how do you make money reading books

15 Creative Ways to Get Paid to Read Books: Up to $2k a Month

Can you really get paid to read books?

If you’re an avid reader, I’m happy to report there are quite a few legit ways to get paid to read. 

In this post, I’ll break down some of my favorite — and most creative — methods to turn your reading hobby into an extra income stream.

Ready? Let’s do it!

1. Freelance Proofreading and Editing

2. amazon influencer program, 3. kirkus review, 4. us review of books, 5. online book club, 6. freelance book reviewer, 7. book-related remote jobs, 8. audiobook narration, 9. reedsy discovery, 10. booklist, 11. create book summaries, 12. start an online book club, 13. become a translator, 14. public domain publishing, 15. apply book’s knowledge to your own business, the best way to get paid to read, serious about making extra money.

If you have an eye for detail, there’s money to be made as a proofreader or editor.

Like I mentioned above, self-publishing is exploding, and all those authors (at least the serious ones) need help editing their work.

For this side hustle, I found my first clients on Fiverr , but ultimately established positive word of mouth referrals in some Facebook Groups and among students of a popular self-publishing course.

I started out charging $100 for every 10,000 words, but slowly inched up rates as I improved.

(And as a bonus, I got to read some pretty interesting books!)

The Amazon Influencer Program is probably the fastest, easiest, and most accessible way to get paid for Amazon reviews .

You create short product review videos for the books you read, which Amazon then features on the book’s page.

Here’s an example from The Wager : 

When a potential customer watches your video and makes a purchase, you receive a small commission from Amazon, usually 2-4% of the sales price.

Amazon Influencers like Tyler Christensen reported making $2,000+ per month testing and reviewing Amazon products , and I even made over $1,000 myself in my first year in the program.

To apply , you’ll need to list one or more of your social media accounts, including:

There aren’t any official requirements about how big a following you need to get accepted. But if you apply and get rejected, you can re-apply at a later date.

Kirkus pays $50-75 for 350-word book reviews. Authors and publishers hire the service to get honest, quality feedback on their books (and pay $400+ for the service !).

To apply, you’ll need to send in:

• your resume
• writing samples
• your favorite book genres or “reviewing specialties”

Kirkus gives you two weeks to read the book and submit your review.

You can earn $25-75 writing book reviews for The US Review of Books . 

To join, you’ll need to send in:

• samples of your work
• at least two professional references

The US Review of Books gives you 2-3 weeks to read the assigned book and return your 250-300 word review.

As with Kirkus, authors and publishers hire US Review to get honest — and hopefully positive — feedback on their books they can use for marketing purposes.

Online Book Club is a long-running service that pays $5-60 for each book review.

How it works is you:

• sign up and get a selection of books to choose from
• pick your top choice and get a free copy
• submit your honest, written review

Once your first review is approved, you’ll be eligible for future paid reviews.

While you can certainly apply for any of the freelance book reviewer jobs listed, you can also set up your own freelance book review profile on sites like Upwork .

When I searched, I was surprised to find multiple reviewers with 200+ jobs completed and rates from $35-60 an hour:

One creative way to get paid to read books is to look for work in the publishing industry. 

For example, both “book coach” and “book editor” showed up as legit job listings on FlexJobs :

In total, over 16,000 remote job listings included the keyword “book”, so it might be worth exploring if any of those would be a good fit.

The best place to find legit work from home jobs. Established in 2007, FlexJobs has 1000s of listings including part-time, full-time, and freelance options in tons of industries.

If you love the idea of  getting paid to talk and read books at the same time, narrating audiobooks could be a fun side hustle.

Professional audiobook narrators and producers can earn $200-1000+ per title. Acting experience helps, and you’ll need to know your way around audio engineering equipment and software. 

After you create your profile, you can start auditioning for work.

Becoming a reviewer on Reedsy Discover may be another way to monetize your reading hobby .

This program has a couple interesting advantages. The first is shared with other review services, in that you’ll get free access to new books and be among the first to read them.

The second is somewhat unique, in that you can earn $1, $3, or $5 tips from readers who enjoy your work. The amount isn’t huge, but you can potentially earn tips from an unlimited number of Reedsy readers, rather than just a one-off freelance book review payment.

To apply, you’ll need to share:

• your favorite genres
• how many books you read per year
• where you publish your reviews online
• whether you prefer to create written or video reviews
• your social media accounts (if applicable)

Serving an audience of school and public library workers, Booklist reviews guide purchasing decisions for libraries across the country.

Booklist is part of the American Library Association . New reviewers don’t need a library degree, but having library advisory or selection experience will give you a leg up.

But even then, don’t expect Booklist reviews to replace your day job. According to the site, Booklist pays just $15 for every 150-175 word review they publish, with the average reviewer writing 2-3 reviews per month.

Book summaries can be a really valuable way to get the main ideas of a book across in a short period of time.

In fact, this is the strategy used by big companies like Blinkist , which is undoubtedly paying people to read the books and create useful summaries.

Still, you can do the same thing after you finish a book, distilling the most important points into a quick summary on either a website, newsletter, or YouTube channel.

For example, Four Minute Books has over 50k subscribers on YouTube. 

This type of content can be monetized with advertising or affiliate partnerships.

Maybe you could even use an AI tool like Pictory to help create the videos. (Use promo code NSHN20 for 20% off!)

Another unique way to get paid to read is to start an online book club for kids.

For example, Teacher Helen has had over 3,000 students join her weekly Dog Man reading club on Outschool :

Outschool is a unique group education platform for kids in grades K-12. When her classes are at capacity, she can earn $98 an hour (after fees) handing out with kids and reading simple books.

And I get that you probably don’t want to read kids’ graphic novels, but it shows there may be demand for higher grade level books as well. 

If you’re bilingual, you can get paid to translate books .

You’ll need good grammar skills, cultural knowledge, conversational competence, and the ability to articulate complex concepts.

Fast, accurate typing skills and a quiet environment will make your job go faster, which increases your earning potential.

Check out these remote translation job sites:

• Gengo  – Rates vary based on language.
• Multilingual Connections   – Freelance, remote translation projects. 
• Translation Services  – This company offers translation services in more than 100 languages. At press time, part-time and full-time remote positions were available with competitive pay and flexible hours.
• Stepes  – An online database of on-demand translation jobs for freelance translators. You can work from your smartphone with their mobile messaging based translation model. 
• Unbabel  – Work on the go and get paid weekly.

Since 2013, Aaron Kerr has pocketed over $110k in royalties publishing public domain books .

In the US, that generally means anything published more than 95 years ago.

Aaron’s first collection was the  Anne of Green Gables series , a children’s classic originally published in 1908. To find this work, Aaron told me that all he had to do was go to a couple of different websites, download the copy, then format it for Kindle publishing.

You can see all his public domain projects over at TimelessReads.com .

Perhaps the most overlooked way to get paid to read is to simply put an author’s wisdom to work in your own business.

After all, most books condense a lifetime of experience and expertise into 200 pages. While nobody directly paid me to read titles like The 4-Hour Workweek , Building a StoryBrand , The ONE Thing , and dozens of others, they’ve definitely paid dividends to my bottom line over the years.

In this post, we’ve explored a ton of different ways to get paid to read books, including:

• freelance editing and proofreading
• writing book reviews
• creating book summaries
• narrating audiobook

But the truth is just reading doesn’t have any value for anyone else. Where the money comes from is what you do with what you read and how it serves others.

Which method is best for you depends on your interests, goals, and expertise.

My suggestion is to start with one or two ways that sound the most interesting, and give those a try to see if you enjoy the work!

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About the Author

Nick Loper is a side hustle expert who loves helping people earn more money and start businesses they care about. He hosts the award-winning Side Hustle Show, where he's interviewed over 500 successful entrepreneurs, and is the bestselling author of Buy Buttons , The Side Hustle , and $1,000 100 Ways .

His work has been featured in The New York Times, Entrepreneur, Forbes, TIME, Newsweek, Business Insider, MSN, Yahoo Finance, The Los Angeles Times, The San Francisco Chronicle, The Financial Times, Bankrate, Hubspot, Ahrefs, Shopify, Investopedia, VICE, Vox, Mashable, ChooseFI, Bigger Pockets, The Penny Hoarder, GoBankingRates, and more.

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Blog – Posted on Tuesday, Sep 24

Get paid to read: 18 legitimate sites that pay reviewers.

Serious question: do you want to get paid to read? You might laugh it off at first, thinking that that sounds too good to be true, but it’s not. You can get paid for spending time on what you love: reading books. 

Of course, the key to this #hack is book reviewing, where you offer your personal opinion of a book after you’re done with it. (If you’d like to learn more, check out this post to discover how to write a book review .) Because books are constantly being published, book reviewers are generally always in demand. 

So whether you’re a voracious reader of nonfiction, genre fiction, classics, or indie books, there’s probably an outlet that’s willing to compensate you if you read (review) for them! Without further ado, here’s a definitive list of the 17 sites that will help you get paid to read. If you want to cut to the chase and find out which of them is the right fit for you, we recommend first taking this quick quiz:

Which review community should you join?

Find out which review community is best for your style. Takes 30 seconds!

Then read on for the full list of all of the ways to get paid while reading!

 1. Kirkus Media

💸 Pay: Freelance basis

👀 More information: Check here

If you’ve ever lingered on a book’s Amazon page before, you’ll have heard of Kirkus Reviews. It’s one of the most respected sources of book reviews out there, publishing many of the blurbs that you’ll see on Amazon, or on the cover of your favorite titles.

You have to wonder: where do all of these reviews come from? That’s where you come into the picture. Kirkus Media lists an open application for book reviewers. As of right now, they’re specifically searching for people who will review English and Spanish-language indie titles. Some of the qualities that they want in reviewers include: experience, a keen eye, and an ability to write about a 350-word review in two weeks’ time.

To apply, simply send your resume and writing samples! You can find out more about this opportunity here .

2. Reedsy Discovery

💸 Pay: Tip basis

A powerhouse in the world of indie books, Reedsy Discovery gives book reviewers the chance to read the latest self-published books before anyone else. You can browse through hundreds of new stories before picking one that piques your interest. And if you’ve built up a brand as a book reviewer on Reedsy Discovery, you can liaise with authors who contact you directly for a review.

Its application process is pretty simple: just complete this form to be selected as a book reviewer. Once you’re accepted, you can start looking through the shelves and reading immediately. One more thing: book reviewers can get tips for their book reviews. Readers can send $1, $3, or $5 as a token of appreciation (which, let’s be honest, all book reviewers deserve more of).

If this system intrigues you, you can “discover” more about how it works on this page .

3. Any Subject Books

Any Subject Books is a full-suite self-publishing service. More importantly for you, it hires book reviewers on a book-by-book basis to help them review new books.

They’re big on in-depth, honest, and objective reviews. No fluff here! They’re also happy to give you books in your preferred genres, so if you’re a voracious reader of war fiction, you won’t typically be asked to read the latest paranormal romance hit (or vice versa).

Sadly, Any Subject Books is not currently open to book reviewer applications, but check back again — this could change at any time.

4. BookBrowse

BookBrowse reviews both adult fiction and nonfiction, and some books for young adults. The site focuses on books that are not only enjoyable to read, with great characters and storylines, but that also leave the reader knowing something about the world they did not before. Reviewers also write a "beyond the book" article for each book they review.

5. Online Book Club

💸 Pay: $5 to $60

Online Book Club’s FAQ begins with a warning for all aspiring book reviewers: “First of all, this is not some crazy online get-rich-quick scheme. You won't get rich and you won't be able to leave your day job.”

That daunting reminder aside, Online Book Club’s setup is pretty reasonable, not to mention straightforward. You’ll get a free copy of the book and you’ll get paid for your review of that book. Moreover, it’s one of the few sites that’s transparent about their payment rates (anywhere between $5 to $60). To begin the sign-up process, simply submit your email here .

6. U.S. Review of Books

U.S. Review of Books is a nation-wide organization that reviews books of all kinds and publishes those reviews in a popular monthly newsletter. The way that it works for a book reviewer is simple: when a book title is posted, reviewers can request to read it and get assigned.

A typical review for U.S. Review of Books is anywhere between 250 and 300 words. They are looking particularly for informed opinions and professionalism in reviews, along with succinctness. To apply, submit a resume, sample work, and two professional references via email. But we’d recommend that you check out some previous examples of their book reviews here to first get a better sense of what they’re looking for.

7. Women’s Review of Books

💸 Pay: $100 per review

Women’s Review of Books is a long-running, highly-respected print publication that’s a part of Wellesley Centers for Women. This feminist magazine has been published for 36 years and is looking for more book reviewers to join their force.

If you plan on writing reviews for Women’s Review of Books , you should be aware that its reviews are published “in the service of action and consciousness.” Most of its writers are also academics, journalists, or book reviewers with some years of experience behind them. If you meet these qualifications and are accepted, you’ll be compensated $100 per review.

To pitch then a review, send them an email with a quick proposal. For more details, click here .

8. eBookFairs

eBookFairs primarily helps authors grow their author platforms, but it also has a Paid Book Reader program where readers can earn money by, you guessed it, reviewing the books listed on their site.

Note that they do have clear instructions on what qualifies as a review, so do read their guidelines carefully before applying to make sure you can meet them. For instance, the review must be at least 250 words, you must allow at least 3 days between reviews submitted, and it must provide helpful feedback for the author. There are also a limited number of paid reader positions available.

💸 Pay: Variable

If you’re a freelancer, you’re probably already familiar with Upwork! One of the biggest marketplaces for freelancers, Upwork has fingers in every industry’s pie. So it won’t be a surprise to learn that people who are looking for freelance book reviewers regularly post listings on its marketplace.

Because each job caters to an individual client, the requirements and qualifications will differ. It might be a one-time project, or the gig might turn into a long-running collaboration with the client. Generally, the listing will specify the book’s genre, so you’ll know what you’re getting before you agree to collaborate with the client on the other end.

To begin, you’ll need to sign up as a freelancer on Upwork. Find out more information on Upwork’s FAQ page!

10. Moody Press

💸 Pay: Free ARCs

Moody Press is a nonprofit publishing house of Christian titles and Bible study resources. If this is your niche, you’ll definitely be interested in Moody Press’ Blogger Review Program! As part of the program, you’ll get free copies of book published by Moody Press.

Like some of the other programs on this list, you won’t get paid for your review, but you will get a free book. Moody Press also asks you to write your honest review within 60 days of reading it. To get a feel for it, try joining the MP Newsroom Bloggers Facebook group , where you can directly interact with existing members of the program.

11. New Pages

💸 Pay: Variable 

Not interested in writing anything longer than 300 words? Are quick flash book reviews more your pace? If so, becoming a NewPages reviewer might be just your speed. NewPages.com is an Internet portal to small presses, independent publishers and bookstores, and literary magazines. More importantly, they’re looking for short book reviews (generally between 100 and 200 words) on any recent literary magazine or book that you’ve read.

If you’re already a fan of books from small presses or unknown magazines, even better: that’s exactly the kind of reviewer NewPages wants to work with. If you’d like to look through some of their past book reviews to see if your style matches, check out their book review archive here .

12. Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is an online magazine focused on international book publishing and all that that entails. More pertinently, it regularly reviews both traditionally published and self-published books, which means that it does occasionally have a call for book reviewers. As of right now, it’s closed to applications — but if you check its Jobs page every once in a while, you might see an opening again.

13. Tyndale Blog Network

Tyndale Blog Network runs a program called My Reader Rewards Club, which is based on an innovative rewards system. If you join as a member, you can earn points for certain actions that you take on the site (for instance, inviting a friend to the program and sharing a direct link to MyReaderRewardsClub.com on Facebook each fetches you 10 points).

Writing a review for a Tyndale or NavPress book on Amazon or Barnes & Noble gets you 10 points, with a maximum limit of 50 points in 30 days. In turn, you can use your accumulated points to receive more books off of Tyndale’s shelves. If this sounds like something that may be up your alley, check out their FAQ here.

14. Booklist Publications

💸 Pay: $12.50 to $15 per review

Booklist is the American Library Association’s highly respected review journal for librarians. Luckily for freelance writers, Booklist assigns freelance book reviews that vary from blog posts for The Booklist Reader to published book review in Booklist magazine.

As the site itself suggests, it’s important that you’re familiar with Booklist Publication’s outlets (which include Booklist magazine, the quarterly Book Links , and The Booklist Reader blog) and its writing style. Reviews are generally very short (no longer than 175 words) and professionally written. You can discover more of its guidelines here — and an archive of previous Booklist reviews here .

To apply, contact a relevant Booklist editor and be prepared to submit a few of your past writing samples.

15. Instaread

💸 Pay: $100 per summary

Not interested in writing critical takes on the books that you read? Then Instaread might be for you. Instaread has an open call for book summaries, which recap “the key insights of new and classic nonfiction.”

Each summary should be around 1000 to 1500 words, which makes it a fair bit lengthier than your average flash book review. However, Instaread will compensate you heartily for it: as of 2019, Instaread pays $100 for each summary that you write. You can peruse Instaread’s recommended Style Guide on this page , or download Instaread from your App Store to get a better feel for the app.

16. NetGalley

If you’ve dreamt about becoming an influencer in the book reviewing community, you may want to give NetGalley a look. Put simply, NetGalley is a service that connects book reviewers to publishers and authors. Librarians, bloggers, booksellers, media professionals, and educators can all sign up to NetGalley to read books before they’re published.

How it works is pretty simple. Publishers put digital review copies out on NetGalley for perusal, where NetGalley’s members can request to read, review, and recommend them. It’s a win-win for both publisher and reviewer: the publisher is able to find enthusiastic readers to provide an honest review for their books, and the reviewer gets access to a vast catalog of books.

The cherry on top is that NetGalley membership is 100% free! Simply use this form to sign up. And if you’d like more information, you can dip into their FAQ here .

17. getAbstract

Are you an avid reader of nonfiction books? getAbstract is a site that summarizes 18,000+ nonfiction books into 10-minute bites. Their Career Opportunities page often includes listings for writers. At the time of this post’s writing, getAbstract is looking for science and technology writers who can sum up the latest magazine articles and books. They pay on a freelance basis, so apply through their website to get further details.

18. Writerful Books

💸 Pay: $10 to $50

Writerful Books is an author services company that provides everything from beta reading to (you guessed it) book reviewing. As such, they’re always on the lookout for book reviewers with fresh and compelling voices.  

One of the benefits of this gig is that you can review any book that you want for them (although they prefer contemporary award-winning American, Australian, British, Canadian, Irish, and New Zealand authors). Getting a regularly paid gig with Writerful Books isn’t a guarantee, but if you regularly publish quality reviews for them, they may contact you. 

To apply, you’ll have to be able to provide previous book review samples. Here’s the job listing if you’re curious to learn more about this role.

If you're an avid reader,  sign up to Reedsy Discovery  for access to the freshest new reads — or  apply as a reviewer  to give us  your  hot takes!

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17 Ways to Get Paid to Read Books (Up to $225/hr)

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Last Updated on June 3, 2024 by Daniella

Did you know that you can actually get paid to read books? Yes, you absolutely can. It doesn’t matter the genre or book length – there is a book out there that you can make money with.

Wordsrated found that the average American reads 12.6 books a year. If you read within that average, or even more than that, you could be making some serious cash. But don’t get it wrong, you won’t get rich off of reading books but it is a great way to make some extra cash or start a career in the book world.

There are plenty of ways to get paid to read books, including:

• Writing book reviews
• Editing books 
• Narrating audio books
• Getting into publishing
• Creating illustrations for books
• Creating your own content about the books you love

Book-related jobs can also be your gateway to building high income skills and earning more money. If you’re on the lookout for the perfect side gig, many of these gigs can also be done on the side of a full-time job and as remote side hustles .

Table of Contents

17 Fun & Legit Ways To Get Paid To Read Books

From book reviews to book-related jobs, there are tons of ways that you can make money reading books. Below are 17 different ways.

Use These Websites to Get Paid to Review Books Online

Getting paid to review books doesn’t mean that you only have to write positive reviews. These sites want genuine, honest book reviews from people that actually read the book.

You don’t have to commit to writing thousands of words for a book review either. These aren’t book reports – they’re reviews. Some sites only want 200 words while others may want 300-500 words or more.

Keep in mind that the rates and how each site pays out their reviewers may differ from site-to-site.

1. Online Book Club

Online Book Club is a free online community for book lovers that has been around for over 10 years. They also pay cash for book reviews.

I spoke to Erin Shanendoah who regularly reviews books for Online Book Club and this is what she has to say about her experience:

At the start, you may only get $5 or so per book. As you build up your reputation with them and meet certain metrics, you get access to higher-paying books. I currently get between $15-$30 per book I review . I am not at the highest tier. I believe those who have been with the site longer may get paid more. Most of the books are Kindle or some electronic format, though occasionally you by the physical book and submit a receipt for reimbursement. All genres are available. I tend to read fantasy, poetry, memoir, etc. I don’t read romance, historical fiction, crime dramas (for the most part), but all of those are available. I link to all the books I’ve reviewed for them on my blog. One of the big rules is that the reviews must be original and cannot be republished elsewhere, only linked to. – Erin Shanendoah, erinshanendoah.com

Average Pay: $5 – $30 per book review

Related post: 15 Side Hustle Apps to Make Extra Money

2. Women’s Review of Books

The Women’s Review of Books reviews books written by and about women. To be considered for reviewing assignments, you have to first apply by sending in your resume, cover letter and any samples of published reviews you’ve done in the past.

If you don’t have any past published reviews to include, I suggest including write-ups of any reviews of books you’ve recently read. You can also include any writing samples you might have online.

They are looking for reviewers who:

• Write lively and thought-provoking pieces
• Your writing should appeal to a broad range of audiences
• Can meet a deadline

Average Pay: $0.14 per word

3. Writerful Books

Writerful Books is always on the lookout for book reviewers.

They are an author services company that provides services like beta reading and book reviewing. The best thing about this gig though is you can review any book you want for them.

To apply, you’ll have to be able to provide previous book review samples. If you don’t have these I encourage you to draft any of the recent books you’ve read both for practice and submission.

Refer to this job listing for more information.

Average pay: $10 to $50 per review

4. The U.S. Review of Books

The U.S. Review of Books hires freelance writers to write book reviews for them.

In order to apply you must:

• Contact the editor with a resume
• Include sample work
• Include 2 professional references
• Email them using this link

They also accept guest bloggers for their online publication (these are the types of articles they normally publish ). If you are interested in this as well, email their editor your article of 300 – 500 words using the same email link above.

Average Pay: Not published on their site

5. getAbstract

getAbstract summarizes nonfiction books into 10-minute bites so if you’re a nonfiction book lover, this is the perfect site to start with.

Currently, they are hiring science and technology writers to summarize magazine articles and books.

In order to write reviews for them you must:

• Go to their careers page to apply
• If selected, you are paid on a freelance basis

Average Price: Freelance basis

6. Booklist Online

Booklist is “the American Library Association’s prepublication review journal for public and school librarians”. They publish approximately a whopping 8,000 book reviews per year to help librarians with selection, collection, development, categorization, and reader’s advisory.

They follow a “recommend only” policy which means everything that they review is to be recommended for purchase by libraries.

Guidelines of a Booklist review include:

• No longer than 175 words
• Identify the audience
• Suggest plot without giving too much away
• Read more guidelines here

Freelance opportunities are limited as most feature articles are assigned by editors.

Average Pay: Up to $15 per review

Related post: Teach English Online: 10 Companies That Will Pay You to Teach and Work From Anywhere

7. Reedsy Discovery

On Reedsy Discovery, you don’t get paid by the site or a freelance basis but via tips from the readers reading your reviews.

Here’s how it works:

• Sign up as a reviewer on Reedsy to get exclusive access to read self-published books before anyone else
• Build up a brand as a reviewer on Reedsy to liaise with authors who contact you directly for a review
• Go through the application process
• Once accepted you can start reading and reviewing 
• Readers will usually send $1, $3, or $5 as a token of appreciation

Average pay: Tips

8. BookBrowse

BookBrowse accepts applications for book reviewers that only have sample reviews to submit with their application. However, they do not specify if these samples have to be published or not.

BookBrowse reviews both fiction and non-fiction books, they pay monthly and are U.S. Based.

A good review for them includes:

• Good quality

Read more about BookBrowse here.

9. Kirkus Media

Kirkus Media Reviews is currently hiring for book reviewers on a freelance/project basis. You can work from anywhere and must be an experienced book reviewer of English and/or Spanish-language titles.

Some further requirements include:

• Reviews are 350 words
• Reviews are due 2 weeks after the book is assigned

To apply, submit your resume, writing samples, and a list of genres you specialize in, to Kirkus Indie Editor David Rapp at [email protected] .

10. eBookFairs

eBookFairs is a website that helps authors grow their platform and one way they do this is by hiring paid book reviewers to read their books. 

• Reviews must be 200 words long.
• Reviews must be completed in under 45 days.
• You must post about the book on social media, GoodReads, or a book review site.

