Please help me make this survey more accurate by sharing your information! See details at the end.

What do the various romance (and YA) publishers pay? Here’s the best info I’ve gleaned from a dozen years of surveying authors who were generous enough to volunteer their figures. Royalty percentages are based on cover price unless otherwise noted and are for U.S. retail sales. Earnout figures include all earnings for a book, including the advance, royalties, and any subsidiary sales. Publishers are only included if I had at least three responses for that publisher. Similarly, n/a means that specific information wasn’t available. Ranges for advances and earnouts are provided to control for the skewing that one or two outliers might cause, as are median figures. Only titles released in the year 2000 or later are included. I make no claim to statistical significance–I simply present what I’ve received, operating on the assumption that some information is far better than none at all.

………………………………………………………………………………………..# of titles included

Avon/HarperCollins……………………………………………………………………………60

Average advance (first book): $17,400  Median: $8000

Average advance (subsequent books): $25,300  Median: $12,000

Advance range: $5000 – $100,000

Standard print royalty: 8%  Electronic: 25% (net)

Average earn-out: $18,000  Median: $13,500  Range: $9,000 – $35,000

Baker/Revell……………………………………………………………………………………….12

Average advance: $8800  Median: $9250

Advance range: $6700 – $10,000

Standard print royalty: 8-17% (net) Electronic: 25-50% (net)

Average earn-out: n/a

Ballantine………………………………………………………………………………………….21

Average advance (first book): $40,000  Median: $40,000

Average advance (subsequent books): $172,000  Median: $175,000

Advance range: $40,000 – $275,000

Standard print royalty: 8%

Average earn-out: n/a

Bantam/Dell……………………………………………………………………………………….15

Average advance: $17,000  Median: $20,000

Advance range: $7500 – $25,000

Standard print royalty: 8%

Average earn-out: n/a

Barbour & Co. (Heartsong Presents)…………………………………………………..13

Average advance: $2500  Median: $2500

Advance range: $2200 – $3000

Standard print royalty: 8%

Average earn-out: $3600  Median: $3600  Range: $2500 – $3900

Barbour & Co. (Novellas) …………………………………………………………………12

Average advance: $1000  Median: $1000

Standard print royalty: 2.5%

Average earn-out: n/a

Barbour & Co. (Trade Fiction) ……………………………………………………………4

Average advance: $8750  Median: $8750

Standard print royalty: 8%

Average earn-out: n/a

Belle/Bell Bridge Books……………………………………………………………………..5

Average advance: $330  Median: $300

Standard print royalty: 8% Electronic: 40% (net)

Average earn-out: $14,000  Median: $12,600

Berkley/Jove………………………………………………………………………………………78

Average advance (first book): $8100  Median: $7000

Average advance (subsequent books): $12,200  Median: $8000

Advance range: $4000 – $40,000

Standard print royalty: 6% – 8% Electronic: 15% (cover) – 25% (net)

