Illustrated and Audio Book Publisher

Parents, teachers, schools, libraries and listeners buying through online stores, audiobook platforms and your own website.

Per-title sales through retailers and distributors, direct sales from your website, and licensing to schools or libraries. Production costs come first, so each title needs to earn its cost back over time.

• Project managing illustrators and narrators
• Basic audio or layout software
• Understanding of your target audience, such as young readers
• Online marketing

• Rights and contracts for illustrators, narrators and any source text, including whether a story is truly public domain
• Production costs can build up before any sales, so budget carefully per title
• If selling in Quebec, check French-language requirements for products and marketing
• Check GST/HST registration and how sales tax applies to digital products you sell directly
• Check whether any grants or funding programs for Canadian publishers apply, and what conditions they carry

Estimates suggest startup costs are typically around $1,500 to $7,500, depending on the number of titles and what you spend on illustration, narration and production. Costs can build up before any sales, so budget per title.

Monthly revenue is typically estimated at around $200 to $3,500, depending on how many titles you release and how well they sell to parents, teachers, schools and libraries.

Check rights and contracts for illustrators, narrators and source text, including whether a story is truly public domain. Also check French-language requirements if selling in Quebec, GST/HST registration, and any conditions attached to grants for Canadian publishers.