Start A Self Publisher Business - Business Ideas

Updated: September 15th, 2022
Start A Self Publisher Business

Please note that the data provided in this article are estimates and may vary depending on various factors, and should not be considered as perfect or definitive.

A self-publishing business helps authors self-publish books through technology, services, education, and other means. Self-publishing businesses fall into three classifications: publishing platforms, author services, and self-publishing education companies.

To start a self-publishing business, you must file a “Doing Business As” (DBA) or form a limited liability company.

Self-publishing business is not a new phenomenon. The business dates back to the 18th century, and today it is increasingly becoming the first choice for writers.

Starting a self-publisher business requires a great deal of effort, dedication, and most importantly passion.

If you're interested in how to sell self-publishing services, or selling self-publishing services online, you can use this page as a guide for everything you'll need to know.

Key Stats

market size
$87.9B
starting costs
$11.7K
gross margin
90%
time to build
210 days
growth
Organic social media
business model
Subscriptions
time investment
Full time

Startup Costs

Min Startup Costs Max Startup Costs

Office Space Expenses

$0

$7,000

Employee & Freelancer Expenses

$150

$250

Website Costs

$223

$7,015

Business Formation Fees

$600

$4,700

Software Expenses

$162

$2,894

Advertising & Marketing Costs

$0

$1,400

Total Startup Costs

$1,135

$23,259

Successful Businesses

Business URL Rank

Publishing services for self publishing authors and businesses

authorimprints.com

61,523

Kindle Nation Daily

kindlenationdaily.com

150,342

General Atomics

ga.com

235,195

DiggyPOD

diggypod.com

380,307

Mill City Press

millcitypress.net

480,324

Happy Self-Publisher

happyselfpublisher.com

584,011

Publishing Xpress

publishingxpress.com

754,034

Jera Publishing

self-pub.net

1,479,520

Liberty Hill Publishing

libertyhillpublishing.com

1,650,619

Merrative

merrative.com

2,332,864

Home

accntex.com

2,537,862

Pros & Cons

Pros Description

Flexibility

You can put as much time into the business as you'd like. If you like the work and have some initial experience, you can start small and manage all aspects of the business on your own.

Ability to start your business from home

It's not necessary to have a physical storefront or office space to get your business started. You can do everything from the comfort of your own home, at least in the beginning!

Little startup costs required

The cost to start a self-publisher business costs significantly less money than most businesses, ranging anywhere from 62 to 23,259.

Rewarding work

Starting a self-publisher business can be really rewarding work. After all, you are solving an immediate issue for your customer and you're working on something you truly care about.

Scalable

With businesses and processes changing daily, there will always be demand for new features, products and services for your business. Additionally, there are several different business models and pricing tiers you can implement that will allow you to reach all types of customers.

No overhead costs

To get your self-publisher business started, there are no costs associated with overhead, storage, packaging, etc. This will save you a lot of time and money!

Cons Description

Crowded Space

Competition is high when it comes to your self-publisher business, so it's important that you spend a good amount of time analyzing the market and understanding where the demand lies.

Longer Sales Process

A self-publisher business can be a big time and money investment for your customer, so it's important you plan and predict a longer conversion funnel and stay in communication with potential customers.

Work can be inconsistent

As a self-publisher business, the amount of work assigned to you and schedule tends to be more inconsistent, which may make your income less stable. It's important to set boundaries and budget accordingly based on the amount of work you plan to have.

Lack of benefits

With a self-publisher business, you are typically self-employed and responsible for finding your own insurance, which can be quite costly and time-consuming.

Isolation

Often times, as a self-publisher business, you typically work alone and do not have much face-to-face interaction with other team members.

Taxes

As a self-publisher business, you typically pay self-employment taxes which can be quite high. It's important to understand what you will be paying in taxes each year so you can determine if the work you're taking on is worth it.