Average earn-out: $15,700  Median: $10,000  Range: $5000 – $50,000

Berkley (novellas) ………………………………………………………………………………4

Average advance: $6900  Median: $6300

Standard print royalty: 2-3.75%

Average earn-out: n/a

Breathless Press …………………………………………………………………………………8

Average advance: none

Standard electronic royalty: 40%

Average earn-out: $200  Median: $150

Cerridwen/Blush (EC)……………………………………………………………………………9

Average advance: none

Standard print royalty: 7.5% Electronic 37.5% onsite 37.5% (net) elsewhere

Average earn-out: $400  Median: $100

Changeling Press………………………………………………………………………………..21

Average advance: none

Standard electronic royalty: 35%

Average earn-out: $1050  Median: $1050

Cobblestone……………………………………………………………………………………….14

Average advance: none

Electronic royalty: 35% onsite 35% (net) elsewhere

Average earn-out: $700  Median: $650

Dutton/Signet/NAL……………………………………………………………………………..35

Average advance (first book): $9400  Median: $10,000

Average advance (subsequent books): $21,000  Median: $12,500

Advance range: $6000 – $85,000

Standard print royalty: 7.5 – 8%

Average earn-out: n/a

Ellora’s Cave……………………………………………………………………………………..138

Average advance: none

Standard print royalty: 7.5% Electronic 40% onsite 40% (net) elsewhere

Average earn-out: $3100  Median: $2300  Range: $250 – $14,000

Ellora’s Cave (anthologies/novellas) ………………………………………………….38

Average advance: none

Standard electronic royalty: varies by number of authors

Average earn-out: $2250  Median: $2100  Range: $430 – $7100

Entangled………………………………………………………………………………………….4

Average advance: none

Standard print royalty: 9% Electronic 40% onsite 40% (net) elsewhere

Average earn-out: $129,000  Median: $1150  Range: $500 – $500,000

Five Star/Thorndike (hardcover) ………………………………………………………….8

Average advance: $1150  Median: $1000

Advance range: $750 – $2000

Standard print royalty: 10%

Average earn-out: $1850  Median: $850  Range: $750 – $4000

Grand Central Publishing (Warner/Hachette) ……………………………………….61

Average advance (first book): $7000  Median: $6000

Average advance (subsequent books): $16,500  Median: $10,000

Advance range: $5000 – $75,000

Standard print royalty: 8%

Average earn-out: $38,500  Median: $31,500  Range: $8300 – $100,000

Harlequin American…………………………………………………………………………..19

Average advance (first book): $4400  Median: $4250

Average advance (subsequent books): $5000  Median: $5000

Advance range: $4000 – $8500

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic: 6%

Average earn-out: $8150  Median: $7600 Range: $7300 – $10,100

Harlequin Blaze………………………………………………………………………………..31

Average advance (first book): $4350  Median: $4000

Average advance (subsequent books): $5500  Median: $5300

Advance range: $4000 – $10,500

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic: 6%

Average earn-out: $12,500  Median: $12,300  Range: $10,500 – $15,000

Harlequin Desire ……………………………………………………………………………..35

Average advance (first book): $4300  Median: $4000

Average advance (subsequent books): $5800  Median: $6000

Advance range: $4000 – $8,000

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic 6%

Average earn-out: $16,400  Median: $15,500  Range: $12,000 – $23,000

Harlequin Historical …………………………………………………………………………33

Average advance (first book): $3400  Median: $2500

Average advance (subsequent books): $5400  Median: $5500

Advance range: $2500 – $8,000

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic: 6%

Average earn-out: $9100  Median: $8650  Range: $6700 – $13,000

Harlequin Intrigue……………………………………………………………………………..29

Average advance (first book): $3900  Median: $4000

Average advance (subsequent books): $5000  Median: $4500

Advance range: $3500 – $7500

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic: 6%

Average earn-out: $14,500  Median: $12,600  Range: $10,000 – $26,000

Harlequin Mills & Boon (Incl. Medical) ……………………………………………….24

Average advance (first book): $3600  Median: $4000

Average advance (subsequent books): $3900  Median: $4000

Advance range: $2000 – $5000

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic: 6% (20%net)

Average earn-out: n/a

Harlequin Nocturne……………………………………………………………………………..10

Average advance: $6300  Median: $62500

Advance range: $6000 – $8000

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic 20% (net)

Average earn-out: n/a

Harlequin Nocturne (Bites)…………………………………………………………………..3

Average advance: $1000  Median: $1000

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic 20%

Average earn-out: n/a

Harlequin Romance……………………………………………………………………………..19

Average advance (first book): $2500  Median: $2500

Average advance (subsequent books): $3100  Median: $2600

Advance range: $2400 – $7000

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic: 6%

Average earn-out:  $10,100  Median: $10,000  Range: $7400 – $12,800

Harlequin Romantic Suspense ……………………………………………………………..13

Average advance (first book): n/a

Average advance (subsequent books): $5600  Median: $5500

Advance range: $4000 – $7500

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic 6%

Average earn-out: $11,000  Median: $11,000 Range: $9500 – $13,500

Harlequin Special Edition ……………………………………………………………………29

Average advance (first book): $4100  Median: $4000

Average advance (subsequent books): $7300  Median: $8000

Advance range: $4000 – $13,000

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic 6%

Average earn-out: $17,500  Median: $17,000  Range: $12,000 – $23,000

Harlequin Superromance……………………………………………………………………..73

Average advance (first book): $5000  Median: $5000

Average advance (subsequent books): $5500  Median: $5500

Advance range: $4000 – $7000

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic: 6%

Average earn-out: $15,000  Median: $15,000  Range: $8,000 – $28,000

HQN…………………………………………………………………………………………………14

Average advance: $18,000  Median: $19,000

Advance range: $8500 – $55,000

Standard print royalty: 8%  Electronic: 25% (net)

Average earn-out: n/a

Harper Teen………………………………………………………………………………………..8

Average advance: $51,000  Median: $40,000

Advance range: $20,000 – $80,000

Standard print royalty: 6% trade 10% hc Electronic: 25% (net)

Average earn-out: n/a

Kensington/Zebra………………………………………………………………………………..149

Average advance (first book): $3500  Median: $3000

Average advance (subsequent books): $7100  Median: $3700

Advance range: $1750 – $60,000

Standard print royalty: 6 – 8%  Electronic: 25% (net)

