Author

How Profitable Is An Author? (Updated for 2024)

Pat Walls

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Updated: October 5th, 2024

How Profitable Is An Author? (Updated for 2024)

So you want to start an author?

And the first question that came to your mind was, “well, are authors actually profitable?”

With a market size of $97B - there’s plenty of business to go around.

Especially considering:

You could start a author with as low as $5
Based on our data, authors generate an average of $2.72M per year
You could see gross margins as high as 51% with authors

There’s money to be made. Don’t worry.

But, I don't want to spoil it all. Below we’ll cover everything you need to know when it comes to the profitability of a author.

Let’s dive in!

Is an author profitable?

Yes, an author is generally a profitable business. However, you still need to consider several factors since these things always impact the overall outcome.

For instance, since average revenue is $2.72M per year with an estimated gross margin of 65%, you could expect to recover your investment within 7 months or even less.

But of course, it all comes down to how much you earn compared to the potential revenues of your author.

To determine whether your business is profitable, you should earn more than your expenses in the beginning months. However, while you're in your first month, it can be challenging to know what to expect.

Therefore, you should maintain a record of your monthly expenses and income to determine whether you're meeting your goals. By doing this step, you can see how your author is doing and if any changes or adjustments need to be made to enhance or maintain your efforts.

Is an author worth it?

If you’re wondering if a author is worth it, the answer is a big YES. With authors, you have the potential to earn $2.72M per year (this is based on data reported by real founders).

Further, you could have your initial investment back within months. Simply put, it’s a business worth a shot, especially if you have the resources and make the necessary efforts to achieve or surpass the target.

With a market size of $97B, it will be possible for you to build something that grows and turns into a flourishing business. As such, it’s the type of business you might want to consider starting.

Of course, you must learn and understand every aspect of running a author to ensure success. Still, as long as you have the initial investment and can endure a few months before your actual gains, this business could be worth it.

You might want to consider reading more specifics about successful authors case studies.

Examples Of Profitable Authors

Here are a few examples of profitable authors, and a few more details about them:

1. Front Line Publishing Inc ($228K/year)

James Rosone, a former military interrogator, turned to writing as a form of PTSD therapy. After realizing a gap in the market for authentic military thrillers, he and his wife co-wrote and self-published their own books. Since their debut in 2015, they have published eighteen books and earned an impressive $47,365 in a single month.

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $228K/year

How I Turned PTSD Therapy Into A Six Figure Income

Military veteran turned author builds a six-figure self-publishing business through rapid release and effective marketing strategies, with a current monthly average revenue of $19,000.

Read this case study

Read by 6,181 founders

2. Thomas Frank ($2.1M/year)

In 2010, while in college, Thomas started a blog to share his experiments in getting the most out of college. Since then, he's applied his interests in productivity and self-development to YouTube, several podcasts, a book, and more. He got the idea of this business when he was trying to build a company's wiki and with the difficulties he faced with Google docs, discovering Notion blew his mind.

Is it profitable? Yes
What's the gross margin? 51%
How much money it makes: $2.1M/year
How much did it cost to start: $5

I Made $2.1M in Two Years Teaching People How to Use Notion

This case study explores Thomas Frank's successful business teaching people how to use Notion and selling templates, with sales reaching $2.1 million in two years and template sales currently at $120k/mo, showcasing his journey from blogging and YouTube to e-commerce and SaaS.

Read this case study

Read by 6,910 founders

3. Nomadic Matt ($744K/year)

In July 2006, Matt set off on a global adventure. As an early travel blogger, he encountered backpackers who demonstrated that he didn't need to be tied down to a job or be wealthy to travel long-term on a budget. They showed him that millions of people did it every year. After this trip, he returned home with the idea of creating a website to teach people how to "travel better for less".

Is it profitable? Yes
How much money it makes: $744K/year

How Matthew Kepnes Built Nomadic Matt To $750K ARR

Learn how founder Matthew Kepnes turned a global adventure into a profitable business with an average revenue of $62k/month, teaching millions how to travel for less through his blog, Nomadic Matt, starting in 2008.

Read this case study

Read by 389 founders

Learn more about starting an author:

Where to start?

-> Author plan
-> How to finance an author?
-> How much does it cost to start an author?
-> Pros and cons of an author

Need inspiration?

-> Other author success stories
-> Marketing ideas for an author
-> Author slogans
-> Author names
-> Author Instagram bios
-> Author Instagram captions

Other resources

-> Author tips

How much can you make with an author?

With a author, you can make an average of $2.72M revenue per year (based on data reported by real businesses).

You can start with an initial investment as low as $5. Then, with proper knowledge and sustained effort, you could have an ROI (return of investment) within 7 months.

How much does a author make a week?

Based on our data, average weekly revenue for a author ranges around $56.7K. As such, you could see monthly revenues of $227K.

To know if your author achieves the weekly profit target, you need to keep track of the total earnings you get per day. Afterward, you'll want to consider subtracting the expenses you have daily.

Learning your weekly profit can also show whether you're hitting your target goal for your author.

How much do authors owners make?

The income of an author owner can vary depending on various factors such as location, size, competition, and the owner's business skills.

But to give you some idea, the weekly revenue of an established author is about $56.7K. But this can be lower or higher depending on so many factors - it's almost impossible to say exactly.

While the potential for earning a good income as an author owner exists, success in this field requires a commitment to providing quality products and services and building a strong reputation within the community.

Author Profit Margins

Generally speaking, an author can expect profit margin of around 65%. Profit margins refer to the percentage of revenue that remains after deducting all expenses associated with running a business. In the case of an author, profit margins can vary depending on various factors, such as the type and quality of products sold, the size of the store, and the level of competition in the area.

However, these figures can vary depending on the pricing strategy, inventory management, and overall efficiency of the business. To maintain healthy profit margins, author owners must focus on managing costs, negotiating favorable supplier terms, and providing high-quality products and services to attract and retain customers. By doing so, author owners can ensure long-term sustainability and profitability for their business.

Author owner salary

The salary of an author owner is an unpredictable figure. It's significantly influenced by numerous factors, including the store's location, its size, and the degree of competition. An owner of a well-established author, in a prime position, might see an average weekly salary around the ballpark of $36.9K.

But it's worth noting, such numbers aren't always consistent. The earnings can vary wildly, potentially swinging by as much as 80% either way.

Achieving consistent success and maintaining a reliable income stream in this industry requires a deep commitment. It's imperative to offer high-quality products, deliver impeccable customer service, and nurture a trusted bond with the community you serve.

Conclusion

In a nutshell, based on many of our examples, a author may be a promising business to start - but the success of your author mostly depends on your effort and your approach.

If you focus on these, you'll have a much higher chance of a profitable author.

Part of

Becoming An Author: Everything You Need To Know

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