Do you dream of seeing your book on the bookshelf but don’t want to go through a never-ending traditional publishing process?
Self-publishing is the best choice for you. It is also suitable for authors who want complete creative control over their cover design, printing, and marketing processes.
Yet, the financial aspect might stop you from self-publishing a book in Ireland if you’re unaware of average expenses. If you want to know how much it costs, then you’re at the right place. This blog covers all the necessary information to show you how much you will invest.
A Detailed Overview of How Much Does It Costs to Self-Publish a Book in Ireland
- Professional Editor and Proofreader
Your manuscript won’t leave a good impression if it contains many minor mistakes. If you want it to become a bestseller, make it flawless in every aspect. As you have written the manuscript, identifying all mistakes is challenging. Therefore, collaborate with a professional proofreader and editor.
The cost may vary depending on whether you hire a recognised agency or freelancer. Nonetheless, structural editing per 1,000 words costs €13 to €30, while proofreading is available at €6 to €15 for the same length. Heavy copyediting may cost between €44.60 and €55.30 per 1,000 words. The manuscript’s genre, project complexity, and turnaround duration would impact the final charges.
- A Skilled Cover Designer
A book cover design usually consists of two parts: Interior and exterior. The interior includes typographic style, font size, line spacing, page numbers, chapter titles, illustrations, etc. If you want to save expenses and possess decent artistic skills, you can make your cover design stand out.
Canva tools or design tools featured on self-publishing platforms will come in handy. Otherwise, let a suitably skilled cover designer design your book’s cover. Their rates may vary from a few hundred to a thousand and more. The project’s requirements, designer’s expertise, and customisation level will determine the final charges. However, top-notch book cover design services will charge you around €400 to €600. The best part of hiring a reputable agency is their reliability and satisfying customer experience. You can request changes as many times as required without paying extra.
- The Self-Publishing Platform
As an indie author, you can choose one or more self-publishing platforms to publish your manuscript. Top-rated ones are:
• Amazon KDP
• Apple Books
• Draft2digital, LLC
• Blurb
• Lulu
• Smashwords
• Barnes and Noble Press
• Kobo
• Google Play Books
• Barnes and Noble
Each self-publishing platform may come with different features. You should visit each one. Explore their pros and cons to determine the ones that suit your vision the most. Most don’t charge anything but would take a certain percentage of your royalties. Kindle Direct Publishing takes around 30 to 40% royalties, while Smashwords and Google Play Books take 30% royalties.
Launching your work on self-publishing platforms is not as easy as it may sound. The process involves various intricacies, and taking care of everything with less information is risky. Therefore, you should collaborate with expert Irish book publishers to successfully publish your work.
- Printing Costs
Launching an eBook isn’t enough if you want to target a broader audience. You should also publish the printed version of your manuscript to make maximum sales. The final charges will depend on the printing and material quality, number of pages, and type of cover. Whether you want your publication in black and white or colourful will also impact the pricing.
Another factor is the imagery or other visual elements within your work. Nonetheless, hire a trusted book printing service that offers no minimum quantity, affordable prices, and many freebies. This will give you the best-quality printed copies without breaking the bank. On average, it will cost you around €4.96 to €7.89 per book with 200 pages.
- Shipping Charges
If you provide the printed version of your manuscript, you will also have to bear the shipping costs. The shipping method you choose will impact your overall expenses. Some Irish indie authors collaborate with printing services for the shipping as well. They book a package that covers the expenses of both assistance, which lets them pay less.
In this case, the impacting factors are the weight of the publication, the type of service, and the destination. One cost-effective strategy is to choose a paperback instead of a hardcover to reduce your expenses. You can also offer discounted shipping to your readership. However, self-publishing platforms will calculate your printing and shipping charges and deduct them from your royalties. - Marketing and Promotion
While free marketing tactics to promote your book are effective, they’re not enough. You need paid promotional strategies to create a buzz around your work. Whether you market your manuscript or let professional marketers handle the job, the charges are decent.
Many esteemed Ireland book publishers offer marketing services as well. They usually offer a package that contains a variety of different effective advertising strategies. Usually, they start at €799 and go up high to €2,000. If you consider content marketing and email marketing separately, they would be more expensive.
- An Audiobook (Optional)
If you want to amplify your book sales, then eBook and printed copies are insufficient. You should also launch the audio version of your manuscript. It will attract readers who prefer to listen to publications instead of reading.
However, the production procedure is complex and tiring. Therefore, we recommend that you partner with an all-in-one book publishing agency that offers top-notch, economical audiobook services.
They usually have a team of talented voiceover artists, autotuners, and editors. They collaborate to deliver a mesmerising audiobook at a budget-friendly price. The expenses will fluctuate from a few hundred euros up to thousands depending on numerous factors.
• What are the average charges to self-publish a book in Ireland?
Publishing a novel or history book of around 80,000 words may cost between €750 and €1,160. Nonetheless, different factors might influence the exact pricing, such as proofreading, cover design, printing, publishing, and marketing.
• Can I self-publish my book for free?
Self-publishing platforms let you publish your work for free, regardless of whether it is an eBook, paperback, or hardcover. However, they will deduct a certain number from your royalties for publishing, printing, and shipping expenses. The percentage would vary from 30% to 45%.
• Does Amazon pay If I publish my books?
Once you meet their payment threshold, you will receive the payment every 60 days after the end of the month. Direct deposit payments may take 1 to 5 business days to show up in your bank account.
Final Takeaway
After reading this blog, you will hopefully understand the average charges you will bear at every stage. You will have realised that self-publishing a book in Ireland is not as easy as it may sound. The process consists of many steps, and each one costs a decent amount.
As an indie author, you will have to pay a significant amount if you don’t want to compromise on the quality. Collaborate with a cost-effective book publishing service that offers affordable packages. Thus, it is a great way to reduce expenses and publish your manuscript successfully.