The #1 Question Every KDP Author Asks—Answered

One of the first things clients ask us at INKPROFIT is:
“How much ad spend do I actually need to start?”

And the truth is—there’s no universal answer.
Ad spend depends entirely on your book, your niche, and your goals. But if you want a realistic starting point, let’s break it down.

1. Your Niche Defines the Playing Field

Some niches are budget-friendly. Others? Brutal.
If you’re in a low-content space or publishing a cozy mystery, your competition might be less aggressive. But if you’re launching a fitness guide or children’s workbook, expect to spend more—because the top players in those categories are spending more.

At INKPROFIT, we use data to estimate your ideal ad spend.
We look at your competitors’:

• BSRs (Best Seller Ranks)
• Estimated daily sales
• Ad visibility and pricing pressure

From there, we reverse-engineer your target BSR and estimate monthly ad spend required to stay competitive.

2. Your Book’s Stage Matters

A new book? You’ll likely need to go harder on ads.
An older title with reviews and sales history? We can work smarter, not harder.

We assess your:

• Current lifecycle stage (launch, growth, or maturity)
• Previous ad performance metrics (if available)
• Current ACOS, spend-to-sales ratio, and campaign structure

In many cases, we can improve efficiency through tweaks and restructuring.
But sometimes, scaling means shifting to new ad types, expanding targeting, or launching fresh campaigns—which may increase ad spend 1.5x to 2x, especially in the scaling phase.

3. Your Budget Is the Final Decider

Even with ideal strategy and a high-opportunity niche, your budget sets the boundaries.

Have $500 to spend? We’ll build a plan that maximizes that.
Have $2,000+ and want to dominate your category? We’ll show you exactly how to allocate it for growth.

We always prioritize profitability first—and only suggest scaling when the data proves it’s worth it.

So, How Much Do You Really Need?

Here’s the short version:

• Most new authors start with $300–$1,000/month depending on niche & goals.
• Scaling campaigns often require $1,500–$3,000+ when growth kicks in.
• Every plan is custom-built around your book’s data, potential, and budget.

📊 Want a realistic estimate based on your book and niche?
We’ll review your category and show you what ad spend actually makes sense—with no fluff.

💡 Book a Free Strategy Call

Let’s find out how much it’ll really take to scale your book.
✅ Personalized niche analysis
✅ Transparent ad spend projection
✅ No-pressure, no-obligation chat👉