Determine your potential earnings per book and total monthly profit based on your list price, printing costs, and distribution choices.
Royalty per Book:
$-4.5
Total Monthly Earnings:
$-450
Amazon calculates paperback royalties based on a fixed percentage of your list price, minus the cost of printing. This ensures that printing expenses are covered before you receive your earnings.
Royalty = (List Price × Royalty Rate) - Print Cost
Let's look at a scenario for a standard paperback sold on Amazon.com with the following details: List Price: $15.99, Royalty Rate: 60%, and Print Cost: $4.85.
What determines my print cost?
Print costs are primarily determined by the page count, ink type (Black vs. Color), and the specific Amazon marketplace where the book is purchased.
Why is Expanded Distribution only 40%?
Expanded Distribution allows other retailers to purchase and sell your book. The lower rate accounts for the additional fees and discounts required by these third-party distributors.
Are Kindle E-book royalties different?
Yes. E-books typically offer a 35% or 70% royalty rate, and they do not have printing costs (though they may have small delivery fees based on file size).
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