Estimate when your book will become profitable. Calculate breakeven timeline based on total investment and average monthly earnings.
Set realistic profitability timelines. Most books take 12-24 months to break even if they're going to.
Know if increased spending on services will delay profitability beyond acceptable timelines.
Plan your publishing business cash flow. Know when to expect return on each book investment.
Time to profit = Total Investment ÷ Average Monthly Profit. If you invested $3,000 and earn $300/month profit, you'll break even in 10 months.
Most self-published books that break even do so within 12-24 months. If projections show 36+ months, reconsider the investment level or improve marketing to accelerate sales.
Remember: not all books break even. About 60% of self-published books never recover their investment. But successful authors use lessons from each book to improve the next one.
Give a book 12-24 months with active marketing. If sales stall completely after 6 months despite marketing efforts, move to the next project. Some books just don't find their audience.
Normal for most authors' first 1-3 books. View them as paid education. Skills and audience you build compound. Many authors don't profit until books 4-7.
Increase monthly profit (better marketing, higher prices, series strategy) or decrease initial investment (do more yourself, launch lean). Focus on marketing that works.
Calculate number of sales needed, not just timeline to profitability.
Calculate total investment to use in time to profit projections.
Calculate per-book profit to project average monthly earnings.