Two Main Types of Cost in Book Publishing

Regardless of how your book is packaged, there are two main types of fees in book publishing.  No matter what company you decide to go with, someone will have to cover these two main expenses.  In this day and with this type of economy, it is pretty standard now for the publisher to ask for these two costs either upfront or through the duration of the manufacturing of the book. In our case, we offer no-interest payments to help the author by spreading out the expenses over time.

Here are the two main costs in book publications:

1. Manufacturing Cost:
(This includes graphic design, ISBN, barcode, edit, proofreading, typesetting, formatting, layout, template set up, review, back cover writings, logos, page numbers, manual labor, and much more.)

The manufacturing cost is the exact price it takes to create (manufacture) your book from the ground up.  This can only be determined by the publisher reviewing the book.  Every book is different, and no two authors are the same. Because of this, each book is packaged in its own unique way. One book may need a lot of graphic work and major editing. Another might need more work in layout or formatting. In many cases, the book will need a complete overhaul.  When the author submits the completed manuscript to a publisher, it is just the beginning of the manufacturing process.  What was presented to the publisher at the beginning is normally completely different than what it looks like at the final manufacturing phase.  I like to tell authors that creating a book is just like building a home. It is very detailed, and to be done right can take almost as long.

The manufacturing cost also involves paying various fees and workers. In any manufacturing situation there is always the cost of technology and paying people. These funds have to come from somewhere, and it is normally from the author.  This is the most expensive part of making a book, and is the one phase that the author should not allow any corners to be cut in. A solid edit (which is costly) and a brilliant cover design will propel the book project to a whole new level.

2. Printing Cost:
(This includes setup fees, paper cost-depending on size and grade of paper, ink, digital template setup, machine overhead expenses, manual labor to print, distribution set up, and shipping.)  

This cost is often set by fewer items and is normally the lesser of the two expenses, depending on how many books the author is wanting. Again, people are also involved here that work full time and for a living. They too have to pay bills, feed their families, and live. I tell people that even if a blank piece of paper is moved in the printing industry from one location to the next, someone has to get paid and therefore someone has to get charged. This is the truth. 

Here, the author picks the amount of books to be printed and where the books will be shipped to. This is what makes all the difference. Printing 100,000 books that are shipped to China will cost much more than printing 10,000 books and shipping within the USA. There are a few other factors that play a role in cost here. One is whether the inside of the book will have color paper or color images compared to black and white. When one picks color for any aspect of the inside, even if it is one color picture on the inside, the price goes up per book. Another factor in the printing price is how many pages the book has. If the book is 150 pages, it will be far less than a book that has over 400 pages. Last but not least, the page size and layout of the actual book impacts the price per unit. Standard adult books are normally in a 6x9 format or a 5.5X8.5. We prefer the 6x9 for books in the USA. If the author chooses to go a margin book size of 8.5 x 11, then the cost immediately increases. 

When the book is done, then shipping fees are taken into consideration. The weight of the book and quantity of books ordered will determine the shipping price. 

Keep all this in mind as you prepare for your next step in the publishing process. If you have any questions, feel free to email me directly at andy@5foldmedia.com.