If you've ever wanted to build a thriving freelance career, now has never been a better time, particularly if you're a writer, editor, proofreader, etc. Why? Because the self-publishing industry has spawned a bucketload of freelance editorial job opportunities – with no slowdown in sight.

The Growth of Self-Publishing: Some Statistics

First, let's take a quick look at the growth of self-publishing, then some specific freelance job opportunities.

Customer demand for great independent content continues to dramatically increase as 30% of NOOK customers purchase self-published content each month, representing 25% of NOOK Book sales every month. [Source: Self-Publishing Grabs Huge Market Share From Traditional Publishers]

Total e-book sales rose 44.2% in 2012, to $3.04 billion and accounted for 20% of trade revenue … "The number of self-published books produced annually in the U.S. has nearly tripled, growing 287 percent since 2006 …" [Source: BOOK FACTS AND STATS]

Indie eBook authors are earning royalty percentages that are 3-5 times higher than what traditionally published authors earn. … I predict that within three years, over 50% of the New York Times bestselling eBooks will be self-published eBooks. It's possible I'm being too conservative. [Source: Mark Coker, Founder of Smashwords, HuffingtonPost article -- New Smashwords Research Helps Authors and Publishers Sell More eBooks]

3 Popular Self-Publishing Jobs/Services

Now that you have some insight into just how hot self-publishing is, let's take a look at three of the  most popular freelance job opportunities presented by this niche, and how much you can earn/charge by offering services in this niche.

I. Ghostwriting

Many eBook publishers hire ghostwriters to write their entire books for them.

How hires ghostwriters? Internet marketers; info product creators like bloggers; and professionals who don't have time to write their own eBooks (my SEO writing company has ghostwritten several eBooks for professionals in corporate America).

How much can you charge as a ghostwriter? Like most jobs in freelance writing, ghostwriting rates are all over the place. Following is a sample roundup of what I found by doing some quick surfing:

You take all the credit - I do all the work. $160 per 1000 words of original writing - your copyright. [Craigslist ad by a freelance ghostwriter]

U.S. ghostwriters typically charge from $20,000 to $80,000 for a 200- to 300-page book. The Canadian Writer's Union has set a minimum fee of $25,000 for a book of the same length. [Source: Ghostwriter-Needed.com, Expensive, Affordable and Cheap Ghostwriters]

For ghostwriting a book, new ghostwriters with no books under their belt typically charge $7,000 - $9,000, depending on the subject matter, length of book, research needed, etc. More experienced ghostwriters can charge $10,000 - $15,000, while those who are really in demand can get upwards of $20,000 or more for writing a book. [Source: WritersWeekly.com, How Much Do Ghostwriters Charge?]

II. Editing

More and more self-publishers are realizing the need to have their eBooks professionally edited, copy edited and proofed. And, they're farming these jobs out to freelance editors and copy editors.

How much can you charge as an eBook editor? Again, some quick surfing produced the following:

Just email me your book idea, or book in word format and I will get it ready for you, … $50 editing [Source: Craigslist ad]

Our standard rate for eBook editing is only $0.0075 per word (3/4 cent). This includes editing for grammar, word usage, sentence structure and flow, punctuation, spelling and capitalization, style (tone and voice), transitions, paragraph structure, clarity, and consistency. Our minimum fee is $200.00. [Source: EbookEditingServices.com, Rates & Turnaround Times]

I charge an hourly rate of $20 for all formatting, editing, and content editing. I know many prefer a lump rate, but I don't. This is my way of guaranteeing that your work has my undivided attention. [Source: JulielYork.com, Freelance Editor's Website, eBook Publishing Services]

III. eBook Cover Creation

eBook covers sell; more self-publishers than ever are realizing this. Hence, part and parcel of presenting a professional image as a self-publisher is to create high-quality covers for all of your eBooks. As many eBook authors don't have design skills, they turn to freelancers to get their covers done.

How much do eBook cover creators charge? Following are some of the rates you'll find to get high-quality eBook covers.

I will CREATE 2 Ebook Covers For You for $10. [Source: imgigz.com (site similar to Fiverr.com)]

I offer a variety of options for whatever level of difficulty you're looking for. All costs are payable up front and my turnaround time will be less than 5 days (usually 1-2). [Source: AubreyWatt.com, Independent writer/author, Custom eBook Covers $10 Basic: Rates: from $10 per cover to $50/hour]

From $12 for a pre-made cover to $120 for a custom design. [Source: eBookIndieCovers.com]

Factors to Consider When Pricing Your Self-Publishing Services

Your Target Market: You can specialize in a niche, eg, historical romance. By specializing, you make it easy to narrow down who you're marketing to. And, you can likely charge more – and earn more – by becoming the "go to" eBook cover creator for that genre.

Competition: Do your research to determine what others are charging so that you're not too expensive (or heaven forbid) that you charge too little. Remember, being the lowest can lose you business just as quickly as being the most expensive.

FYI, you're going to find that there's a wide disparity in rates for eBook publishing services, so be sure to set yours not so much to compete with others, but to build a thriving freelance business that pays a living wage.

Conclusion

The self-publishing industry is only going to grow. Offering eBook services like these discussed here present an unprecedented opportunity to build a thriving freelance business – from the beginning of this thriving genre.

Author Bio
Yuwanda Black is the publisher of Inkwell Editorial, a site devoted to helping others start successful freelance writing careers. She self-published her first eBook in 2002, and has written over 50 to date – most without spending a dime. Learn how to self-publish your own eBooks for $0, including how to market them and start getting sales within the first week!