The mistake that many authors make is that they think writing a book is the most time-consuming and in many ways costly part of producing a book, but what will it really cost to publish it? If you’re assuming a traditional deal means zero expenses, or that hybrid publishing will save you time and money, you may be in for an expensive surprise.
In our latest episode of Pros Talking Prose, Troy Lambert and I dive deep into the price tags behind the three major publishing paths—traditional, hybrid, and self-publishing—and reveal the truth about hidden costs, time delays, and royalties that many authors don’t learn until it’s too late.
Traditional Publishing: Not As Free As You Think
While traditional publishers don’t charge upfront fees, authors still invest significantly in editing, platform building, and even legal help for contracts. Time is a major cost too—some authors are shelved for years with no guarantee of release. Royalties? You’re often looking at 5–15%, and that’s after your agent takes a cut.
Be prepared for some upfront costs when pitching your book to agents and publishers. One significant cost is the professional costs associated with preparing a valuable book proposal. It’s not wise to just throw something together. Several strategies and methods are employed here. Just guessing or Googling “how to write a book proposal” and throwing it together is no better than being your own attorney. Even attorneys hire attorneys. So, put in some real investments of time and money to hire professionals to help you prepare your manuscript and proposal; it will only increase your chances of a publishing deal.
Hybrid Publishing: The Double Dip
Many authors are drawn to hybrid publishers for convenience, but this model often combines the worst of both worlds: high upfront costs (ranging from $5,000 to over $30,000) and ongoing royalty shares (typically 30–50%). What’s worse? You often get a cookie-cutter service with minimal access to metadata, limited creative control, and poorly optimized marketing that’s basically a DIY homework list.
What you really should understand about hybrid publishers is that they are doing work you could do yourself, if you had a guide or map to help you, which is what we do here at Print to Pro. However, if you are looking for someone to do the work for you, then by all means, go that route. Just understand that it comes with a high price tag, and it still limits your understanding and control. I guess my warning is, don’t be lazy. Even in this option, you would be wise to know what the heck you are doing so you aren’t taken for a ride. There are some very good hybrid companies out there that do a great job, and if you want help vetting those, please reach out. While there are some amazing companies out there that do a good job, I have also encountered a TON of hybrid companies that are the complete opposite. So be careful. Choosing the wrong company to help you, or avoiding work that you should do, can cost you way more than money.
Self-Publishing: DIY with a Price
Self-publishing gives you total control, but it also puts you in charge of everything. Editing (developmental, line, and proofreading) can cost from $1,000 to $5,000, depending on word count and quality. Cover design and formatting might add another $300 to $1,000. ISBNs, audiobook production, and website hosting? All on you.
That said, smart budgeting and hiring the right professionals can give you more for less, and still maintain full rights and higher royalties.
Real Talk on Editing Costs:
As an editor, I want to caution you about hiring editors for the wrong reasons or the wrong services. Be sure you are ready to have an editor. You can read “Do These 3 Things BEFORE You Hire an Editor” to make sure you are ready. Also do all the self editing you can before you hire a professional to prevent wasting money and time on your project. You can download my FREE “Self Editing Checklist” Here.
The cost to edit varies based on the experience and skill level of an editor. Also their availability will play a role as well.
Don’t discount the power of a human editor. They are still essential even in today’s age of AI. I am not saying that because I am an editor. I am saying that because I read, and if you do too, you can see what I mean when people solely employ AI to do their work. It sanitizes writing and removes heart, emotion, and the occasional expletive that we all secretly love to see and hear. Frankly, AI is not capable of providing human connections, and that is way more valuable than money.
The following are averages. You can learn more by referring to the Editorial Freelance Association’s rate chart.
Developmental edits: $0.03–$0.05 per word
Copyedits: $0.02–$0.03 per word
Proofreading: $0.01–$0.015 per word
Formatting: $50–$300
Cover Design: $300–$1,000+
The Hidden Costs No One Tells You About
There are some other costs associated with publishing that I can’t just apply to everyone’s journey because they really depend on you, your project goals, your needs, your personality, and your budget. But keep in mind that publishing a book is NOT a get-rich thing, and it is a LONG game. I haven’t met an author yet who says that this is an easy business. If you want to work less and make more, there are many better businesses to get involved in.
The following list includes just a few other variables to consider in your publishing journey.
- Agents take 15%—and you need one to land a bigger trad deal
- Some hybrids own your ISBN and metadata
- Marketing “packages” rarely include ad spend or strategy
- Time lost in the process = money lost
What Should You Do?
So the rule of thumb here is to know your project goals. Budget accordingly. Ask questions. Vet every company you hire. I’m not here to scare you. Instead, I’m here to prepare you, and I’ve got your back. There is a good reason that I am in this business, and it’s because I know how it feels to feel silenced. There are many stories that wouldn’t be given a chance to be told or heard if they didn’t have someone like me to help them get those out there. Stories shape our human experience and make us better people. There is too much information for one person to experience or learn in this life. Ultimately, the only way to really broaden our perspectives and really LIVE is to read others’ experiences. My job is to help authors share their stories.
I have created a free publishing budget worksheet inside an Author Business Starter Kit, and you can get that below. I also offer a FREE 30-minute (3-lesson) class on the publishing options that are available to you and identifying which one is best for you and your project. That’s called Paper Trail and you can also access that below as well.
👉 Grab our free Publishing Budget Worksheet
👉 Learn which path is right for your goals in our free Paper Trail class
If you want to watch the podcast episode of Pros Talking Prose, where Troy Lambert and I talk more about this topic, and maybe say some out-of-pocket things, you can subscribe on your favorite podcast platforms, or you can watch us on YouTube. We would love to see you there. Stay smart. Stay empowered. And keep writing.
