From manuscript to the world.
Publishing Models
The right model is chosen through investment, rights, control and net income—not one percentage.
| Comparison | Traditional | Author-funded |
|---|---|---|
| Who funds production? | Usually the publisher | Author / rights holder |
| Acceptance | Selective acquisition | Manuscript and scope fit |
| Rights | Varies by contract | Defined to remain with the author |
| Platform account and reports | Usually publisher-managed | Author where practical |
| Income structure | Contracted royalty | Platform income; the author pays production and service costs |
| Creative control | Shared / may be more limited | Higher, with defined approval gates |
| Price and metadata | Publisher-managed | More agile in the author account |
| Print and inventory | May include offset inventory | Primarily print on demand |
| Commercial risk | Usually publisher | Usually author |
| Sales guarantee | None | None |
We do not guarantee sales. Contracts vary by publisher, genre, format and author. This table is a decision framework, not legal or financial advice.
ROYALTY SCENARIO
Estimate your platform royalties.
This is not net profit. Production, advertising, returns, currency conversion and income taxes are excluded.
For your hypothetical sales volume$657.00
Formula and sources
Tax-exclusive price = entered price ÷ (1 + tax rate / 100). eBooks use 70% × (tax-exclusive price − delivery cost), or 35% without a delivery deduction. Print uses (rate × tax-exclusive price) − printing cost.
Rates last checked: 24 September 2026. eBook pricing · Paperback · Hardcover · Official calculator