Book Launch Budget Calculator
Plan your book launch marketing budget including PR, advertising, events, and author platform building.
Production Costs
Marketing Costs
Total Launch Budget
$11K
43% production · 57% marketing
Royalty/Copy
$10.49
Break-Even
1,001
copies
Year 1 Revenue
$21K
Cost/Sale
$5.25
Budget Breakdown
Industry Benchmark
Self-Published authors typically invest $5K in their launch. You need to sell 1,001 copies at $14.99 to recoup your investment.
How to Use This Calculator
Enter your book details: genre, format, price point, and publishing path.
Set your sales goals and available marketing budget.
Allocate budget across PR outreach, advertising, events, and social media.
Review break-even analysis and projected ROI by marketing channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much should an author spend on book marketing?
Self-published authors typically spend $2,000-10,000 on marketing per title. Traditionally published authors may receive $5,000-50,000 in publisher marketing support. Bestseller campaigns can cost $25,000-100,000+ combining publisher and author investment.
What is the most effective marketing for a book launch?
The most effective strategies are: building an email list pre-launch, securing media coverage and podcast appearances, Amazon advertising, social media campaigns with early reader reviews, and virtual or in-person launch events. Email marketing consistently delivers the highest conversion.
How many copies does a book need to sell to be successful?
Selling 5,000-10,000 copies is considered good for most genres. Bestseller lists typically require 5,000-10,000 copies in one week. Self-published authors can be profitable at 1,000-3,000 copies with higher royalty rates (35-70% vs 10-15% traditional).
When should book marketing start before the launch?
Begin building buzz 3-6 months before launch. Key milestones: cover reveal (3-4 months out), advance reader copies (2-3 months), media outreach (6-8 weeks), pre-order campaigns (4-6 weeks), and launch week blitz.
How much should I spend on Amazon book advertising?
Start with $10-30/day on Amazon Sponsored Products ads. Successful campaigns typically spend $500-2,000/month. ACoS (Advertising Cost of Sale) targets should be 30-50% for new releases, dropping to 15-25% as reviews build.
Why Use This Calculator
- Set a launch budget based on sales goals
- Allocate across PR, ads, events, and social
- Calculate copies needed to earn back investment
- Plan pre-launch, launch week, and post-launch phases
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"Started my podcast using these budget estimates. Knowing the real costs upfront helped me plan for the long term."
Podcast Host, Business Media