Apply to be a paid book reviewer with eBookFairs here.

Average Pay: $10 or more per review

How to Get Paid to Read Books With These Online Jobs and Side Hustles

There are several book-related jobs and many which are entirely online that you can do from home or anywhere in the world. From freelancing on the side to finding full-time work from home jobs, these book related gigs will give you some great ideas to start with.

11. Audiobook Narration

I love listening to audiobooks when I am cleaning, working, or running. Who knew that you could get paid to be an audiobook narrator? Especially with the rise of Audible, the demand for audiobook narrators is climbing.

To get started narrating, you will need some equipment like a mic, pop screen , headphones, recording and editing software, a quiet space and a computer. You can find work on sites like ACX and Voices that offer opportunities to narrators and audiobook producers to work with published authors. 

Depending on the rates you charge , you could expect to make anywhere between $100 per hour to as much as $300 per hour. You can also join groups and unions for benefits and the protection of your pay. Those who belong to the entertainment union SAG-AFTRA make a minimum of $225 per hour.

Average Pay: $100 – $225 per hour 

How to get started: Search for “audiobook narration” courses on Coursera .

12. Freelance Read Manuscripts/Beta Reader

Just like a freelance writer, you can also be a freelance reader and get paid to read anything from online articles to books and unpublished manuscripts.

Many literary management agencies receive such a large amount of manuscripts that they could never possibly get to all of them. So they hire a lot of the reading from the “slush pile” out to freelance readers .

Literary agents pay anywhere from $25 to $100 an hour to their freelance readers.

But what are the duties of this oddly cool job? These are actually pretty straightforward and similar to giving a book report. You read through the manuscript and compile a 2-3 page report about your opinion of it. Then you are to give a recommendation on whether the agency should represent it or pass on it.

You also will give a basic description of all the main characters, plot points and analysis of any hidden messages and symbolism.

Average Pay: $25 – $100 per hour

How to get started: Read this free guide .

Related post: How to Get Started Freelance Writing

13. Editor/Proofreader

I think “Book Editor” and I think of some high-status job at a well-known publisher. But nope, there are all type of “Editors”. Many editors could also be considered virtual assistants (or VAs) and work on a freelance basis. 

Nick Loper of Side Hustle Nation was once an ebook freelance editor for ebooks mostly on Kindle and Amazon. He actually got his first few clients through Fiverr .

I started my freelance editing business as a little side project experiment, and actually got my first customers through Fiverr.  My original gig was $5 for 500 words, but since most books are much longer, it added up to some pretty healthy orders. My biggest was over $1000.  It probably worked out to $25-35 an hour.  I niched down from the very beginning, saying I only edited non-fiction, and within that category preferred business and self-help — categories I felt I could add the most value . Eventually I got clients from word of mouth in a few self publishing Facebook groups and even as a preferred vendor with a popular self publishing course.  – Nick Loper, Side Hustle Nation

Sites that list remote gigs for editors:

• BestWriting
• WritersAccess

Alternatively, proofreading is different from editing in the sense that it is the last step in the editing process. You can become a proofreader for books, ebooks, manuscripts, blog articles, and any sort of written work there is.

Average Pay: $30 per hour (from ZipRecruiter )

How to get started:  Check out free courses on Coursera for editing and this free course for proofreading.

14. Copyediting

At first glance, copyediting may not seem that different than editing. Actually, they are very different .

Editors are usually subject matter experts and strive to improve the flow, structure, and logic of a piece. Copyeditors focus more on a sentence-by-sentence basis of the content (or copy of the book) rather than the content as a whole.

Some editing can involve also copyediting. It just depends on who your editor is and what their services entail. Copyediting mainly involves grammar, spelling and punctuation correction, ensuring proper sentence structure, removing wordiness and redundancy, and formatting.

Proofreaders are often copyeditors as well and can work entirely remote as part-time and full time. I recommend this 76-minute FREE online workshop that introduces how to create a profitable proofreading/copyediting online business.

Average Pay: $25 – $35 per hour with top earners making $79,000 year according to ZipRecruiter

How to get started:  Check out free courses on Coursera for copyediting.

Related post: 11 Legit Online Jobs For College Students ($15/Hour or More)

15. Publisher

If you’ve done most of the above for the majority of your working life, you already know books inside and out. You know how to make them beautiful and most importantly, how to sell the crap out of them. Then the next logical step is publishing, am I right?

The sky is the limit on this one. You could either self publish your own work or start putting together some contacts and a small business plan to start your own publishing business.

The potential success of publishing companies depends on a variety of factors.

According to BizFluent, publishers make around $130,000 a year but not every publisher makes the same amount of money. It all depends on your specific business model, how many books you are publishing and the success of those books and authors.

I personally love this guide for starting your own publishing business by Kindlepreneur.

Average Pay: $130,000 per year

How to get started:  Search for “publisher” or “publishing” courses on Coursera .

16. Book Illustrator

When you’re a bibliophile who can’t stop drawing, why aren’t you a book illustrator yet? You can potentially find book illustration gigs on freelance marketplaces like Fiverr and Upwork to apply to.

Other sites to find illustration work:

To increase your chances of getting gigs, create a portfolio to show off your best work. Use personal projects until you’re able to supply more examples from experience. What do I mean by that? Duh! Get out your favorite books that have no illustrations and sit down to draw some imagery for your favorite scenes.

Average Pay: $20 – $45 per hour (from ZipRecruiter )

How to get started:  Search for “illustration” courses on Coursera .

17. Book Translator

If you’re multi-lingual and love reading books, you could make money translating books. You could also combine this with proofreading and editing books in other languages. When books are being translated there could be many spelling and grammar errors due to the fact that there aren’t a lot of direc

Sites to find book translation work:

Average Pay: $28 per hour (from ZipRecruiter )

How to get started:  Search for “translation” courses on Coursera .

Where to Find Remote Jobs for Bookworms

There are a variety of remote job boards that list available work from home and remote jobs. You have your normal ones like Indeed, Glassdoor, and Linkedin.

Then there are ones that are specifically perfect for book lovers :

• FlexJobs – FlexJobs specialty is remote-jobs, hence the “Flex” part of the name. And with remote jobs , a lot of them can include editing, proofreading, narration, etc.
• BookJobs – A centralized place for job seekers to find and research available positions throughout the publishing industry.
• Publishers Weekly – Their job zone includes a range of jobs from copyediting, design, editorial, marketing, publicity, operations and more.
• BestWriting – An all-in-one writing marketplace with a job board that posts writing and editing opportunities.
• Fiverr – A platform for freelancers to market their skills for freelance reading, editing, copyediting, and more.
• Upwork – Similar to Fiverr where you can create a freelancer profile and market your skills to those looking to hire.

Related:  How to Get a Remote Job: The Ultimate Guide

More Ways to Get Paid to Read:

If you are so much of a book worm, maybe consider creating a blog where you publish all of your favorite book reviews in one place. Or better yet, you could write fan fiction or your own books and publish them online somewhere like Substack , where subscribers pay you to read your writing. With a content platform like this, you can also earn money from affiliate links , advertising, sponsorships and more .

It’s worth a thought, for sure. I love blogging. Even though it can take a lot of time and work to be constantly creating content and maintaining a site, it has become a passion of mine.

Much like reading, writing can be that way. It hooks us in so much and expands our minds beyond ways we never unlocked before.

Quick Cash Opportunities for reading and Reviews:

• BookScouter is where you can buy and sell textbooks for the best possible price online.
• InboxDollars will pay you to read emails and you’ll get a $5 signup bonus . Sign up for the Android app here and the IOS app here .
• Nielsen will pay you for using your internet as you normally would every day (including what you read using the internet).
• Pinecone will pay you to review products (by taking surveys) before they hit the shelves in stores. They pay $3 per survey.
• Toluna is another great website that pays you for your opinion.
• Swagbucks will pay you for sharing your opinion via online surveys and other tasks (like playing games ) that can be done from your phone (and make money from home).

Frequently Asked Questions

How can i make money reading books.

You can make money by getting a job that entails a lot of reading, sign up to be a book reviewer, or start a blog about books where you write articles about the books you’ve read, including reviews and other blog content.

Are there jobs that pay you to read books?

Yes there are several jobs that pay you to read books like:

• Book editor or copyeditor
• Audiobook narrator
• Book illustrator

How much do book readers get paid?

Book readers can get paid anywhere from $10 per book review to as much as over $200 an hour for a book related job like an audiobook narrator.

How can I write a good book review?

• Describe the plot, your readers want to know what the book is about.
• Find your voice and voice your opinion.
• Your review must be well written and entertaining (meaning someone would actually enjoy reading it).
• Pick out the most important aspects of the book.
• Keep it short. The absolute maximum number of words out of all the sites listed is 500 words (Women’s Review and U.S. Review) so they should be straight to the point.
• You must meet the deadlines.
• Keep it professional – you are getting paid for your work after all.

Can I get paid to read books out loud?

You can absolutely get paid to read books out loud. Some jobs that pay for this service are:

• Podcast host
• Reading to students online

Related:  20 Side Hustles For College Students (Make $16 an Hour or More)

Wrapping It Up & Actionable Tips

If you want to start getting paid for your reading, first identify what sort of jobs you want to do. Is it reading with feedback, narrating, editing, copyediting, etc that interest you? Or do you want to be involved on a larger scale like with publishing?

Or do you want to take a less formal approach and only review the books that you love reading? Maybe want to try your hand at freelancing?

After you identify how you want to monetize your reading hobby , start researching as much as possible about how you can start getting gigs and getting paid. Then it’s all about taking action from there.

Without any action, you will be just another bibliophile like the rest of us.

Which isn’t a bad thing.

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More ways to make money with your creative energy:

• 8 Ways to Get Paid for Your Recipes
• How to Make Money as an Artist
• How to Get Paid to Watch Anime
• How to Start a Printable Side Hustle
• 43 Passionate Hobbies That Make Money: For Everyone
• 10 Ways To Make Money Blogging

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Daniella is the creator and author of iliketodabble.com. When their wife Alexandra and them aren’t globetrotting or playing with their 7+ animals, they are dabbling and working towards a future of financial freedom.

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I had no idea some of these options were out there. Time to spruce up my resume! 😀

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So many interesting ways to monetize your reading habit that I’ve never considered! Thanks for posting!

Hope you were able to find some good ideas!

Awesome post! Thanks for all of the resources you provided. I love reading books and will have to check these out! Much appreciated.

I am glad you enjoyed it!

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12 Legit Ways to Get Paid to Read Books

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While reading is often a one-person activity, odds are there are thousands of people that would benefit from your newly found knowledge. Here's how to cash in on your perusal of parchment.

• Side Hustles

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Some of the best side hustle ideas are the ones that combine making money with a favorite hobby or passion. For avid readers, a side gig that pays you to read books could sound like a dream come true.

But can you actually get paid to read books? Surprisingly, you can and there are multiple ways to earn a side income from your love of books. Professional reader jobs do exist, and they can offer a way to make money from your favorite reading spot.

If you’d like to get paid to read books online, here are some of the best ways for book lovers to make money.

Sites That Pay You to Write Book Reviews

One way to get paid to read books is by writing book reviews. Book review sites ask readers to share their opinions in a detailed review and offer payment in the form of cash or free books.

Here are some of the most popular review sites to make money reading books.

1. The US Review of Books

Pay rate: Varies per review

The US Review of Books hires experienced reviewers who want to earn money reading books online. With this company, book review opportunities are posted and assigned based on your experience, skillset, and reading interests.

If you want to write for the US Review of Books, you’ll need to apply first. The site asks for a resume and samples of your writing. You’ll also need at least two professional references if you want to be considered. They prefer reviews that are short, succinct, and professionally written, so make sure the samples you’re sending meet those criteria.

The US Review of Books pays for completed book reviews monthly, with checks sent out on the 5th day of each month.

Related: How to Get Paid to Write Reviews

2. Kirkus Media

Kirkus Media is one of the most established and well-known book review companies around. This company looks for book reviewers who are fluent in English and/or Spanish to review indie book titles.

Reviews are typically around 350 words each and have a two-week turnaround time. If you’d like to apply, you’ll need to email their review editor with a resume, some writing samples, and a rundown of what you specialize in as a book reviewer.

Before you can get paid to read books online with Kirkus Media, it helps if you have some experience as they do require a resume and some writing samples. If you also have editing experience, that may be worth mentioning as Kirkus occasionally hires editors.

3. Online Book Club

Pay rate: $5 to $60 per review

Online Book Club pays less than $100 per review, but it’s a good side hustle idea to consider if you want to earn a little extra money for your time spent reading.

You can apply to become a book reviewer through the Online Book Club website . It’s quick and easy to create an account and start reviewing books.

One thing to note, however, is that your first review isn’t paid; instead, you get a free copy of the book you’re reviewing. After that first one is completed, you can start getting paid to read and review books. And review copies of any subsequent books are also free.

4. Women’s Review of Books

Pay rate: Not specified

If you want to get paid to read books written by women or that center on women’s themes or issues, Women’s Review of Books is worth checking out. You can pitch ideas for book reviews directly to the editor.

The Women’s Review of Books generally prefers experienced reviewers, journalists, or readers with an academic background. But if you’re a good writer, consider applying anyway. You might be accepted as an online book reviewer based on the quality of your review writing samples.

5. Publisher’s Weekly

Publisher’s Weekly is a news magazine dedicated to the book publishing industry. In addition to the latest updates and trends, they also publish book reviews written by freelance writers and book reviewers.

The pay isn’t specified, but this could be a great option if you want to make money reading books and you prefer a variety in the genres you read. Publisher’s Weekly publishes book reviews on everything from sci-fi to romance, nonfiction, and horror.

You can check their online listings to see if any professional reader jobs are available. When you’re ready to apply, you’ll need a resume and a couple of well-written book review samples.

6. WordsRated

Pay Rate: $200 per completed book 

Not quite a book review per se, WordsRated is a non-commercial research company that studies book and reading trends, and shares that data with the public. 

Similarly, however, you’ll be asked to read popular books — usually New York Time best-sellers — and record notes about the characters, their demographics, how frequently they make appearances, and the like. 

It’s actually rather mundane, easy work, but the pay is amongst the best of any review company: $200 per completed book. 

Other Ways to Make Money Reading Books

Book review companies aren’t the only way to get paid to read books. Depending on how much time and creativity you have, you could make money reading with any of these options.

7. Become an audiobook narrator.

Audiobooks have grown in popularity thanks to companies like Audible. If you have a good speaking voice and a talent for acting, you could get paid to read books out loud as a narrator.

This is a side hustle you can do at home, which is good if you need a flexible way to make money. It requires minimal equipment; all you’ll need is a microphone and a way to record your voice. You might even go into a studio to record the book if that’s available.

If you’re interested in finding audiobook narrator jobs, you can try sites like ACX or Voices.com. Upwork is another place to look for paid audiobook narration jobs.

8. Start a book review blog, YouTube channel, or podcast.

If you want to get paid to read books and write reviews but you don’t want to work with a book review company, you could monetize your reading skills with a blog, YouTube channel, or podcast.

There are a variety of ways to make money with a book review blog, including:

• Earning money from book referral affiliate sales
• Selling digital printables such as a reading tracker or book journal
• Partnering with authors or publishing companies to write sponsored posts
• Hosting ads on your site

Starting a blog is something just about anyone can do, even if you don’t have stellar technical skills. If you’re interested in this but aren’t sure what to do to set up a blog, check out our step-by-step guide .

If writing isn’t your strength or you want to try a different medium, you can set up a YouTube channel or podcast to review books. Those can be monetized through affiliate partnerships with sites like Bookshop.org, sponsorships, and ads. You might even offer a premium paid subscription to your podcast.

9. Become a freelance book review writer.

If you have decent writing skills, you can turn that into a side hustle as a freelance book review writer.

Freelance book review writers work with different companies and brands. For example, you might write reviews or content for sites like BuzzFeed Books, Book Riot, or BookBub in addition to your own blog. And as a freelancer, you’re not an employee making this different from working as a professional reader.

Writing book reviews on a freelance basis can be a good way to make money reading books if you want something flexible that fits around your schedule.

Related: How to Become a Freelance Writer

10. Become a book proofreader or editor.

Before books are published, they go through multiple rounds of edits and proofreading. Editors review the content of a book and make revisions to help improve the flow, clarity, and organization of ideas. Proofreaders review what’s written to check for spelling errors, grammar errors, punctuation mistakes, and capitalization errors.

If you don’t have any professional editing or proofreading experience, those are skills you can learn. Taking an online course, for example, can help you learn the basics of how to make money proofreading . You can also try testing out your services on sites like Fiverr before trying to turn proofreading or editing into a side hustle or full-time job.

11. Become a freelance beta reader.

Beta readers get paid to read books when they’re in the finished manuscript stage and awaiting final publication. A beta reader’s job is to read the manuscript and offer a critique from a reader’s point of view. That critique can then be used to polish the final manuscript so the book can eventually be published.

Becoming a freelance beta reader requires an eye for detail and fluency in the language of the books you’re asked to read.

If you’re interested in finding freelance beta reader jobs, you can try a site like Upwork or Fiverr or search an online job board like Indeed.

12. Learn a new skill and implement it.

If you want to get paid to read books online, you could always come up with your own creative way to do it. For example, translating books is one option if you’re fluent in another language.

You could offer your services as an eBook formatter if you’re willing to learn the different online publishing platforms. You might even offer cover design, book marketing services, or author coaching services.

There’s an endless amount of possibilities you can offer if you want to get paid to read books.

Do What You Love and Monetize Your Reading Hobby

Having a hobby is great but having a hobby that makes you money is even better. If you love to read, finding ways to get paid to do it is a great side hustle idea. And you can always try different ideas to see which one works best.

Starting a book review blog, for example, could be lucrative over the long-term if you’re able to monetize it. But in the meantime, you could earn some quick cash writing book reviews or picking up freelance proofreading jobs online.

The more open you are to experimenting, the more possibilities there are for getting paid to read.

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The 18 best ways to make money by reading, from submitting book reviews for cash to narrating audiobooks

• Zulie Rane earns six figures as a freelance content creator.
• She always wanted to earn money from reading books, but said the best way to do that doesn't exist.
• Rane said one of the funnest ways to make money by reading books is to create a social media page.

When I was younger, it was always my dream to become a professional reader. I wanted my entire day job to be reading books, thinking critically about what was good, what was bad, and what I would change, and then sharing my thoughts with other people. I really expected this to be a full-time job.

Unfortunately, there's no book-reading degree. You can't get a nine-to-five job as a professional book reader. (At least not yet.) But it is possible to make money by reading books online and offline. I've got 18 ways listed right here. Some of these are pretty typical, and some of these are a little more unconventional, but all of these will result in you earning money from reading books. 

I've separated these into four different categories of ways to make money from reading books: social media, jobs, review sites, and others. 

Make money reading books for social media

One of the most standard and fun ways to make money by reading books is to create a social media profile where you gain a reputation for reading books, having interesting thoughts, and influencing others to read or not read particular books.

All you need to get started is a way to post. You don't even need to buy books at first – use a library card or a Hoopla account to read books for free.

Here are a few of the best ways to make money by reading books using social media.

1. Post your video thoughts on BookTok (and BookTube, and BookStagram)

TikTok gets a bad rap, but it's actually boosting literacy rates in America. I personally have read plenty of BookTok books that I loved, including The Hating Game, anything by Emily Henry, and The Song of Achilles, to name a few. 

The good news is that BookTok is one of the best ways to make money by reading books. 

Here's how it works. This process is similar to any of the video-format book reviews.

First, create an account. Make it clear that it's about book reviews. Explain what genre of books you like.

Then, start reviewing books. This requires a bit of thought - how can you make your videos stand out? How can you gain a reputation as a thoughtful, trustworthy Bookfluencer? 

After that, join the creator fund whenever you're eligible. In 2021, Cait Jacobs went on the record to state that TikTok's creator fund only nets you 2 to 4 cents per 1,000 views, so you'd need between 25,000 to 50,000 views to earn just a dollar. 

However, sponsorships are also a lucrative and potential source of income.

Create the video once, then cross-post it on all three video channels to get the most bang for your buck. It may take some time, but you can earn money by reading books this way.

2. Write your review on a blog to earn money by reading books

What better way to make money by reading than penning an homage to the book with the written word? Blogs are a great way to make money by reading books. It's a less demanding schedule than video content, so you can post once or twice a week as you read and review books, and slowly gain an audience that way.

Whack ads on that bad boy and you're good to go. It may take a while to start gaining traction, but if you truly love books, you're reading them anyway, just post your reviews on your own website instead of (or in addition to) Goodreads.

3. Post about books on Medium

Medium has a royalty payment scheme. The way it works is when a paying Medium member reads your post, you earn a small portion of their monthly membership fee. More views = more money.

Post your book reviews on a publication like Books Are Our Superpower and make money by reading books that way.

This is a really great way to do it because it's simple. You don't need to do any SEO to get money from ad views. You don't even need to host your own website. Just post your thoughts, get 100 followers, and start making money by reading books and posting your thoughts.

4. Podcast it, baby

Podcasts work similarly to BookTok or Bookstagram to make money by reading books, except instead of recording both voice and face, it's just your voice.

Grab a cohost or DIY. Share your latest thoughts on the books you read. Earn money through sponsorships.

Right now, most podcasts don't earn money through anything by ads, but if your podcast grows bigger, you can leverage your audience to get Patreon support, sell bonus content, or get some kind of exclusive deal with a podcasting company.

5. Use affiliate links

Affiliate links kind of pervade all these methods, but they're big enough that I'm giving them their own category as one of the best ways to make money by reading books.

Here's how you can make money reading books by using affiliate links.

First, join an affiliate program like Bookshop.org (my personal fave). 

Then, read a book.

Find the book on Bookshop.org.

Make a recommendation to a friend, on your blog, podcast, social media post, or newsletter.

When someone buys that book thanks to your recommendation, you earn 10% of the sale. 

That's it! It's highly scalable – you can make a few bucks right away with just a single sale, and then as your platform grows, you'll earn more and more. 

Freelance or jobs

What if you don't want to get a whole new social media profile? What if you want to be paid today, not in three months when the first ad revenue trickles in, or your first sponsor comes through?

Consider a career pivot or a side hustle. Freelance gigs or actual jobs are some of the best ways to make money by reading books. Pros: money right away. Cons: not as much control over the books you read.

Here are your options. I've included both full-time, 9-5 career options as well as more casual pay-as-you-go gigs to make money by reading books.

6. Narrate audiobooks

Who amongst us has never heard the dulcet tones of an audiobook reader? Nobody. (My personal fave? Moira Quirk's rendition of  Gideon the Ninth .)

The good news is that if you're in possession of a dulcet tone of your own, you are in high demand as an audiobook narrator. You can make money reading books aloud. Fun fact: Audiobooks are becoming more and more popular. Over the last 10 years, the proportion of U.S. adults who have read an audiobook has doubled . No wonder you can get paid to read books for Audible.

Here are two programs where you can upload a few samples, get contracts, and get paid for reading books (or narrating them). 

With ACX , which is Amazon's/Audible's program, you can choose a royalty share or a per-finished-hour rate. Rates typically go for around $250 PFH or more. Amazon – read books for money.

Findaway Voices is a similar program. The rates are similar. You can sign up, upload samples, and get picked based on your accent or liveliness. One thing I prefer about Findaway Voices versus ACX is that FV helps authors get books into libraries. Not only do I love libraries, but this also helps you get extra money. 

I recommend you do both.

7. Indulge your grammar nerd and become an editor

This is both a career option and a freelance option. Depending on how much education you have, you can either apply for full-time editing jobs or just post your gig on a platform like Upwork or Fiverr.

(I've talked about whether Fiverr is good for beginners here if you want to read more.)

Related stories

Editing can be both grammatical pickups, but also more structural or developmental editing. This is a great way to get paid to read books because it'll actually strengthen your craft, too.

8. Become a literary agent

This is a career option. It's a very romantic way to make money by reading books if you ask me. It's your job to pick out the finest, overlooked manuscripts, read them, and make them shine. Behind every single one of your favorite books is a literary agent who believed in it long before you did.

If you don't have the right qualifications, I recommend you start with an internship. Start networking heavily, because your job is knowing the right people. Understand the publishing process inside and out. Then get paid for reading books, even if they're unpublished. 

TCK Publishing has a good guide on how to get started. 

9. Translate books

Know more than one language? Amazing news – you can get paid to read books in English, Spanish, or any other language and translating them. I love reading books in Spanish, German, and English, so I'm very grateful to the translators who help share works in other languages with me. 

Alternatively, you can also proofread books in another language. Places like FlexJobs , Fiverr , Upwork , Babelcube , and Ulatus are good places to look for these kinds of jobs. 

This can be a career or just a gig, depending on your passion for the job. 

