“Writing and publishing my book, Bottom Line Focus, with Mike Dowling has turned out to be a great investment. One of the executives I gave a copy to bought ten more. A few weeks later, he asked me to do a seminar, for which I was paid $3,000. As a result of the seminar, I received a consulting contract for $20,000. So, less than six months after publication, my book already has more than paid for itself!”

– Marty Harshberger, Principal

Measurable Results LLC

Saltillo, MS

"When I asked you to help me write Healing a Hospital, I viewed the book strictly as an expensive brochure to give away to promote my coaching services. Well, the promotion part certainly happened. The book has brought in new business and increased my speaking invitations beyond my wildest expectations.

"But something else happened that I didn't expect. People began to buy my book, sometimes in quantity. Within the first three months of its publication, proceeds from book sales had more than paid for the entire writing and publishing process. Instead of a somewhat effective brochure that would have cost me money, I actually had a highly effective sales tool that became an additional revenue stream."

— David Herdlinger, Co-Founder
Kashbox Coaching
St. Simons Island, GA
 

Cost Estimates for Writing and
Self-Publishing a Book

Ghostwriting Services

Fees for ghostwriting servics typically range from $15,000 to $25,000, depending upon the length of the book, the amount of research needed, and other factors.

For a book of up to 25,000 words in length (typically 125–175 pages, depending on the interior layout), my standard writing and project-coordination fee is $16,500.

This fee covers the following services:

  • Working with you to clarify your goals for your book
  • Helping you identify your target audience to ensure that your book appeals to their interests and meet their needs
  • Brainstorming your book's title and subtitle
  • Creating a conceptual approach for your book to ensure that it gets noticed and gets results
  • Ensuring that the content of your book is logically organized, clearly focused, and comprehensively presented
  • Writing an introduction (preface) for your book that captures the essence of what your book's about and why people should read it
  • Writing draft chapters for you to review, working from any written documents you provide and from personal telephone interviews, always with the goal of conserving your time
  • Refining draft content, so your final manuscript presents your thoughts in your voice
  • Writing the dedication, appendices, biographical information, cover copy, and other supportive content for your book 
  • Offering publication and marketing advice when helpful
  • Helping you find the resources you need to successfully publish, market, and distribute your book.

A $4,000 non-refundable retainer starts the process. The remaining amount is due in monthly installments of $2,500. If you discontinue the project at any time, no additional fees will be due.

Most of my clients find that their books fit within this 25,000-word framework. If the scope of your project exceeds 25,000 words, the fee is simply increased by $600 for each additional 1,000 words. This arrangement provides you with flexibility to increase the length of your book without altering the ghostwriting agreement.

Appendices, website copy, white papers, articles, and other documents completed in conjunction with the book will be considered to be part of the book for the purpose of calculating fees.

Publishing Assistance

I am happy to assit you in evaluating publishing options. If you wish to submit your manuscript to a traditional publisher, I will write your query letter for a fee of $950. If you plan to self-publish your book, I will help you find the best self-publisher for your needs.

If you plan to distribute the majority of your books personally and on-line, you might consider self-publishing through my own company, Wool Street Publishing. I will arrange for you to purchase books dirently from the printer with no markup, so you get the lowest per-copy prices.

A fee of $850 covers the following coordination services:

 

Wool Street Publishing Package

  • Coordination of custom cover design

We will arrange for the design of your book's cover, with your input and approval. The designer will invoice you directly, without any markup for our services. Custom cover designs typically cost $1,000 to $2,000.

  • Coordination of interior layout (typesetting)

We will coordinate the interior layout for you and arrange for you to pay th typesetter directly, without any markup for my services. The cost of interior layout generally ranges from $1,000 to $2,000.

  • Coordination of printing

We will secure quotes from reliable, professional printers and help you chose the one that's best for you. The printer will bill you directly, without any markup added for our coordination services. Because you'll have a direct relationship with your printer, you'll be able to order additional copies of your book at any time at the printer's price.

Printing costs vary according to the size of the book and the length of the print run. The per-copy price decreases as the print quantity increases.

Printing 500 copies of a soft-cover book of 150 pages costs approximately $1,000 ($2.00 per book). Printing 300 copies costs about $800 ($2.50 per book). Naturally, hard cover books cost more.

Very small quantities can be printed rather economically using print-on-demand (POD) services.

  • ISBN & bar code

We will provide these for you.

  • Copyright registration

Your book is automatically copyright-protected as soon as you write it, but copyright registration provides an additional level of protection. As part of my self-publishing package, we will register your book with the U.S. Copyright Office.

  • Books in Print listing

Bowker's Advance Book Information (ABI) service ensures that your book will be listed with Books in Print and several other directories. This is advisable for authors seeking wide distribution. If you desire, we will provide this service for you.

  • Library of Congress filing

If you plan to sell your book to libraries, you will need a Preassigned Control Number (PCN) from the Library of Congress. If you need a PCN, we will handle this for you.

  • Amazon.com listing

If you desire, I will submit your book to the Amazon Advantage program. This service includes writing the promotional copy and fulfilling the first order for Amazon's inventory.

We will be glad to fulfill future orders from Amazon.com, or from your other customers, for our normal rate of $9.00 for the first book and $1.50 for each additional book in the same shipment.

  • Marketing assistance

To help you gain maximum return from your self-publishing investment, We will provide marketing advice as seems helpful and appropriate. If you desire, we will also recommend marketing consultants and other resources to help you increase the success of your marketing efforts.

Professional Proofreading

As your ghostwriter, I'll do my best to make sure your book is free from grammatical errors. However, it is advisable to have an experienced proofreader look over your final manuscript with a fresh pair of eyes before your book goes to press. The cost of this service will vary depending on the size of your book, but it's typically in the $200 to $400 range.

Distribution Services

Wool Street Publishing can arrange for distribution of your book to bookstores and other outlets, if desired. Inquire about details.

Summary of Estimated Writing and Publishing Costs

Below is a typical budget for writing and self-publishing a 25,000-word book:

Ghostwriting services $16,500
Cover design 1,250
Interior layout 1,250
Self-publishing package 850
Professional proofreading 250
Printing (500 copies) 1,100
Total $21,200

 

Marketing

Be sure to budget additional funds for marketing to ensure that you gain maximum benefit from your book. We will gladly refer you to a marketing consultatnt who can help you use your book as the centerpiece of a reinvigorated marketing campaign.

Although your marketing program should be tailored to meet your specific needs, it might want to consider including such initiatives as upgrading your website, stepping up your social media campaign, and submitting articles derived from your book to off-line and on-line publications.

 

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