Feb 8, 2025
What I Learned About Indie Publishing in 2024: A Deep Dive into Sales and Expenses
Welcome to the world of indie publishing! As an indie author, the journey can be filled with highs and lows, particularly when it comes to understanding sales and expenses. I’m Ron Vitale, and I’ve been documenting my publishing journey since 2011. Today, I want to share a detailed look at my 2024 year-end wrap-up, focusing on the financial aspects that can significantly impact new indie authors.
Table of Contents
- 📊 The Importance of Transparency
- 💰 Breaking Down My 2024 Expenses
- 📈 My Income for 2024
- 📚 Fiction vs. Non-Fiction: A Closer Look
- 📝 Marketing Decisions and Their Impact
- 🤔 The Reality of Indie Publishing
- 💡 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
- ❓ FAQ Section
- 🌟 Closing Thoughts
📊 The Importance of Transparency
Transparency in the indie publishing world is crucial for both new and experienced authors. By sharing my financial data, I hope to provide insight into the real-world expenses and income that come with being an indie author. This isn’t just about numbers; it’s about showing the reality of the indie publishing business.

💰 Breaking Down My 2024 Expenses
Let’s dive into the numbers! In 2024, I spent a total of $136 on various expenses, which is quite a pullback from previous years. Here’s a breakdown of what I spent:
- Advertising: $62
- Proofreading: A significant part of my budget, but I didn’t specify an exact number.
- Cover Design: Another essential expense that varies each year.
- Website Fees: $74 for my Squarespace account, which I’ve used for over a decade.
This year, I consciously decided to minimize my advertising spend. Since I was transitioning into a new series, I opted to hold off on heavy marketing until I had more books available.

📈 My Income for 2024
Now, let’s look at the income side of things. My total income for 2024 was $1,064.94, which included:
- Book sales
- Amazon affiliate sales
- Substack subscriptions
- Income from formatting other authors' books
- Donations via Buy Me a Coffee
After subtracting my total expenses, I faced a loss of $241. While this isn’t ideal, it’s essential to understand that not every year will be profitable. The purpose of sharing these figures is to illustrate the challenges many indie authors face.

📚 Fiction vs. Non-Fiction: A Closer Look
In my journey, I’ve published a range of titles, with 18 fiction books and several non-fiction works. The breakdown of my sales shows that my non-fiction has consistently performed better than my fiction. In fact, my non-fiction series, Let Go and Be Free, targeted at individuals from dysfunctional backgrounds, has been my best seller.
- Fiction Sales: Approximately $46.74
- Non-Fiction Sales: The majority of my income came from these titles.
This disparity highlights a crucial lesson for indie authors: sometimes, focusing on a niche can yield better results than trying to compete across multiple genres.

📝 Marketing Decisions and Their Impact
Marketing is an ever-evolving landscape, and I learned this the hard way. In previous years, I spent hundreds or even thousands on advertising, only to see minimal returns. This year, I spent just $62 on ads, primarily for the early part of the year, before turning off campaigns that weren’t yielding results.
One of the key takeaways I gathered from my experience is to be strategic with marketing. I’m now focusing on building my audience organically while I develop more titles in my series.

🤔 The Reality of Indie Publishing
Many aspiring authors believe that once you have a certain number of titles published, success will follow. Unfortunately, that’s not always the case. I’ve been publishing since 2011, and while I’ve had periods of success, I’ve also faced years where I struggled financially.
For example, in 2024, despite having multiple published titles, I still experienced a loss. It’s a stark reminder that the indie publishing journey is not a straight path to success.

💡 Lessons Learned and Moving Forward
As I reflect on my 2024 experience, a few lessons stand out:
- Focus on what works: Identify which genres or series resonate with your audience and concentrate on those.
- Be strategic with marketing: Sometimes less is more. Focus on organic growth and only invest in advertising that shows promise.
- Stay transparent: Sharing your journey can help others learn from your experiences, both good and bad.
Even though I faced challenges this year, I am committed to continuing my writing journey. The passion for storytelling keeps me motivated, and I look forward to what the future holds.

❓ FAQ Section
What inspired you to share your financials?
I believe that transparency in the indie publishing community can help new authors understand what to expect. By sharing my experiences, I hope to guide others on their journey.
How many books do you plan to publish in the next year?
I aim to continue developing my current series and potentially explore new genres. My focus will be on quality over quantity.
What marketing strategies do you recommend for new authors?
Start with organic marketing, such as social media engagement and building an email list. Consider targeted ads only after you’ve established a solid foundation.
Where can I find more information about your books?
You can check out my website at ronvitale.com for updates on my latest releases and projects.

🌟 Closing Thoughts
Indie publishing is a journey filled with ups and downs. By sharing my numbers and experiences, I hope to inspire others to navigate their paths with greater understanding and resilience. Remember, every author’s journey is unique, and the key is to keep writing, learning, and growing.
Thank you for joining me on this deep dive into my 2024 indie publishing experience. Let’s continue to support one another as we navigate this exciting and challenging world together!