’d pay for editing services . 

Pricing calculator

Calculate the average cost of editing services for your genre.

Editorial Assessment

Developmental Editing

Copy Editing

Proofreading

You can search for professional editors over on the Reedsy marketplace .

Okay, your manuscript has been edited, polished, and proofed. Now it’s time to make sure your book looks as good on the outside as it does on the inside.

Polish your book with expert help

The best editors in the industry are on Reedsy. Come meet them.

Learn how Reedsy can help you craft a beautiful book.

The value of a great book cover design cannot be overstated , especially in self-publishing. It’ll be your most-used book marketing asset and a cornerstone of your overall publishing success.

To prove this, we conducted an experiment to evaluate whether professionally designed covers drive more ad clicks. We did the test for seven books across a range of genres, and the results were significant, with some books experiencing over a 60% increase in conversion rates .

If you're a seasoned designer familiar with genre tropes, typography, and visual hierarchy — in addition to being capable of handling technicalities like trim sizes, spine width, and back cover design — then by all means, design your own cover. 

However, if you lack this expertise but still aim for a stunning book cover, you’ll want to work with an experienced designer. Reedsy offers a broad array of professional book cover designers to help bring your vision to life. Based on our internal data, the cost of a book cover typically ranges between $500 and $800 if you’re hiring a skilled professional.

But don’t forget about the interior

While your book cover plays a crucial role in driving sales, whether that be through ads or as a thumbnail used by online retailers, don't overlook the importance of interior design, which encompasses the page layout and text formatting. 

Reedsy has a free book formatting tool with a user-friendly interface that will get your book ready for publication in under an hour. You can simply import your manuscript and effortlessly format headings and paragraphs, insert images and endnotes, create a copyright page, and much more. Read our post on how to format your book with Reedsy’s free publishing app for further info.

For books requiring intricate interior designs, such as photography books or cookbooks, you might consider hiring a designer. On average, this service costs between $250 and $750.

Once you’ve taken care of your book’s outer and inner design, you just need to prepare the files to start selling and distributing it. 

The next step is to prepare the files for printing your book. Each service has slightly different requirements for file upload, but in general, you’ll need an EPUB file for the ebook version and a PDF file for print. For the manuscript, you can get both types of files for free using Reedsy’s writing app. Once you’re happy with how you’ve formatted your book, identify the trim size you need and simply export the files!  

For the cover design, if you’re working with a professional, just let them know what platform you want to use to print the book and they’ll take care of the details. If you’re making the cover on your own, read about the platform requirements for file upload and follow them carefully. 

A word on audiobooks

The audio format has skyrocketed in popularity, and many self-published authors who have invested in audiobooks have reaped the benefits. If you want to take advantage of the audiobook market, check out our guide on how to make an audiobook as an indie author. You’ll also find all the important  details to know about how to create and distribute your audiobook files.

Now that you’ve got the files prepared, it’s time to upload them to your retailer of choice.   

You’ll need to choose a self-publishing platform that offers print-on-demand (POD) and distribution to customers. POD is a type of printing service that will only print and dispatch paperback or hardcover copies after customers buy them. Most self-publishing authors choose it over traditional offset printing because it minimizes the risk of unsold inventory that comes with pre-printing thousands of copies. 

The two largest POD services in the world are Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark . Both let you upload your book and list it on their platforms for free , and they also provide comparable book products at similar printing and shipping costs. They notably offer different royalty schemes and distribution deals that mainly depend on whether you wish to also distribute your book through non-Amazon retailers. 

You can still investigate other POD services to see which one makes more sense for you and your book. Most of them are free, while some, like Bookbaby and Bookvault, have setup fees. For detailed comparisons, check out our post in which we tested and reviewed all the major POD book services .

Mastering Amazon’s KDP

Since many authors rely on Amazon to drive most of their sales, learning how to properly list your book on it is crucial. Read our guide to Amazon Self-Publishing for a deep dive, and consider these quick tips below:

Write a description that sells. Start with a compelling tagline to draw readers in and reveal your book's tone, genre, and some story elements (e.g., “A Village, A Murder, A Keen-eyed Sleuth.”) Or you could feature a notable mention or editorial reviews you've  received (e.g., “An evocative story that will make a lasting impression on readers.” Booklife Reviews). Read our post on how to write an Amazon book description for more tips .

Pick your categories and keywords wisely. In selecting categories for your book, it's wise to choose one broad category (such as Romance) and one more specific niche (like Enemies to Lovers). Regarding choosing keywords, opt for terms not already included in your title and description so that potential readers can discover your work through varied search queries.

Get your own ISBN

At this point, you may be wondering whether you need your own ISBN number, as well as how much it costs. The quick answer is that owning your ISBN allows you to register as your book’s publisher, maintaining publishing rights across various retailers. And if you want to publish more book formats (e.g., ebook, paperback, audiobook), you need multiple barcodes. On Bowker, a single ISBN number costs $125, but you have the option to buy a bundle of 10 barcodes for $295. For more information , read our guide on how to get an ISBN number.

