Question 1

How accurate is the calculator?

Accepted Answer

Very close for most scenarios. PubliWrite earnings are computed live by our pricing API, the same source that powers the numbers in your dashboard once you publish. Competitor figures use each platform's publicly-listed royalty model.For your exact number, publish a book on PubliWrite and check the earnings panel. It reflects your real royalty rate, your real list price, and your real production cost on print editions.

Question 2

Why are print costs deducted first?

Accepted Answer

Paperbacks and hardcovers have a production cost for printing and binding. We deduct that cost first, then calculate royalties on the remaining amount.

Question 3

How do you calculate competitor royalties, and why is the effective rate often lower than advertised?

Accepted Answer

KDP figures use the published 70% rate, which applies to ebooks priced between $2.99 and $9.99 and requires KDP Select exclusivity. Outside that window the rate drops to 35%, and Amazon also deducts a delivery fee per MB on ebooks. IngramSpark figures use the standard wholesale model: the retailer discount is taken off the list price first, then the print cost is deducted, and the remainder is the author's royalty.The headline 70% is calculated on the gross sale price before delivery fees on ebooks and before printing deductions on print. The effective rate most authors see is closer to 55–65% on ebooks and lower on print. PubliWrite shows you what you actually keep after deductions. No delivery fees on digital, and only the real print cost on paperback and hardcover.

Question 4

How do PubliWrite plans affect royalties?

Accepted Answer

Higher plans keep a larger share of every sale. Free keeps 80%, Author Plus keeps 90%, and Authorpreneur keeps 95%. The difference adds up quickly at volume.Use the plan toggle inside the calculator to see your exact number on each tier. Compare all plans.

Question 5

What happens to my royalty rate if I switch plans?

Accepted Answer

You can switch at any time. The rate that applies is whichever plan you're on when the sale lands: 80% on Free, 90% on Author Plus, 95% on Authorpreneur. There's no penalty for moving up or down, and no exclusivity tied to any tier.Use the plan tabs inside the calculator above to see what the same scenario looks like under each tier before deciding. Compare all plans.

What would your book actually earn?

Why royalty percentages are misleading. And what actually matters.

A headline rate isn't the full story.

Net vs gross. It's everything.

Small differences add up fast.

What goes into your royalty rate.

Your book price

Format: digital vs print

Your PubliWrite plan

Territory

The same book. Very different earnings.

PubliWrite, pick any plan

Other platforms

The same book. Very different earnings.

About royalties and the calculator.

You've seen the numbers. Now publish.

The same book. Very different earnings.

PubliWrite, pick any plan

Other platforms