How Book Royalties Work

This is one of those basic topics about which you may be confused if you’re just entering the world of publishing. You’ve heard the terms advance and royalties but you’re not quite sure how it all works. I’ll try to explain as simply as possible.

The concept of a royalty is that the author receives a percentage of the revenue for each book sold. The exact percentage can’t be generalized because it depends on a variety of factors: the size of the publisher, whether it’s a CBA or ABA house, the author’s platform and marketability, and each publisher’s own criteria (of which you may never be aware).

Keep in mind that as technology continues to develop and publishing models change, this age-old royalty model is going to be changing, too. Very soon it may be out of date, but this is the way it has been for decades.

Most publishers pay the royalty based on the cover price (or retail price) of the book. CBA publishers usually pay royalties based on the NET price of the book, that is, the price at which the publisher sold the book to the bookstore.

Royalty rates vary widely, so keep in mind I’m generalizing wildly here, but just to give you an idea:

General market publishers, first time author:
Hardcover royalty: 10% to 15% of retail
Trade paperback royalty: 6.5% to 7.5% of retail
Mass market paperback royalty: 7.5% to 10% of retail

CBA publishers, first time author:
Hardcover or trade paperback royalty: 14% to 18% of net
Mass market paperback royalty: 8% to 12% of net

Here’s a hypothetical example for a general market (not CBA) hardcover, first-time author:

Cover price: $25.00

Royalty rate: 10% of retail = $2.50. You make $2.50 on every book sold.

Let’s say your advance was $15,000. That means you’ve already been paid the first $15k of your royalties. After you earn $15,000 in royalties, you’ll start seeing royalty checks.

How many copies do you have to sell to earn back your $15,000 advance?

Answer: 6,000 books. ($2.50 per book x 6,000 books = $15,000 advance)

After you sell 6,000 copies, you will begin to see royalty checks. $2.50 for every additional book sold.

Here’s a hypothetical example for a CBA trade paperback:

Cover price: $13.99

Net price: $6.30 (sold to bookstore at standard 55% discount)

Royalty rate: Let’s say your starting royalty rate is 16%. 16% of net = 16% of $6.30 = $1.01

You make $1.01 on every book sold.

Let’s say your advance was $5,000. You need to earn $5,000 in royalties before you start seeing royalty checks. How many copies do you have to sell to earn back your advance?

Answer: 4,951 copies. ($1.01 x 4,951 = $5,000)

After you sell 4,951 copies, you will begin to see royalty checks. $1.01 for every book sold.

**This is vastly simplified to help you understand!**

Your contract will specify royalty rates for hardcover, trade paper, and mass market paper as well as large print, book club, audio editions, electronic editions, etc. It will also specify the terms under which they’ll pay your royalties: how often, how much they hold in reserve against returns, etc. I’m not going to explain all of this right now; suffice to say, the royalties are not as simple as I’ve made them appear above.

.

Rachelle Gardner

Literary agent at Gardner Literary. Coffee & wine enthusiast (not at the same time) and dark chocolate connoisseur. I've worked in publishing since 1995 and I love talking about books!

48 Comments

  1. dfgalletta on October 14, 2014 at 3:57 PM

    Very clear. What about textbooks? How common is it for publishers to provide advances against royalties if the authors are doing a lot of work on a 6th edition?



  2. Smiley on July 24, 2014 at 12:27 AM

    I agree. Working on my third book, I wish I would have known these things first. 2 of my books being published and I do not understand what is going on.



  3. EddysGal on July 10, 2014 at 6:39 PM

    My head is spinning… I feel like I’m on a huge learning curve and under a time crunch to understand it all… There are so many things to consider. So. Many.



  4. […] book for the following example. (Really, you should read her explanation about how royalties work here where she gives more […]



  5. C Lovick on March 15, 2013 at 1:51 PM

    I would like to know some other options if possible. Since 90% of the proceeds of my project will go to charity, I have a hard time with accepting .10 cents on the dollar, while the publisher gets the rest. So, for every book sold, the publisher will get 90%, my charity would get 9%, and I would get 1%. That does not sound like a good deal at all, especialy since the primary purpose of publishing is for charity.



