When it comes to book publishing, maintaining your budget is essential to ensure financial discipline and optimize resources. A budget simply outlines the expenses for editing, cover design, printing, marketing, and distribution to prevent overspending and financial strain.
But somehow budgeting is still confusing and a bit hard to tackle for the authors, especially if they publish their debut novel. Well, to sort out these hurdles, there are multiple of tools that can be helpful for the authors to plan their budget.
Some of them are discussed here, so let’s continue.
8 Tools to Publish Your Book on a Budget
Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP)
For self-publishing, several affordable book publishing services are available to guide you as they also use Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing. It is one of the most popular and cost-effective options available right now for authors.
You can publish your eBook for free and reach millions of readers worldwide through the Kindle Store. Also, you can retain full control over your pricing and royalties which makes it an attractive option for authors on a budget.
- Retain control over pricing.
- Reach millions of readers.
Draft2Digtial
Draf2Digital is another excellent platform for self-publishing your eBook and it allows you to easily format and distribute your book to multiple online retailers which include Amazon, Apple Books, Barnes & Noble, and more.
In addition to this, the tool also takes care of the technical aspect of publishing such as formatting and converting your manuscript into various eBook formats, so you can focus on writing.
Highlighted Features
- Format for multiple online retailers.
- Simplifies ebook distribution process.
IngramSpark
If you are looking to publish a print version of your book, then IngramSpark is a fantastic option. While there is a setup fee it offers competitive printing and distribution rates which makes it cost-effective.
Furthermore, the tool is distributed to major retailers and libraries all around the world which allows you to reach a broader audience with your print book.
Highlighted Features
- Competitive printing and distribution rates.
- Offers print-on-demand services.
Canva
When you take the step to design a professional-looking book cover on a budget – you can get it done on Canva. It offers a wide range of customizable templates and design tools that make it easy for you to create appealing and aesthetic book covers – even if you are not a graphic designer. You can easily design a stunning book cover without breaking the bank with the affordable pricing plans of Canas.
Highlighted Features
- User-friendly design tools.
- Affordable pricing plans.
Reedsy
Many authors need professional editing, formatting, or book design services and Reedsy is an excellent platform for finding experienced freelancers. Although hiring freelancers might seem expensive at first glance – Reedsy allows you to set your budget and receive custom quotes from verified professionals within your price range. Through this way, you can easily get the professional help you need without overspending.
Highlighted Features
- Find professional freelancers within budget.
- Set your own budget for services.
Google Docs
For authors who are on tight budgets, Google Docs can be a lifesaver. Not only the tool is free to use but it also offers strong writing and collaboration features which makes it easy to write and edit your manuscript. In addition to this, since Google Docs is cloud-based, you can access your work from anywhere with an internet connection which makes it an ideal choice for writers who are always on the go.
Highlighted Features
- Free cloud-based writing and editing.
- Accessible from anywhere with the internet.
Grammarly
No matter how great your writing skills are, everyone makes mistakes and that is where Grammarly comes in view. It is a powerful proofreading tool that helps the author to address grammar, spelling, and punctuation errors in the manuscript. While the tool offers a premium version with advanced features; it also has a free version which is still incredibly useful for authors on the budget.
Highlighted Features
- Powerful proofreading for grammar, and spelling.
- The premium version offers advanced features.
Mailchimp
Once your book is published, you will want to start building an email list for loyal readers. Mailchimp is a popular email marketing platform and tool that offers a free plan for users with up to 2000 subscribers. You can easily create professional-looking email campaigns to promote your book and engage with your audience without spending a dime with Mailchimp.
Highlighted Features
- Create professional email campaigns.
- Engage with the audience through email marketing.
Conclusion
So, these are some of the most used and proven budgeting tools for the authors that can help in maintaining the budget and keep the expenses at their lowest. Indeed, you need to keep track of your spending and make sure that you have enough for rainy days – and to help you with it these tools mentioned above are perfect.