10. Proofread books

This can be a full-time career, but more commonly it's a side hustle. I think it's one of the best ways to make money reading books because, by the time a proofreader comes aboard, the book is typically more polished and ready for publishing. Editors have to deal with the raw material, but proofreaders are just looking for small errors. 

You need a critical eye and an active grammar checker in your head at all times, but it's possible to make money reading books this way. 

11. Design book covers

This one's a curveball! Do you have good design instincts? Maybe you're even a graphic designer? Then this is one of the best ways to make money by reading books for you.

You'll get to read books, think about how you'd convey the main vibe, design a book cover, and get paid.

You can go in both directions here – either go freelance or apply for in-house jobs as a book cover designer. Either will result in a great way to make money by reading books.

Again, this is later on in the process so you'll get to read an almost ready-for-publish book. I also consider this to be a big deal for the author. Your cover will be one of the most influential factors in the book's success.

Submit reviews

Onto method three: submitting reviews for cash. This is probably the simplest method since it involves just three steps: you read a book, you pen your thoughts, and you submit to one of the five platforms I'm about to suggest to you. Boom, you've made money by reading books. This is probably the fastest way to get paid $200 to read books.

You probably already know typical places like Kirkus Reviews pay for reading books, so here are five more unheard-of five platforms I think are best to make money by reading books. 

12. Booklist

Can you write 150 to 175 words about why you liked or didn't like a book? You need to be able to describe the plot and suggest an ideal audience. If so, Booklist may be for you. Here are some examples.

These pay $15 each. You don't need a library degree, just a familiarity with books and libraries to apply.

13. The US Review of Books

This is more of a freelance position that you can tackle later on in your career as a paid book reader. You'll need to contact the editor with a resume, sample work, and at least two professional references. 

They ask that your review be 250-300 words long, with a summary as well as additional insights from the book. Check out examples here . The reviews are paid, but they don't say exactly how much.

Reedsy operates a little differently. Rather than paying you for reviews, you get paid for reading books when you earn a tip. Basically, you write a review, post it on the site, and wait. If a reader loves your review, they may tip you $1, $3, or $5. 

15. Bookbrowse

Bookbrowse is another great place to submit reviews. They promise a "modest payment," and normally assign one review per month to their reviewers. They also ask that you come armed to your application having read some sample reviews and with a few quality samples of at least 300 words yourself. 

16. Online Book Club

For your first review, you won't actually earn any cash – you'll just be sent a free book. Not so bad, right? 

But after your first sample book, you'll be eligible for paid book review opportunities. You can earn anywhere between $5 to $60 per book review. 

You don't have to apply – just enter your email address and sign up. I was able to sign up and nab a free book within about a minute. After that, you have to confirm the download within an hour and submit a review within 14 days. 

Miscellaneous ways of making money by reading books

These two are still great, but they didn't fit neatly into the other categories of the best ways to make money by reading books. Hence, they get their own category.

17. Create a paid book club

For this one, you just need friends (or a social circle). Pick a book, create some buzz, request a small payment for organizing, and set up a book club.

I pay $5/month for membership to my local book club, and I consider it money well spent. Once a month, I get an evening with pals, talking about a book. I didn't have to organize it at all. The organizer, Alice, earns between $25-75 a month depending on how many folks come.

This won't make you rich, but it is a great way to make money reading books because you'll get to read books you actually love and are excited to read. Plus, you get to hang out with friends.

18. Join apps that pay you to read

Booksta claims to let you "get paid to read." Sounds promising! This was the only "read and earn money" app I could find. 

The way it works is you read a book, take a quiz on Booksta, and then earn Booksta coins based on your score. 

Booksta coins are valued at $5/coin. There's some confusion on the site about whether the coin is actually transferable to real USD, or whether it's simply a guess for what that coin will be worth once it's all "on a Blockchain platform as a currency."  

I'm leery whenever I see the word "Blockchain," but don't let my suspicions hold you back!

The best way to make money by reading books doesn't exist yet

In my dreams, there is a future utopia. In that future, I read the books I want comfortably, and earn a living wage by doing so. However, we are not yet in that utopia. Today, the main best ways to make money by reading books are:

Posting content on social media

Getting freelance gigs editing, designing, or proofreading

Submitting reviews to paid platforms

A few other rogue options like starting a paid book club or trying out novelty apps

Maybe one day my utopia will exist. Until then, I hope this article helps you find the best ways to make money by reading books.

Zulie Rane is a freelance content creator who writes and blogs.

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The Work at Home Wife

Helping you work at home and make money online

Get Paid to Read Books: 8 At-Home Jobs for Book Lovers

August 4, 2023

If reading is your great love in life, why not turn it into a side hustle and get paid to read books?

One of the best things about the book publishing business is that thanks to the internet, it adapts well to copy editors, designers, and even editors looking for a home job, as well as voice talent for narrating audiobooks.

And if you’re simply a book lover who gets excited about free copies of new young adult lit or interesting nonfiction, you can turn your passion for reading into pocket change by writing a book review.

So settle in, my excellent bookworms! I’ve got some great ideas that’ll let you read books and make money in a remote job .

Make extra money with book review opportunities

If you aren’t necessarily looking to pay all your bills by reading books, you may be able to find work as a paid book reviewer or at least get a free book in exchange for an online review. Here are some sites where you can provide paid book reviews or get a new book.

• Online Book Club requires your first review to be unpaid, but you’ll still get a free book to review! After your initial review, most projects offer $5 to $60. As you can see, book reviewing really isn’t a gig that compensates well for the time involved. You really need to love to read — and quickly — and consider any compensation a bonus while having fun .
• Kirkus hires freelance reviewers and expects a 350-word review within a 2-week time frame.
• Booklist accepts freelance book reviews – assigned reviews only. Freelance opportunities are limited but pay $12.50 for a blog post and $15 for a full book review.
• The US Review does pay reviews, though their website does not say how much. Reviews must include a short book summary, be turned around within 2-3 weeks, and follow a style guide.
• Bethany House specializes in Christian books and is specifically looking for reviewers who have an existing online platform like a YouTube channel, a book blog, etc. There is no mention of compensation, but you may be able to use your affiliate marketing link within your review on your own website or channel.
• Writerful will allow you to submit an honest review of any book of your choosing. You just won’t get paid as a new reviewer, so expect to put in some time on the site. Paid book reviewer opportunities are offered if you become a trusted, experienced reviewer. These paid opportunities compensate $10 to $50 per review.
• Moody Publishers is another publishing house specializing in Christian titles. They do not pay for your reviews, but you will receive free books.

If you need to earn a living from your side hustle , you’ll probably have to do more than review books. Here are some additional opportunities that pay more and will still have you reading.

Also see: How to make money as an Amazon reviewer

Become a narrator

Audiobook narration is an industry that has been picking up steam in the work-at-home world in recent years. With so many books now being consumed through Audible and similar services, even self-publishers are publishing their works on various platforms.

To become an audiobook narrator , you’ll need a great voice, the ability to perform in different voices (training as a voice actor helps), and editing skills (most narrators do their own post-production file editing). You can mark up the manuscript or printed book with tips to help you avoid problems when narrating.

Audiobook work also requires the right equipment, such as a microphone, a pop screen filter, good-quality headphones, a tablet or e-reader, and recording and editing software. Learn more about becoming an audiobook narrator here .

Copy editing and proofreading jobs

Large and small publishers — not to mention websites, magazines, and corporations — often outsource online proofreading jobs as well as copy editing jobs. If you’d like to copy edit for a traditional publishing house, it will most likely require you to have a professional copy editing certificate, which you can get by completing a copy editing course. Universities often offer these courses, and many can be completed online.

If you aren’t able to get a certificate right now, don’t worry! You can still land a professional proofreader job or copy editing position from someone else, such as a website or corporation. To apply for a copy editing or proofreading job, simply demonstrate your superior grammar and spelling skills! If you are looking at some resources, two that were helpful to me were this free workshop with the basics of getting in the proofreading business and The Copyeditor’s Handbook: A Guide for Book Publishing and Corporate Communications by Amy Einsohn. (Be sure you pick up the latest edition.)

With a little bit of luck, you can score an editing work-from-home job . These opportunities are not that common, but you’ll periodically find websites or online publications looking for assistant editors and even managing editors. A small traditional publisher may also work with remote editors. Bookjobs.com is one great place to keep an eye out for book editor openings; you can also keep a tab on Indeed, and make it a habit to regularly check the Careers page on your favorite websites.

Or you could develop your own freelance editing business , selling your services to authors seeking a professional evaluation and polish of their manuscripts. This will take some time and legwork on your part. You’ll need to build your business from the ground up: decide your rates, design your website, and gather customer testimonials. Then you’ll need to land clients!

You may want to look for editing jobs via other services while you work on your own base of operations as a freelancer. You can find a remote editing job on various low-paying job boards (such as UpWork) or via better-paying Virtual Assistant companies (like Time Etc). This work-while-you-build strategy serves two purposes: First, it brings some money in, and second, it lets you collect testimonials about your performance. Be careful when employing this tactic, however. Make sure you don’t poach customers from another service or violate the terms of your agreement with any virtual assistant platform.

If you are fluent in a second language, you may find online opportunities for translation jobs . These gigs are plentiful on sites like UpWork in addition to translation services and marketplaces such as:

Today Translations

Translators Base

Layout and design

There are a lot of emerging opportunities to work with writers who are self-publishing these books. While these folks may have a great story to share, they may not be as passionate about formatting their book or graphic design needed to create a compelling book cover.

You can learn how to do book layout and editorial or graphic design for free at sites such as The Book Designer . And many great desktop publisher computer programs, such as Adobe InDesign, Quark XPress and Microsoft Publisher, can help you with the actual book layout.

Then just hang out your shingle as a designer or formatter! You can create a website to advertise your book layout and design services, network with authors and publishers on social media, and look for designer gigs in all the usual places.

Some smaller publishing houses even hire freelance book designers, giving you the opportunity to establish a lucrative business relationship. Or you can actively seek out self-publishing authors getting their books ready for print-on-demand and ebook stores like Kindle. (The latter will likely be your primary clientele.)

Become a book publisher

This is the ultimate “get paid to read books” job.

Let’s say you’ve been building all the skills I outlined above. You’ve maximized your opportunities in the book business. You can recognize good writing. You’re a good copy editor and overall editor. You know how to make a book look beautiful on the page and on the screen. So why not start publishing books yourself? Go into business to create your own publishing company!

If you’re a writer, you could start by self-publishing your own work. Once you’re established as someone who can turn out a beautifully designed and cleanly edited product, you can start looking for other authors to publish. You’ll need some start-up capital to land your first author, but you’ll have all the skills and a golden opportunity to create a book that you believe in. And be sure both you and the author make some money, of course!

Marketing and public relations

One of the key tools in your arsenal is knowing how to market yourself, your skills, and your products. Not only is this crucial to making your own freelance editing or publishing business work, but you can also turn book marketing and public relations into its own business! With so many self-published authors new to the field every month and traditionally published authors who are struggling to come up with their own PR strategy, there are tons of opportunities to step in and help them out. You can become their freelance book marketing and publicity pro, who lines up blog tours, plan author interviews, and really gets the word out about their books with viral marketing .

Where can I find these jobs for book lovers?

• Kirkus hires book reviewers as well as several of the positions mentioned above.
• Freelance Writer’s Den offers a job board specifically for writers and editors.
• Publishers Weekly offers several freelance publishing positions, such as book reviewer and editor.

Are you a book lover who’s excited about these opportunities? I’m excited for you! There is so much remote work for you to turn your love of reading into a livelihood, and now you know how to look for it. Whether you’re reviewing books for extra cash or narrating the next best-selling audio book, I’d love to hear from you about any and all jobs you land and businesses you begin from here!

About Angie Nelson

Angie Nelson began working from home in 2007 when she figured out how to take her future into her own hands and escape the corporate cubicle farm. Angie’s goal is sharing her passion for home business, personal finance, telecommuting, and entrepreneurship, and her work has been featured on Recruiter, FlexJobs and Business News Daily.

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30 Best Sites to Get Paid to Read Books Aloud (2023)

Everyone has a talent they would like to monetize, but isn’t it the dream of every reader and book lover on the planet to get paid to read books aloud?

Imagine yourself back in grade school. Popcorn reading (you called it that at your school as well, right?) was on the agenda for the day, and it was an excruciating wait as each paragraph bounced to the students before you. You wait, your finger on your paragraph, ready to astound your fellow students and your teacher alike.

When it comes to you, your reading is practically a song. You pronounced that four-syllable word with ease and grace. Your heart pounded in your ears but hearing your teacher tell you what a nice job you did at the end of it was worth every second of anxiety.

Reading aloud is a skill, and thankfully, it’s one that’s highly sought after. As the icing on the cake, it can also be a very lucrative side hustle, as you’ll see below from all the different options for you to make money reading books aloud.

Table of Contents

How to get paid to read books aloud

If your goal is to get paid to record audiobooks, you need to research the various platforms to pick one that you’d like to become a reader for. Whichever one you choose, the process is pretty similar for each of them: make an account, create a portfolio, and audition for projects.

As you’ll see below, there are a few different platforms looking for readers to record audiobooks. Keep in mind that while each platform will have broadly similar requirements, and the competition may be steeper on some more than others.

As such, it’s worth doing your research to see where you’re most likely in with a shot.

ACX is the foremost platform on the internet for audiobook voice talent, and luckily, becoming a reader for ACX is easy, though establishing a reputation may take a lot of time, effort, and luck.

After signing up, create your profile to include relevant experience and upload samples that show your abilities. After you have a solid profile, you can start auditioning by recording a few minutes of the manuscript.

After getting your gig, you’ll start recording the book. The rights-holder must approve the first 15 minutes of your audio, and then you can finish the project and get paid to read books aloud with ACX.

Audible has the biggest audiobooks selection on the internet and sells straight through Amazon, so getting your voice there would be a big win. To make money on  Audible by reading books , you can start by signing up through ACX.

ACX is Audible’s publishing platform, so to become a narrator for Audible and get paid to record your voice from home , simply follow the process of signing up and creating content through ACX, and your final product could be distributed on Audible, iTunes, and Amazon.

To see the kind of great content you could produce yourself one day, check out this deal where you can sign up for a free 30-day trial for Audible . With this, you’ll get one free audiobook – that you can keep forever, even once your trial ends!

3. Findaway Voices

Projects created on Findaway voices are primarily indie projects, meaning there’s a little bit less competition, but it’s the leading company for self-published authors in the US. To begin with, you’ll create your account as a narrator.

On your profile, you’ll be asked to select a Per Finished Hour (PFH) rate. Some suggest starting as a beginner at around $85-$100. After this, you’ll finish your profile by which you’ll be recommended for projects.

If you are selected, you’ll then sign any relevant agreements, download any notes from the rights-holder about the production, and then perform and upload the extended sample. Once approved, you will be able to finish the project.

4. Voices.com

Voices.com claims to be the number one marketplace for voiceover talent, so there are plenty of paying customers and companies looking for narrators. Not only is it huge, but it matches you with jobs just based on your voice profile.

To make an account, sign up as a freelancer. Afterwards, you’ll fill out your profile in a way that makes you appealing to companies looking for voice talent. Once your profile is complete, you’ll receive job invites.

Receiving invites or replying to a job listing will allow you to write a proposal and upload a response file . These are essentially your audition pieces that will allow rights holders to see if you’re right for their project.

Want to learn just what it takes to become a voiceover artist – for free?

This FREE voiceover workshop will show you just what it takes to succeed (and make money!) in this industry.

It’s run by Julie Eickhoff, who’s been working from home doing voiceovers since 2011. In that time, she’s narrated and produced more than 100 audiobooks, among other voice products – and she’s now here to teach you how to do the same thing yourself!

5. Bunny Studio

Bunny Studio , unlike its competitors, pays you for auditioning. Promising a turnaround time of only 12 hours for paying clients, each second counts. While they don’t charge subscription fees, they do take a percentage of your finished payment.

To get started, you’ll sign up with the platform including all of your narrating skills and preferences. Once you complete your profile, they send a project that you have 48 hours to complete. This is your audition for the site as a whole.

You have four total chances to become a pro with this audition, but if you’re accepted, you’ll be able to create your portfolio, audition for projects, and get matched with clients like on every other platform so you can start to get paid to read books aloud.

6. Peopleperhour

This AI-driven platform uses your profile to match you with clients; however, much like sites like Fiverr, you can post your individual jobs for different price points under the Audiobook voice talent category and allow clients to purchase specific packages.

To sign up with Peopleperhour , you’ll create a profile as a freelancer. Like Bunny, Peopleperhour requires an application in order to approve you for the website. Once approved, the algorithm will match you with clients looking for your specialties and project characteristics.

You can search for projects manually, but you can only submit 15 proposals per month for free. Buying additional credits will enable you to apply for more projects.

7. Brilliance Audio

Though Brilliance Audio has been around since the 80s, it is now an Amazon company and is one of the leaders in audiobook production. As an independent publisher, it has a separate catalog of books and audio, but its products can be purchased through Amazon and Audible. As such, working for them essentially involves you being able to get paid to read books aloud for Amazon.

To start to get paid to read books aloud with Brilliance, you must email the company for an opportunity to audition. As the company boasts higher quality audiobooks, entrance to the site’s staff of performers may be tough. That said, their performers are comprised of beginner and expert narrators, so you still do have a chance to find things like voice over jobs for beginners from home through their platform.

Brilliance has a menu for project creators to vet and select their voice talent. They create their order, and Brilliance arranges for the project to be completed.

Upwork is an extensive network of easy freelance jobs in every category, and audiobook narration is one such category. With a huge network of paying clients and the ability to tailor your profile down to your most specific talents, freelancers will never feel at a loss for opportunities.

Creating an account with Upwork is easy, and for the most part, it’s free. Freelancers can pay for additional “connects”, which is their fee for submitting proposals and auditions, but non-paying members get a few free ones each month that roll over if they go unused.

To snag jobs where you get paid to read books aloud, clients can reach out to you based on your profile, although the bulk of your work will be reaching out to clients and submitting proposals. After you’re selected, you’ll work one-on-one with the client to produce the final product.

9. Voice 123

Voice 123 is one of the largest voice acting platforms in the world. Some seriously major companies hire voice talent through this site, including clients like NBC, Coca Cola and The New York Times.

While this often means that many of the jobs on there are for things like voiceovers on TV shows and in commercials, they also have a ton of narration jobs. You can get paid to read books aloud as a beginner here, but you’ll be asked during the sign up process to identify the level of experience you have, just so potential clients are aware.

Signing up is free though and, given the level of some of the clients on here, it’s definitely worth checking it out.

10. YouTube

If you start your own YouTube channel, you can actually make money reading books aloud. Booktubers, as they’re commonly known, earn money from things like ads and affiliate marketing.

Affiliate marketing is when someone clicks on your link to purchase something that you’ve recommended and you get a commission for this. You could easily include your own link to the book you’re reading, allowing your audience to buy it themselves – and helping you to make money in the process!

There is, however, an important catch.

Can I read books on YouTube and get paid?

You can’t read books on YouTube and get paid if you don’t own the rights to the content, if the work isn’t in the public domain or if you don’t have permission from the rights holder, as this is a breach of copyright.

This means though that if you meet any of those requirements, you’re in the clear. In particular, it’s fine to get paid for reading books aloud on YouTube by reading books in the public domain.

Books in the public domain don’t have a rights holder to determine if you can monetize their content. This means that you can read books that aren’t copyrighted any longer and monetize your channel to make money from ads or sponsors.

Determining if a work is in the public domain depends on when it was written, whether it was published, and whether the author’s name was known. If do, however, you find a public domain work and want to record yourself reading it aloud, then you can upload your recording to YouTube and monetize it.

According to Youtube’s Help Center , the only other way you can monetize a book you’ve recorded is if you get permission through the rights holder.

If a book is still in circulation, you should probably contact the publisher, not the author. If a book is self-published, you can contact the author to ask permission.

11. Instagram

This option for earning money in this way doesn’t only apply to Instagram, to be fair. After all, you could do the same thing through Facebook Lives, Twitch or other similar platforms.

That is, you could make money reading books aloud on Instagram, whether it’s through a video you put on there or an Instagram Live.

For instance, let’s say you start an account about kids books. You could easily get paid to read children’s books aloud on there, appealing to parents who may be looking for some healthy screentime for their kids.

Again, though, there are some important points to keep in mind here.

Is it illegal to read a book on a live stream?

You must be the rights holder or the book must be in the public domain for you to read the book aloud on a live stream. The only exception to these rules is either if you obtain permission from the rights holder or abide by the Fair Use doctrine.

If you have no intention of monetizing your stream or channel and don’t take donations while reading, you may be able to use the book while abiding by relevant fair use guidelines.

To be perfectly clear about whether your reading of a book can be protected under fair use, it must follow one or more of these four guidelines:

• Your use of the material is expressed in a new way that adds meaning to the original material, and it is not being used commercially.
• The material is primarily factual, not fictional.
• You’re borrowing small bits of the material, not using the whole thing or even “the heart” of the work.
• Your use of the material doesn’t harm the copyright owner’s ability to make a profit from their work.

An example of something that could be considered fair use and possibly even monetized would be if you read small portions of a book and added analysis or educational commentary on those pieces.

If, however, the publisher and copyright owner already have educational material on that piece, you might be competing with them and be in danger of violating fair use and copyright laws.

12. Your own site

Launching your own site is a great way to make some extra money – so why not combine it with your love of books?

There are plenty of ways to earn money through a site about books. The most obvious one is reviewing books and then providing links where people can buy the book, letting you earn a commissioni n the process.

And, of course, you could definitely combine this with reading the books aloud, at least in part, to give people an idea of what the book is about. Just make sure that you keep in mind some of the points mentioned above about either needing permission, sticking to books in the public domain or complying with the Fair Use doctrine.

Thinking about starting a blog to make extra money?

Great choice! After all, it’s one of the cheapest online businesses to start at under $3 per month – less than a cup of coffee! In fact, that’s the price you’ll get if you launch your site with Bluehost , which is easily my top pick for the best website host for beginners to use.

Not only will you get a free domain name , but you definitely don’t need any tech experience to get started.

To find out more, check out my simple step-by-step guide on how to start a blog as I show you the exact steps I took to start on the path to earning thousands of dollars every month – on the side of my full-time job!

13. A podcast

There are plenty of great podcasts out there about books and listening to them makes it feel like you’re in your very own book club with the podcast host – and their thousands of other listeners, of course!

Many of these podcasts involve people reading parts of the book aloud (don’t forget what I said above though about this to avoid getting into hot water), so why can’t you do the same?

That is, you could either launch your own podcast or see if you can go on to an existing one as a guest.

This would actually be a great strategy to combine with some of the other options I just mentioned, particularly if you launch your own social media or YouTube channel or your own site about this, as you could use this as a way to promote your own channel and get more eyes (or ears!) over there.

Other ways to make money reading books aloud

If you’re looking for even more options where you can get paid to read aloud, these sites are also great for this and entirely legit:

• Brilliance Audio
• Internet Jock
• Mandy Voices (formerly Voices Pro)
• Spoken Realms
• The Audiofile Audiobook Talent & Industry Guide
• The Voice Realm
• Voice Crafters
• Voice Jungle

How much do book readers get paid?

Most book readers are paid per finished hour. That means, if one finished hour of an audiobook takes two hours to record, you’ll be paid for one hour. Your earnings will thus depend on the length of the text you’re narrating and how long it takes you to read it.

In fact, according to ACX , taking two hours to record one hour of an audiobook is very standard, so don’t expect to be paid based on how long you work in this field.

Many beginners start at around $85 per hour. However, as you gain more experience or if you join a union compared to working freelance, you’ll then start to earn more. Some end up earning up to $250 per hour of narration.

Related: 27 Legit Ways to Make $200 a Day Online – Guaranteed

Some narrators elect to get paid through royalty shares. Choosing to get paid through royalties could be risky if you aren’t sure the book will sell many copies; however, you could miss out on a lot if you record a best-seller and only get paid the PFH rate.

Narrators get paid more per finished hour as they create portfolios and acquire a reputation. Narrators charging $400PFH can make several thousand dollars per finished project.

Are there jobs that pay you to read books aloud?

For the most part, to get paid to read books aloud in English, freelance work is the most widely available with the lowest ceiling of entry. Platforms like Upwork and Fiverr are the most obvious options, but with thousands upon thousands of members, getting consistent work isn’t easy. 

However, you could luck into a salaried position as a reader, although perhaps don’t expect this as this isn’t the norm.

One way to get paid to read children’s books aloud is through hospitals, charities, and schools. Many of these positions will be for non-profits not likely to pay for your services, but finding work as a literacy director or school librarian would allow you to read to children.

This also has other opportunities, like where you can get paid to read books in English to adults learning it as a second language. In either case, you’d potentially be able to get paid to do it without having to work as a freelancer.

Other avenues to pursue could be nursery home or daycare attendants, but reading aloud wouldn’t be your only job responsibility.

