Profit and Loss Book Calculator

Cost and Revenue Modeling for Your Children's Book

Created by Dr. Kevin Luczynski and Dr. Derek Reed, November 4th, 2025, first iteration

[We are new to this. This is built off our best efforts to get this information. We are open to all ideas and feedback.]

Net Profit
$0
After all costs
Profit per Book
$0
After variable costs
Break-Even
0
Books to cover fixed costs
ROI
0%
Return on investment
Inputs

Sales Channel

Pricing & Volume

Retail Price $12.00
Books to Sell 3,000

Upfront Investment

Publishing Services $5,000

Literary agent, illustrator, and other services

Launch Marketing $1,500
Annual Platform Fees $500

Shopify, email platform, etc. (~$39-$50/mo)

First Print Run 3,000 books

Inventory you buy upfront

Per-Book Costs

Print Cost $5.50
Fulfillment Provider

Your total cost to pack and ship one book. Shipping is included in the retail price.

Estimates based on an 8x8" hardcover picture book (~1 lb). Sourced from provider websites and quotes (2026). Rates vary by book size, weight, zone, and volume. Request your own quote before committing.

Fulfillment Cost (pack + ship) $8.50

What you pay total per book: packing + carrier. Shipping is baked into your retail price.

Payment Processing Fee 3.5%
Economics Breakdown

Customer Pays

$12.00
Free shipping included

Your Total Cash Investment

Key Insights