How to Build a Profitable E-Publishing Business Using Audiobooks

Are you looking for a lucrative way to make money online? One lesser-known but highly profitable business model is e-publishing audiobooks. In this guide, I’ll show you exactly how you can get started and leverage this exploding market to create a steady income stream.


Why Audiobooks?

The audiobook market is booming and rapidly overtaking eBooks and paperbacks in popularity. Platforms like Audible, owned by Amazon, dominate this space, offering creators a massive opportunity to profit. With ACX, Amazon’s audiobook publishing platform, anyone in the US, UK, Canada, or Ireland can upload audiobooks and earn between $1–$6 per sale—or even more.

I’ve personally generated multiple six-figure revenues through audiobooks I didn’t even write or narrate myself, and I’ll show you how you can do the same.

Step 1: Finding a Profitable Topic

Start by brainstorming book ideas based on your interests, hobbies, or popular trends. List-style books—such as trivia collections, language guides, or bedtime stories—are especially easy to create and perform well in audiobook format.

How to validate your idea:

  1. Search your topic on Audible. Books with many reviews likely sell well.
  2. Use tools like Book Beam to estimate royalties. For instance:
    • Learn Spanish for Beginners: $59–$94/day
    • Funny True Stories: $13–$21/day
    • Bedtime Stories for Kids: $39–$62/day

If you don’t have access to paid tools, use Amazon’s Best Sellers Rank (BSR) as a rough guide:

  • BSR < 40,000: Good performance (~$100–$500/month).
  • BSR < 10,000: Excellent performance (~$1,000+/month).

Step 2: Creating Your Book

You’ll need three essential components: a manuscript, a cover, and a narrator.

1. Writing the Manuscript:

  • Write it yourself.
  • Hire a ghostwriter through platforms like The Urban Writers for a hands-off approach.
  • Use ChatGPT to generate ideas or outlines. For example:
    • Ask ChatGPT to provide trivia titles or create chapter outlines.
    • Always rewrite and fact-check generated content to ensure originality and accuracy.

2. Designing the Cover:

A professional cover can boost sales.

  • Create one using Canva (DIY).
  • Hire designers on Fiverr for $5–$20.
  • For children’s books, some Fiverr gigs also include interior illustrations.

3. Narrating Your Audiobook:

Once the manuscript is ready, upload it to Amazon KDP as an eBook to start the publishing process. Then, move to ACX to create the audiobook.

  • Hire narrators on ACX by posting your project and receiving auditions.
  • Decide between pay-for-production (upfront payment, 100% royalties) or royalty share (no upfront costs, 50/50 royalty split).
  • Pay rates usually start at $50 per finished hour.

Step 3: Publishing and Scaling

Publishing on ACX:

  1. Sign up on ACX and link your published eBook.
  2. Fill out copyright details, choose narrators, and finalize the audiobook production.
  3. Once ACX approves the project, your audiobook goes live on Audible, Amazon, and iTunes.

Alternative for Non-Eligible Regions:

If you’re outside the US, UK, Canada, or Ireland, use Findaway Voices. It distributes audiobooks to platforms like Spotify, Google Play, and more, expanding your reach.


Why E-Publishing is a Game-Changer

E-publishing creates digital assets that generate passive income indefinitely. Each book you publish stacks up, increasing your monthly earnings. Some books may only make a few hundred dollars a month, while others can generate thousands.

With consistency and effort, you can scale this business to six or seven figures.

Final Thoughts

If you’re ready to dive deeper into this business model, check out my free training linked below. It breaks down the process step-by-step, from finding profitable topics to scaling your e-publishing business.

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