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If Amazon isn’t suitable for you, there are other self-publishing companies that you can lever age to distribute your book to readers around the world, like Apple Books, Kobo, and Google Play , or aggregators like Draft2Digital. You’ll have to find the one that most aligns with your values and goals before deciding on your book’s price strategy. 

📚 Read The Complete Guide to Ebook Distribution : it contains everything you need to know about selling your digital book , including sections about going "exclusive" with Amazon, alternative retailers like Kobo and Barnes & Noble, and instructions on setting your book up on retailers.

Setting your book price is a delicate balance. If you price it too high, you will profit more with every copy sold, but you may sell far fewer copies. Similarly, underpricing a  book may sell more units but leave you with less money at the end of each month. So how should you price your work?

Research your market

The first prerequisite to setting your book’s price is to know your market inside out. What is considered a “normal” price for a book like yours? You can find that out by perusing the bestseller lists in your genre and looking at their prices. 

Ricardo Fayet, author of How to Market Your Book , points out that for many years, traditional publishers have been voluntarily overpricing ebooks in an effort to protect their print sales.

"You can’t really trust the prices of famous, traditionally published ebooks in your genre. Instead, look for high-selling titles from independent authors in your genre, and use those as a benchmark."

Lower your price to build your fanbase

As part of your grander strategy, Ricardo also mentions that price can be a great tool to entice readers to take a chance on your book. “While you can certainly mimic the prices of the most famous indie authors in your category, it can also be a good idea to price your books a tad lower as a start, just to start building that fanbase.”

Once you have an established readership, they’ll have no problem paying more to get your future releases. And once you have multiple books in your back catalog, your pricing tactics can get more sophisticated.

For a series, adopt a staircase pricing strategy 

The most successful self-published authors are usually the ones who write a series of books . One of the reasons for this is that it only requires the author to heavily market the first book in the series. If the reader likes that first book, they will be inclined to buy the next book (and perhaps even pay more for it).

With a series, Ricardo suggests starting with a free (or heavily discounted) ebook and then progressively raising the prices as readers get deeper into the series.

"For example, you could offer book one for $0.99, book two for $2.99, book three for $3.99, and the rest of the books in the series for $5.99. Once a reader is heavily invested in your series — and absolutely needs to know what happens next — pricing is not as big a factor in their purchasing decision."

To learn more about using price promotions to boost your sales and ensure your publication is priced correctly in all countries, check out Reedsy’s free course on pricing books for an international audience .

Now that you’ve exported the finished product, uploaded your book to your retailer of choice, and selected a price, all that's left is to pull the trigger and... congratulations, you’ve published your book ! 

However, if you want to give your book the best chance to thrive on Amazon and other platforms, you’ll need a proper book launch. A lot hinges on a book’s first few weeks on the market 一 your title must accumulate a healthy dose of book sales and reviews right away.

Note that, while this is a post-publication step, it's important that you create an effective and timely book publicity plan weeks in advance. It takes some to plan PR activities like reviews, interviews, live readings, and podcast appearances . With that in mind, keep on reading for a few key steps to consider. 

Get book reviews

One of the key elements of sales is gathering social proof 一 people who read your book and (hopefully) give it a positive review. There are several ways to get book reviews . You could ask book bloggers to review your work, send ARC copies to your friends, followers, and other potential readers, or pay $50 for a high-quality review on sites like Reedsy Discovery. 

For advanced tips on how to get reviews on your Amazon’s book page before your launch day, read our post on how to promote your book.    

Create an author media kit

Another important piece of the marketing puzzle is creating an author media kit. This kit should include  things like your author bio , book pitch, a tip sheet (like a sample Q&A for interviews and author events), and other promotional information. You can make the kit a standalone PDF, an online folder with various resources, or a dedicated page on your author website — choose whatever method makes it easiest for you to share your content with media outlets. For more guidance, read our post on building a rocking author media kit .

Keep marketing your book

There are many other marketing strategies you can implement, from learning how to make the most of your social channels to running Amazon ads and more. We’ve collected over 70 book marketing ideas in another post in case you want to go deeper . 

If marketing isn't your forte or you're short on time, consider hiring a book marketer. They specialize in optimizing your book's metadata and product pages, setting up and teaching you how to manage ad campaigns, and building your mailing list. While a comprehensive marketing strategy costs around $1,100 on average, you can drastically reduce costs by opting for specific services (e.g., only counseling on advertising).

If you’ve followed all the steps in this post, congratulations! Not only have you finally published your book you worked so hard on, but you've also given it the best chance to succeed.

There are many success stories of self-publishing authors making bank with their stories, and thanks to higher royalty rates, indie authors can potentially earn up to five times more than writers who go the traditional publishing route. If you're interested in learning more, read our post on what authors can expect to earn for a closer look at the numbers of self-publishing.

In the next part of this guide, we'll show you the benefits (and potential drawbacks) of self-publishing. Be sure to read on!

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