Understanding Platform Fees by Plan
A detailed comparison of BookAuth's platform fees across Free, Pro, and Business plans — with breakeven analysis to help you choose the right plan.
BookAuth charges a platform fee on every paid book sale. The fee percentage decreases as you upgrade to higher subscription plans. This guide helps you understand the fee structure and choose the most cost-effective plan for your sales volume.
What You'll Learn
- Exact fee percentages by plan
- Breakeven analysis between plans
- How fees interact with Stripe processing fees
- When to upgrade
Fee Comparison
| Free Plan | Pro Plan | Business Plan | |
|---|---|---|---|
| Monthly Cost | $0 | $12/month | $29/month |
| BookAuth Fee | 5% | 3% | 2% |
| Stripe Fee | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 | 2.9% + $0.30 |
| Total Fees on $9.99 sale | $1.09 (10.9%) | $0.89 (8.9%) | $0.79 (7.9%) |
| Your Take on $9.99 | $8.90 | $9.10 | $9.20 |
When to Upgrade: Breakeven Analysis
Free → Pro Breakeven
The Pro plan costs $12/month but saves you 2% on every sale (5% → 3%).
| Book Price | Savings per Sale | Breakeven (Sales/Month) |
|---|---|---|
| $2.99 | $0.06 | 200 sales |
| $4.99 | $0.10 | 120 sales |
| $9.99 | $0.20 | 60 sales |
| $14.99 | $0.30 | 40 sales |
| $19.99 | $0.40 | 30 sales |
Bottom line: If you sell 60+ books at $9.99/month, Pro pays for itself through fee savings alone — before counting AI features, higher limits, and other Pro benefits.
Pro → Business Breakeven
The Business plan costs $17/month more than Pro but saves you 1% on every sale (3% → 2%).
| Book Price | Savings per Sale | Breakeven (Sales/Month) |
|---|---|---|
| $4.99 | $0.05 | 340 sales |
| $9.99 | $0.10 | 170 sales |
| $14.99 | $0.15 | 113 sales |
| $19.99 | $0.20 | 85 sales |
Bottom line: Business plan's fee advantage requires higher volume. Most authors upgrade to Business for the custom domain, unlimited features, and advanced analytics rather than fee savings.
Annual Revenue Impact
For an author selling 50 books/month at $9.99:
| Plan | Monthly Fees | Monthly Net | Annual Subscription | Annual Net Earnings |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Free | $54.50 | $445.00 | $0 | $5,340 |
| Pro | $44.50 | $455.00 | $144 | $5,316 |
| Business | $39.50 | $460.00 | $348 | $5,172 |
At 50 sales/month, Free is actually the best financial choice. At 100+ sales/month, Pro becomes advantageous.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: Are fees charged on free book downloads?
A: No. Zero-dollar transactions incur no fees.
Q: Do fees apply to bundle sales?
A: Yes. The same fee structure applies to bundle purchases based on the bundle price.
Q: Can I see my total fees paid?
A: Yes. Your Revenue Dashboard and monthly reports include a complete fee breakdown.
Q: Are BookAuth fees tax-deductible?
A: Generally yes — platform fees are a business expense. Consult your tax professional.
Related Articles
- Connecting Stripe for Payouts
- Understanding Payouts & Revenue
- Book Pricing — Free, Paid & Subscriber-Only
- Managing Your Subscription (Free/Pro/Business)