To pre-sell your book in Nigeria, set a price, share one link with your readers, and print only when enough of them have ordered. Readers pay before the book exists in print, you reach a minimum of 25 copies, and Kobo Publishing prints and ships every copy. You keep what is left after the print cost and Kobo’s 7% fee.
This guide explains how a pre-order campaign works, how to work out your price, how to get your first 25 readers, and what to do when the deadline arrives. It is written for first-time authors who want to test demand before spending money on a print run.
Why pre-sell a book instead of printing first?
Printing first means paying for every copy up front and then finding buyers. Many authors print 200 or 500 copies, sell 40, and keep the rest in a bedroom. A pre-order campaign turns that around: you find the readers first, then print exactly what is needed.
- You risk less money. Readers’ payments fund the print run instead of your savings.
- You learn if people want the book. If 25 readers will not order, you find out before printing, not after.
- You get a deadline and a reason to share. A progress bar that says “18 of 25 copies ordered” gives your readers a reason to act now.
- You collect your readers’ details. You can see who ordered, so you can thank them and tell them when the book ships.
How a pre-order campaign works at Kobo Publishing
- Build your book page. Add a cover (a mock-up is fine), your title, a description, and a short note about you. Choose the size, paper and binding, and give an estimate of the number of pages. You do not need your manuscript yet.
- See your profit before you publish. The page shows the print cost per copy from the same price calculator used for normal orders, Kobo’s 7% fee and what you keep per copy.
- Set your deadline and ship date. The standard campaign runs for 30 days. You can choose your own end date and the date you expect the book to ship.
- Submit for approval. Kobo is opening the author store to authors in turn. You submit the finished page, we look at it, and we email you when it is approved.
- Share your link. Every book gets its own page. Send it on WhatsApp first, then Instagram, your email list or your own website.
- Readers pre-order. They choose one copy or a bundle, give a delivery address and pay Kobo. Orders count towards your minimum once the payment is confirmed.
- Upload your print files. When the minimum is reached, you upload the inside and cover PDFs. We check them automatically and a person approves them before printing.
- We print and ship. Your book is ready in 5–7 working days after payment and file approval, and Kobo delivers a copy to every reader.
Ready to try it? Join the waitlist on the Sell your book page and build your page now.
How to price a pre-order
Start from the print cost, not from what other authors charge. Use the instant price calculator to see what your book costs to print at 25 copies. For a 100-page A5 paperback in black and white on white paper with a laminated cover, the calculator shows a total of ₦137,500 for 25 copies on 22 October 2026, which is ₦5,250 a copy. Your price must cover that, Kobo’s 7%, and leave you a profit.
A simple way to check it: take your price, subtract ₦5,250, subtract 7% of your price, and see what is left. At ₦10,000 that leaves roughly ₦3,800 to ₦4,000 per copy before delivery. Delivery to each reader is charged by area and shown to the reader before they pay, so it does not come out of your earnings.
Prices change with page count, size, paper and binding, so always check the calculator for your own book. A longer book costs more per copy; a 200-page A5 paperback is ₦231,250 for 25 copies, ₦9,000 a copy.
Bundles that nudge readers to buy more
Offer one copy, a 5-copy bundle and a 10-copy bundle. Readers who want gifts or who are buying for a book club will take the bundle, and you reach 25 copies faster. Each bundle must cost less than buying the same number of single copies, or the page will not accept it.
How to find your first 25 readers
You do not need thousands of followers. Twenty-five readers is a realistic first goal for most authors who tell the right people.
- Start with people who already know you. Message friends, family, colleagues, church or community groups, and former students personally. A direct WhatsApp message with your link converts far better than a general post.
- Tell the story of the book. Say why you wrote it and who it is for, in two or three sentences, then share the link.
- Use the deadline. People act when something ends. Remind your contacts every few days that the campaign closes on a set date.
- Share progress. Post “12 of 25 copies ordered” with a screenshot of the progress bar. It is honest social proof.
- Ask each reader to forward the link to one friend who would enjoy the book.
What happens if you do not reach 25 copies?
Nothing is printed and nobody is charged for a run that does not happen. At Kobo Publishing the campaign is extended by another 30 days, and you and your readers are told about the extension. Use the extra time to share the link with a new group of people.
What a pre-order page needs to look professional
- A clear cover image. A neat mock-up is better than a blurry photo.
- A description that starts with what the book is about and who it is for.
- A short author note so readers trust who they are paying.
- One clear price, and bundles for people who want more than one copy.
- An honest ship date. Readers forgive a date that moves if you tell them; they do not forgive silence.
Mistakes to avoid
- Pricing below cost. The page will warn you if your price does not cover the print cost and Kobo’s fee. Fix the price rather than hoping volume will rescue it.
- Promising a date you cannot meet. Production is 5–7 working days after your files are approved and payment is confirmed. Add time for editing and the file check.
- Waiting until the last day to upload files. Prepare your print-ready PDF while the campaign runs.
- Forgetting delivery. Tell readers early that delivery is charged by area and shown before they pay.
Pre-selling is the safest way to find out whether your book has readers. If you also want to compare it with printing a first run yourself, read how many copies of your book you should print first and print on demand versus bulk printing. To sell the finished book after launch, see how to sell your book online in Nigeria.
Frequently asked questions
What does pre-selling a book mean?
Pre-selling means readers order and pay for your book before it is printed. You print the run once enough copies are ordered, so you are never left holding boxes you cannot sell.
How many pre-orders do I need before the book is printed?
At Kobo Publishing the print run starts at 25 copies, so a pre-order campaign needs 25 copies ordered to go ahead. You can set a higher target. If the minimum is not reached by your deadline, the campaign is extended by another 30 days.
Do I need my finished manuscript to start a pre-order page?
No. You can set up the page with a cover mock-up, a description, an estimate of the page count and your price. You upload your print files only after the minimum is reached, and we check them before anything is printed.
How do readers pay?
Readers pay Kobo Publishing, by bank transfer with an order reference, or by card where card payments are switched on. Bank transfer has no fee.
When do I get paid?
Your share of each sale goes to your balance. You can withdraw once a month, from ₦20,000, and our staff approve each withdrawal.
What does Kobo Publishing charge?
You pay the print cost of each copy and Kobo keeps 7% of each reader sale, shown as its own line. You can also choose to add the 7% on top of your price so the reader pays it.