How do Royalties Work?
Here’s the truth most publishers won’t tell you: royalties are not one-size-fits-all.
Where—and how—you sell your book determines how much you earn.
Let’s break it down.
Royalties on Amazon + Retailers
On platforms like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other retailers, authors typically keep 30–70% of the list price.
Paperback royalties often land closer to 30–60% after printing, fulfillment, and distribution costs are deducted.
It’s accessible. It’s convenient.
But it’s rarely your highest profit margin.
Royalties on Your Own Website
This is where your earnings shine.
When readers buy directly from you, you keep 100% of the sale—
minus the cost of printing and shipping.
This model gives you:
Higher margins
Full customer data
More control
Direct buyer relationships
Direct sales = direct profit.
Integrated Publishing (The Prose Publishing Model)
This is where we take it further.
Your book doesn’t have to stop at a $25 retail price.
With Integrated Publishing, your book becomes a high-ticket entry point in your brand suite.
Pair your book with:
Coaching
Masterminds
Retreats
Signature programs
…and suddenly your words aren’t just a product—
they’re the gateway to $2,500+ offers.
You’re no longer competing for royalties.
You’re building revenue streams.
Royalties Are Just the Beginning
The real wealth isn’t in a single royalty check.
It’s in owning your distribution, selling directly, and integrating your book into your ecosystem.
At Prose Publishing, we design every book for:
royalties + direct sales + high-ticket integration.
A complete, profitable model.
Ready to Maximize Every Sale, Every Page, Every Offer?
Let’s make your book not just a bestseller—but a profitable business.
Message us to begin your Integrated Publishing journey.
