Amazon is one of the most popular and successful self-publishing platforms for authors. With Amazon, authors can easily upload their book and make it available to readers around the world. But how much does Amazon keep when you publish a book?
The initial royalty on your self-published book is based on which royalty tier you are in. Amazon offers two royalty tiers: 35 percent and 70 percent. The royalty percentage is calculated based on your listed purchase price. After that, delivery costs are deducted (around $0.06 per book), as are sales tax, value-added tax, and delivery costs.
In the 35 percent royalty tier, Amazon keeps 65 percent of the listed purchase price. This means that authors in this tier will receive 35 percent of the listed purchase price. In the 70 percent royalty tier, Amazon keeps 30 percent of the listed purchase price. This means that authors in this tier will receive 70 percent of the listed purchase price.
In addition to the royalty percentage, authors should also consider other costs associated with self-publishing. These costs include the cost of the ISBN, the cost of the cover design, and the cost of any editing services. Authors should also factor in the cost of marketing and promotion.
Overall, the amount that Amazon keeps when you publish a book depends on the royalty tier you are in and the costs associated with self-publishing. While authors in the 70 percent royalty tier will receive a higher percentage of the listed purchase price, they should also consider the additional costs associated with self-publishing.