How much can I get paid to read books aloud ?

As a freelancer where you get paid to read books aloud, you can earn up to around $250 per finished hour. For salary positions, a literacy director has a salary of up to $60,000 a year, while a literacy coach earns around $44,000.

Similarly, elementary school librarians have widely varying salaries, largely depending on the state. The national average is around $55,000 – although, of course, getting paid to read books aloud wouldn’t be your only task in this role.

Freelance is a little more difficult to estimate. As a beginner reading for $85 PFH, if you devote yourself to reading full-time and can produce a finished 8-hour audiobook in 16 hours per week, you could earn around $33,000 a year working less than half of a full-time job.

A narrator with a greater reputation who sets their rate at $400 PFH to produce one 8 hour audiobook a week could earn $154,000 a year. It should be stated, however, that getting consistent work on such a regular basis is pretty rare.

Can you make money narrating audiobooks?

Yes, you can make money narrating audiobooks, with a number of platforms paying good money for people to record themselves reading these aloud. The exact amount you’ll make, however, will vary depending on your experience, the length of the book and how long it takes you.

After all, if you’ve ever listened to an audiobook in your life, just think that someone would have had to originally record it – and almost certainly got paid to read that book aloud. So why couldn’t that someone be you for future books?

Related: 30 Legit Ways to Make Money in Grad School

Can I make a living reading books?

Yes, you can make a living reading books if there is enough consistent work. While a salaried position in this field isn’t the norm, contract or freelance work can net you around $600 a project without any prior experience.

However, finding work consistently enough to pay the bills is a hurdle that can only be jumped with time and dedication. Emily Woo Zeller, a full-time independent contractor, reads for 5-6 hours a day, making a living entirely off of audiobooks (with other occasional passion projects in between). 

Her first Audible project was released in 2009, and since then, she’s accumulated a portfolio of over 500 Audible audiobooks.

With time and dedication, you too can build prestige and a portfolio, and these things will help you stay busy as a contractor and make a living reading books.

Do I need prior experience to get paid to read books aloud ?

No, you don’t necessarily need experience to get paid to read books aloud, although having a portfolio helps. Many platforms require you to submit audition pieces and so, on there, your actual skills will be more important than any prior experience you may have.

That is, while experience can help in order to show your portfolio to potential clients, it’s not strictly necessary to have experience in order to be hired to read books aloud.

Of course, for careers such as literacy coordinators and librarians, some qualifications and prior experience in similar positions will be necessary. However, you can get started in freelance jobs where you’re recording things like audiobooks with no experience – although talent will help.

When rights holders are shopping for talent and asking for auditions, or when you’re auditioning for books you’d like to narrate, your experience is just one piece of the profile. On ACX, your experience and accolades show before your audio samples, so having the experience to show can still be important to getting auditions.

However, if rights holders make it past your profile and into your samples, the quality of the pieces you narrate is really what will tell the rightsholder that you’re the right person for their project.

How do I record myself reading a book aloud?

Recording yourself reading books aloud can be done with very little investment. All you really need is a quiet space, a microphone, and basic editing software. Beyond that, you’ll need a lot of practice, trial, and error.

1. Create a good recording environment and sound setup

First, you’ll need to set up a recording studio that will give you quiet, balanced audio. Wherever you choose to record, this has to be your home base.

Even a small change to a different room in the middle of a project can change the quality of the audio. Test the levels of your voice when recording on your iPhone by using an app or watching the spikes on your audio with your Voice Memo or another recording app.

According to home studio professionals , your levels shouldn’t exceed 50 to 75 percent of the way up the meter, meaning that if you see spikes hitting the top of the bar while you’re recording, your audio is going to be unbalanced.

To eliminate outside noise, set your microphone up away from anything that makes noise, even brown or white noise like fans, computers, appliances, or other equipment that emits a hum. Once you’ve found a quiet space, test your audio, again and again, to see if you can get quality output.

2. Read the entire piece before you start recording

To get a good idea of who a character is, and therefore how to voice them, you should read the entire book to understand who they are. Not only that, but you may need information found later in the book to know how to read certain scenes and whether you should emphasize words that are more important than others.

You should know your project inside and out before you sit down in the studio, otherwise, you could make a major time-wasting mistake in interpreting the book. This could cause the rightsholder to send your initial sample back or that could force you to re-record content when you see something you missed.

If you read the entire book and find that one character has important background information that could change the way you read them, you may need to do additional research.

This could mean that you read more about their nationality, practice their accent, or simply watch content that could help you understand them better.

3. Practice each section like it’s a monologue

As an audiobook narrator, you’re not just reading. You’re acting. Not only do you want to emphasize the right words, get the right tempo, and create a smooth listening experience, but you want each character to sound right to the reader.

Dialogue will be the most practice and research-intensive part of the job. Practice and record small sections at a time. You can piece the audio together as you edit later, but make sure that each section is as good as it can be before moving on to the next one.

If you’re having trouble mastering a section, it may be a sign that you should take a break or come back to that section. Make sure to label each recording extremely specifically, so you can keep track of each take.

4. Edit your sound to the best of your ability

There is plenty of free audio editing software out there capable of trimming clips, piecing them together, and enhancing the quality.

When you record, keep your files to the length of one chapter to make editing and exporting a little easier. Make sure you make your recordings lossless through your iPhone before uploading them to a program.

For beginners, there are a few things you can do in post-production with editing to make your voice sound better. To enhance your audio, you’ll need to equalize, normalize, and compress, then normalize again according to Mike Russell , who’s a music and radio professional.

The purpose of equalizing your audio is to get rid of unwanted sounds and make your voice more prominent. Normalizing will make volume consistent throughout the piece, and compression will lower the highest peaks of the recording and make them quieter.

From there, normalizing again makes the adjusted highest peaks consistent throughout the recording.

5. Export lossless audio

Exporting with the most optimal settings will be different for whichever program you use. Exporting to Free Lossless Audio Codec (FLAC) is a good rule of thumb to avoid losing quality as you export.

If you upload to Youtube or another platform, you will lose quality on that file, so exporting and uploading in the highest possible quality will limit the loss you experience.

Some publishing platforms may also require high-quality recordings of which FLAC files should be able to measure up.

Final thoughts on how to get paid to read books aloud

It’s certainly possible to get paid to read books aloud simply based on the fact that audiobooks exist. As these people aren’t working for free, this means that you, too, could feasibly make money narrating audiobooks.

Of course, the amounts that book readers get paid don’t always start super high but, with some practice and by building up your portfolio, it’s certainly possible to make a living reading books.

Just make sure that you’re doing this through legit platforms and that, if you try to do this yourself somehow, you’re not falling afoul of any copyright laws.

For example, some people have tried to get paid to read books online on YouTube and get paid, but without the permission of the rights holder, you could accidentally be looking at something illegal if you read a book on a live stream, for example.

But those are some pretty exceptional cases. For most people interested in jobs that pay you to read books aloud, you’ll find a bunch of sites and similar platforms where you can get paid to do just that – a perfect way to combine your love of reading with your love of having extra money!

Anna is the founder of LogicalDollar and a personal finance expert, having been featured in Forbes, HuffPost, Reader’s Digest, Bankrate, MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, CreditCards.com and many more. With more than 10 years of experience in the financial and legal industries, bachelor’s and master’s degrees in these fields, as well as her own journey in turning $60,000 in debt into a thriving investment portfolio, she’s committed to helping others get on the path to financial freedom.

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Arvyn Cerézo

Arvyn Cerézo is an arts and culture writer/reporter with bylines in Book Riot , Publishers Weekly , South China Morning Post , PhilSTAR Life , the Asian Review of Books , and other publications. You can find them on arvyncerezo.com and @ArvynCerezo on Twitter.

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It’s true that reading books is beneficial in so many ways, including improving our mental health . But there’s an unpopular benefit that reading books can also provide: money. Indeed, reading can become an income stream, turning passion into profit. Ever wondered how to get paid to read books?

While there are several, broad avenues to do that — such as getting a job in the publishing industry , becoming a book editor or proofreader , narrating an audiobook , developing ebooks for a living, or becoming an audiobook proof listener — I’d narrow in on the easiest route, something that could be done right away: book reviewing.

I’m a writer and journalist regularly reviewing books for Publishers Weekly , and I’ve been doing this for four years now. Although the pay isn’t that great, it helps me hone my writing and reviewing skills. It also helps me build connections within the publishing industry. But a gig such as this might as well be a full-time job itself; reading a book for review purposes is a different thing from reviewing a book for leisure. There’s a lot of things to consider, and it might not seem that enjoyable at it appears.

But if you’re interested to become a book reviewer and get paid to read books along the way, I have a list of six ways for you to try below. The list includes writing for traditional magazines and publications that are proven to pay freelancers after a published review. Maybe after trying these gigs out, you might get interested in working in publishing. So, to test the waters, a book reviewing side hustle might be ideal.

Here’s how to get paid to read books through reviewing gigs:

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Writing Book Reviews for Publishers Weekly

PW , the industry magazine, pays $25 per review that runs about 180–200 words. You can choose how many books you can review in a month. In my case, I recently switched to one book per three weeks because of my schedule. But before, I used to do two books a month. In addition to that, you can decline a book if you don’t feel like it, but I’m not sure if it’s the case with every editor.

There are also opportunities for other kinds of writing, such as a Q&A and an author profile, which you can pitch to your editor.

Publishers Weekly accepts reviewer applications occasionally. All you have to do is send a CV and a sample review à la PW . They don’t assign a byline, however.

Writing Book Reviews for Kirkus Reviews

This magazine also accepts applications for freelance reviewers . However, it won’t be for traditionally published books, unlike with PW . Instead, reviewers would be working on self-published books for the indie section of the magazine called Kirkus Indie.

The review runs about 350 words and is due two weeks after the book is assigned. They pay $50, but it could go upwards to $75 if they see some great writing. For picture books, they pay $40 for a review of 250 words. As with PW , they don’t give a byline.

“Reviewing for Kirkus Indie was fun. I got sent a steady stream of books to recommend, usually 1–2 per month,” shares Sarah S. Davis, former Kirkus Indie reviewer and a Book Riot contributor. “I did have an opportunity when I first started to list what genres were my preferred genres to recommend. You don’t get to choose which book you get, but they will often give you a sub-genre or category that you connect well with. For example, for me that was books about health, psychology, and spirituality. My friend who reviewed for Kirkus, however, ‘specialized’ in geotechnical thrillers.”

To be considered, submit a sample review in the style of Kirkus.

Reviewing for Booklist

Booklist is a magazine catered toward librarians. They also occasionally publish reviews in their print and online versions. Just like the magazines aforementioned, Booklist is also constantly looking for reviewers.

For a word count of 150–175, the pay is a meager $15. If you reject a book, you get $5. Nonetheless, the best thing here is that the reviews are signed. That means you get to have a byline attached to the review, whether in print or online. In some instances, however, the payment could be delayed because the review is scheduled for a later issue. But once it gets published, you get to be paid.

Here’s how to apply as a Booklist reviewer . Once accepted, you’d become an apprentice reviewer.

Writing Audiobook Reviews for AudioFile Magazine

AudioFile is a magazine that regularly reviews audiobooks. If you’re an avid audiobook listener and feel like recommending best new titles, then this is for you.

AudioFile assigns a couple audiobooks in a month, and you have to write a review of about a hundred words. They pay $10 apiece, which is disbursed twice a year. Because of this payment scheme, it would take a long while to receive the payment. Still, you have the freedom to choose the genre of audiobook you want to review, such as young adult, fantasy, classics, literary fiction, etc. In the review that appears in print and online versions, you get to have initials as your byline, but you don’t get to have your name printed in full.

Reviewing an audiobook, however, is an altogether different realm. Make sure to read the magazine to get familiarized with the style.

Writing Book Reviews for Online Book Club

This is a forum that publishes book reviews, and they always accept reviewers. Since it’s a forum — not a magazine or a publication — you get to choose what appears as your byline. Pay varies per book, but it usually ranges from $5–60 per review according to their website.

“Reviewing books for the Online Book Club was a good experience because I got to read books and give my opinion about them, which I enjoyed,” says Yolimari Garcia, a former reviewer. “You can choose which books you want to review from a list. However, you can only pick the books with higher payments if you have a high reviewer score. I reached the highest level, which was six. A level-six reviewer is allowed to be an editor, which I was too.”

According to Garcia, the reviewers receive feedback from the editors, who also assign ratings based on the Review Team Guidelines. The objective is for the high-quality reviews to receive a high score and those with low quality to receive a low score. Some reviews cannot be published because it is clear that the writer did not read the book or adhere to the rules, according to Garcia.

“You can review as many books from the list as you can in a month as long as you follow the Review Team Guidelines and meet the deadlines…The payment is lower if you are a low-level reviewer and higher if you are a high-level reviewer,” she adds. As with other publications that publish book reviews, Garcia says that “don’t expect to make a salary” and “see it as a hobby, a side gig, or a medium for gaining experience writing professional book reviews .”

Here’s how to apply as a reviewer for Online Book Club .

Pitching Directly to Magazines and Publications

This is the recommended option if you’ve already gained an experience writing professional book reviews or if you have a stellar writing portfolio. Many publications allow unsolicited pitches to editors; The New York Times , The Guardian , and other major outlets may accept such pitches.

The rate is significantly higher, reaching as high as $800 for a 1,000-word review . However, since this is the high-paying path, it’s also the most difficult one. It takes a lot of effort to craft the perfect pitch to an editor, and sending the pitch doesn’t even guarantee an assignment. It might depend on the quality of the pitch, the publication’s editorial calendar, the strength of the writing portfolio, relevance of the book, etc. To get paid to read books in this manner, one must already be an established literary critic. Think of it as the be-all and end-all of reviewing.

For more tips on how to pitch an article to a major publication, here’s a guide .

There are several ways to get paid to read books, but book reviewing seems to be the easiest path. Because of the nature of this gig, though, you might want to supplement it with other book-related jobs. Here are audiobook narrator jobs for beginners and other jobs for book lovers !

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eBiz Facts is reader-supported. When you buy with our links, we may earn a commission. Learn more .

Updated: September 4, 2023

Get Paid To Read Books

11 legit ways to make money from your reading habit.

This is the definitive guide on how to get paid to read books 📚

I’ve been working online for several years and spent 15 hours researching what you can do to earn cash remotely if you love to read.

If you want to:

• Learn the best ways to earn money reading books
• Understand the pros and cons of reading jobs
• Know where to get started finding jobs as a book reviewer, narrator, editor, translator and lots of other reading-related jobs

Then this is the guide for you.

📚 How To Make Money Reading Books: 11 Best Ways

There are several ways to make money reading books. Here are the 11 best. They start off fairly easy and tend to get harder as you go down the list.

• Reading Books Via Apps Using a smartphone, tablet or any other digital reader to read for cash.
• Writing Book Reviews Reading books then writing a review telling people what you thought.
• Writing Book Summaries Breaking down the main themes, concepts or plot of a book into a small text.
• Proofreading Reading books and checking for errors, continuity issues or whether books meet a specific criteria.
• Editing Reading books and correcting errors. Or improving books for readability.
• Reading Books Aloud Narrating books and converting them to audiobooks.
• Translating Books Reading books in one language and translating them to another.
• Blogging About Books Starting a blog talking about the books you read.
• Podcasting About Books Recording your thoughts about books for others to listen.
• Starting a YouTube Channel About Books Becoming a “booktuber” and making videos about the books you read.
• Publishing Books Reading books, forming a partnership with authors and marketing them to the public.

Let’s take a deeper dive into each.

Get Paid To Read Books Via Apps

Getting paid to read books via apps is easy to get started with.

You get paid for the amount of words you read. 

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Reading Books via Apps?

Earnings are relatively low compared to other ways to make money online . 

$0.25 to $1 is the typical range for about 20,000 words ( source ). 20,000 words would take the average reader at least 2 hours to finish, according to Words to Time .

Most apps also pay via a point system. 

😎 Legit Places to Make Money Reading Books via Apps

• Booksta Read and earn coins that you can later redeem for gift cards. Popular vendors include Amazon, eBay and Delta Air Lines.
• Bookshout Another similar app but you can’t earn cash. You can only redeem points for ebooks in their store.

🤓 What Skills Do I Need to Make Money Reading Books via Apps?

Skills that could help you include:

• Fast reading ability (but natural enough that speed trackers don’t suspect foul play)
• Concentration and focus

📱 What Equipment Do I Need to Read Books via Apps?

You can get started with most apps with only a smartphone. 

A tablet or eReader, thanks to larger screens, could help improve reading speed.

The Pros and Cons of Getting Paid to Read Books Via Apps

• Very easy to get started
• Read the books you want
• Extremely low pay 
• Most apps don’t allow direct cashouts
• Limited choice of books

Get Paid To Write Book Reviews

An experienced book reviewer writing for high-profile websites can make good money from reading books.

Most people get started leaving honest reviews on websites like Amazon and Goodreads first, then graduate to paid work later.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn As a Book Reviewer?

Earnings are variable. For many clients, you’ll be expected to pitch a rate. Typical earnings range between $10 to $100 per review .

😎 Legit Places to Get Paid Writing Book Reviews

Here are 4 legit sites that pay writers per review .

• Online Book Club : Pays anything between $5 to $60 per book review .

Other sites that pay freelancers for book reviews but aren’t that clear on rates include:

• Dog Eared Reviews Book marketing company that pays for positive (4 stars and above) reviews only.
• Kirkus Media Looks for 350-word reviews of books of all genres.
• NetGalley Connects publishers with readers via a membership platform.
• Publishers Weekly Sometimes offers freelance positions for reviewers and editors.
• Tyndale Blog Network Rewards users with points for social media shares and quizzes more than reviews.
• U.S. Review of Books Asks for 300-500 word book reviews. Pays monthly.

Gain more experience reviewing books and the potential to earn (or turn it into a full-time gig) could be a reality.

Here are some high profile places you could land freelance opportunities . You’ll have to pitch the editorial team for each.

• Chicago Review of Books
• NewYorker.com

Most big news and culture sites pay book reviewers well.

A few book review sites that give advanced book copies in exchange for reviews include (but don’t pay for reviews):

• Book Browse
• Moody Press
• Lola’s Blog Tours
• Bethany House

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Be Successful Reviewing Books

To be successful in book reviewing you’ll need to be able to write well, give honest reviews and work to tight deadlines.

Freelance writing courses could help. Earn More Writing scores well according to our review .

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need to Review Books

You’ll only need a computer and basic word processing software to get started.

The Pros and Cons of Writing Book Reviews

• Creative (it’s fun to share your opinion on the books you read)
• Chance to develop a strong writing portfolio
• Can potentially earn up to $100 per review
• Don’t always get to choose the books to review
• Many authors/publishers will pressure you to give good reviews
• Many review sites don’t pay (they give advanced copies)

Get Paid To Write Book Summaries

Summaries are becoming more popular with people too busy to read books.

Getting paid to write them is another legit way to earn.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Writing Book Summaries?

The best gigs, with well-known companies like Blinkist and GetAbstract , are usually full-time.

This article estimates similar content writing positions paying around $75,000 per year . Don’t take this as the norm though, you’ll need extensive experience to land anything near this.

😎 Legit Places to Get Started Writing Book Summaries

Here are 2 legit places to earn cash writing book summaries :

• Booklist Publications Pays $12.50 for 175-word book summaries. Also pays out $5 for rejections.
• New Pages Looks for 100 to 200-word summaries on books or literary magazines. Doesn’t specify pay.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Write Book Summaries

To do well writing book summaries you’ll need the ability to read fast and distil things down to a few major points.

Skills are similar to those needed by book reviewers.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need Writing Book Summaries

A computer and basic word processing software.

The Pros and Cons of Writing Book Summaries

• Upward trending industry with increasing opportunities
• Book summary websites and apps are on the rise
• Summaries can be harder to write than reviews
• Might not be able to choose the books you summarize

Get Paid To Proofread Books

Proofreading is an important part of the publishing process. Authors or publishing companies will sometimes pay you to read texts first before they go out to the public.

This is a role that’s slowly becoming more automated, especially with tools like Grammarly.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Proofreading?

Basic book proofreading jobs don’t pay that well. But when combined with other writing-based roles, especially editing and writing, you can expect to make anything between $35,000 – $120,000 for a full time remote position.

It’s possible to work with publishing houses directly as a proofreader. Doing so can often lead to higher paying opportunities. It involves reaching out and making contacts though. 

😎 Legit Places to Get Started Proofreading

The best places to get started proofreading are the same as those we recommend for finding editing jobs : Flexjobs, Upwork and PeoplePerHour.

Similar opportunities to find work proofreading include getting paid to read manuscripts. AgentQuery is a good site to check out if that’s something you’re interested in. Sometimes they post book review opportunities too.

• More info about proofreading jobs

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Be Successful Proofreading

Entry level proofreading jobs require only basic skills.

You’ll need to have a close eye for detail and be able to communicate any errors quickly.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need For Proofreading

Basic computer equipment only.

The Pros and Cons of Proofreading

• Minimal skills needed for basic proofreading
• Though it’s not easy to find ‘proofreading only’ jobs for books (most look for writing and editing skills)

Get Paid To Read and Edit Books

Experienced editors have lots of opportunities when it comes to earning cash via reading.

Their role is important in helping to make texts easier to read. Most editors combine their work with other skills like proofreading and copywriting to increase their hourly rates.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Editing Books?

The median salary for book editors is around $59,000 per year .

Many top level editors can make more than this, especially if they have direct connections with big publishers. 

Entry-level editing work usually pays in the region of $10 – 20 per hour.

😎 3 Legit Places to Get Started Editing Books

• FlexJobs There are lots of remote editing opportunities here. Most are US-based full-time positions but there are lots of freelance and part-time positions listed too.
• Upwork Upwork is the place to go for freelance or hourly-based editing positions. A few of their recent listings include positions editing short stories in paranormal romance, non fiction business books and childrens books.
• PeoplePerHour Many editors get started advertising their services here and taking on short-term gigs to build their experience. You’ll notice lots of proofreading and editing opportunities here.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need Editing Books

Most top level editors have a range of skills. These include:

• Proofreading Editors skim texts and identify problems
• Grammatical changes Editors have a high command of the language and know how to use grammar precisely
• Writing Changing wording to improve readability 

A lot of these skills can be developed and improved through courses. Check out our articles:

• Best Copy Editing Courses on Udemy
• Best Writing Courses on Udemy
• Earn More Writing Course Review

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need Editing Books

You don’t need any specialist equipment to make a good living in editing. A basic computer set-up should be enough.

The Pros and Cons of Editing Books

• You get to read and help shape the books you read
• Experienced and well-regarded editors can make good livings working from home
• Many people competing for the same types of jobs
• More info about editing jobs

Get Paid To Read Books Aloud

Getting paid to read books aloud sounds like a dream gig for a keen reader.

You get to read and others get to listen to the audio recording of the book. It’s not as easy as it sounds however.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Reading Books Aloud?

There’s no such thing as typical earnings when it comes to narrating or reading books aloud. Pay depends on the length and type of book. The more experienced you are the more you’re likely to earn.

Business books tend to pay more than short children’s books. Especially those written by established authors. Most books in this genre pay around $50 – 100 per finished hour on sites like ACX.

Jobs are almost always on a freelance basis , meaning earnings are less dependable than some of the other full-time options on this list.

😎 The Best Place To Get Started Reading Books Aloud

Amazon’s ACX is like a freelance marketplace for publishers looking to convert texts into audiobooks.

Connecting narrators and sound engineers to authors or publishing groups, you have to audition for gigs. Each new listing shows reading time and earning rate (usually per finished hour).

Voices and Bunny Studio are two other places to explore but most opportunities are for things like adverts or podcasts rather than audiobooks.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need To Read Books Aloud

Most narrators scoring gigs at ACX are trained actors with a background in theatre or film.

You’ll need a good reading voice and understanding of pacing to do well.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need To Read Books Aloud

Reading books aloud needs some specialist equipment. Basic things include:

• Voice editing software
• Access to a soundproof studio

The Pros and Cons of Reading Books Aloud

• Can choose which books to read
• Highly competitive
• Pay can be misleading (you get paid for an hour of finished audiobook, not an hour of work)

Get Paid to Read and Translate Books

Getting paid to read a book and translate it into another language is a highly technical skill.

To make it work you’ll need an audience in the language you’re translating a book to or from. 

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Reading and Translating Books?

The pay in translation work varies a lot. Generally it depends on three factors:

• Language competency

The better you are in each the higher hourly rate you’ll be able to command. But you’ll also need to work in languages that are in high demand. 

Less widely spoken languages seem to have less competition when it comes to jobs though.

😎 Legit Places To Get Started Translating Books

The best places to find translation jobs are the same as those for editing and proofreading work. These all require working in English to some extent.

• FlexJobs Recent opportunities here include German, French, Italian and Japanese book translation work. Earning ranges from $25 – $30 per hour.
• Upwork Book translations aren’t as common as stand-alone article translation work but they still appear regularly. Earnings range from $6 – $25 per hour.

