How do you publish an audiobook?
- Three paths: ACX (Amazon-exclusive option), Findaway Voices (wide), or direct.
- ACX exclusive: 40% royalty, 7-year contract.
- ACX non-exclusive: 25% royalty, no exclusivity.
- Production cost: $250-$500 per finished hour.
- Typical audiobook: 8-12 hours for a 90,000-word novel.
You publish an audiobook through one of three paths: ACX (Amazon’s program, 40% royalty for exclusive 7-year contracts or 25% non-exclusive), Findaway Voices (40+ retailer distribution including Apple, Spotify, libraries), or direct platform setup. Production costs $250-$500 per finished hour; a typical 90,000-word novel produces an 8-12 hour audiobook.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Audiobook is the fastest-growing book format and one of the most under-published by indies. Skipping audiobook misses 15-30% of a book’s lifetime royalties. The right path depends on whether you want Audible’s reach (ACX) or broader retailer and library coverage (Findaway).
Chapter ii·What to include
- A polished, finished manuscript.
- A platform choice: ACX, Findaway Voices, or direct distribution.
- A budget: $250-$500 per finished hour plus ISBN.
- A narrator: you, hired, or AI-generated.
- A 4-8 week production timeline after narrator locks.
- Quality check: chapter sample review before full production.
Chapter iii·Example
A working romance author publishes her 80,000-word novel as a 9-hour audiobook through Findaway Voices on a 50/50 royalty share with her narrator. Distributed to Apple, Spotify, Kobo, libraries, and Audible. Year-one royalties: $2,800 — about 25% more than the ACX-exclusive projection because of non-Audible reach.
Chapter iv·Related questions
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