The Business of Bookselling: Managing Records, Taxes, and Publishing Costs
Once your book is published, you are running a small business. This workshop explores the practical, financial, and administrative responsibilities involved in publishing and selling books, helping authors understand the often-overlooked aspects and hidden costs of the business.
This session examines:
- hiring freelancers
- tool subscriptions
- obtaining ISBNs
- publishing/distribution
- royalties
- bookkeeping: sales and expense recording
- income tax and HST reporting
Focusing on the financial side of being an author, participants will learn about the ongoing operating costs, such as website expenses, software, and subscription services that are often overlooked when authors calculate the true cost of publishing. We will also discuss why accurate record-keeping matters, and how good systems can make it easier to monitor the success of their books and prepare financial information.
By the end of the workshop, participants will have a clearer understanding of the business side of publishing and the steps they can take to manage their writing activities more effectively.
About Elise Abram
Elise Abram is an author, editor, and founder of EMSA Publishing. Since 2015, she has helped authors through the publishing process, offering services such as editing, interior formatting, cover design, and distribution. She has published over 100 books, including 29 of her own, and edited more than 300 manuscripts, fiction and non-fiction, in a variety of genres. She is also an award-winning YA science fiction author. A former archaeologist and retired English teacher with over 25 years of experience, Elise holds an MEd in Curriculum Studies. She now channels her passion for teaching into supporting writers, working closely