More options and info about translation jobs .

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need To Read and Translate Books

Basic computer equipment is all you’ll need.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need To Read and Translate Books

Aside from having mastery in another language, you’ll also need these skills:

• Writing ability
• Communication
• Organization

The Pros and Cons of Reading and Translating Books

• Regular opportunities (especially for widely spoken languages)
• Don’t get to choose what to read
• Competition for work (intense for commonly spoken languages)

Freelance 👉 Authority

Most of the options listed so far can be considered freelance work. Freelancing is one of the easiest ways to get started earning money online .

The next few options are more about building an authority business . These kinds of businesses can be more rewarding creatively and financially, but it usually takes more time and effort to see results.

Get Paid To Blog About Books

Starting a blog about books gives you a lot of creative control over what you can read.

It also opens up the possibility of more monetization options. But you’ll need a broad skill-set – successful bloggers don’t just read and write!

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Blogging About Books?

Blog earnings are variable. Work hard and it’s possible to make a full-time living (and more).

Here are the ways most bloggers make money:

• Amazon Affiliates Make a commission from recommending books and reading-related products on Amazon (eg. tablets and Kindle devices). The higher the cost of the item, the more money you’ll make, but Amazon’s commission rates are notoriously low, usually less than 5% of the purchase price.
• Display advertising Placing ads on your blog is another way to increase your earnings. The more traffic you can drive to your site, the more impressions the ads will get. You’ll make more as a result. Popular ad platforms include Ezoic, AdThrive and Mediavine.
• Sponsored posts Sometimes publishers of product marketers will pay you to promote things on your blog. Usually they’ll do this by providing a guest post talking about their product or service.

😎 Legit Blogs About Books That Earn Money

There are many legit blogs centered on reading books. Here are two interesting ones:

• Brainpickings Brainpickings started as an email series set up by Maria Popova talking about the lessons she was learning from books, creativity and art. Originally intended to be shared among her colleagues in advertising, Brainpickings has since grown into a blog that’s read by over 7 million people monthly. It’s monetized mainly by donations.
• Nat Eliason Nat Eliason has grown his personal blog into a monetization machine that promotes his courses and marketing business. The site gets a lot of traction thanks to Nat’s book notes (a category he calls “The Brain”). There are over 250 books covered here, mainly non-fiction. Nat earns from packaging these notes as well as affiliate commissions through Amazon.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Read and Blog About Books

To do well in blogging you’ll need a broad skill-set. You’ll need to have some technical experience setting up a site and using a content management system like WordPress.

You’ll also need to be persistent, disciplined and resilient. It can take a long time to get results.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need to Read and Blog About Books

You only need a basic computer set-up to get started blogging. 

The Pros and Cons of Reading and Blogging About Books

• High earning potential (if you succeed)
• You get to choose what to read and write about
• Need a big audience to earn well
• Return on investment is slow (you could be blogging for years before you’re able to earn money)

Get Paid To Podcast About Books

Just like blogging, you can earn by podcasting about books. A lot of the pros and cons are similar.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Podcasting About Books?

Podcasts mainly earn by paid sponsorship. The amount you can earn depends on the number of downloads from listeners.

Industry standards are around $20 – 25 per 1000 listens for a 60-second mid-roll promotion ( source ).

Patreon is another popular way to earn money from podcasting. Subscribers pay a monthly recurring fee for early access.

😎 Legit Podcasts About Books That Earn Money

• Book Riot A weekly podcast connected to another successful book blog. Has over 400 episodes available for public download.
• So Many Damn Books Popular podcast run by two New York-based book-enthusiasts that earns from both Patreon donations and advertising sponsorship.
• Book Fight Another two-person podcast that earns from Patreon and commissions from book sales made through Book Fight’s website. 

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need to Podcast About Books

To make a good podcast you’ll need sound recording, editing and software skills.

You’ll also need strong research and organization skills to plan podcasts, book guests and publicize your show. 

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need to Podcast About Books

As well as basic computing equipment you’ll want a good microphone.

Access to a soundproofed studio could also help improve production quality.

The Pros and Cons of Podcasting About Books

• You get to choose what to read and talk about
• Slow return on investment (you could be podcasting for years before you’re able to earn money)

Get Paid to Talk About Books on YouTube

YouTube is a creative and potentially lucrative platform to share your love of books and reading.

Becoming a successful “booktuber” isn’t easy however. There’s a lot of skills you’ll have to master.

🤑 How Much Can You Earn As a Booktuber?

Creators on YouTube monetize their videos via a mix of YouTube advertising, affiliate commissions and sponsorships. The more views you get, the more money you’ll make.

• See examples of YouTubers from different niches and how much money they make

😎 Legit Booktubers Earning Money Reading and Talking About Books

• PolandBananasBOOKS With over 400K subscribers, Christine Riccio makes weekly vlogs about books, comedy and everything in between. Some of her more popular videos discuss the Harry Potter and Twilight fiction series.
• Jessethereader Jesse is another big booktuber who does predictions, round-ups, unboxing and other fun book-related activities. His most watched videos are list-type comedy videos but he also has interviews, challenges and product reviews.
• Katytastic Kat talks about both reading and writing on her YouTube channel. Her updates are less frequent than the above examples but she’s still grown a sizable platform of 250K subscribers.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need To Read and Talk About Books On YouTube

You’ll need to have some diverse skills to make it on YouTube. 

Video editing and recording skills are a must starting out. You’ll need to get comfortable talking in front of a camera and be creative when it comes to video topics.

Building a personal brand is crucial to making YouTube work.

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need To Read and Talk About Books On YouTube

You can get started making videos with basic video recording equipment on a decent smartphone or laptop. 

Develop a following and you could reinvest into more high-tech hardware and software later.

The Pros and Cons of Becoming A Booktuber

• Good earning potential (if you succeed)
• You get to choose what to read and make videos about
• You’ll probably need to sell your personality more than your love of reading
• Building an audience can take a while

Get Paid To Read Books As A Publisher

Starting a book publishing business could bring a lot of opportunities to read and discover new books and authors. Although it isn’t necessary, it’s definitely one perk of the job that will appeal to book lovers. 

🤑 How Much Can You Earn Publishing Books?

Running a publishing business isn’t easy. You won’t earn per hour or project. You’ll have to buy or negotiate the publishing rights to books and hope they sell well to earn a percentage.

How much you earn depends entirely on your business skills.

😎 The Best Sites To Get Started In Publishing

To do well in publishing you’ll need to tap into self-published authors and market their books effectively. Sites like Amazon and Goodreads can be great for this. Especially the new author or self-published categories of either site. 

Approaching bloggers or YouTubers that have good audiences is another idea. You could strike up book deals with these creators and negotiate a percentage of the sales on your behalf.

🤓 What Skills You’ll Need To Be Successful In Publishing

Doing well in publishing means doing well in business. To do that, you’ll need the following skills:

• An eye for talent
• Ability to negotiate (especially when it comes to royalties, commissions or percentages)
• Organization and management

💻 What Equipment You’ll Need To Get Started In Publishing

Starting out, it makes most sense to stick to digital books rather than paper.

A basic computer set-up is enough.

The Pros and Cons of Publishing

• High potential earnings (especially if you find and market a best-seller)
• Good business model for people with an existing platform (blog, YouTube channel, etc.)
• Very difficult to get started with
• Need strong business skills

💬 Know other ways you can get paid to read books?

If so, let us know in the comments below .

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There are many other ways to make money online, to work from home or anywhere in the world.

• Full list of ways to make money online
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Side Hustles

Side Hustles For All

Home Writing & Editing Gigs Get Paid to Read Books

Get Paid to Read Books: Side Hustles for Bibliophiles

May 6, 2024

Written by:

Jessica Norris

Jessica is a writer for SideHustles.com. Her side hustles include freelance academic writing and editing, which she's done for...

Startup Time

Startup Costs

Remote-Friendly

College Required

Certification Required

If you’re the type of person who often reads for pleasure, why not turn your passion into profit? There are many different kinds of side hustles that will pay you to read books, meaning you get to enjoy your favorite pastime while earning extra money—and probably get free books to boot.

We’ve found 6 gigs that will pay you to read books and 10 companies that will pay you to review books or do other reading-related work.

01. The 6 best ways to make money from reading

You can get paid to narrate, edit, or review books

Check out these 6 ways to make money from reading:

1. Narrate audiobooks

An audiobook narrator is someone who reads books aloud for audio recordings.

What requirements are there?

All you really need for audiobook narration is the right kind of voice, plus great diction and pronunciation. Your voice should be strong, clear, and expressive, and you should be able to maintain it over time.

This gig has a lot in common with starting a voice acting side hustle . If you want to work from home (as opposed to renting a studio), you’ll need certain equipment, like a microphone (ideally with a pop filter), a computer, and a quiet room for recording. If you can soundproof a spare room or your home office, that’s perfect.

How much can you make?

The pay for audiobook narration is extremely variable. On platforms like Upwork, rates for narrators range from $28 all the way up to $480 . As a newcomer to the field, you’ll probably have to start on the low end and work your way up.

Where can you find jobs?

Try general freelancing job boards like Upwork or Fiverr , as well as dedicated audiobook platforms like ACX and Findaway Voices .

Anything else I should know?

As an audiobook narrator, you probably won’t actually be paid by the hour. You may receive a one-off payment, a fee per “finished hour” (where you’re paid for the total number of hours the audiobook lasts, as opposed to the time you spend recording), or a share of the audiobook royalties.

2. Proofread manuscripts

A proofreader is someone who carefully reviews written content for accuracy and consistency in terms of grammar, punctuation, spelling, and formatting. Some proofreaders specialize in book manuscripts.

There are many proofreading certifications you can get that will give you a boost, although you don’t absolutely need any of them to land jobs. You do need a knack for spelling and grammar and a computer with an internet connection.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites an average hourly rate of $21.12 for proofreaders and copy markers (who have very similar roles).

Again, general freelancer sites like Upwork and Fiverr are a good place to start if you have no little or no relevant experience. To find more gigs proofreading book manuscripts, you can also offer your services to self-published authors or publishing companies (look for job listings on sites like Indeed ).

To find clients in the publishing industry, you can also join professional copyediting and proofreading associations (e.g., the American Society of Journalists and Authors , the Editorial Freelancers Association , or ACES ). These often have job boards or directories with freelance proofreading opportunities. They’re also helpful for networking in general.

3. Translate books

A translator is someone who converts written content from one language (the source language) into another (the target language).

You don’t need a certification or license to be a translator, but you obviously need to speak at least one other language fluently. You’ll also need great spelling and grammar in your target language (i.e., in English, if this is the language you’ll be translating into) and must have a computer with an internet connection.

The Bureau of Labor Statistics cites an average hourly rate of $29.68 for translators and interpreters.

Babelcube , TranslatorsCafe , and Translate.com are all platforms where translators can connect with authors and publishers who need their services. As usual, you can also try freelancer sites like Upwork or Fiverr (which are ideal if you have no little or no relevant experience) or general job sites like Indeed, Monster , and ZipRecruiter .

4. Become a book influencer

Book influencers are people who read and review books, then try to inspire others to read them. They use social media platforms to share their reviews, opinions, and recommendations.

Theoretically, anyone who can read can become a book influencer. That said, if you want to make real money from it, you need to build a large following and master the art of creating irresistible content. To do this, you’ll need to be likable, charismatic, and have a knack for writing or for recording videos.

The amount you can make as a book influencer depends entirely on the size of your audience. In the beginning, you won’t make much money at all, but if your content really takes off, you can make thousands of dollars per month.

You probably won’t be able to find traditional jobs or gigs as a book influencer. Instead, you’ll have to create and monetize your own content on a blog, Spotify (with a podcast), YouTube , TikTok , or other social media channels.

To monetize your book-related content, you can use tools like Google AdSense , Media.net , and the Amazon Associates program for affiliate marketing (which is where you place unique referral links or codes in your content; these will earn you commissions when people use them to buy books).

5. Write book reviews

A book reviewer is someone who reads books and shares their thoughts and opinions on what they’ve read. Most book reviews are written (e.g., as personal blog posts, social media posts, or reviews on book-related websites), but reviewers can also use other mediums, such as audio or video.

You don’t need any specific qualifications to write book reviews, just a computer with an internet connection.

Many websites that accept book reviews pay around $60 for them. There are much higher-paying gigs writing for national newspapers and other high-profile publications, but these are usually only accessible if you’re an established literary critic.

The sites and publications that will pay you to write book reviews include Online Book Club, Reedsy Discovery , Kirkus Media, and the US Review of Books. We’ll write about these sites in more detail in the section below.

You may also be able to find gigs on the general job boards we’ve already mentioned (e.g., Indeed, Monster, and Upwork).

You may need to send a pitch or a sample review to your chosen publication before you can start writing book reviews for them. To attract more opportunities, work on building a portfolio of your writing work. You should also network within the book-reviewing community (e.g., by joining relevant social media groups).

6. Beta reader or sensitivity reader

A beta reader is someone who reads a book manuscript before it’s published. When it comes to fiction, this means providing feedback on the plot, characters, pacing, and the overall reader experience. Beta readers help authors refine their work.

A sensitivity reader is similar, but they specialize in offering feedback on sensitive topics within a manuscript, such as anything related to diversity, culture, or mental health. The idea is to help authors address sensitive topics appropriately, avoid harmful stereotypes, and write more inclusively.

It’s easier to find people willing to pay for beta or sensitivity reads if you’re already established in an online writing community (e.g., on Twitter or Instagram). For sensitivity reading, you should focus on something you have personal experience with.

Some online sources suggest you can expect an hourly rate of $18 as a beta reader and much the same rate as a sensitivity reader. Upwork cites a higher hourly rate of $40 for professional beta reading services.

To find beta reading opportunities, check out websites like Goodreads and Wattpad , which provide platforms for connecting with authors in need of beta readers. You can also try networking via online writing communities or social media groups.

02. 10 companies that will pay you to read books

Many companies will pay you to proofread, review, or summarize books

If any of the side hustle ideas listed above sound good to you, then the next step is to look for your first paid gig. Check out these 10 opportunities to get paid for reading books:

1. The U.S. Review of Books

The U.S. Review of Books is a reputable contemporary publication that features independent book reviews. It’s run by professional reviewers and editors, and it provides a platform for writers to share their thoughts and opinions on books.

The U.S. Review of Books accepts 250–300-word reviews from freelance book reviewers. The review has to include a summary of the book, plus your own thoughts on it.

To submit a review for publication, you have to send the editor a resume, a sample of your work, and at least two professional references. You can email all of this to [email protected] .

Rates : The U.S. Review of Books website doesn’t clearly indicate the rates it pays, but some sources suggest it pays $25–$75 per book review .

2. Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews is a popular magazine that features unbiased book reviews. It’s considered a good source of information for readers, authors, libraries, and anyone in the publishing industry. It reviews books of all lengths in nearly all genres.

Kirkus Indie is the section of the magazine that’s dedicated to self-published authors. It often accepts submissions from freelance writers and reviewers.

You can pitch a book review to Kirkus Indie by submitting your resume, writing samples (although they don’t specify how many of these you should send in), and a list of reviewing specialties (e.g.,  literary fiction, science fiction, historical fiction, or other genres). You can do this by emailing them to Kirkus Indie Editor David Rapp at [email protected] .

If your pitch is accepted, you’ll have to write a review of about 350 words. It will be due two weeks after you’re assigned the book.

Rates : The Kirkus website doesn’t mention how much they pay per review; reports suggest that the rate is around $50–$75 per article.

3. Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is an international news website for those who work in the book trade (e.g., publishers, booksellers, librarians, and literary agents). It publishes book reviews along with other articles and features on various topics, such as book releases, author interviews, industry events, and market trends.

Publishers Weekly’s reviews cover many categories and genres of books, including fiction, children’s books, comics, poetry, and more.

Their jobs page sometimes has opportunities for freelancers to write book reviews for them. Check regularly for openings if you’re interested in writing for them.

The usual process for application is to send a resume and a 200-word sample review of a recently published book to [email protected] .

Rates : Online reports suggest that $25 per review is Publishers Weekly’s normal rate.

4. Booklist Online

Booklist Online is a book review magazine that’s published by the American Library Association (an organization that represents librarians and library professionals in the US). The magazine is aimed at school and public libraries, library users, and book lovers.

As well as book reviews, Booklist features recommendations for adult and children readers, author interviews, thematic lists, and in-depth articles about the world of books and literature.

Booklist sometimes has opportunities for freelance book reviewers (although they say you need to be familiar with both books and libraries to write for them). To apply, see the instructions on how to write reviews for Booklist , which provides more information on their requirements and links to the application form for new reviewers.

Your review should be 150 to 175 words in length, and Booklist specifies that it should “place each work in context, provide a synopsis of plot and other appeal, suggest the ideal audience, and offer readalikes.”

Rates : Booklist pays $15 per review.

5. BookBrowse

BookBrowse is a digital magazine for book lovers. It features book reviews of adult fiction and nonfiction, and some books for young adults. It also has articles, author interviews, recommendations, exclusive previews of notable books, and resources for book clubs.

To apply, use the reviewer application form (which also has instructions on how to write reviews for BookBrowse). Note that you will have to submit two sample reviews of at least 300 words.

Rates : The BookBrowse website says that reviewers receive a “modest payment,” but they don’t specify how much.

6. Online Book Club

Online Book Club is an online community for book lovers. The site publishes book reviews, author interviews, and literary discussions. There are also forums for readers and opportunities for members to participate in book giveaways and sweepstakes, try out various reading challenges, and take part in other activities.

To become a book reviewer for Online Book Club, sign up on their website . They don’t specify how many words you’ll need to produce if you’re selected to write a review for them, but most of the reviews on their site are several hundred words long.

Rates : According to the Online Book Club website, most payouts are $5–$60 per review.

7. Women’s Review of Books

Unlike the other entries in this list, the Women’s Review of Books is a print publication—a feminist literary journal that publishes feature essays and book reviews with a focus on women. Its reviews are primarily of women’s and gender studies scholarship, as well as fiction, poetry, and memoirs by women.

They don’t specify how many words you’ll have to write for their reviews, but it probably won’t be more than 1,000 words (as most book reviews are shorter than this).

If you’d like to pitch a review idea to them, they recommend emailing it to [email protected] .

Rates : According to online reports, they pay $100 per review.

8. BookWritten

BookWritten is a book-focused online publication featuring reviews along with book recommendations, book-related articles and listicles, author interviews, and other content about the literary world.

If you’re interested in writing for them, they suggest emailing [email protected] to introduce yourself and tell them about your love for reading and writing. They also say that you should name a few of your favorite books, and if possible, share some of your own online content.

Rates : BookWritten says they pay their freelance writers, but they don’t specify how much.

9. Instaread

Instaread is somewhat different from the other sites and publications we’ve discussed so far. It’s an app that breaks books down into small, bite-sized summaries accompanied by analyses of key concepts and themes. People can use Instaread to get a quick overview of a book’s main ideas and decide if they want to read it.

As such, this isn’t actually a review-writing gig. Instead, you have to read a book, write a summary, and analyze key details. The total word count should be 1,375–1,500 words.

To apply, check the list of titles that Instaread wants covered . Note that the list of titles may vary, and there were no titles on it at the time of writing, but it’s still worth checking back for updates.

Rates : User comments on online communities suggest that Instaread pays $100 per summary.

10. Writerful Books

Writerful Books is an Australian company that offers affordable book editing and other similar services, such as beta and sensitivity reading. It hires freelancers from many other countries, including the US.

Their website says that they’re looking for book reviewers and beta readers. If you’re interested in either of these gigs, Writerful Books suggests contacting them through their website and telling them about yourself.

Rates : Writerful Books reportedly pays $10–$50 per review.

03. What are the advantages of a reading-related side hustle?

Your reading habit could be the perfect inspiration for your new side hustle

If you’re the bookish type, the perks of a side hustle that involves reading are obvious. With all of the side hustles listed above:

• You can pick your own working schedule
• You can work from almost anywhere (as long as you can get a good internet connection and have access to books)
• Startup costs and overhead are both minimal
• You can get paid to do something you love
• You have the chance to express yourself and develop intellectually
• You (usually) won’t have to interact much with people, making these great side hustles for introverts

That said, getting paid to read isn’t a perfect gig; if it was, everyone who liked books would do it. As you’ve probably gathered, it isn’t the highest-paid work out there.

Reading a book and writing a solid review of it takes time and effort, and the kinds of payouts you can realistically expect ($60 or so) aren’t particularly high. It’s possible to turn your love of reading into a more lucrative side hustle, but it will take time, a lot of dedication, and a bit of luck.

Other side hustle ideas for book lovers

If you love reading but the jobs listed above sound like too much work for too little reward, here are a few more side hustles you can investigate:

• Part-time librarian : This is someone who works in a library helping out with tasks such as finding books for people, carrying out research, providing guidance on using library databases and catalog systems, offering recommendations for reading materials, and more.
• Part-time bookstore clerk : With this job, you’ll work in a bookstore and assist customers with finding books, offer recommendations, organize shelves, handle transactions, and help maintain the inventory.
• Book marketing assistant : In this role, you’ll help authors and publishers promote and sell books. You might be involved in tasks like running social media campaigns, organizing book events, or coordinating book tours, for example.
• Literary agent assistant : This is someone who helps literary agents with their work of representing authors and selling book rights. Literary agent assistants may help with reading and submitting manuscripts, writing letters, negotiating contracts, and other administrative tasks.

Some of these positions will have rigid hours, which makes them less suitable for side hustles, but you may also be able to scale them down by looking for a remote version of the role.

In particular, you can become a virtual assistant for someone who works in publishing (or even an author or another book reviewer) to dip your toes in the literary world without making too big of a commitment.

04. Other side hustles for book-lovers to try

We’ve gone over the best ways to get paid to read, but there are dozens of worthwhile side hustles that didn’t make it onto this list, many of which are also perfect for readers, writers, and other bookish people. Explore more ways to fund your reading habit below.

Article Sources

• Amazon. "Customer Reviews" Retrieved July 14, 2023.

Robert Jellison

Managing Editor

Robert is a writer and editor for SideHustles.com. He has 7+ years of experience in freelance writing and previously worked as the in-house editor for Compose.ly, a platform for remote and part-time writers.

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20 Years Helping You Live Richer

Reviewed by Experts

Trusted by Millions of Readers

For many people, curling up with a good book is the best way to pass the time. However, it may not have occurred to you to turn your love of reading into a stream of income. Whether it’s reading books aloud, editing or just plain reading there are several ways you can earn a few extra bucks by simply doing what you love to do. 

Read More: 6 Genius Things All Wealthy People Do With Their Money

Quick Take: How Do I Get Paid to Read Books?

When you’re looking for companies that will pay you to read books, keep in mind there’s usually something more to the arrangement than just reading the book. Some companies will ask for short reviews. Some will want longer articles. Companies that create audiobooks will require you to submit a recording of your reading the book, which is a great way to make money on your phone.

20 Ways To Read Books for Money

In today’s digital age, where the demand for content is ever-growing, getting paid to be a book reader is not out of the realm of possibility–in fact, it can even become a side gig. Whether you’re a bibliophile looking to turn your passion into a source of passive income or someone seeking flexible work opportunities, there are numerous ways to monetize your love for reading in 2024.

Here are 20 different ways and websites where you can get paid to read books:

• Kirkus Review
• Findaway Voices
• The U.S. Review of Books
• Reedsy Discovery
• Online Book Club
• Audiobook Narration
• Start a Blog or Podcast About Books
• Translate Books
• Join an Online Reading Community
• Monetize Your Social Media Platforms 
• Offer Literary Consulting Courses
• Do Freelance Editing
• Start Beta Reading
• Submit Writing to a Literary Magazine
• Create Book Summaries

1. Kirkus Review

Kirkus Review is a highly reputable website that reviews books of all genres and formats. The site is seeking experienced reviewers of English and Spanish titles written by self-published authors for Kirkus Indie.

This gig does not appear to be for newbies, as the site requests a resume, writing samples and a list of reviewing specialties. With most freelance gigs, the more impressive your writing samples and the more prestigious places you have been published, the better your chances of being selected.

2. Booklist

Booklist is part of the American Library Association. Its reviewers help school and public library workers to choose books for purchase or recommendation to library patrons. Booklist calls its reviews “the haiku of book reviewing,” requesting 150-to-175-word reviews that include a plot synopsis, suggest the book’s ideal audience and recommend similar titles.

ACX offers professional narrators and audiobook producers the opportunity to earn money working with published authors who need a narrator for their book. You can also earn money by referring Audible users to your recorded books through the Bounty Referral Program.

You can enlist the help of other studio professionals to complete and finalize your audio recording. You’ll get paid once the audiobook is published or you’ll receive ongoing pay equal to 50% of the royalties on sales. Once you have at least 25 audiobooks under your belt, you can apply to be an Audible Approved Producer.