  6. Earning Out as an Indie | Terah Edun on October 18, 2012 at 3:12 AM

    […] 90% of the revenue associated with the book and would have given me, the writer, 10% of earnings. The 10% of book earnings is known as the royalty rate. But I wouldn’t have earned a full 10%! Don’t forget that the literary agent, who […]



  7. click here on June 2, 2012 at 7:26 AM

    Have you considered adding some videos to the article? I think it will really enhance everyones understanding.



  8. How Much is a Writer Worth? on May 2, 2012 at 11:46 AM

    […] Apple and a number of major publishing houses, few asked how the action would impact writers. With royalties based on some percentage of retail or electronic pricing, there is a logical assumption that writers benefit from higher prices electronically.  Typical […]



  9. How Much is a Writer Worth? on May 2, 2012 at 11:46 AM

    […] Apple and a number of major publishing houses, few asked how the action would impact writers. With royalties based on some percentage of retail or electronic pricing, there is a logical assumption that writers benefit from higher prices electronically.  Typical […]



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  11. Mabel Ngu on December 7, 2011 at 8:24 AM

    Hi, I am a new author and a first timer on these things. Can i ask what do you mean by the advances? I dont really understand how does these book royalities work. But after your explaination i do understand it a little. Thank you very much but i want to know how does these retails comes by? Does it means that the money that is earn out of my books will be given to the publishers then it will come to me? Please reply me. I am not really sure about these things…



    • W T Nelson on February 1, 2013 at 8:21 PM

      I am new to this, I have been working on my autobiography for three and a half yrs.
      I use the hunt and peck system,with my faithful lab by my side I was raised in poverty an abusive father and a mother who said hurtful words I was in Navy 20 yrs and a disabled veteran,but never thinking I would ever leave the county I was born in in Ky,went from walking behind a mule dropped out of school about the third month of the school year to the Blue Angels for eight yrs as a mechanic,
      My one brother of nine children was convinced by my father he or the other boys would amount to anything(lived in a refer box on streets of Chicago most of his life,still living but no longer on street, I went on to start three Corps two sub-s and a C corp, Made candy for Modern Bride magazine and Harry and David in Medford Oregon. I have so far paid Xlebris over twelve thousand to publish book they are working with me and doing a great job,are they my best option, Book will be a mega seller. I send the copy edited transcript to them in a week, have been told maybe a movie based on the book (could have been hype, however I don’t believe so. Bill wtsagenelson@gmail.com P.S I am computer illiterate as you can probably tell Ha I believe this is more of a question than a comment. Thanks for your help



  12. Retail on October 9, 2011 at 5:19 PM

    Retail is not as uncomplicated as it looks. If you don’t know the fundamental principles, you are setting yourself up for failure.



  13. karoline on September 25, 2011 at 4:25 AM

    Very interesting read



  14. Hiit on September 25, 2011 at 3:32 AM

    Great topic!



  15. Romance on December 19, 2009 at 3:18 PM

    >Good luck for you

    Thanks!



  16. Tami Boehmer on November 12, 2009 at 2:55 PM

    >Very helpful. Thanks!



  17. Prakash on November 12, 2009 at 8:51 AM

    >cool posts dude

    thanks a lot

    http://www.savvyroyalties.com



  18. thatlovedflower on November 11, 2009 at 1:30 PM

    >Very good article on royalty. I was not really aware of these things and came to learn many things.

    thanks



  19. Mechelle Fogelsong on November 10, 2009 at 11:10 PM

    >I have a blog topic for you, if you don't mind. At 42, I'm the young whipper snapper in my local writers' group, and other members have asked me to teach them how to design a blog.

    So I'd like to know what turns an agent off about writers' blogs? What makes agents go ga-ga over a writer's blog? Any tips or pointers would be helpful.



