How many author copies should you order for your launch?

Order too few books and you run out at your own launch party. Order too many and you have boxes in the garage for years. The right number is not a guess, though. You can build it from the people and events you already know about, then add a sensible buffer.

Start with what you can count

Most first print runs are made of a handful of parts. Go through each one and write down a realistic number, not a hopeful one.

Events

Think about every place you will be in person during the first few months: a launch party, a reading at your library, a church or school event, a book fair. For each one, estimate how many people will come and how many of them are likely to buy. Not everyone who comes will buy, and some people will buy two.

Preorders

If you take preorders, these are your firmest numbers. Each one is a book already sold. Count them as they come in, and keep taking them until you place your order.

Your list

Your email list, social media following, newsletter and personal contacts are the next layer. Only a portion of any list buys a book, and that portion varies a lot from author to author. Be conservative here. If you have sold to this audience before, use what happened last time as your guide.

Consignment and local shops

Some local bookstores, gift shops and coffee shops will take a few copies on consignment, which means they pay you only when a copy sells. Count the shops that have said yes, and the number of copies each one asked for.

Giveaways and reviewers

Plan for books that you will give away rather than sell: copies for reviewers, people who helped with the book, family, contest winners and your own shelf. These add up faster than most authors expect.

A buffer

Add a buffer on top for the things you cannot predict: a damaged copy, an extra event, a friend who wants ten for gifts. A buffer of 10 to 20 percent is a reasonable place to start. Pick a number you are comfortable living with.

An example estimate

Here is how the arithmetic might look for an imaginary author. These are round illustrative numbers only, not a forecast for your book.

• Events: a launch party where about 40 people will buy, plus two library readings at about 15 each. That is 40 + 15 + 15 = 70 copies.
• Preorders: 60 copies already sold.
• List: an email list of 1,000 people. If 5 percent buy, that is 50 copies.
• Consignment: three local shops taking 10 copies each, so 30 copies.
• Giveaways and reviewers: 25 copies.

That adds up to 70 + 60 + 50 + 30 + 25 = 235 copies. A 15 percent buffer adds about 35 more, for a total of about 270 copies.

Run the same steps with your own numbers. If your total feels high, look again at the list percentage and the event estimates, because those are the softest numbers in the plan.

More copies or a faster arrival

Once you have your number, the next choice is how to print it. The two ways to print at The Honest Print work differently, and both have a place in a launch.

• Standard printing suits larger quantities. The cost per book drops as the quantity goes up, so ordering a little more can be sensible if you are confident you will sell it. The trade off is time. A standard run typically takes 45 to 60 days, and the date you see is an estimate, not a guarantee.
• Short runs suit small quantities, typically under about 100 copies. Each copy costs more, but your books arrive much sooner.

If your launch date is close, or you are unsure of your estimate, you can do both. Order a short run to cover early reviewers and your first event, and a standard run for the rest, timed to arrive before your main sales period.

Using the example above, the author might print about 30 copies as a short run for reviewers and the launch party, then 240 copies with standard printing for preorders, readings, shops and the buffer. If sales run ahead of the plan, a reorder reuses the approved files and only needs a fresh quote.

For more on timing, see standard or short run. For comparing quotes at different quantities, see the true cost per book.

Getting started

Add up your own estimate, then start your book and request a quote. If you are torn between two quantities, tell us and we will price both. Every quote is one all in price with shipping included, priced by a person within 2 to 3 business days and valid for 10 days. If you would like to see the paper and finishes first, order a sample pack.