4. Findaway Voices

Findaway Voices works similarly to ACX, where authors choose narrators to create audiobooks for them. It offers a comprehensive guide with all the tools to help you succeed.

You can create a profile as a narrator. You’ll receive a custom URL to make it easy for authors to find you. Then, upload samples of your work, along with an audio intro, bio, cover image and an avatar.

Voices is a marketplace for voiceover artists to find jobs or list their availability for projects. The platform says that more than 5,000 jobs are posted each month. When you’re done with a project, your payment is deposited automatically into PayPal.

Projects listed under the “audiobooks” skill offer pay ranging from $250 up to $375. As a voiceover artist, you can choose your rates and delivery time when you list your services.

Simply create your profile and upload samples of your work — you can upload an unlimited number of samples for free. If you opt for the paid Premium membership, you’ll be matched with jobs that fit your profile.

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6. The US Review of Books

With the tagline “Professional Reviews for the People,” The US Review of Books publishes a monthly newsletter of book reviews to help authors get the word out about their newest titles. Reviewers are expected to write between 250 and 300 words, offering a plot synopsis and insights. The site’s guidelines request “heart and succinct writing,” without using first-person language in the review. The review can compare similar books, offer opinions or discuss the author’s experience and previous titles.

Reviewers can request their preferences from a list of titles. Once assigned, The US Review of Books expects reviews to be submitted within two to three weeks.

7. Reedsy Discovery

Reedsy Discovery doesn’t pay a flat rate, or even an hourly rate, for reviews. Instead, it allows readers to share tips of $1, $3 or $5 to reviewers in appreciation of their work. You won’t get rich writing reviews for Reedsy, but it is a great way to hone your skills if you are looking to write reviews for larger, more well-known sites, like Kirkus Reviews.

The application process for Reedsy is easy. Just provide your email address and first and last name to create an account. You’ll also have an opportunity to upload an avatar. Then, answer a few questions about your reading habits and the genres you’d like to review. Include a brief bio. To improve your chances of being selected, share links to some of your best reviews. You can submit reviews on video or in written form.

8. BookBrowse

BookBrowse requires review applicants to have good quality sample reviews of at least 300 words before applying. Reviewers must also submit a “Beyond the Book” article in conjunction with each review. Most reviewers write one review per month, and titles include adult fiction and non-fiction, as well as young adult fiction.

The application process is easy and requires listing your favorite genres, sharing two high-quality reviews — plus a link to other reviews if you’d like — and a short bio.

Upwork is one of the largest online marketplaces for freelancers, and you can find plenty of book review opportunities amidst other freelance writing gigs. Qualifications and requirements will vary depending on the client and the specific project. In many cases, Upwork can provide a foot in the door to ongoing work as a book reviewer, making it one of the best sites that will, indirectly, pay you to read books.

Create a Freelancer account on the site, list your skills and experience and upload a portfolio. Then search for jobs and submit proposals for the ones you want. If a client wants to hire you, they’ll send you a contract.

10. Online Book Club

OnlineBookClub.org lets you choose the titles you’d most like to read from a list of books. You receive the books free and then write a review. Your won’t be paid in cash for your first review, but subsequent reviews pay between $5 and $60, according to the website.

Unlike many other online review websites, you do not need to submit an application or have previous book review samples published. That makes this website more open to beginning reviewers.

11. Audiobook Narration

Audiobook narration and production are growing fields with opportunities for voice actors, editors, and producers. If you love audiobooks and have a great voice this offers you the chance to combine your love of reading and performing. 

12. Start a Blog or Podcast About Books

Create your own platform, such as a blog or podcast, dedicated to discussing books. Once you build a loyal audience, you can monetize your platform through ads, sponsored content, affiliate marketing and even Patreon subscriptions. It may take a while to start earning real money this way, but once you find your audience it could lead to a financial windfall.

Freelance or blog writing gigs related to books and literature are abundant. You can pitch book reviews, listicles, essays, and other content ideas to online publications, magazines, and blogs that pay for quality book-related content.

13. Translate Books

If you’re proficient in multiple languages, you can explore opportunities in book translation. Translating books from one language to another can be a lucrative niche, especially for in-demand languages.

14. Join an Online Reading Community

Platforms such as Goodreads and BookTube, which is the YouTube page dedicated to books, offer opportunities for readers to share their thoughts on books they’ve read. If you grow your following and become an influencer in the literary world you can easily start monetizing your content.

Organize and host virtual book clubs for readers interested in discussing and analyzing books together. Charge a fee for membership or session participation, creating a community while earning income.

15. Monetize Your Social Media Platforms

Grow your social media presence by sharing book recommendations, reviews and literary insights. Once you have a sizable following, you can earn money through sponsored posts, affiliate links, and brand partnerships.

Some market research companies and academic institutions will pay you to read books and provide feedback through surveys or interviews. You can even partner with bookstores, publishers, and literary subscription services to promote their products or services. Collaborations can range from sponsored content to ambassador programs, providing both exposure and income.

16. Offer Literary Consulting Services

Provide consulting services to authors, publishers or literary agencies. This could involve manuscript evaluations, market research, or strategic planning for book launches.

If you have a passion for discovering new talent and negotiating deals, you could even offer literary agent services as a part of your fee. Representing authors and their works can be financially rewarding, especially if you have a good eye for marketable books.

17. Do Freelance Editing

If you have a keen eye for detail and a love for editing, consider offering editorial services to authors and publishers. This could include proofreading, copyediting, and developmental editing, all of which can be done remotely.

18. Start Beta Reading

Authors often seek beta readers to provide feedback on their manuscripts before publication. While some may offer this service for free, others are willing to pay for detailed feedback and insights, which is a great way to not only make money but also get your hands on new books before anyone else.

19. Submit Writing to a Literary Magazine

Many literary magazines and journals pay for short stories, essays and poems. As a literary enthusiast, you can submit your creative work or work as an editor for these publications. Generally, when you submit you can get the whole issue for free as well. 

20. Become a Book Reviewer

Many websites, blogs, and publications pay individuals to write thoughtful and insightful book reviews. Platforms like NetGalley, Goodreads, and Publishers Weekly often offer opportunities for book reviewers to receive free copies of books in exchange for their reviews.

Final Take To GO

If you have a passion for reading and a way with words, you can combine your hobby with your skillset to get paid for reading books. Getting paid to read books is not just a dream but a viable reality thanks to the myriad opportunities available in the digital age. Whether you choose to write reviews, create content, offer services or explore entrepreneurial ventures, the key lies in leveraging your passion for literature into profitable endeavors. 

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4 ways to get paid to read books.

If you love reading, you could turn your passion into extra income through writing reviews, proofreading manuscripts, or getting paid to read books aloud. Learn how to get paid to read books.

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Reading books can be an enriching and fun way to spend your time, but you might be surprised to learn it could also lead to a new income stream. There are a variety of ways to get paid for reading, including writing book reviews, proofreading drafts, and narrating audiobooks.

Publishers Weekly, for example, hires book review writers on a freelance basis. ACX is on the lookout for narrators to record audiobooks. If you’re a bibliophile interested in turning your passion for reading into a side hustle , read on to learn all the ways you could read books for money.

1. Become an audiobook narrator

2. become a professional proofreader, 3. become a book influencer, 4. become a book reviewer, companies that will pay you to read books, bottom line.

If you enjoy reading aloud, you could find gigs as an audiobook narrator. Relevant experience, such as voice acting, acting in plays, or hosting a radio show or podcast, could help you snag audiobook gigs.

One place to find voice actor and audio narration jobs is Audible’s ACX.com, a site that produces audiobooks for Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. ACX has hundreds of titles open for auditions. Alternatively, you could offer freelance narration services or apply to jobs on a marketplace such as Upwork, or go through another audiobook voiceover artist site, such as Findaway Voices.

Audiobook narration can be a good way to work from home and make money online , but some gigs may require you to go into a studio. As for how you’ll get paid, you might receive a one-off payment or a share of the audiobook royalties depending on your agreement with the company.

If you’re skilled at grammar, syntax, punctuation, and spelling, consider working as a proofreader. Proofreading is an important part of the publishing process, and books may go through several rounds of proofreading before getting published.

You might proofread for a self-published author or find gigs from an established publishing company. You could also offer your proofreading services through a freelance marketplace such as Upwork or Freelancer.com.

If you’re looking to read books for money, you could take matters into your own hands by becoming a book influencer. Create your own channel on YouTube, TikTok , Instagram, or another platform, or become a blogger to review and recommend books.

If you become an affiliate for Amazon or other booksellers, you could make a commission every time someone clicks on your affiliate link and buys a book. The more followers you have, the more money you could make online.

There are a variety of companies looking for book reviews in English or Spanish. These companies will pay you to read a book and provide book summaries, analysis, or review of the work. Reviews might range from a short synopsis to more in-depth literary criticism.

Some book review gigs are more entry-level, while others will require a resume and experience in the field. If you’re interested in getting paid to write book reviews, read on for a list of companies that let you read books for money.

Get new free products and offers from PINCHme every day — simply apply, try, and make your voice heard. You can even apply for multiple products at once!

If you’re looking to get paid to read books, these companies are worth exploring.

U.S. Review of Books

The U.S. Review of Books sends out a monthly newsletter of book reviews to more than 21,000 subscribers. This company says it provides “Professional Reviews for the People” and looks for 250- to 300-word reviews that contain a plot summary and other insights. You might include quotes from the book, share information on the author, or compare the book to similar titles.

You can apply to become a book reviewer by emailing [email protected] with your resume, sample work, and at least two professional references. If you get hired, you can submit your preferences for book titles and will get paid on a monthly basis.

Publishers Weekly

Known by some as “the bible of the book business,” Publishers Weekly is a weekly news magazine that features articles and news on the international book publishing business. It also publishes more than 8,500 pre-publication book reviews every year.

Publishers Weekly hires freelance writers to write reviews of both traditionally published and self-published works. It publishes reviews of books in a variety of categories, including:

• Children’s books

If you write for Publishers Weekly, you may also get hired to write anonymous book reviews for BookLife, Publishers Weekly’s online publication that promotes indie authors.

Publishers Weekly pays $25 per review. To apply, send your resume and a 200-word sample review of a recently published book to [email protected].

Booklist Publications

Part of the American Library Association, Booklist provides reviews to school and public library workers to guide its purchasing decisions. According to Booklist, its reviews are “the haiku of book reviewing” as they’re “brief but impactful.”

It looks for 150- to 175-word book reviews that provide content, a brief synopsis, and a suggestion for the ideal audience. Reviewers are also expected to suggest “readalikes,” or similar books that readers might enjoy.

You don’t need a library degree to become a reviewer, but you should be familiar with books and libraries. Before applying, you can read through Booklist’s expectations and watch a one-hour informational webinar.

If you decide to move forward, you can submit your application on the Booklist website. Booklist pays $15 per review.

Kirkus Media reviews books in a variety of genres. It looks for experienced reviewers to write reviews of English- and Spanish-language titles for Kirkus Indie, its platform for self-published authors.

Books are all of different lengths and might be in digital, hardcover, or paperback format. You’re expected to send a review of about 350 words two weeks after receiving an assignment.

If you’re interested in applying to write Kirkus reviews, you’ll need to email the Kirkus Indie Editor with your resume, writing samples, and specialties. That’s currently David Rapp at [email protected].

BookBrowse has provided reviews of contemporary fiction and non-fiction for since 1997. With the tagline, “Your guide to exceptional books,” BookBrowse hires reviewers to write reviews of 300 words or longer.

If you are hired, expect to receive about one assignment per month with “modest payment” (it doesn’t say what qualifies as modest). You can apply online and will be asked to provide high-quality sample reviews.

Online Book Club

Online Book Club is another option if you’re looking to make money reading books. It sends reviewers a free copy of a book and pays between $5 and $60 for an honest review. You can kick off the application process by sharing your email on the Online Book Club website.

Women’s Review of Books

Published by the Wellesley Centers for Women in partnership with Old City Publishing, the Women’s Review of Books has been a leading feminist book review publication since 1983. It reviews scholarship, fiction, graphic novels, poetry, and memoirs, generally written by women and edited by a “feminist author,” Jennifer Baumgardner.

If you’re interested in writing reviews for the Women’s Review of Books, contact the publication at [email protected].

BookWritten

Founded by Pradeep Kumar, BookWritten is a platform that shares reviews and resources on books, literature, poetry, and more. Its blog has a variety of resources for aspiring book reviewers, including a guide on how to write a great book review.

If you’re interested in writing reviews for the site, contact [email protected].

How do I get paid to read books out loud?

One website that pays you to read books out loud is ACX, a marketplace that connects authors, agents, and publishers with narrators. ACX also sells audiobooks to Audible, Amazon, and iTunes. You might also promote your audiobook narration services on a freelance marketplace such as Upwork or Fiverr.

How much money can I earn by reading?

The amount of money you could earn by reading will vary by position. Book reviewers may get paid around $5 to $60 per review, whereas audiobook narrators could make anywhere from $10 to $500 per finished hour, depending on their level of experience. If you become a book influencer and gain some level of success, you could potentially earn hundreds or even thousands of dollars every month, depending on the size of your audience and success of your content.

What is a job that pays you to read books?

Some jobs that pay you to read books include book reviewer, book proofreader, and audiobook narrator. If you’re a charismatic book reader, you could also become a book influencer and make money through affiliate commissions after building your own audience on your blog, TikTok, YouTube channel, Instagram account, or other platform.

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If you’re a book lover and avid reader, you could turn your passion for reading into a fun side hustle. There are a variety of publications that will pay you to write book reviews, as well as other options for making money with books.

You could work as an audiobook narrator to earn some extra money, or you could create your own social media or online platform to review your favorite reads and earn money from affiliate commissions.

Although you probably won’t strike it rich by writing book reviews full time, you could earn a few extra hundred dollars per month while doing something you enjoy. For additional money-making ideas, check out our list of the best side hustles you could start today.

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Author Details

Rebecca Safier

How to Get Paid to Read Books

After all, time is money. It’s hard to take the afternoon off to read a book when you’re hustling and trying to improve your cash situation.

Unless, of course, you can figure out a way to get paid to read books.

As it turns out, there are tons of ways to do just that. So keep reading to learn how to bring in cash while being a bookworm.

21 Ways to Get Paid to Read Books

Here are the best ways to make money reading books:

• Find Proofreading Gigs
• Kirkus Media
• Reedsy Discovery
• Online Book Club
• Women’s Review of Books
• The US Review of Books
• Be an Audiobook Narrator
• Work for a Publishing House
• Publish Books on Amazon Kindle Direct
• Become a getAbstract Freelance Writer
• Teach English Literature
• Edit eBooks for Businesses
• Become a Book Blogger
• Review Books on YouTube
• Read to Kids
• Become a Caregiver and Read to Patients
• Work for a Library
• Work in a Bookstore
• Booklist Publications
• Writerful Books

BONUS: Best Books to Read to Help Your Financial Future

1. Find Proofreading or Copy-Editing Gigs

Behind every great author is a solid proofreader. If you’re detail-driven, you can earn income by proofreading other people’s work and revising it with a critical eye. Find the right author, and you just may edit a future bestseller.

Authors often prefer working with freelancers and proofreaders who are fast, flexible, and easy to work with. Think you have what it takes to proofread for money? You can find gigs on the following sites.

Fiverr is another top freelance marketplace. This site’s a better source for short-term gigs. So while you might not be getting paid to read a full-length book, you’ll have the opportunity to work on smaller jobs.

Just like Upwork, Fiverr isn’t a free service. The company takes 20 percent of what you make.

Fiverr is one of the top platforms for finding freelance gigs for around the world. Sign up now for free!

FlexJobs is a search engine for finding remote gigs. You’ll have to pay to use this site, but it’s a solid source for proofreading jobs. The service offers four different price tiers:

• $9.95 (weekly)
• $24.95 (monthly)
• $39.95 (quarterly)
• $59.95 (annually)

In my opinion, the one-month package is probably the way to go. You’ll pay a bit more for it, but it may take some time to find gigs at first, and one week may not be enough time. Try the $24.95 package and see what you can find. If it turns out the be a goldmine of work for you, upgrade to the yearlong subscription to get the most bang for your buck.

Price: $9.95 w/ 30-day Money-Back Guarantee

FlexJobs is the largest site for finding remote, work-from-home jobs, both full-time and part-time for your skillset. The trained researchers at FlexJobs hand-screen job listings to eliminate ads and scams found on other sites. Find everything from entry-level to executive positions at FlexJobs.

2. Kirkus Media

Kirkus Media publishes Kirkus Reviews , a top book review magazine.  The company is seeking experienced book reviewers to read works in Spanish and English for the indie section of its magazine, which is dedicated to self-published authors. If you have shopped for books on Amazon, you have likely read some Kirkus Reviews as they publish many of the reviews for Amazon.

3. Reedsy Discovery

Reedsy Discovery helps readers discover self-published authors.  You can produce written or video interviews for Reedsy. The only downside is that there’s no base pay — you’ll make money from tips only.  I recommend using this site to build up a portfolio of writing samples. If the company accepts your work, you can use the reviews to land other gigs with different companies.

4. BookBrowse

BookBrowse pays freelance writers to review books and help readers find great titles. The company hires people to produce quality paid book reviews that are at least 300 words. Freelance book reviewers typically write one article per month.

5. Online Book Club

Online Book Club is a free online community for book lovers.  The company provides a wide selection of books to choose from. You can start making money after your first review, with pay ranging from $5 to $60 per review. Plus, you’ll get a free book out of the deal.

6. Women’s Review of Books

Women’s Review of Books is a premier feminist book review hub. It launched back in 1983, and it’s still going strong — fueled by its mission to empower feminist scholars and creative writers. I hear that the site pays $100 per book review, but you might have to have some professional or academic experience to qualify.

7. The US Review of Books

The US Review of Books is a well-known book review publication that comes out once a month.  To find work through this publication, keep your eye out for book titles that the site posts. Then, when you see one that you like, request to review it. Reviews should be between 250 and 300 words.

8. Be an Audiobook Narrator

ACX is Audible’s publishing platform. If you have a voice like James Earl Jones and a knack for narrating, you should consider signing up and creating a profile. There are many self-published authors looking for audiobook narrators.

Upload samples of your work with different accents and styles. By putting a lot of samples on your profile, authors can have an easier time discovering you.

If you’re interested in pursuing this, you can get paid to read books for either a per-hour rate or 50 percent of royalties. That’s a pretty solid commission, considering you don’t have to do any writing.

While authors can find your profile on the site, you can also audition for audiobook narrator gigs that you find appealing.

9. Work for a Publishing House

You may want to go all in and consider a career in publishing. The career path typically starts with earning a bachelor’s degree in a related field like English, journalism, or communications.

Once you earn a degree, you’ll have to get a foot in the door with the publishing industry. Focus on gaining hands-on training through internships, editing opportunities, and training courses.

Check out the American Copy Editors Society, which offers comprehensive editorial training and certification . These paid courses can help get you up to speed with professional editing standards.

As is the case with most industries, you’ll have to work your way up to becoming a book editor or book coach. But this can be an incredibly rewarding profession, enabling you to work with talented writers while you get paid to read books.

Book editors make an average salary of $62,760 per year.

10. Publish books on Amazon Kindle Direct

If you love to read, maybe it’s time to try your hand at writing.

Until recently, becoming an author required the acceptance of a publishing company. However, this is no longer the case.

Amazon Kindle Direct is a self-publishing platform that anyone can access. Simply write a book, edit it, and put it on Kindle Direct. You can set your own pricing and receive a royalty anytime someone downloads it.

Before you dive in, understand that writing your own book takes a ton of work. You may also have to hire a proofreader.

Spend some time brainstorming, and think about whether your ideas would translate well into written form. Then, if you have an idea for a book, start writing and see where it goes.

Who knows? If you’re willing to put in the countless hours as I did, maybe you too can write an international bestseller.

11. Become a getAbstract Freelance Writer

getAbstract condenses books and articles into summaries. It’s primarily for busy people who don’t have the time to read but want to access the bulk of a book’s message.

You can get paid to read books and write summaries on a freelance basis. Right now, the company is looking for writers who have a background in science and technology.

Sound interesting? The application process involves providing a writing sample and filling out a brief application.

12. Teach English literature

If you happen to have an advanced degree in English, consider teaching at a local college or university. By far, this is one of the best ways for bookworms to make a full-time income.

Teach at a regular college or university, and you’ll most likely receive medical benefits and weekends, holidays, and possibly summers off. In addition, you can teach night classes at a local community college for more flexibility.

The median salary for an English professor in the U.S. is $93,989. While the job obviously entails more than simply reading books, this could be a great career option for you.

You can also look into teaching English online .

13. Edit eBooks for Businesses

Businesses often use eBooks to sell products and services.

An eBook is much shorter than a traditional book, running anywhere from 2,000 to 5,000 words. It typically requires heavy editorial production and thorough copy editing. And many eBook writers can benefit from book coaching.

You can find eBook editing opportunities on freelance sites like Fiverr and Upwork .

14. Become a Book Blogger

Being a blog book reviewer is a great way to share your ideas and get paid to read books.

You can sign up for a free site using WordPress or Medium.com and have the freedom to say virtually anything you want in your honest review.

It’s possible to earn income through advertisements and affiliate links as a book reviewer. One way to do this is through the Amazon Affiliates program. By linking to someone’s product page with an affiliate link, you can potentially get a cut of the profit when someone buys something because of your content.

For example, you might give a book a stellar review and link to its Amazon listing on your blog. After that, you could receive payment any time someone clicks on the link and buys a copy.

15. Review Books on YouTube

If you aren’t camera-shy, you should consider creating a YouTube channel and talking about books.

As a “booktuber,” you can talk about virtually anything related to books. You could do tours of your favorite shops, interviews, and book reviews, and you could also offer supplementary content too.

You can make money on YouTube through advertising revenue, channel memberships, and selling branded merchandise, to name a few examples.

If you’ve got what it takes to be a YouTube book reviewer, take a look at SavidgeReads for inspiration. This account has more than 23,000 subscribers. Who knows? Maybe one day you’ll have more.

16. Read to Kids

Reading to kids isn’t for everyone. But if you love reading and telling stories to little ones, there’s a lot to like about this type of work.

First and foremost, you’ll help kids foster an appreciation for books. Reading to kids helps with auditory processing, builds attention spans, and gets them off electronic devices.

Plus, you’ll be extremely valuable if you can get kids to sit still and listen. This is very important from a side hustler’s perspective. Teachers, parents, and caregivers love hiring readers because it keeps kids occupied, allowing them to complete other tasks like paperwork and housework.

To get paid to read books aloud, contact local schools and daycare centers. You can even contact Facebook friends and try to drum up support.

You may also want to consider partnering with local facilities that attract field trips, such as zoos and museums. These places often hire professional narrators to read books to kids after lunch or in gift shops.

You won’t earn a ton of money reading to kids, but it will certainly be a fun home job for the right personality type.

17. Become a Caregiver and Read to Patients

Caregivers go into patient homes or work in health care settings — helping older folks, people with special needs, kids, and even pets.

Often, caregivers read to provide comfort and entertainment for their clients. People tell me it’s one of the most rewarding aspects of being a caregiver — and a great way to connect with patients.

Of course, you’ll most likely have to perform other duties as well. Depending on the role, you may have to cook, clean, shop for groceries, and transport patients to doctor’s appointments, classes, or stores.

If you’re interested in this line of work, head over to Care.com to find full-time and part-time work as a caregiver.

The average pay for a caregiver is $14 per hour. So, while you can earn some cash this way, make sure to keep your full-time job.

18. Work for a Library

There’s perhaps no better environment for a book lover than a library.

As a librarian, you’ll have unlimited free books at your disposal. This is an opportunity to immerse yourself in reading completely. You’ll also enjoy job security and numerous benefits like health insurance and paid time off. Most school librarians also get paid holidays, weekends, and summer vacations.

If you want to become a librarian, gather up your professional references and put together a resume. After that, figure out what type of library you want to work in. For example, there are school libraries, university libraries, public libraries, academic libraries, niche libraries, and national libraries.

You’ll also need to determine the type of role you want to pursue in a library — whether it’s a librarian, aide, administrative director, technician, or assistant position. Once you have a clear direction in mind, seek out specific training for your target role. Many librarian positions require a master’s degree in library science or MLS.

Generally speaking, the amount you make depends on your title. For example, librarians make about $54,176 per year. At the same time, library services directors make much more, with a median salary of $116,468.

19. Work in a Bookstore

If you’re into the gig economy and don’t want the pressure of a full-time library job, you should consider working for an independent bookstore or a national chain like Barnes & Noble.

This is a great place to find part-time work. Of course, you can pursue full-time opportunities as well.

Working for a book store may involve stocking shelves, operating the cash register, and possibly serving coffee. It also requires a love of reading and an ability to communicate with customers and talk about books.

