Here are a few tips if you are working on a budget:
Find a partner. It does not have to be a partner that has the same passions or interests as you, though it helps. Finding a partner that specializes on something you do not specialize in is the key. For example, if you are great at marketing then partner with a writer. Conversely if you are great at writing, or comfortable with it, then find someone who excels in marketing. Publishing a book is all about the marketing.
However, you can also partner with a person to write the book, share the expenses, and share the profits. Many successful books are written by teams.
Finance the book. I do not mean go to the bank and get a loan, that is not necessary. Instead, once the book is written find relevant businesses to approach. Ask those business owners to pre-purchase your book in exchange for promotion in your book. For example, if you have written a book on how to choose the right computer for your business you could approach your local electronics store and make them an offer, in exchange for listing their company in your book as a great place to find their computers they will buy 100, 1000, or more copies of your book. Now you have money in the bank to pay for publication.
Another way to save money is to e-publish. Electronically publishing, offering your book as a PDF. An electronic book is called an e-book and offering your book this way is a great way to sell your book and to cover the costs of printed books.
Buying in bulk is always a great way to save money. If you are confident you can sell thousands of books and you have the space to safely store them, then have a large amount printed. It can literally save several dollars per printed book.
Hiring a book distributor can also help save money on fulfillment and distribution. Generally book distributors take a percentage of each sale so the cash out of pocket expense is very low, however you're take is lower than if you had handled the distribution and fulfillment yourself.
One last option is to save money on the writing process, and time, by recruiting experts to write your book for you via contributions or interviews in exchange for publishing their contact information in your book and/or promoting them on your website.
There are many ways to make publishing a book more affordable. The key is to think outside the box and look for creative ways to partner with others to make it happen. Heck, I have known people who have managed to publish a book for free. Imagine that 100% return on your investment from the get go. If the will and the desire are there, there are definitely ways to make it happen.
The initial outlay of cash when you are self-publishing can feel overwhelming. All those doubts begin to sneak in. "What if I do not sell enough books to cover my costs?" is a common fear. This is a reasonable fear if you are self publishing for the first time which is why we have provided three great money saving tips, you know, just to get you on solid ground before your book begins to make millions.
Money Saving Tip #1 Sell your printed book as an e-book too. Many people prefer e-books and they cost absolutely nothing to produce. If you make your book available both in print and as an e-book, you are giving your reader the option. And, you can offer the e-book at a slightly lower cost than the printed version to encourage sales. This saves you print on demand costs, which can be quite high.
Money Saving Tip #2 Do the editing yourself, and invite family to help. Hiring an editor can be an extra cost you don't want to incur. If you are confident of your editing skills, and the skills of your friends, family, and associates, then this is a reasonable area to cut costs. However, make sure you have enough people read and edit your book before it is typeset because any changes that will have to be made after your book is typeset will be extremely costly.
Money Saving Tip #3 Partner with a relevant business or organization to help cover the costs. This is a fantastic way to cut your costs. Here's how it works. Approach a company or organization that is relevant to your book. For example, if you are a home organizer and your book is about cost effective storage solutions you could approach an office supply store or a container type store. Here is your pitch. Ask them if they want to place an advance order, which you will give to them at a great discount and they can then sell at any price they choose. In exchange for the advance sale you will include their name and website in your book. You can include their name however you decide is most appropriate. Their advance order will help pay for your printing costs. It is a win-win situation! For more information on this strategy read How To Self Publish A Book For Free.
Writing and publishing your book does not have to be expensive. There are many options for a self publisher from PQN or print quality needed to POD or print on demand and traditional press printing, each has their own merits and costs. However, if you take a few cost savings steps before you get to the actual printing, you can save a lot of money.
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