PublisherRevenue Guide

The business behind
independent publishing.

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Calculator / Plan the business

What does the month leave?

Put a cost on the work behind the revenue. Separate your top line from the contribution left to cover the rest of the business.

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Reference photograph: a calculator, not a publisher’s financial records. Annie Spratt / Unsplash ↗
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Your assumptions

01 / Set the inputs
Try a scenario:
Whole placements in one month.
Before fees and other deductions.
Keep the same reporting period.
Include fees, tools and delivery.
Include sales and fulfilment.
Your chosen cost of time.

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How to read this result

Gross revenue = slots × price + other revenue. Valued labor = hours × hourly value. Contribution = gross − cash costs − labor. Each ledger line is rounded to cents.

Contribution margin = contribution ÷ gross revenue. It is undefined at zero gross revenue. This management measure excludes any tax, fixed overhead, refunds or bad debt you have not entered.

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The research behind the workings

Keep the context close.

A clearer view of the business

The Revenue Letter.

One useful model. One question worth asking.
A considered note for independent publishers.