How do small presses pay royalties?
- Quarterly or biannual payment schedule.
- Ebook royalties: typically 15-25% of net receipts.
- Print royalties: typically 10-15% of net receipts.
- Statements issued within 90 days of period end.
- Payments follow 30-60 days after the statement.
Small presses pay royalties on a quarterly or biannual schedule — typically 15-25% of net receipts for ebook, 10-15% for print — issued by check or direct deposit with a royalty statement detailing per-title sales. Authors receive statements within 90 days of period end; payments follow 30-60 days after the statement.
Chapter i·Why it matters
Small-press authors often arrive expecting Amazon-style 70% royalties and are surprised by 15-25% from a press. The math is different because the press handles editing, design, distribution, and marketing — costs the indie author would pay directly. Knowing the standard rates and schedule lets authors compare offers honestly.
Chapter ii·What to include
- A contract specifying the royalty rate per format.
- A statement template the press will provide.
- A payment schedule named in the contract.
- A reserve-against-returns clause for print sales.
- An audit-rights clause (often included).
- A first-statement timing reference (90 days after period end).
Chapter iii·Example
A small press author with a debut novel signed in 2024 receives her first quarterly statement in April 2026 covering January-March sales: 340 print copies + 1,200 ebook copies = $1,840 in royalties at 12% print and 18% ebook. Payment hits her account May 15.
WriteLoom holds royalty tracking alongside the per-book workspace — so authors and presses share the same data.
See WriteLoom for teams