Compare expected revenue from royalty share vs up-front PFH costs. Calculate which payment model is more profitable for your audiobook.
Compare NowTip: Royalty share means you pay no upfront costs but share revenue with the narrator. PFH means you pay upfront per finished hour but keep all royalties. Break-even units show how many sales you need to match the PFH cost with royalty revenue.
Understand which payment model offers better returns based on your sales expectations. Choose the option that maximizes your profit potential.
Plan your audiobook production budget with confidence. Know exactly when you'll break even and start profiting from your investment.
Enter negotiations with narrators armed with data. Understand the financial implications of different payment structures to secure favorable terms.
Estimate the cost of narrating your audiobook based on finished hours and per hour rates.
Try NowConvert word count or pages to estimated audiobook length based on industry standards.
Try NowQuickly convert your manuscript word count to estimated audiobook hours with our easy calculator.
Try NowCalculate your potential return on investment for audiobooks distributed through ACX.
Try NowRoyalty share is a payment model where the narrator receives a percentage of the audiobook's royalties instead of upfront payment. Typically, this is a 50/50 split between the author and narrator, meaning you pay nothing upfront but share half of all future earnings.
PFH stands for "Per Finished Hour" and is the standard upfront payment model in audiobook production. Narrators charge a set rate for each hour of completed, edited audio. The author pays this cost upfront but keeps 100% of the royalties.
For new authors with limited budget, royalty share is often more accessible as it requires no upfront investment. However, if you have confidence in your book's sales potential and can afford the upfront cost, PFH typically yields higher long-term profits.
The break-even calculation shows how many units you need to sell for royalty share revenue to equal the PFH cost. It's a mathematical estimate based on your inputs. Actual results may vary due to factors like different royalty rates across platforms, promotional pricing, and international sales.
Subscribe to our newsletter for the latest audiobook industry insights, production tips, and exclusive content.
Explore our comprehensive suite of audiobook calculators to make data-driven decisions about your projects.
Browse Calculators