Average earn-out: $6200  Median: $3800  Range: $2500 – $17,800

Kensington (novellas) ……………………………………………………………………………29

Average advance:  $2750  Median: $1500

Advance range: $750 – $9000

Standard print royalty: 2 – 3.75%

Average earn-out:  n/a

Liquid Silver………………………………………………………………………………………….14

Average advance: none

Standard electronic royalty: 40%

Average earn-out: $900  Median: $230  Range: $70 – $3400

Loose Id………………………………………………………………………………………………..24

Average advance: none

Standard print royalty: 7%  Electronic: 35%

Average earn-out: $2150  Median: $1400  Range: $200 – $9000

Love Inspired ………………………………………………………………………………………….89

Average advance (first book): $4000  Median: $4000

Average advance (subsequent books): $5400  Median: $5000

Advance range: $3500 – $9500

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic: 6%

Average earn-out: $10,800  Median: $10,400  Range: $6500 – $18,000

Medallion Press………………………………………………………………………………………..6

Average advance: $1200  Median: $1000

Advance range: $1000 – $2000

Standard print royalty: 10%

Average earn-out: n/a

MIRA………………………………………………………………………………………………………8

Average advance: $80,000  Median: $17,500

Advance range: $15,000 – $450,000

Standard print royalty: 8%  Electronic: 8%

Average earn-out: n/a

Pocket……………………………………………………………………………………………………..30

Average advance (first book): $10,400  Median: $5000

Average advance (subsequent books):  $16,700  Median: $12,500

Advance range: $5000 – $50,000

Standard print royalty: 8 – 10%  Electronic: 25% (net)

Average earn-out: n/a

Random House/Delacorte (YA)…………………………………………………………………….7

Average advance (first book): $28,000  Median: $18,000

Average advance (subsequent books):  $90,000  Median: $92,500

Advance range: $15,000 – $125,000

Standard print royalty: 6 – 10%

Average earn-out: $110,000  Median:  $128,000

Red Sage (novellas) …………………………………………………………………………………11

Average advance:  $550  Median: $750

Advance range:  $50 – $1000

Standard print royalty: 1.5 – 6% (varies by # of authors)

Average earn-out: $2300  Median: $2250  Range: $1000 – $3600

St. Martin’s Press…………………………………………………………………………………….35

Average advance (first book): $18,000  Median: $7500

Average advance (subsequent books): $37,000  Median: $18,000

Advance range: $4500 – $200,000

Standard print royalty: 7.5-10% Electronic: 25% (net)

Average earn-out:  n/a

Samhain………………………………………………………………………………………………….27

Average advance: $60  Median: $100

Advance range: $0 – $100

Standard print royalty: 8 – 10%  Electronic: 40% onsite 30% elsewhere

Average earn-out: $3100  Median: $1700  Range: $300 – $15,000

Simon & Schuster Pulse/McElderry/UK (YA)……………………………………………..7

Average advance: $17,000  Median: $22,000

Advance range: $10,000 – $25,000

Standard print royalty: 6%mm 7% t 10%hc

Average earn-out: n/a

Siren Bookstrand…………………………………………………………………………………….26

Average advance: none

Standard print royalty: 6%  Electronic: 40% onsite 50%(net) elsewhere

Average earn-out: $5500  Median: $1700  Range: $100 – $24,000

Sourcebooks…………………………………………………………………………………………..43

Average advance (first book): $2000  Median: $1600

Average advance (subsequent books): $4200  Median: $1700

Advance range: $1000 – $17,500

Standard print royalty: 6-8%  Electronic: 8-25% (net)

Average earn-out: n/a

Tor/Forge……………………………………………………………………………………………….22

Average advance (first book): $11,000  Median: $10,000

Average advance (subsequent books): $14,000  Median: $14,000

Advance range: $7500 – $20,000

Standard print royalty: 8%

Average earn-out: n/a

Wild Rose Press………………………………………………………………………………………19

Average advance: none

Standard print royalty: 7%  Electronic: 35% onsite 35% (net) elsewhere

Average earn-out: $350  Median: $230  Range: $50 – 1100

© 2001 – 2012 by Brenda Hiatt  (last update: 10/12)

I very much want to keep this information current for future reference.  Anyone willing to share their info (anonymously–I never save names!) please e-mail me at brendahb@aol.com. Indie-pubbed authors, please click the pull-down tab above for a separate survey. Huge thanks to all of the authors who have been willing to share their own, private financial data for the benefit of all writers!!

What I specifically need for each book:

Publisher/line

Year (or projected year) of release

Which book it is of yours/for that publisher (1st, 5th, etc.)

Advance (if any)

Standard royalty percentage (for regular print sales AND for ebook sales)

Total earnout to date (INCLUDING advance)

Title acronym with month/year of release (if known)

As always, everything will be kept TOTALLY confidential. I strip author names and even delete the original email after pasting the data into my database.