MobileRead Forums - View Single Post - What's the going rate for a pro to format an ePub?

K-Thom · 12-09-2010, 06:56 AM

Since I'm doing exactly that kind of work professionally for about half a year now (semi-professional for about the last seven years or so), it looks like i'm way too low priced ...

* 100 to 200 US$ (respectively in Euro) would be a dream. Most publishers cringe at half the price.
* Most files are PDF, mostly created out of InDesign, so they need about an extra hour or two to get them "in shape" (did I ever say, I *hate* PDF?)
* ePubcheck is done by me, before delivering the files
* Proofread is only done casually while formatting the files, i.e. I use the Word2007 spell checker which does find a lot of errors and browse the files while working at them. No client I ever had asked explicitely for it, either.
* About all publishers gave me a carte blanche for the stylesheet. I try to stick as close to the original as possible, but then I also know the quirks of different reading software (Stanza being a close "friend" of mine ...), so I usually use a clean, foolproof layout which should work on all major platforms.
* Finally I usually test the ePub in five or six different devices/softwares before delivery. Basic rule: It has to pass ADE and look good there, since most publishers will use the Adobe-DRM scheme (at least in Germany).

And usually it's all individual price arrangements. If I get a huge order for a series with a simple layout, I usually offer a lower price. Those are indeed a welcome assembly-line work which pay off more than a complex one-novel-order.

12-09-2010, 06:56 AM	#13
K-Thom The one and only Posts: 3,302 Karma: 535819 Join Date: Oct 2008 Location: Berlin, Germany Device: yup!	Since I'm doing exactly that kind of work professionally for about half a year now (semi-professional for about the last seven years or so), it looks like i'm way too low priced ... * 100 to 200 US$ (respectively in Euro) would be a dream. Most publishers cringe at half the price. * Most files are PDF, mostly created out of InDesign, so they need about an extra hour or two to get them "in shape" (did I ever say, I hate PDF?) * ePubcheck is done by me, before delivering the files * Proofread is only done casually while formatting the files, i.e. I use the Word2007 spell checker which does find a lot of errors and browse the files while working at them. No client I ever had asked explicitely for it, either. * About all publishers gave me a carte blanche for the stylesheet. I try to stick as close to the original as possible, but then I also know the quirks of different reading software (Stanza being a close "friend" of mine ...), so I usually use a clean, foolproof layout which should work on all major platforms. * Finally I usually test the ePub in five or six different devices/softwares before delivery. Basic rule: It has to pass ADE and look good there, since most publishers will use the Adobe-DRM scheme (at least in Germany). And usually it's all individual price arrangements. If I get a huge order for a series with a simple layout, I usually offer a lower price. Those are indeed a welcome assembly-line work which pay off more than a complex one-novel-order. Last edited by K-Thom; 12-09-2010 at 07:07 AM.