How to self-publish a book in 2026, step by step: editing, covers, formatting, ISBNs, platforms, pricing and launch, with real costs and royalty math.
BookMarket Author Academy 4 minute readUpdated October 2026
01
Introduction
Self-publishing means you act as the publisher: you pay for editing and design, choose where to sell, set the price and keep the rights and most of the income. It has never been easier to do, or easier to do badly. Here's the order that works, with what each step costs and the decisions that matter most.
02
The 12 Steps
1. Finish the manuscript, then let it rest
Don't start the publishing process with a first draft. Finish, revise, and put it away for two to four weeks before reading it again with fresh eyes. Beta readers (five to ten readers of your genre) will tell you what isn't working before you pay an editor to.
Ebook, paperback, hardcover, audiobook: you don't need them all on day one. Most authors start with ebook and paperback, and add audio when the book has proven itself.
4. Commission a cover
Readers judge in a second, so a professional cover is the best money you'll spend after editing. Reedsy's 2025 data puts the average professional cover at about $880, with most between $625 and $1,250.
Ebooks need a clean, reflowable EPUB; print needs a fixed-layout PDF at your trim size. Tools like Vellum or Atticus work for straightforward novels; complex books are worth a professional.
6. Decide about ISBNs
In the US, ISBNs are sold by Bowker: $125 for one, $295 for ten. Amazon KDP offers a free ISBN for paperbacks, and many ebook stores don't require one. Read Do you need an ISBN?/academy/do-you-need-an-isbn before you buy.
7. Register your copyright (optional but smart)
Your work is protected from the moment it's written, but registering with the US Copyright Office ($45 online for a single author's single work; $65 for the standard application) lets you sue for statutory damages if someone infringes it.
8. Choose where to sell
The big decision: exclusive or wide.
Exclusive with Amazon (KDP Select): your ebook can only be sold on Amazon while enrolled (90-day terms), in exchange for Kindle Unlimited page-read income.
Wide: sell everywhere, including Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, Google Play and direct storefronts, yourself or through an aggregator like Draft2Digital.
Most full-length indie ebooks sell between $2.99 and $9.99. On Amazon.com, the 70% royalty band now runs from $2.99 to $12.99 (since July 7, 2026). On BookMarket you keep 100% of net on digital sales at any price
11. Upload, proof and publish
Upload your files, order a print proof and read it on paper; you'll find errors you missed on screen. Then publish.
To publish your book on BookMarket/publish, you'll need a membership (from $17/month).
Technically yes: KDP and several other platforms charge nothing to upload. But an unedited book with a homemade cover rarely finds readers. Budget for editing and a cover at minimum.
How long does self-publishing take?
From finished draft to launch, three to six months is realistic: editing takes weeks, covers two to four weeks, and a launch needs lead time.
Do self-published authors make money?
Some do well; most earn modestly. The Authors Guild's 2023 survey found that full-time self-published authors had a median of $12,800 in book income in 2022. Series, a mailing list and steady releases make the biggest difference.
