From a Recent Client

"I'd worked with two other services before finding Master Book Circle. The difference was immediate — they explained every cost line before I signed anything. My memoir went from rough draft to printed copies in five months, and I understood the invoice at every stage."

— Harriet Llewellyn, author of The Cartographer's Daughter, published March 2025

How Book Services Are Priced — Without Packages, Without Guesswork

A transparent guide to what you'll actually pay and why

Most book service providers bundle their work into opaque packages — Bronze, Silver, Gold — leaving you unsure what you're paying for and what you could skip. We don't do that. Every service at Master Book Circle is priced individually, explained clearly, and scoped to your manuscript. This page breaks down exactly how our pricing works, what drives costs up or down, and how to estimate your investment before we ever speak.

Service-by-Service Pricing Reference

Service	Unit of Measure	Typical Range	What Moves the Price
Developmental Editing	Per 1,000 words	£28 – £52	Structural complexity, genre conventions, number of revision rounds
Line Editing	Per 1,000 words	£18 – £34	Prose density, dialogue-to-narrative ratio, author's revision stage
Copy-editing	Per 1,000 words	£12 – £22	Reference checking, citation style, footnote volume
Proofreading	Per 1,000 words	£7 – £14	Layout complexity, index presence, image captions
Cover Design	Per project	£280 – £750	Illustration vs. typographic, print + digital variants, revision rounds
Interior Layout & Typesetting	Per project	£220 – £600	Page count, image integration, special formatting (poetry, tables, etc.)
ISBN & Metadata Setup	Flat fee	£45 – £90	Number of formats (print, ebook, audiobook), distribution channels
Publishing Submission Support	Per submission batch	£150 – £380	Number of agents/publishers, query letter drafting, synopsis development
Manuscript Assessment	Per manuscript	£180 – £420	Word count, depth of report, genre-specific market analysis

All prices in GBP, exclusive of VAT where applicable. Ranges reflect 2024–2025 project data. Your actual quote depends on manuscript specifics discussed during scoping.

What Actually Drives Your Cost

Three variables shape every quote we issue. Understanding them means you can make informed decisions about where to invest — and where to save.

1. Manuscript Readiness A first draft needs more developmental work than a third revision. We assess readiness with a free sample review of your opening 2,000 words — no obligation. "They told me my draft needed structural editing, not just proofreading. That honesty saved me from paying for the wrong service." — D. Okonkwo, Belfast

2. Scope of Deliverables A print-only novel costs less to prepare than a multi-format release with ebook, hardcover, and audiobook metadata. We price each deliverable separately so you choose what you need.

3. Timeline & Revision Depth Standard turnaround carries no surcharge. Expedited timelines (under 3 weeks for full editing) add 15–25%. Each service includes one revision round; additional rounds are quoted per-round, not per-hour.

Readiness Selector — Where Does Your Manuscript Sit?

Identify your stage to understand which services apply and what your likely investment range looks like.

Stage A: Raw First Draft

You've finished writing but haven't revised. The story or content exists, but structure, pacing, and prose need significant attention. Likely services: Manuscript Assessment → Developmental Editing → Line Editing → Copy-editing → Proofreading → Design. Typical total for 80,000-word novel: £2,800 – £5,200.

"Most authors underestimate this stage. Starting with assessment saves money downstream." — Our editorial team

Stage B: Revised Draft

You've self-edited or had beta readers. Structure is sound but prose needs polishing and consistency checking. Likely services: Line Editing → Copy-editing → Proofreading → Design. Typical total for 80,000 words: £1,600 – £3,400.

About 40% of our clients arrive at this stage.

Stage C: Near-Final Manuscript

Previously edited by a professional or extensively workshopped. Needs copy-editing, proofing, and production. Likely services: Copy-editing → Proofreading → Design → Publishing Support. Typical total: £800 – £1,900.

If you've already invested in editing, we won't upsell you on services you don't need.

How a Real Project Broke Down

Manuscript pages spread across a working desk during the editing process

Project: Tides of the Foyle, a 92,000-word literary fiction manuscript by a debut author based in Derry.

Starting stage: Revised second draft (Stage B). The author had completed two self-revision passes and received feedback from a writing group.

Services engaged:

Line Editing: 92,000 words × £24/1,000 = £2,208
Copy-editing: 92,000 words × £15/1,000 = £1,380
Proofreading: 92,000 words × £9/1,000 = £828
Cover Design (typographic, print + ebook): £420
Interior Typesetting (print + ebook): £380
ISBN & Metadata (2 formats): £65

Total: £5,281 — paid in three staged instalments across four months. No deposit surprises, no scope creep charges.

Pricing Questions We Hear Often

Why don't you offer fixed packages?
Packages force you to pay for services you may not need. A Stage C manuscript doesn't require developmental editing, so why include it? Our à la carte model means you invest only in what your manuscript actually requires. We scope every project individually after reviewing a sample.
Can I start with just one service and add more later?
Absolutely. Many clients begin with a Manuscript Assessment to understand what their draft needs, then engage further services based on our recommendations. There's no commitment beyond the service you've approved.
How do payment terms work?
For projects under £500, we invoice upon completion. For larger projects, we split payment into milestones — typically a third at commencement, a third at midpoint, and the balance on delivery. We never require full upfront payment.
Do prices change based on genre?
Genre affects developmental editing rates because some genres (historical fiction, hard science fiction, academic non-fiction) require more research verification and structural convention adherence. Copy-editing and proofreading rates are generally consistent across genres.
What if I disagree with the scope assessment?
You're never locked in. If you believe your manuscript needs less work than we've recommended, you can engage a lighter service. We'll note our professional opinion in writing, but the decision is yours. We'd rather do honest, limited work than oversell.
Is VAT included in your quoted prices?
Prices on this page are exclusive of VAT. If VAT applies to your engagement, it will be clearly itemised on your invoice. Many individual author clients are not subject to VAT on these services — we'll clarify during scoping.

Request Your Personalised Quote

Tell us about your manuscript and we'll return an itemised estimate within two working days.

From a Recent Client

How Book Services Are Priced — Without Packages, Without Guesswork

Service-by-Service Pricing Reference

What Actually Drives Your Cost

Readiness Selector — Where Does Your Manuscript Sit?

Stage A: Raw First Draft

Stage B: Revised Draft

Stage C: Near-Final Manuscript

How a Real Project Broke Down

Pricing Questions We Hear Often

Find Us

Request Your Personalised Quote

Contact

Quick Links

Legal

From a Recent Client

How Book Services Are Priced — Without Packages, Without Guesswork

Service-by-Service Pricing Reference

What Actually Drives Your Cost

Readiness Selector — Where Does Your Manuscript Sit?

Stage A: Raw First Draft

Stage B: Revised Draft

Stage C: Near-Final Manuscript

How a Real Project Broke Down

Pricing Questions We Hear Often

Find Us

Request Your Personalised Quote

Contact

Quick Links

Legal

Privacy Policy

Terms of Service

Disclaimer