How Much Should You Spend on an Editor? Building Your Book Budget

One of the most common questions I hear from new authors is, “How much should I spend on an editor?” And, as with most things in publishing, the answer depends on your goals.

Consider Your Goals First

Before you even start thinking about your budget, you need to be clear on your goals for the book. Are you writing just for fun? Is this a passion project where you don’t expect a return on investment? Or are you a thought leader, coach, or entrepreneur who will use the book to drive your business?

Your goals will directly impact how much you should invest in editing. Let’s break it down:

1. Hobby Writers

If writing is a hobby and you don’t expect to profit from your book, you can keep your costs low. Using tools like Grammarly and asking a trusted friend to give your book a once-over can be enough. But I still recommend having a professional editor take at least a quick look if possible—nothing beats a fresh set of eyes. Publishing your book this way, you could spend anywhere from nothing up to $500 to publish your book.

2. New or Emerging Authors

If you’re somewhere in the middle—you want a professional product but aren’t sure how much you’ll make from the book—you should consider investing in an editing tool like AutoCrit or investing in a proofreader or copy editor without a full structural edit. You can also get feedback from Beta Readers about the book’s actual content. This “good enough” edit will take a little more leg work, especially if you are using BETA readers, but it can often give you enough feedback and polish to move forward with publishing your book if you are uncertain about your ROI and your budget is small. Publishing this way, you could expect to spend somewhere in the $500 to $2,000 range

3. Entrepreneurs and Thought Leaders

If your book is a key part of your business strategy—perhaps to draw in clients or solidify your brand—you’ll want to invest at a higher level. A complete edit, including structural, line, and copy editing, can range from $2,000 to $10,000 or more, depending on the complexity of your book. Remember, your book represents you, and readers will judge the professionalism of your brand by the quality of your writing.

Ultimately, your editing budget should reflect what you hope to get from the book. I recommend checking out resources like the Editorial Freelancers Association, which can give you insights into typical editing costs and even has a calculator to help you find costs based on your books length and genre. My free Self-Publisher's Quick Guide also gives a detailed breakdown of self-publishing costs and timelines to help plan your book budget. 

So, how much do you think you should budget for editing? I’d love to hear your thoughts—leave a comment below!