Calculators
Book launch timeline planner and income calculator
To find how many books you need to sell, divide your income goal by what you earn per copy; to plan a launch, count back 10 to 12 weeks.
Published by Book Profits ClubLast updated: November 3, 2026
Book Profits Club built these two calculators from published timing advice and simple arithmetic. They are estimates for planning, not financial advice.
How many books to sell to make $100,000?
You need $100,000 divided by your earnings per copy. At $4 per copy that is 25,000 copies; at $10 per copy it is 10,000. These are worked examples, not typical royalties. Your real earnings per copy are on your royalty statement or publishing contract.
| Goal | At $4 per copy | At $10 per copy |
|---|---|---|
| $100,000 | 25,000 copies | 10,000 copies |
| $1,000,000 | 250,000 copies | 100,000 copies |
Income goal calculator
Assumes the same earnings on every copy and no costs.
After you have your numbers
If the copy count looks out of reach, that is common. Many authors add an offer so each reader is worth more; see the indie author income guide and the book marketing strategies guide.
Common questions
See all questions on the FAQ page- How many books to sell to make $100,000?
- Divide $100,000 by what you earn per copy. For example, at $4 per copy you would need 25,000 copies; at $10 per copy, 10,000. Earnings per copy depend on price, format, and royalty terms. Many authors reach income goals faster by pairing book sales with coaching or courses. Try the calculator on our tools page.
- How many books do you need to sell to make $1,000,000?
- Divide $1,000,000 by your earnings per copy. At $4 per copy that is 250,000 copies; at $10 per copy, 100,000 copies. Those examples are arithmetic, not typical royalties. Because those volumes are hard to reach, many authors use the book as the entry point to higher-priced offers instead.
- How much does an author make on a $25 book?
- It depends on the royalty terms in your publishing contract or platform agreement, and on the format and sales channel. The only reliable way to know is to check your contract or the royalty calculator your publishing platform provides. Multiply your per-copy earnings by expected sales to estimate income.
- Is selling 5000 copies of a book good?
- It depends on your genre, format, and goals, and there is no universal benchmark. For an author whose book leads to coaching or courses, 5,000 readers can matter more than the royalties: each reader is a potential client. Measure success by income and impact, not copies alone.
- What is the first step in a book marketing plan?
- The first step is to set your launch date and work backward. Mark the reviewer research start 3 to 4 months before, and your promotion start 10 to 12 weeks before. Our launch timeline planner calculates those dates for you, and the 12-week plan template on the self-published authors page lists tasks.
Make every reader worth more
Book Profits Club helps authors turn readers into clients.