Frequently Asked Questions

The timeline for self-publishing with Foglio depends on your project’s complexity. If your manuscript is fully edited and formatted, the process can be completed in as little as 2-3 months. However, for books requiring additional editing, complex interior layouts, or cover design, the timeline may extend to 6 months or longer. We always recommend allowing sufficient time for each stage—editing, typesetting, and design—to ensure a high-quality final product.
While this may seem like a lengthy process, it's much quicker than traditional publishing, which can take 2-4 years to bring a book to market.

Self-publishing can technically be free, but it depends on how much expertise you need. Here’s a breakdown:

• Editing: You can edit your book yourself or have a friend help, but professional editing ensures a polished manuscript and comes at a cost.

• Design: DIY design is free, but it takes a professional to ensure your book has a compelling cover and interior layout that appeals to readers.

• Publishing & Distribution: You can publish independently at no cost, but it may involve a learning curve. Professionals can assist with pricing strategies, ISBN registration, distribution setup, and maximizing your royalties.

At Foglio, we provide professional services tailored to your needs. You can opt for full publishing packages that cover everything or select individual services, including book cover design, interior layout, typesetting, and more. We ensure that your book is not only published but that it stands out in the market, giving you the best possible chance for success.

Going the free, do-it-yourself route for self-publishing may seem appealing, but it often leads to several challenges:

1. Quality: Without professional help, the book’s design, editing, and formatting may appear amateurish, which can affect sales and reader engagement.

2. Time: Learning the ins and outs of book design, typesetting, and distribution takes a lot of time, which could be better spent writing or marketing.

3. Distribution Issues: Without experience, setting up distribution, pricing, and maximizing royalties can be difficult, reducing the book’s potential reach.

Investing in professional services, like those offered by Foglio, ensures your book competes on a professional level and meets industry standards, making it more appealing to readers and retailers alike.

Self-publishing a book can range from a few hundred to tens of thousands of dollars, depending on the level of professional help needed. Doing everything yourself, while highly discouraged, could cost as little as $400 to $500, covering basics like ISBN registration, software licenses, and cover design elements. For professional-quality publishing, costs typically range from $2,500 to $6,000, including editing, cover and interior formatting, and publishing assistance. More hands-off or comprehensive services, such as developmental editing and marketing, can exceed $10,000.

At Foglio, we offer flexible and affordable publishing packages, allowing you to choose services based on your needs, whether you require complete publishing or just specific design help.

Print-on-demand (POD) book costs depend on factors like page count, trim size, color options, and binding type. For example, a 6" x 9", 250-page black-and-white paperback might cost around $6.50 per copy to print. Color interiors or specialty formats such as hardcovers will increase the cost. POD eliminates the need for large upfront printing costs and minimizes unsold inventory. With Foglio, you maintain control over print costs and can choose the best format for your book.

With Foglio, self-publishing authors retain 100% of their royalties. Royalties are calculated based on the book’s retail price, minus sales fees, wholesale discounts, and printing costs. You control your book pricing and distribution channels, whether through Amazon or independent bookstores. Foglio ensures transparency in royalty calculations, so you know exactly how much you’ll earn from each sale.