Learn how to publish a book in 2025 – costs, Amazon self-publishing, free options, and proven steps to make money from your writing.
So, you’ve written a book – or at least you’re planning to. Now comes the real question: how do you publish a book without losing your mind or your savings?
The good news: it has never been easier to publish a book. From traditional book publishing companies to online book publishing platforms like Amazon, you have options.
The even better news? You don’t need a celebrity deal or a big-name agent. You can self-publish a book, market it effectively, and even get paid for it.
Contents
How to Publish a Book in 2025
This step-by-step guide covers everything: how to publish a book on Amazon, what book publishing costs actually look like, and whether you can publish a book for free and get paid for it.
Step #1: Decide Your Publishing Path
There are two main options when deciding how to publish a book:
- Traditional publishing: Working with established book publishing companies like Penguin Random House or HarperCollins. They cover editing, design, distribution, and marketing, but getting accepted requires an agent and a lot of patience.
- Self-publishing: Using online book publishing platforms such as Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital. You control everything – editing, cover design, pricing, and promotion.
In 2025, many best book publishing companies will offer hybrid models, giving authors more flexibility. This means you can choose traditional distribution but keep creative control.
Step #2: Estimate Book Publishing Costs
One of the biggest questions new authors ask is: how much does book publishing cost? The answer depends on how polished and professional you want your final product to be.
So, how much does it cost to self-publish a book in 2025? Here’s a book publishing cost breakdown of both DIY and professional publishing options:
DIY Budget Publishing ($500 – $1,200)
If you’re looking for the most affordable way to publish, the DIY route keeps costs low:
- Book editing: $300–$600 (freelance proofreader/copyeditor, beta readers for feedback)
- Book cover design: $50–$150 (premade or DIY tools like Canva)
- Book formatting: Free with Kindle Create or ~$200 for software like Vellum
- ISBN: Free with Amazon KDP (Amazon listed as publisher)
- Book marketing: $150–$300 (basic Amazon ads, social media, ARC giveaways)
Total: $500–$1,200
Thanks to AI-powered editing, cover design, and marketing tools, many authors are able to cut expenses significantly.
Professional Polish Publishing ($6,000 – $12,000)
For authors who want a polished book that competes with traditionally published titles, professional services are key:
- Book editing: $2,000–$6,500 (developmental edit, copyedit, proofreading)
- Book cover design: $300–$1,200 (custom professional cover)
- Book formatting: $300–$1,000 (professional typesetting for print + eBook)
- ISBN: $125 each (U.S., if you want your own imprint)
- Book marketing: $1,000–$5,000+ (PR campaigns, BookBub ads, professional launch strategy)
Total: $6,000–$12,000 (can reach $15K–$25K with agencies)
👉 The DIY route is ideal for first-time authors testing the waters on a budget, while the professional route is best for authors building a long-term career and seeking credibility in a crowded market.
On the other hand, Amazon’s book publishing cost remains $0. Amazon KDP lets you upload your manuscript for free and only takes a percentage of your royalties. This is why Amazon continues to dominate online book publishing.
Step #3: Publish a Book on Amazon
If you want the simplest, cheapest way to publish a book, Amazon KDP is the answer. Here’s the process:
- Sign up at KDP.amazon.com
- Use the free Kindle Create tool to create a KPF file and upload it.
- Alternatively, upload your manuscript in Word, PDF, or EPUB format.
- Design your cover – either upload your own or use KDP’s free Cover Creator.
- Enter book details (title, subtitle, keywords, categories).
- Choose pricing and royalty rate (35% or 70%).
- Publish – your book goes live within 72 hours.
Amazon also offers print-on-demand through Kindle Direct Publishing. This means readers can order physical copies without you paying upfront printing costs.
Step #4: Market Your Book
Publishing on Amazon is free, but the money-making potential depends on how well you market your book. Getting readers to discover it is where the real work begins.
A solid book marketing plan helps you build visibility, attract your target audience, and turn your book into a steady stream of sales.
- Build an author brand and platform (website & blog).
- Build an email list to drive consistent sales.
- Use social media to connect with readers.
- Leverage Amazon ads – they can cost as little as $5 a day.
- Use Publisher Rocket’s tools to improve conversions.
- Get book reviews from early readers or book bloggers.
- Publish in multiple formats – Kindle eBooks, audiobooks, and POD paperbacks.
Authors who treat book publishing like a business – investing in visibility, building a readership, and writing consistently – have the best chance of earning long-term, passive income.
Publisher Rocket’s author tools reveal profitable keywords, categories, and competitor insights to help authors optimize books and ads for higher Amazon sales.
Step #5: Get Paid for Book Sales
Platforms like Amazon KDP and Draft2Digital allow you to publish at no upfront cost and reach millions of readers worldwide.
You can earn royalties directly from your sales and only pay when you choose optional services like premium cover design or expanded distribution. Setting the right price is key to maximizing sales.
Here’s how much you get paid:
- Royalties: Amazon pays authors monthly. With a $2.99 ebook priced at 70% royalty, you earn about $2 per copy sold.
- Print-on-demand: After printing costs, authors usually earn between $2–$5 per paperback.
So if you’re wondering how to publish a book for free and get paid for it, the short answer is: publish on Amazon, keep your expenses low, and invest in book marketing and promotion.
How Long Does it Take to Publish a Book?
The answer depends on your publishing route, how polished your manuscript is, and the services you use. But having a clear timeline helps set realistic expectations.
- Writing a book: 3–12 months (varies widely).
- Book editing and design: 1–3 months.
- Book publishing on Amazon: 24–72 hours.
- Book marketing and promotion: Ongoing.
On average, you can go from finished manuscript to published book in 3 to 6 months if you self-publish.
Book Publishing FAQs
1. How much does it cost to publish a book with a publisher?
Traditional publishers cover most expenses, but you’ll likely spend money on an agent, query submissions, or travel to pitch meetings.
2. What is the cheapest way to publish a book?
Amazon KDP — it’s free to upload and publish.
3. Can I publish a book without writing it myself?
Yes. Ghostwriters or AI-assisted writing tools can help you write a book without writing it yourself, but you’ll still need help with book editing and formatting.
4. Which are the best book publishing companies?
Top book publishing companies include Penguin Random House, HarperCollins, Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, and hybrid publishers like Reedsy.
Learning how to publish a book in 2025 is less about gatekeepers and more about choices. Whether you work with book publishing companies or go fully independent with online book publishing, you now have affordable tools and platforms at your fingertips.
With self-publishing costs ranging between $200 and $3,000, and Amazon book publishing costs staying at $0, the path is open for anyone serious about becoming an author.
Your book deserves to be read. Take the leap, start the process, and remember: the world can’t read the story sitting in your drafts folder.
Book Publishing Tips
- How to become a successful self-published author
- How to publish a book on Amazon for free
- Book marketing for self-published authors
- How to build an author brand and platform
- How to do a book launch campaign
© 2025, Priya Florence Shah. All rights reserved.
Priya Florence Shah is a bestselling author and an award-winning blogger. Check out her book on emotional self-care for women. Priya writes short stories and poetry and chills with her two-legged and four-legged kids in her spare time.
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