With print on demand, each copy has a manufacturing cost, and your royalty is what is left after that and the store's share.
What drives print cost
- Page count — more pages cost more (the biggest factor).
- Trim size — see trim sizes.
- Colour — black-and-white interiors are far cheaper than colour.
The royalty math
For each sale, roughly:
Your royalty = list price − print cost − retailer's share.
So your job is to set a list price that covers the print cost and leaves a healthy margin, while staying competitive for your genre.
Tips
- Keep page count efficient (a sensible trim helps).
- Price in line with comparable paperbacks, not your ebook.
- Remember ebook and print are separate prices and margins. For ebook earnings, see how much will I earn.
Print royalties flow into your monthly payout alongside ebook earnings.
Still need help? Open a ticket from your dashboard or email [email protected] — a real person replies.