Small independent book press

Readers buying through online retailers, your own website, local shops and events. Some presses also earn from schools, libraries, visitor attractions and gift shops.

Sales of each title, after printing, distribution and retailer discounts, and royalties to authors if you publish other people's work. Income builds slowly as your list of titles grows.

• Good eye for a book that will sell
• Project management and deadlines
• Editing or the ability to manage freelance editors
• Basic marketing and social media

• Copyright and permissions: check you have written rights for all text, images and quotes
• Legal deposit: check the current rules on sending copies of published books to the legal deposit libraries
• Defamation and accuracy risks in non-fiction, ask a solicitor if unsure
• Clear author contracts covering rights, royalties and who pays for what
• Cash tied up in editing, design and print runs before sales arrive

Startup costs are typically around £800 to £4,000, depending on editing, cover design and how much you print. Using print on demand can reduce stock costs. Remember that cash is tied up in editing and design before sales arrive.

Monthly revenue is typically around £200 to £1,000, depending on how many titles you publish and which sales channels you use, such as online retailers, your own website, local shops and events. This is an estimate of revenue, not profit.

Check you hold written rights for all text, images and quotes, and the current legal deposit rules for sending copies to libraries. Also check defamation and accuracy risks in non-fiction, and use clear author contracts covering rights, royalties and costs.