How Much Does It Cost to Publish a Children's Book?

The cost to publish a children's book can be as little as $300. More realistically, you can expect to pay at least $1,500, but fees can climb north of $5,000.

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Costs associated with publishing a children's book fluctuate based on various factors. Some authors take on multiple tasks themselves, driving down costs, while others hire professionals for each step, which can lead to significantly higher expenses.

Breaking Down the Cost to Publish a Children's Book

For authors without a publishing contract, all forthcoming costs rest on their shoulders.

Writing and Editing Costs

Writer fees can vary from $15 to more than $150 per hour. Engaging an editor may cost between $300 and $600. Are these fees justified? Yes, particularly in the children's book genre, where expert writers and editors know how to create engaging content that captures a child's imagination.

Illustration Costs

Illustration services can range from $50 to $300 when sourced through platforms like Fiverr, Upwork, or Guru. Seasoned freelancers usually command higher rates. Renowned illustrators, such as Laura Watson or Nate Fakes, can set you back multiple thousands, often with lengthy waiting lists.

Book Layout and Design Costs

A children's book requires an engaging layout to maintain a child's attention. Freelance designers could charge as little as $20 up to $100 for their services.

Professional layout designers may charge $400 on the lower end to over $1,000 for comprehensive work. It's crucial to verify that the designer uses suitable software, including Photoshop, InDesign, or Illustrator.

Printing and Production Costs

The printing cost for a children’s book varies widely. For example, publishing via Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) incurs no upfront costs, although Amazon deducts printing expenses from your revenues for each physical copy sold.

Hiring a printer for a 24-page full-color picture book typically incurs costs between $5 and $12 per copy. Additional page counts, custom sizes, and other specifications can escalate the overall price. The average cost of children’s books is between $8 and $10, suggesting that more affordable production methods will boost profits.

Substantial bulk discounts are usually available when ordering larger quantities. Offset printing requires a minimum order of 500 but offers greater savings. Larger orders also reduce shipping expenses; however, you're responsible for delivering the books to customers.

If you choose print-on-demand services, anticipate approximately $5 shipping costs per order.

Marketing and Promotion Costs

To effectively promote your book, establish a robust online presence as well as actively engage with potential readers on social media platforms. Consider purchasing social media-targeted advertisements, which can be as inexpensive as a few dollars each.

Promotional opportunities like BookBub may range from $122 to $898 and prove to be an effective advertising strategy. Amazon ads can significantly boost sales, although they often require considerable time before yielding results. It is quite simple to expend $100 or more before witnessing any positive impact on sales.

Additionally, book bloggers can help spread the word. Paying them may run from $40 for a review to around $350 for more comprehensive services. For professional reviews, services such as Kirkus Reviews start at $350, while BookLife charges $399.

When planning in-person appearances and book events, don't forget to include travel expenses and the cost of promotional materials such as signs, which can run you from $50 to $100.

Distribution Costs

Through Amazon KDP, authors earn a 60% royalty on standard distribution and 40% on expanded distribution. It’s also wise to try to get your book into libraries by contacting acquisition librarians about their policies.

Wholesalers can assist in distributing your books to retail outlets, but they often require a significant percentage of the profits, sometimes 50% or more. Given the average pricing of children's books, careful thought is necessary to determine whether working with a wholesaler benefits your overall strategy.

Miscellaneous Costs

To sell your books, you'll need to secure international standard book numbers (ISBNs). The cost for one ISBN is $125 via Bowker, but buying a set of 10 costs $295. Due to the requirement for a separate ISBN for each book format (hardback, softback, audiobook, and e-book), purchasing in bulk proves advantageous.

Additionally, a copyright registration application costs $65. Always keep additional funds available to manage unforeseen expenses, such as shipping returns, storing books, or financing audiobook narration.

Traditional Publishing Costs vs. Self-Publishing Children's Book Costs

When publishing a children's book through a traditional publishing house, authors incur virtually no out-of-pocket expenses. However, these benefits don't come without sacrifices: royalties are often lower, and authors may have diminished creative control due to a publisher's requirements.

The costs of self-publishing a children's book can vary widely, ranging from a few hundred to several thousand dollars, but self-published authors typically enjoy greater creative autonomy.

What’s the Cheapest Way to Publish a Children's Book?

Self-publishing on platforms like Amazon KDP is free, but their royalty structures mirror those of established publishing houses.

To guarantee a high-quality book affordably, hiring an experienced printer like Print Bind Ship is ideal. With expertise in assisting authors to manifest their books, our print-on-demand services ensure swift delivery of freshly printed books globally and facilitate easy connections to authors' e-commerce sites for seamless sales and returns.

See Your Children’s Book Become Reality with Print Bind Ship

For an unparalleled customer experience, leverage Print Bind Ship's Mail Genius service, which offers excellent unboxing experiences coupled with kitting services that include custom notecards, special offers, and attractive giveaways. You can also include handwritten notes for a personal touch. Reach out to Print Bind Ship and get started today.

FAQ

Illustrators can be found for as little as $50 to $300 through freelance sites such as Fiverr, or may cost several thousand dollars for established artists.

Depending on the quality and the amount of work you do yourself, the self-published children's book cost can range from $300 to $5,000.

Publishing is free, but Amazon will take a percentage off every sale through their royalty fees.