The average salary for a full-time bookstore clerk is $27,880 per year, so this wont be able to replace your full time job.

20. Booklist Publications

Booklist Publications is a legit book discovery service. As a member of the American Library Association, Booklist reviews help school and public library workers discover and suggest new materials.

The company pays $15 per review after publication in its magazine or digital properties.

21. Writerful Books

Writerful Books is an Australia-based company that helps publish emerging writers.

Right now, the company’s looking for book reviewers to cover American, Australian, British, Irish, Canadian, and New Zealand authors.

Best Books to Read that Can Lead You to Financial Freedom

Get this: Your next big money-making idea may be hiding in the pages of a book.

While you might not get paid immediately after reading these books, these titles can help you develop a money mindset and achieve long-term financial independence.

The Millionaire Real Estate Investor by Gary Keller

🏆 Best Book for Real Estate Investing

The Millionaire Real Estate Investor is a must-read if you’re serious about entering the real estate game. You’ll learn all about how to build long-term financial wealth by investing in properties.

The 4-Hour Work Week: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich by Timothy Ferriss

🏆 Best Book for Passive Income

The 4-Hour Work Week explains how to ditch your full-time job and start making money through passive income. Read this book if you’re looking for a radically different approach to working and making money.

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing: The Only Way to Guarantee Your Fair Share of Stock Market Returns by John C. Bogle

🏆 Best Investing Advice

The Little Book of Common Sense Investing provides a primer on index investing.

Author John C. Bogle is the founder and former CEO of the Vanguard Group , a leading provider of low-cost investment funds.  Read this book if you want to build a solid and well-rounded portfolio.

Side Hustle: From Idea to Income in 27 Days by Chris Guillebeau

🏆 Best Book for Making Money

Side Hustle is an excellent choice if you’re getting serious about growing your revenue streams. Author Chris Guillebeau provides a blueprint that explains how to select, start, and profit from a side hustle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Here are some of the most frequently asked questions on getting paid to read books.

Does NetGalley offer free books?

NetGalley provides a way to request and recommend books before their release date. The company doesn’t pay for reviews. However, it provides readers with advanced review copies (ACRs). This is a great way to get books before other people do, put your name out there as a reviewer, and start forming professional connections.

Is reading books a legit way to make money online?

Reading’s an excellent way to make money online if you enjoy the process and have time for it. Just keep in mind compensation can vary drastically from job to job. For example, there’s a big difference between reviewing a book for a few bucks and running a library.

Should I read as a side gig for extra money?

Reading can make a wonderful side gig. However, if you’re on a tight schedule, it can also be a real drag. For example, it isn’t much fun staring down a deadline with hundreds of pages to read and review — and no time to do it. Before you decide to read books as a side gig, look at your schedule and determine whether you have the bandwidth for it.

You may find that it’s best to read for pleasure during your downtime and stick with a side hustle that’s faster and easier. Some examples include walking dogs, babysitting, and managing social media accounts.

What is Publishers Weekly?

Publishers Weekly is a website for publishing businesses, booksellers, and literary agents.  Head over to Publishers Weekly JobZone to access a running list of open book publishing jobs. This job board is a stellar resource if you’re looking to find work in the publishing industry.  You can also find publishing gigs on sites like Indeed , Monster.com , and ZipRecruiter .

Should You Get Paid to Read Books?

As you can see, there’s a wide variety of ways to get paid to read books and write reviews.

From reading to kids to reviewing nonfiction books and writing book summaries — if you’re the type who can never be around too many books, you can earn money by pursuing your passion.

Spend some time thinking about which opportunities best fit your lifestyle. You never know when you might stumble into a game-changing gig that makes you reevaluate the way you think about work.

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12 Best Ways To Make Money Reading Books

If you're anything like me, you love a good book.

There's something incredibly satisfying about grabbing a great read and dissolving into your sofa for a lazy Sunday afternoon without a care in the world.

However, while reading might be a leisurely activity, this hobby can also be turned into a side hustle if you know where to look.

I've covered how people can make money writing reviews before. But this post is going to break down the best ways you can make money reading books and writing short reviews for them.

Looking for other money making methods? Checkout :

• Freecash : A fun way to earn gift cards and cash in your spare time.
• Branded Surveys : Another popular survey site with gift card and PayPal cash rewards.

How To Make Money Reading Books

Table of Contents

1. Kirkus Media

Kirkus Media is a reputable company that lets you make money reading books, and it offers a wide range of services for authors, editors, and book lovers alike on their website.

Kirkus is also seeking English and Spanish book reviewers to cover content for Kirkus Indie, the media company's magazine section that features independent authors .

Reviews have to be roughly 350 words in length, and reviewers are given 2 weeks to read and review books once they are assigned. Kirkus covers pretty much any genre, and they expect a high quality review with some thought, not a plagiarized jumble.

Kirkus pays $50 for reviews based on testimonials I have read, so this could be a decent way to make money by reading and reviewing books.

Extra Reading – How To Make $50 A Day .

2. Start A Book Affiliate Site

Personally, I think the best way to get paid to read books is to start your own book review blog.

Starting your own blog is not quick or guaranteed money. However, I think the potential value of creating your own website is much higher than working $15 gig jobs on review websites .

The path to income might be much slower, but the rewards could be worth it.

If there is a particular genre you are interested in, you could start a very niche website to cover books or content in the space.

Alternatively, if you are interested in a general topic, you could start a blog on that subject and just write book reviews every so often. Between Amazon affiliate links and advertising revenue, you might be able to make a modest bit of side income every month!

And blogging can turn into a serious income stream. For example, WebMonkey made $272,000 in 2022 , and it now makes $1,000 a day or more between Mediavine ads and affiliate income.

My blog is in the finance niche, but there's no reason you can't make money reading books and writing about them on your own blog.

I've personally always wanted to create a military history based blog where I write about interesting battles or historical figures and then promote my content on niche communities on Reddit, so perhaps this will be a side project down the line!

Extra Reading – How To Pick A Blog Niche!

3. Start A Book Review YouTube Channel

If you're feeling creative, one option you can try is to make money reading books on YouTube.

The idea here is to read books and then talk about them or review them on YouTube. This lets you make money with YouTube ads and also through affiliate links in the description box .

And you can make quite a bit of money with this idea. Just take a look at the YouTube channel Paper Back Dreams .

It's run by a young adult who clearly loves books. She has 80,000+ subscribers on YouTube, plenty of other followers on various social media platforms, and is probably making bank by having companies sponsor the intro to some of her videos (plus any ad revenue).

This is proof that you can take a passion, turn it into a hobby, and earn passive income while providing other people value.

I watched one of her videos, and it was hilarious (as well as informative). I'm not remotely surprised she's found success on YouTube, and a quick search brought up plenty of other book review channels with decent followings as well.

As long as you create something of value and market yourself effectively, you can make money doing almost anything .

Just note: if you're wondering if you can read books aloud on YouTube for money, the answer is no.

Book reviews are okay because you're providing your own thoughts and intellectual property on a subject. The reason you can't read books on YouTube is because it's essentially copyright infringement.

You can read excerpts and likely be alright, but I'd focus on the review for the most part! However, it's certainly possible to make money on YouTube, so don't let competition scare you!

In fact, I started my own channel recently, and have grown it to nearly 10,000 subscribers!

So, if you love books and have always wanted to start a YouTube channel , this idea could be up your alley!

Extra Reading – The Best Ways To Make Money On Autopilot .

4. Online Book Club

Another popular way to get paid to read books and snag some free reading material in the process is to use Online Book Club .

Online Book Club isn't a get-rich-quick scheme, and they outline that very clearly in their hiring page.

Rather, Online Book Club is designed to help new authors promote their work, and they have some incentives in place to attract qualified reviewers. It's as simple as that.

Your first few reviews for Online Book Club will be unpaid, but you will get all reading material for free. If your review quality is high enough, you can then start to earn $5-$60 per book review .

I don't like that you have to do unpaid work since most legit online jobs pay you for all the work you complete.

That said, if you stick with it, Online Book Club is a popular way to read books for money if you're willing to write.

5. The U.S. Review Of Books

The U.S. Review of Books is currently hiring freelance writers for both book reviews and guest blogging, so it's another way to get paid to read books.

However, you need some prior experience, sample work, and at least 2 professional references for your entry application.

If you're hired, you're assigned books to read and review that match your reading preferences as closely as possible. Reviews are 250-300 words and expected to be completed within 2-3 weeks of assignment .

The website doesn't state how much reviewers are paid, but reviewers are paid on the 5th of every month for the previous month of work in addition to receiving free books.

6. Any Subject Books

Another website you can use to potentially make money reading books is Any Subject Books.

While Any Subject Books is not currently seeking reviewers, this site is still one to bookmark as it has historically been a reliable way to make money by reading and providing your opinion.

Any Subject Books has reviewers commit on a book-by-book basis to provide honest and thorough reviews for the books they read.

Payment varies based on the length of the book a reviewer is assigned, and submissions are not guaranteed to be accepted. However, if you can build a relationship with Any Subject Books once they start hiring reviewers again, you might have found a reliable source of extra income.

Note:  Any Subject Books isn't operating anymore.

7. Book Browse

Book Browse is a predominantly U.S. book club website, and it also has opportunities to read books for money.

Any genre is welcome on Book Browse for the most part, but to become a paid reviewer you will have to complete an application form along with some sample reviews.

Book Browse reviews are roughly 300 words in length, so this isn't too much work upfront.

According to Book Browse “Our reviewers tend to write about one review a month for us, and receive a byline and modest payment,” so make of that what you will. Regardless, if you want free books and to get paid to read, this is another option to consider!

8. Booklist

If you're still wondering how to make money reading books, one website you can apply to is Booklist .

Booklist is a review journal for public and school libraries, with a primary goal of assisting librarians and readers with their selections. Book reviews are the backbone of Booklist, who publish roughly 8,000 reviews a year.

While opportunities are limited, freelancers can be commissioned to write reviews for $15 and piece, or blog posts for the Booklist website for $12.50 .

You have to familiarize yourself with the publication and get in contact with a genre-specific editor if you are interested in working with Booklist, but this could be a decent opportunity to make quick money if you have experience with review writing.

9. Women's Review Of Books

Women's Review of Books has been around for 36 years, and while they are currently paying writers for their reviews and short stories , they expect you to have experience and credentials to back up your pitches.

WRB expects all pitches to include information on your credentials, the type of work you are interested in, and samples of your previous  already published work. 

Writers are paid $100 per review, so this is definitely one of the higher paying book reading jobs out there, but competition is tough for this one.

10. Voice Over Work

If you've ever been told you have a voice that's fit for radio or extremely soothing, you might be able to get paid to read books aloud by doing voice over work or even audio book recording.

Websites like Fiverr or designated voice over marketplaces like Voices.com offer an incredible amount of opportunity for voice over work .

Audio book gigs can pay thousands of dollars, and there is only going to be a growing need for audio work as the world continues to become more digital.

Extra Reading – How To Make $5,000 A Month .

11. Editing Work

If you have great attention to detail and a strong command of grammar and language, editing work is another way to make money reading books that you can try.

Editing jobs are always in demand, and while I've found they are harder to get than general content writing work, the pay can be quite lucrative.

According to Indeed.com , freelance editors earn $23+ per hour on average, although editors with experience or specialization in a certain vertical can make more. And the Bureau of Labor Statistics says editors earn $61,000 per year on average .

You probably have to build up a portfolio or business website for your services, and securing your first few clients will be tough (you may have to price yourself competitively to get through the early stages).

However, with enough hard work and determination you may be able to build your own proofreading and editing side hustle in time!

You can also checkout this list of 32 remote job websites to start your online job search for editing work!

While this option is similar to point 11, Upwork is an awesome marketplace for editors, reviewers, and even ghostwriters. If you want to get paid to read books, it's definitely worth checking out Upwork and creating your own freelancer profile.

Upwork sucks in that they charge between 15% – 20% in service fees on all contracts. However, if you have some serious editorial credentials, you can charge a decent rate.

Just check out these two Upwork book editors I found :

Each editor is charging $30+ per hour, so this is a pretty high-paying online side hustle that you can try out.

Obviously, this isn't the most leisurely way to make money reading books. However, for a side job or even full-time career, there's plenty of money on the table.

Extra Reading – Best Upwork Jobs For Beginners .

Frequently Asked Questions

Can you monetize reading books on youtube.

No, you can't make money reading books on YouTube. This is because reading books aloud on YouTube is considered intellectual property infringement, so your channel isn't eligible for monetization and might get banned .

However, you can make money with reading books on YouTube by creating book review content that shares your opinions about different books.

This  isn't  infringing on any intellectual property. And a lot of people make money with reading or listening to music with these sorts of channels.

How Much Money Can You Make Reading Books?

Most gigs that let you get paid to read books require writing reviews about them as well. And for these gigs, you can usually earn $15 to $50 at most per review.

Full-time writing and editorial jobs can pay much more. But this is generally a fun side job, not a full-time income source.

Extra Reading – How To Make $3,000 Fast .

Final Thoughts

I hope this guide on how to make money reading books helps you find a new, fun side hustle you can do in your spare time.

I don't think a lot of methods to get paid to read books are going to make $20k a month or anything like that. But you can still make some decent side income while doing something you enjoy.

Just have realistic expectations, and there's no reason why you can't find success with this side hustle.

Additionally, if you want to learn how to make money as a freelance writer in this space, I suggest checking out my new course, Freelance Writing For Freedom!

Thanks for reading!

Want to try even more money making methods? Checkout :

• The Best Work From Phone Jobs .
• How To Make Money As A Creative Writer .

Tom is a full-time blogger and freelance writer with a passion for side hustling, passive income, and making money online. His work has appeared on dozens of personal finance websites like Money Crashers, The College Investor, Forbes, and more.

Tom also founded the blog This Online World - a finance site dedicated to helping people make money online - in 2018. After 6 years, that site merged with WebMonkey, with the goal of helping even more people earn their first dollar of online income.

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My Favorite Ways To Get Paid To Read In 2024

Are you a voracious reader? Why not turn reading into a side hustle? Learn tips on how to get paid to read and make extra money in this guide.

Key Takeaways

• Many companies and platforms pay people to read, review, or narrate books.
• Earnings vary by gig; book reviews can pay $5 to $60, narrating can pay $10 to $350 per hour.
• Platforms to get paid include Kirkus Reviews, Booklist, Publishers Weekly, and Upwork.
• Successful reading gigs require additional skills like writing, narrating, and using recording equipment.

Are you an avid reader? Have you ever thought of turning your hobby into a side hustle?

Many companies and freelancer platforms pay people to read, review, or narrate books. As a result, many bookworms made their reading habit an extra source of income.

Whether you like reading non-fiction books, general fiction, or indie content, you’ll find countless online job opportunities to make money with book reading.

If you don’t know where to start, this comprehensive guide will walk you through how to get paid to read and share tips and insights for you to succeed.

Can You Get Paid to Read?

Yes. Many companies, from publishers to voice-talent agencies, hire people to read books for money. Most people get paid to read books for a book review or an audiobook service.

According to Grand View Research , the global audiobook market value reached $5,364.9 million in 2022 and will grow to a CAGR of 26.3% from 2023 to 2030.

This growing market alone gives many freelance opportunities for book readers and creative professionals to make a side hustle.

How Much Can You Make by Reading?

Earnings highly depend on the gig you’ll take on, your experience, and the platform.

For example, writing reviews for OnlineBlookClub.org gives a payout between $5 to $60 per review. However, the salary for book reviewers can be low and is often per output.

Meanwhile, experienced narrators like Hillary Huber get paid by the finished hour, with an average salary from “free to the low $200s.”

Per finished hour (PFH) is the standard pricing method in the audiobook market, where clients compensate narrators for their finished recording time, not their studio time, since that can vary. One hour of finished audio is reading around 9,000 words.

The Best Ways to Get Paid to Read (Overview)

Full list of ways to get paid to read.

We’ve included an overview of our top picks above. For a full list and detailed information on each pick, scroll down .

• Kirkus Reviews
• Publishers Weekly
• The US Review of Books
• Findaway Voices
• Voice Jungle

What You’ll Need to Get Paid to Read

If you want to read books for money, here are some things you must prepare to get started.

• Book: Most companies and platforms provide a physical book or e-book to read for the task. However, if you’re free to choose which books to read, ensure you have a few books on hand.
• Writing Software: If you want to write reviews, have your Microsoft Word or Google Doc file ready.
• Proofreading Software : After writing book reviews, ensure your content is free from errors and is easy to read.
• Audio-recording Device: If you’re narrating books as a gig, invest in professional recording equipment or premium microphones, like a cardioid condenser microphone or studio vocal microphone. Get one with background noise cancellation technology for a clear and crisp sound.
• Audio-editing Software: Invest in audio-editing and recording tools to clean up your sound and eliminate bad takes.
• Internet-enabled Device: Have your smartphone or computer ready to look up platforms, communicate with clients, read e-books, and do tasks like writing or recording.
• Payment Channel: Prepare a secure payment channel to receive your funds. Most companies don’t disclose payment methods, but PayPal is the safest option.

Where to Get Paid to Read

Explore the following platforms if you want to get paid to read. These include places for writing a review or narrating a book since those are common side hustles for reading.

1. Kirkus Reviews

Kirkus Reviews by Kirkus Media offers subscribers curated books and news, including honest reviews.

The platform often looks for experienced book reviewers and online writers to write a 350-word review of various titles, including works from self-published authors, for their Kirkus Indie section.

If you’re a bookworm or freelance writer interested in the role, you may submit a list of reviewing specialties and writing samples to the Kirkus Indie Editor David Rapp at [email protected].

How Much You Can Make

The average salary for in-house reviewers is $50 for a 350-word review, but it could reach $75 for great writing. Meanwhile, you receive $40 for a 250-word review of picture books.

What Makes This Option Great

Kirkus Review is a legitimate website that allows you to write genuine reviews of your preferred genres.

Moreover, they offer a steady stream of books, assigning one to two books monthly. Overall, it’s a decent gig for book readers and online writers.

• Fees/Commission: None
• Payment Methods: Undisclosed

2. Booklist

The Booklist is a part of the American Library Association. It provides school and public library workers bite-sized reviews to help them determine books to suggest and purchase.

Their 150 to 175-word reviews include details on the book’s content, popularity, and more. If you want to write reviews for money , try signing up for Booklist’s online application .

Book reviewing for Booklist will earn you $15 per review. However, rejecting a title will cost you $5.

The Booklist doesn’t need experienced reviewers as long as you’re familiar with books and libraries.

Moreover, all the reviews come with a byline in print and online, allowing newbies to build their portfolios. Lastly, editors provide feedback on your work, helping you improve your book reviewing.

• Fees/Commission: Reject fee of $5

3. Publishers Weekly

Publishers Weekly is a weekly news magazine providing the latest information on the book publishing industry.

Freelance writers and book enthusiasts can get paid to write and review a wide selection of titles and types of genres, including art history, adult fiction, literary criticism, self-help, and more.

Publishers Weekly pays $25 per review.

Publishers Weekly has been running in the book industry for 150 years, making it an established platform.

Moreover, this weekly news magazine publishes over 8,500 reviews yearly, so you have a steady gig. It’s also an amazing platform to build connections within the publishing industry.

• Fees/Commission : None

4. The US Review of Books

The US Review of Books provides a monthly newsletter containing 250 to 300-word reviews of books. It includes the plot synopsis and your insights without using the first-person perspective.

To get paid as a writer for the platform, submit your resume, proper samples, and two professional references to [email protected].

A 250 to 300-word review pays $25, while a 500 to 600-word review pays up to $75. Reviewers receive their pay monthly.

The platform posts book titles periodically, and you can select your preferences. Moreover, book editors give negative and positive reviews to improve your writing.

Overall, it’s an amazing platform for beginners and freelance talent to get started on reviewing books.

5. Findaway Voices

Findaway Voices is an audiobook company helping authors find creative professionals to produce and sell audiobooks.

To become an audiobook narrator , you only need to create a professional profile on Findaway Voices and add proper samples. After creating a credible profile, browse Findaway Voices’ audiobook service to find and receive projects.

Findaway Voices allows narrators for audiobooks to set their per-finished hour (PFH). A beginner narrator generally has a $100 PFH rate.

Findaway Voices offers a hassle-free way to read books for money since you’ll receive project recommendations after onboarding. This fantastic platform provides plenty of projects, so you won’t run out of fair opportunities.

ACX is a marketplace to connect with authors and publishers and get paid to read books aloud . The platform also accepts other creative professionals, audio engineers, and recording studios for their audiobook service.

You can choose between receiving production fees or royalty shares. Novices earn around $10 per finished hour, while experience narrators can earn up to $350.

Meanwhile, you can receive royalty shares based on 50% of the sales royalties.

ACX is an amazing platform for beginners and unlimited gigs as an audiobook narrator or professional voice talent. Plus, the audiobooks come out on Amazon, Audible, and iTunes, which will help boost your portfolio.

7. Voice Jungle

Voice Jungle focuses on producing audiobooks for online learning platforms.

Unfortunately, the Voice Jungle isn’t suitable for a novice voice actor as you must have a professional studio and the ability to finish projects within a day if needed.

Voice Jungle doesn’t disclose its rates to narrators on the website, but the audiobook company charges 35¢ per word, a minimum of $50 for up to 40 words, or a minimum of $75 for over 40 words.

Professional voice talents can expect less than $50 for a 40-word script since Voice Jungle takes a cut for the work.

Voice Jungle is great for experienced narrators for audiobooks since the platform provides projects for books, instructional platforms, podcasts, and more.

Moreover, there are no fees and no need to audition for projects.

• Fees/Commission: With commission, but the fee is undisclosed

8. VO Planet

VO Planet offers a job board with various online job opportunities for narrators for audiobooks, professional voice-over artists, and other creative professionals.

If you want to turn reading and audiobook narration into a freelance business , consider applying to VO Planet to find countless voice-over opportunities. Note that this audiobook company requires a professional studio with recording equipment.

VO Planet allows you to set your rates. However, they suggest rates from the GVAA rate guide .

In the guide, the average salary for a union-scale PFH is from $150 to $225 per hour. The guide also recommends receiving royalty income for hybrid agreements.

VO Planet has daily postings on its job search platform, so earning steady money with book reading is possible. This audiobook company also allows you to set your rates and choose projects, giving you more freedom and flexibility.

Overall, VO Planet is an amazing platform for beginners who want to get into voice acting as a gig or full-time job.

Upwork is a popular freelancing platform connecting companies with freelance talents globally. You can become a proofreader for books, a book reviewer, a book translator, a book editor, or an audiobook narrator.

Upwork allows you to set your hourly rates. Audiobook narrators and book reviewers have an average salary of $15 to $100 per hour, depending on their experience.

Meanwhile, some potential clients offer $250 for narrating an audiobook with 25,000 words or $75 to read 500-page novels and write three reviews.

Upwork offers the freedom to choose job openings, set rates, and work at your preferred hours. You can also self-manage your schedule, workload, and other aspects of how to run things. Plus, it’s completely remote.

Lastly, you can explore freelance opportunities to get paid to read, including writing book reviews, proofreading books, and narrating audiobooks. It offers flexible ways to earn money with book reading.

• Fees/Commission: UpWork charges a 10% freelancer service fee on your invoiced earnings
• Payment Methods: Digital Bank like WISE, Direct Local Bank Transfer, PayPal, Payoneer, Wire Transfer, M-Pesa

Why You Should Consider Reading As a Side Hustle

Here are four reasons to start making money with book reading.

• Turn Your Hobby into a Hustle: This side hustle offers an excellent way to turn your reading time into passive income. Do what you like, and get another source of income.
• Hone Your Reading and Writing Skills: Improve your skill sets by constantly reading books and practicing writing. Learn how to read faster and write clearly and concisely.
• Learn New Knowledge: Making money with book reading allows you to explore various topics, from fiction to self-help books. Learn something new every time you read.
• Earn Extra Money: Although you may earn little, this side hustle is still an extra source of income that will help you make more monthly.

Problems With Reading for Money

Although reading books for money sounds easy and convenient, it still comes with challenges. Here are some problems you may encounter with this side hustle.

• Tight Competition for Beginners: Most freelancer platforms and companies prefer professionals who know how to write, narrate, or proofread, making it challenging for beginners to break into the field.
• Low Income: Unless you’re an experienced professional, expect low hourly or fixed rates from the book publishing industry. Earning money with book reading can’t completely replace a full-time job.
• Not Fun: Some book readers might not like the idea of turning their hobby into work, and some might not enjoy non-fiction books or academic content.
• Takes Time: Potential clients or freelancer platforms may ask you to read over 500-page books, which could take hours or days to finish. If you don’t have time to read, it can be challenging to finish on time.

How To Get Paid to Read: Step-By-Step Instructions

Follow these general steps to pursue a side hustle with reading.

STEP 1: Choose What Path to Take

You’ll find various ways to make money with book reading. Your options include writing book reviews for a book club, becoming an audio narrator, proofreading books, or translating content.