  20. Lenore Buth at www.awomansview.typepad.com on November 10, 2009 at 7:10 PM

    >One side note: At first glance it may appear the CBA author is at a disadvantage because of a lower selling price, but that's not necessarily true. Sometimes these books have a long shelf life, which may at least somewhat balance it out. I found that true with my last book, thanks be.



  21. Kathleen on November 10, 2009 at 6:06 PM

    >That was incredibly helpful and straightforward. I've read a ton of articles on royalties/advances and I still feel lost. Things are a bit clearer now. Thank you!



  22. Anita on November 10, 2009 at 4:38 PM

    >Good information explained in layperson's terms.



  23. Terri Tiffany on November 10, 2009 at 3:16 PM

    >Thank you for explaining this! I knwo the bookstore end of it but never that part:)



  24. Laura on November 10, 2009 at 1:09 PM

    >Like all of the above, I love the way you broke this down. I had a general understanding of this, but you just answered any oustanding questions, except this:

    What is CBA and ABA? I'm guessing they are associations the agents/publishers belong to? Why would one agent or publisher choose one organization over the other?

    Am I completely off? haha.



  25. Laura on November 10, 2009 at 1:09 PM

    >Like all of the above, I love the way you broke this down. I had a general understanding of this, but you just answered any oustanding questions, except this:

    What is CBA and ABA? I'm guessing they are associations the agents/publishers belong to? Why would one agent or publisher choose one organization over the other?

    Am I completely off? haha.



  26. Aimee LS on November 10, 2009 at 12:54 PM

    >Thank you so much! I realize it's just a picture, but it's good to feel like I know at least the basic mechanics!



  27. Lynnda - Passionate for the Glory of God on November 10, 2009 at 12:28 PM

    >Good morning, Rachelle.

    Now I see more clearly why agents and publishers are so careful in choosing the manuscripts to accept. The writer's work should be so good that 5,000 to 15,000 people must decide they want to read that one particular book more than they want to keep the price of it in their pockets. Am I right in thinking that reaching that goal would make the book marginally successful?

    The question that will hover in the back of my mind from now on is this: Do I think 15,000 people will find the book I'm writing interesting and valuable enough to buy? The answer to that question will certainly play a part in any thoughts I have on its readiness for submission.

    Thank you for breaking down the publishing world into bite-size pieces for aspiring writers to swallow.

    Be blessed,

    Lynnda



  28. Lynnette Bonner on November 10, 2009 at 12:27 PM

    >I find it intersting that CBA pays on the Net vs. ABA paying on the list price. I hadn't realized that before. Thanks for the great explanation, Rachelle.



  29. Catherine West on November 10, 2009 at 12:25 PM

    >"Generalizing wildly" got me interested, but my eyes glazed over at the sight of first percentage sign. Hives soon to follow.
    Just send the check. I really don't care how much it's for as long I can get me an Starbucks and something from Ann Taylor.



  30. lynnrush on November 10, 2009 at 12:02 PM

    >Nice!!! This is helpful. 🙂



  31. Carla Gade on November 10, 2009 at 11:34 AM

    >Your posts are always so helpful! That was great to see it all laid out like that. Thanks!



  32. Reesha on November 10, 2009 at 11:24 AM

    >I thought I knew all that, but it's even clearer now. I especially like the comparison between CBA houses and non.
    Thanks, Rachelle!



  33. Thaddeus Glapp on November 10, 2009 at 11:15 AM

    >As a book seller, I'd jump for joy if I could find a place to get a 55% discount. Standard is closer to 40%…which is why it's incredibly difficult to make money selling books unless your name ends in Amazon, Noble, or Mart.



  34. Dara on November 10, 2009 at 11:04 AM

    >All the more reason to have an great agent to help walk you through the steps of the process 🙂 Thanks for posting this simplified version of royalties 🙂



  35. Camille Cannon Eide on November 10, 2009 at 10:41 AM

    >Authors are expected to get out there and market all you can, but 'all you can' isn't a very clear goal. I should think knowing the number of sold units (it's a BABY, not a unit) needed to earn out helps give the author a much more tangible goal. For some of us, I think a challenge works best when you can measure your progress & sucess; that's the kind of challenge that motivates. Just mho.

