What a first book actually costs, at three levels of investment. Prices checked September 2026 and quoted in US dollars.
Not every line applies to every book. Audiobook production and a custom cover are the two that most often turn a manageable budget into an unmanageable one — decide about both before you commit to anything else.
| Service | Low | Mid | High |
|---|---|---|---|
| Copy editing | $500 | $800 | $1,200 |
| Proofreading | $300 | $500 | $800 |
| Cover design — premade | $100 | $200 | $300 |
| Cover design — custom | $300 | $500 | $800 |
| Formatting — DIY tools | $0 | $147 | $250 |
| Formatting — professional | $200 | $350 | $500 |
| ISBNs — 10-pack (US, Bowker) | $295 | $295 | $295 |
| Copyright registration (US) | $65 | $65 | $65 |
| Audiobook production | $500 | $3,000 | $8,000 |
| Marketing and ads | $0 | $500 | $2,000 |
My budget
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Production
Business setup
Optional
Totals
Can I lose this money without it affecting my life?
Revenue Projection
Project conservatively. The purpose of this is to find out how long break-even realistically takes, not to produce a number that makes the budget feel justified.
Revenue projection
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Month 1
Month 3
Month 6
Month 12
Did I reach break-even?
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Publishing Course