    Thanks for the info!



  36. Jill Kemerer on November 10, 2009 at 9:16 AM

    >Thanks for the terrific and understandable breakdown!



  37. Homemaker, MD on November 10, 2009 at 9:16 AM

    >Thanks for walking us through an overview of the process. Haven't seen this info as clearly elsewhere!



  38. Rachelle on November 10, 2009 at 8:53 AM

    >Regarding number of copies a first time author would be expected to sell? Y'all are asking for generalities, and I guess, assurances. But there aren't any. Look at your break even point. How many units is it? Your publisher hopes/expects you'll sell that many in the first year, preferably in the first six months. We hope all books sell at least 15,000 units but that doesn't always happen. With other books, the expectation is much higher.



  39. T. Anne on November 10, 2009 at 8:33 AM

    >I love this breakdown. I've seen many agents/writers try to translate this info on their blogs but this is a great breakdown. I've always subscribed to the fact money is poison at the bottom of the well for writers, most of us thrive on sheer passion. However, passion is sort of hard to eat for breakfast so the dollar still rules the roost. 😉 Thanks for making it so simple to understand.



  40. Richard Mabry on November 10, 2009 at 8:22 AM

    >Thanks for making it simple. Although your examples are generic, it should be possible to change the figures to match an individual situation and get a pretty good approximation of the number of books it takes to earn out an advance.
    You've probably covered this in the past, but maybe it's time to talk next about the range of copies sold for first-time authors in CBA.
    Wish I'd had you for a tutor when I was struggling with algebra.



  41. Krista Phillips on November 10, 2009 at 8:05 AM

    >My math brain is appeased today, thank you:-) As much as I love words, I'm a math geek too so seeing the calculations is kinda fun.

    I like Jody's question too… how "normal" is 6000 copies for a newbie author in the CBA?



  42. Lisa Jordan on November 10, 2009 at 7:10 AM

    >Thanks for the explanation. I still find the whole process overwhelming, but that's why having an agent is so important. I've heard many people say most first-time authors don't earn out their first novels. Is this a red flag to future publishers?



  43. Jody Hedlund on November 10, 2009 at 6:23 AM

    >Wow! That's a LOT of books an author must sell to earn out the advance. For a debut author, I'd be curious to know how hard or easy it is to sell 6,000 books. And what is the biggest factor in helping debut authors reach their earn out level?



  44. Jessica on November 10, 2009 at 6:01 AM

    >LOL Math is not my forte. Heh. Thanks for breaking this down though.
    My hubby is a realtor so I tried to explain how this stuff works, but it must've went over his head because just the other day he asked me if I'd be able to sell a book by February and start bringing in some money.

    Ahem.

    I busted out laughing.

    I do have a question though. Why is CBA different than ABA in the way they do their percentages, etc? Is there a specific reason?



  45. Katie Ganshert on November 10, 2009 at 5:47 AM

    >Just one more reason why an agent is so important. I think, if I were to get a book contract, I would be so beside myself with excitement that I would sign whatever the publishing house stuck in front of me. That probably wouldn't be a very wise move on my part. 🙂

    All the business that goes behind that book on the shelf never ceases to amaze me.



  46. Anonymous on November 10, 2009 at 3:24 AM

    >Poor CBA authors (and agents)! No wonder you're branching out into mainstream publishing…

    Q: If an author wants to help sell their own books (lectures, readings, etc), how does that work? Is there a price break for authors who want to sell directly (say for 100 books)? Is that considered helpful or what do publishers think of authors pushing their own books?
    Thanks for all the great advice!



  47. Sara ♥ on November 10, 2009 at 2:31 AM

    >Thank you for this! I've seen similar posts, but this is the most clearly written for those of us who are fairly new to the concepts.