However, each of these paths requires an additional skill to be successful in this gig. So, choose which skill you already have or are comfortable learning.

Once you narrow down what path to take, it’ll help you find the right companies, freelancer platforms, or projects to join.

STEP 2: Join a Platform

Depending on your path, you can join freelancing platforms, online book clubs, voice-acting websites, publishing companies, and similar kinds of platforms.

Try the recommended websites above, or research other freelancer platforms and online book clubs you want to explore. Ensure that a website is a legitimate networking platform for beginners and professionals to avoid scams.

After finding an online book club, book blog, or audiobook company that suits your needs, create an account and a credible profile. A professional profile should contain your skill sets, experience, and proof of your best work.

STEP 3: Submit Samples or Apply for Projects

Submitting samples can happen during or after the account creation. You might be asked for short writing samples if you’re writing reviews.

For audiobook narration, submit a narration of a short passage or audition for the project.

When submitting samples or applying for projects, follow instructions carefully. Many clients will have precise requirements, such as a specific word count, time limit, or assigned book to read.

If you don’t have previous experience and need to submit a sample, create one by writing a review or narrating a part of your favorite book.

STEP 4: Communicate With the Client

If you’re one of the final candidates for the project, take the time to ask about the task before accepting it.

If you’re confident you’ll get accepted, you can try negotiating your fee and workload during this stage. Most platforms have a fixed rate, but if you’re allowed to set rates, try to give yourself a fair rate. Also, learn about their payment process.

Only accept a project once all details are clear and agreed upon. Moreover, look for quality clients for the best deals and fair opportunities.

STEP 5: Start Getting Paid to Read

Once you accept a project, you may start reading your chosen or assigned books and getting paid. Depending on the project you accept, this may be an ongoing, weekly, or monthly task for you.

Try exploring other paths and projects in the future to improve your skill sets and earn more out of reading.

Things to Consider When Reading for Money

Before you become a freelancer and get paid for reading, consider the following before pursuing this opportunity.

1. Not for Leisure

Although you may enjoy reading, remember that you’re reading as a side hustle, not for enjoyment.

If you need to read and review a book, you must note various aspects, including the character’s development, the story’s context, and the book’s overall message. Moreover, you must justify and articulate why you liked or disliked the book.

If you want to read purely for leisure, this side hustle may not be for you.

2. One Path at a Time

Since the book industry offers various ways to get paid for reading, you may want to try all online job opportunities simultaneously. However, we highly recommend avoiding trying everything all at once.

Instead, start with one path or freelancing platform you have experience with. Doing something you’re familiar with will increase your chances of getting projects and making a steady side hustle with reading.

You can try another path or job search platform if the current one isn’t for you.

3. Takes More than Reading Skills

Although this side hustle mainly involves reading, you must also have other skill sets. For example, if you’re into book reviewing, you must also know how to write clearly and articulately.

If you plan on narrating audio, you should have good acting skills and the ability to enunciate words well and narrate in a loud and clear voice.

You should also invest in professional recording equipment, premium microphones, audio editing software, a professional studio, and other recording tools to produce quality audiobooks.

Remember that it takes more than good reading skills to be successful in this side hustle.

Frequently Asked Questions

Does amazon pay you to read.

No. Amazon doesn’t pay you to review books on the platform.

If you want to earn from Amazon for reading books, try creating a book blog and share Amazon affiliate links of the books you feature on the blog. You will earn a commission for every visitor that buys from your affiliate links.

Does Wattpad Pay You to Read?

No. Wattpad only pays its online writers.

Similar Ways to Get Paid

Consider the following alternatives if you don’t want to make money with book reading.

• Get Paid to Review Movies : If you’re a movie buff, learn how to get paid by watching movies and sharing your opinions and insights by writing a review.
• Get Paid to Give Advice : Explore the different ways to get paid by giving simple advice or expert opinions on various topics.
• Get Paid to Talk to People : Do you like talking to people? Learn how to make extra money by conversing with people online and offline.

Wrapping Up

If you’re passionate about reading and want to generate income, consider writing a book review, narrating a book, translating passages, or proofreading content.

Plenty of resources online can help you develop good reading, writing, proofreading, and narrating skills, among others. Don’t hesitate to explore and improve your skill sets to pursue other related gigs to reading books.

Once you find a suitable side hustle, getting paid to read books can be a steady, enjoyable, and lucrative gig.

If this guide was insightful, let us know in the comments below, or share this article with other book readers who might need a side hustle!

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Small Business Trends

How to make money reading books, get paid to write book reviews.

Reviewers are sent a recently published book, they read it, and write their opinions. Their reviews will help other readers decide whether or not to read the book.

1. Online Book Club

2. reedsy discovery.

A book reviewer who builds a positive reputation among Reedsy users potentially can be contacted directly by writers to review their books, and their tips can accumulate into a nice sum.

3. Writerful Books

Get free books for reading books.

A variety of organizations and book review sites will offer free books to encourage people to read their titles, and some apps even are designed to encourage reading with small payments.

4. Lola’s Blog Tours

5. bethany house, 6. bookshout, get paid to read books on amazon.

It only makes sense that Amazon would offer ways to make money reading books. After all, the global marketplace started out as an online bookstore. Amazon is still one of the world’s most popular book retailers, and it offers multiple ways to earn extra money from books.

7. Amazon Vine

8. amazon bookseller.

Amazon booksellers can access all the convenient selling tools the eCommerce giant offers to all of its sellers, and sellers can make a steady income stream if they have a steady supply of books to sell.

Make Money Translating Books

9. babelcube, 10. translate.com.

Organizations in need of freelance translators turn to Translate.com to fill their job opportunities. The website features a constantly updated collection of available translation gigs, and freelancers can log in, pass a test and start translating.

11. Translator’s Base

More ways to make money reading books.

Passionate readers aren’t limited to writing book reviews and translating texts in their quests to make money reading books. A variety of other employment opportunities are available for avid readers looking for either a career change or some extra cash.

12. Audiobook Narrator

Meanwhile, a proofreader looks at the text’s grammar, usage and punctuation, helping to ensure the book uses perfect language for the most professional presentation. Both opportunities exist as full-time careers or through countless freelance opportunities and side gigs.

14. Blogger

15. summary writer.

A variety of publications look for readers to write book summaries, and many of these job opportunities are posted on popular freelancing job boards like Flexjobs and Upwork. Like many other side hustles, freelancing opportunities are competitive, so be sure to have your writing samples available to submit and show the type of work you will provide.

16. Booktuber

How much money can you make reading books.

A book editor in the publishing business, on the other hand, might earn tens of thousands each year in their full time job. In either case, the more books you read as part of your professional endeavor, the more money you can earn.

• Grades 6-12
• School Leaders

Creative Ways to Use Graphic Novels in the Classroom! 🎥

How To Get Paid To Read Books (Plus 5 Legit Companies That Pay for Reviews)

Turn the dream into reality!

If you’ve ever dreamed of a world where someone would pay you to read books, we’ve got good news! There are multiple ways to get paid to read books, whether you make a career out of it or just do it to pick up some extra cash. In fact, these options can be the perfect choice for teachers looking to change careers or those who need to make a little money on the side . Here’s how to live the dream.

Can you really get paid to read books?

Short answer: Yes, you can! Longer answer: You can make money, but you may not be able to make a living. If you’re looking to get paid to read books as a career, you’ll probably need to pursue jobs in publishing, which can be hard to come by. Expect to earn a related degree and work your way up from the very bottom. Penguin Random House has much more information about how to get into publishing here.

It’s much easier to get paid to read books if you’re willing to do some smaller jobs instead. Many companies will pay you to write book reviews, though only small amounts at first. Plus, there are other gigs, like audiobook narrator or book translator, which you might be able to pick up on an as-needed basis.

One note: Many people dream of becoming librarians because they can’t imagine anything better than spending their days surrounded by books. And while there are many rewards to becoming a librarian, getting paid to read isn’t usually one of them. This varies, of course, depending on your position. But in general, how much time does the average librarian spend reading on the job?

“The answer is zero,” shares one former librarian. “Unless you count reading spine labels as you’re shelving.” So if you’re looking to make money just for reading, take a look at one of the jobs below instead.

What types of jobs are available for avid readers?

Lorenzo Cafaro via Pixabay

Whether you’re looking for a career or a side gig, here’s what you’ll want to know about some of the most common reading jobs.

Book Reviewer

Pay range: $5–$50 per review for beginners

This is one of the easiest ways to get paid to read books. There are a variety of companies that will pay you for your thoughtful reviews, though the per-job pay isn’t amazing. If you’re a prolific reader, though, this can be a nice way to pick up some extra money regularly. Check out our list of companies that pay for reviews below.

If you’re an accomplished reviewer, you might consider pitching your reviews to bigger outlets, like newspapers, magazines, or websites. You could receive hundreds of dollars for your reviews—if they’re published. Learn how to pitch an article to a magazine here.

Publishing Acquisitions Editor

Pay range: $47,000–$85,000 per year

Not all jobs in publishing actually require a lot of reading, but acquisitions editors definitely spend their days turning pages. Their main job is to read manuscripts from authors (solicited or unsolicited) and make recommendations about which of them to publish. These jobs aren’t necessarily glamorous, but they’re a bookworm’s dream. And as you might imagine, they can be very hard to land. Find out more about becoming an acquisitions editor here.

Publishing Copy Editor/Proofreader

Pay range: $41,000–$96,000 per year

If you’ve got an eye for detail, these could be the jobs for you. Copy editors work with a book while it’s still in progress, reviewing for consistency, errors, continuity, factuality, and legal liability. They help authors make changes as needed throughout the editing process.

Proofreaders review a final copy of a manuscript before it goes to press. A proofreader compares the edited manuscript with the proof copy, word for word. They catch any last spelling, grammar, or punctuation errors, and fix any awkward word or page breaks. Discover the differences between copy editors and proofreaders here .

Audiobook Narrator

Pay range: $10–$500 per finished hour

Audiobooks are very popular, and those with strong voice-acting skills can make good money by recording them. Some narrators even do their own recording, editing, and more. For fiction books, the process often involves multiple narrators, with a regular audition process. You may work at home if you have the right equipment, or you may need to come into a recording studio.

Note that audiobook narrators are usually paid per “finished hour,” which refers to the length of the audio files you record. For an 18-hour audiobook, you may spend double that or more in preparation, rehearsal, and recording, so figure your salary accordingly. Want to get started working in audiobook narration? Look into ACX, Audible’s audiobook creation marketplace.

Literary Translator

Pay range: $22,000–$100,000 per year

Many books are translated into multiple languages and sold around the globe. If you’ve got strong world language skills, you could make money by translating those books for publishers or authors.

This job involves more than just word-for-word translation, since many words and phrases don’t have direct cognates. Translators have to use their knowledge of language to ensure the translated book retains the same tone as the original, making it a real art form. See tips on becoming a literary translator here.

Companies That Pay You to Read and Review Books

Karolina Grabowska via Pexels

You won’t make a bundle writing book reviews for any of these companies, but it can be a steady way to earn some much-needed extra cash. Some require experience and an application process, while others are easier to get in on. Here are the details.

Pay rate: Not specified

BookBrowse asks that applicants have some experience in writing the types of reviews they’re looking for. Their website says reviewers write about one review a month for “a byline and modest payment.” See if BookBrowse is a good fit for you here.

Pay rate: $15 per review (~150 words)

Libraries depend on publications like Booklist to help them choose new additions to their shelves. The pay is low, but the reviews are also quite short and you’ll receive a byline credit. Learn more about writing for Booklist here.

Kirkus Reviews

Pay rate: $50 per review (~350 words)

Kirkus hires reviewers for Kirkus Indie, the book review magazine’s section dedicated to self-published authors. If you’re interested, find out more here.

Online Book Club

Pay rate: $5–$60 per review

For the first review, OnlineBookClub.org gives you the book for free. After that, you’re eligible for paid opportunities (which also include free books). Learn how the process works and apply to be a reviewer here.

Publishers Weekly

Pay rate: $25 per review (~200 words)

This publishing powerhouse looks for reviewers who can handle books across a wide array of subjects, from cookbooks to psychology, romance to sci-fi. Submit an application via their website to be considered for review gigs.

Do you know of other ways to get paid to read books? Come share your thoughts and ask for advice in the WeAreTeachers HELPLINE group on Facebook .

Plus, 38 companies that hire former teachers in 2023 ..

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Because we can all use some extra cash now and then. Continue Reading

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13 Books on How To Make Money You Need To Read [2024]

We all need to learn and read to improve our lives continually, including reading books on how to make money. Fortunately, today, there are thousands of books on the topics, touching on any topic, phase of life, or need you have.

Table of Contents

Best Books on How To Make Money

We’ve narrowed down the best financial books on how to make money to help you in your quest to achieve financial success.

Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement by Rachel Richards

Brief description.

Financial freedom requires thinking outside the box and not relying on your 9 to 5 income. Author Rachel Richards shows how this is done in her book ‘Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement’ where she showcases how to live on passive income.

Rachel Richards quit her job at age 27 to live on a passive income. She wrote this book to help anyone looking to do the same, whether you’re in college and dreading working 9 to 5 or a burned-out head of household ready to do something different.

Rachel shows readers how to reach FIRE without feeling they must sacrifice too much. She provides 28 proven methods to create wealth and passive income so you can live life how you want.

About the Author

Rachel Richards was once a financial advisor and retired at age 27. Passive Income, Aggressive Retirement is her second book to help people live their best lives, building wealth and achieving financial independence .

Do Over: Make Today the First Day of Your New Career

Jon Acuff wants his readers to be able to do what they want in their careers. He is all about reinventing yourself so you can get ‘unstuck’ and do the career you’ve always dreamt of doing.

He uses humor to help make the topic of money, work, and financial success motivational. Jon focuses on filling your Career Savings Account to build relationships, skills, character, and hustle.

He shows you how you’ve likely always had these skills and how to safeguard yourself when you hit career ‘bumps’ like losing your job, hitting a plateau, or starting a new career opportunity.

Filling your ‘Career Savings Account’ is the key to handling whatever life throws your way. You won’t be scrambling to find a job, network with the right people, or make the money you need to achieve financial independence.

Jon Acuff is a best-selling New York Times author who has written eight books and is a well-known public speaker, speaking at large companies such as FedEx, Home Depot, and Microsoft.

He focuses on creating a better you so your dream career becomes a reality. He teaches that we have more control than we think when creating our dream careers and building wealth.

The Laptop Millionaire: How Anyone Can Escape the 9 to 5 and Make Money Online

Anyone can achieve financial success through their own doing, and that’s what Mark Anastasi teaches in his book ‘The Laptop Millionaire: How Anyone Can Escape the 9 to 5 and Make Money Online.’

This is a must-read if you’re ready to think outside the box and earn the best money of your life. Learn the easy steps to creating wealth by working online.

Whether you want to make a little extra cash or strive to become rich outside of your 9 to 5 job, this book will help the 21 millionaire secrets that will change how you look at money and life.

No matter where you are in life, whether it’s fixing your own financial situation or learning to gain financial freedom , ‘The Laptop Millionaire’ will help you learn about money, including how to earn money from your computer, putting the stress of your 9 to 5 job behind you.

Mark Anastasi is an internet marketer and public speaker with years of experience creating financial stability by working online. He teaches you how to take control of your career and financial future using his tried-and-true strategies.

You Are a Badass at Making Money: Master the Mindset of Wealth

If you’re tired of holding yourself back because you feel like you aren’t worthy enough, read ‘You Are a Badass at Making Money; Master the Mindset of Wealth’ where author Jen Sincero walks you through her own journey from nothing to unlimited success.

If you’re familiar with the ‘You are a Badass….’ series, you know Jen’s wit and humor that catches your attention and makes you look at life differently.

In this version, she helps you uncover what is holding you back from creating the relationship with money you desire. She helps readers start a new financial journey, helping them achieve the wealth they thought was only a dream.

Learn how to unleash your ability to generate wealth by discovering your limiting beliefs and kicking them to the curb. Jen offers humor, practical advice, and true stories to help as many people as possible achieve their true potential.

Jen Sincero is a well-known New York Times best-selling author. She travels the world speaking to audiences and sharing her books to help people change their lives.

She provides honest, helpful, and humorous content to make learning how to reach your financial dreams fun and achievable.

The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich

If you’re tired of a 40+ hour workweek and wish you could have more free time, check out ‘The 4-Hour Workweek: Escape 9-5, Live Anywhere, and Join the New Rich’ to see how possible it is to work less and make more money!

Timothy Ferriss shows us how possible it is to cut down these crazy workweeks to much less time and even implement ‘mini-retirements,’ giving you time to travel the world and live life how you want, working a 4-hour workweek.

In this book, you get 50+ tips and practical advice, including stories from real people who have doubled their income and decreased their work hours. You’ll also learn high-tech tricks and shortcuts to maximize your time working and have more time for enjoyment.

Learn how to work on your own schedule, putting the days of 40+ hour workweeks behind you. Get access to Ferriss’s blueprint for putting an end to your money or your life, allowing you to have everything you’ve wanted and more.

Timothy Ferriss is a well-known entrepreneur and angel investor behind big names like Facebook, Twitter, and Uber. Tim is well-known for his rapid learning techniques, helping many people transform their lives in a few simple steps.

Click Millionaires: Work Less, Live More With an Internet Business You Love

If you’ve always wondered how so many people make money from their computers and quit their 9 to 5 jobs, read ‘Click Millionaires: Work Less, Live More With an Internet Business You Love.’ Scott Fox shows how it’s possible to start an online business and be successful.

If starting an online business seems overwhelming, Scott Fox makes it simple. He shows the steps necessary to use the internet and all its possibilities to create the business of your dreams.

Learn topics like outsourcing, automated online marketing, and how to use complex software programs to achieve your financial independence dreams.

Learn how to be a ‘click millionaire,’ turning your computer into a money-making machine, allowing you to quit the rate race and live how rich people live.

Scott Fox is a self-help author helping as many people as possible discover the possibilities with the internet. His passion is to help early-stage founders create the business they’ve dreamt of, even when they think it’s impossible. Scott is also an active angel investor.

The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future

Most people assume they don’t have enough money for a startup, so they stay stuck in their 9 to 5 jobs even though they are miserable. Chris Guillebeau wants you to know otherwise.

In ‘The $100 Startup: Reinvent the Way You Make a Living, Do What You Love, and Create a New Future,’ Chris shares tips, real-life stories, and the necessary steps to create a business with as little as $100.

Chris Guillebeau wants as many people as possible to know how easy it is to start an online business with what you already own, including your skills. He teaches how to earn a good living while living purposefully.

Chris Guillebeau is a writer, traveler, and entrepreneur. He has visited all 193 countries and continually shares the message that everyone can achieve their dreams of financial freedom and fortune with the right steps.

Rich20Something: Ditch Your Average Job, Start an Epic Business, and Score the Life You Want

Daniel DiPiazza has built an empire by starting businesses with no capital. Instead, he capitalizes on his skills and monetizes them, and that’s what he teaches readers of ‘Rich20Something: Ditch your Average Job, Start an Epic Business, and Score the Life You Want.’

In this book, Daniel teaches how to maximize your skills, monetize them , and create one of the best websites and businesses surpassing others.

Daniel DiPiazza teaches everyone, especially college-age students, to ditch the ‘typical’ career path and to create the career of their dreams by using their money-making skills to make a name for themselves rather than lining someone else’s pockets.

Daniel DiPiazza is known as the Millenial Overlord, teaching millennials how to maximize their earnings by monetizing their skills. He teaches the unconventional path to long-term financial success, helping everyone achieve their dreams in ways other than climbing the corporate ladder.

A Teenager’s Guide on How To Get Rich: Everything You Need To Know To Start Making Money Today for a Financially Secure Future

Teenagers with a money mindset set themselves up for success early in life.

In ‘A Teenager’s Guide on How to Get Rich: Everything You Need to Know To Start Making Money Today for a Financially Secure Future,’ Ashley Royce teaches teenagers about investing, building large bank accounts, and developing a ‘get rich mindset.’

Teens are in the perfect position to learn to change their money mindset with the right financial education. The ‘Teeanger’s Guide on How to Get Rich’ helps teens learn how to manage money and have an abundance of it so they never have to wish they had more money.

Ashley Royce is an entrepreneur and investor with a passion for helping people. He writes in a way that empathizes with his audience, allowing them to reach their financial goals.

Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat: The BRRRR Rental Property Investment Strategy Made Simple

Investing in real estate is a great source of passive income, but many people don’t know how to get started.

In ‘Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat: The BRRRR Rental Property Investment Strategy Made Simple,’ David Greene shows readers a step-by-step plan to invest in real estate and use that investment to build an even larger real estate investment portfolio.

Learn how to use common sense investing to start your real estate portfolio. ‘Buy, Rehab, Rent, Refinance, Repeat’ breaks down the process so anyone can invest in real estate, including those with limited capital.

You might know David Greene from the BiggerPockets podcast. He is a real estate investor with experience investing in over 50 single-family rental properties over his 10-year career. David also runs a Keller Williams real estate team and owns a mortgage company.

Rich Dad, Poor Dad: What the Rich Teach Their Kids About Money That the Poor and Middle Class Do Not!

‘Rich Dad Poor Dad’ hit its 25th anniversary and is still among the best personal finance books to read on the market. Robert Kiyosaki teaches timeless lessons on money and how it works in our lives.

Robert talks about his life with his ‘two dads,’ one who was his friend’s dad, who had different views on money, and how learning about passive income and making money work for you instead of the other way around is the key to a happy and successful life.

Learn how to make your money work for you instead of working hard for your money. You don’t need a successful career to be rich; you need the right money mindset to achieve your goals.

Robert Kiyosaki has helped tens of millions of people transform how they think about money.

Today, he is an investor, entrepreneur, and educator assisting people to learn how to take control of their money and their lives. He believes strongly in financial advice and education to help everyone achieve their dreams.

Multiple Streams of Income: How To Generate a Lifetime of Unlimited Wealth!

If you’ve wished for a handbook to lay out the different opportunities available to build wealth, ‘Multiple Streams of Income: How To Generate a Lifetime of Unlimited Wealth!’ is a must-read in 2023.

The book offers ten ways to make $100,000+ per year that anyone can do, no matter your background or skill level.

Learn how to generate $100,000+ annually with little startup capital or experience. Robert G. Allen helps you realize how possible it is to make your own money and live the personal life you’ve dreamt of without working 40+ hours a week for a job you don’t like.

Robert G. Allen takes pride in helping people learn how rich people achieve their dreams and helping people from all walks of life do the same. Robert has been seen and heard on many TV and radio shows and many podcasts.

The Automatic Millionaire: A Powerful One-Step Plan to Live and Finish Rich

‘The Automatic Millionaire’ shows you how to become a millionaire without changing too many things in your life! You just make it an automatic part of your life by thinking differently and learning to invest.

The financial freedom book will help you learn to live like a millionaire in one simple step so that everything else becomes automatic.

Anyone looking to automate their finances and become an automatic millionaire will enjoy this quick read with timeless principles that anyone can use in any phase of their lives, whether just starting out or already established, but want to level up and achieve more.

David Bach has twelve best-selling books on how to make money. He often shares his ideas in the media and is the creator of the FinishRich® Seminar series, which has helped thousands of people achieve their financial dreams.

What Is the Best-Selling Book on Making Money for This Year?

Even though it’s not a new book, ‘Rich Dad Poor Dad,’ is a best seller for books on money making this year. It hit its 25 anniversary this year, and its advice still resonates today, helping anyone looking to change their lives, whether with a total money makeover or just new money principles.

What Books Do Millionaires Recommend?

Millionaires read money books, no doubt, but they read books on other topics, too. Becoming a millionaire isn’t just about the money; it’s about the mindset and way of life.

Some popular books millionaires recommend include, ‘ How to Win Friends and Influence People ,’ and ‘ Thinking Fast and Slow .’

What Is the Millionaire Mindset?

A millionaire mindset is simpler than you might think. Millionaires focus on self-care, automated savings, investments, passive income, frugality, and prioritizing their time.

They aren’t needlessly spending money, nor do they spend unnecessary hours stressing at jobs they hate. They love the lives they’ve built and put it mostly on autopilot.

What Percentage of Millionaires Read Books?

If we look at some of the best-known millionaires, we see how common it is for millionaires to read books. Elon Musk, Bill Gates, and Warren Buffet were all avid readers. According to research conducted by Thomas Carley, 85% of millionaires read at least two books a month.

Why Do Millionaires Read a Lot?

Millionaires are constantly growing their mindset, skills, and knowledge, which is why they constantly read. They never sit idle or get comfortable. They constantly strive for more to keep their wealth growing and their skills strong.

Can Reading These Books Help Me Make Money?

Reading some of the books on this list may provide you with new ideas to implement in your personal finances. You may learn new ways to make money, manage it, or grow in other ways that help you achieve your financial goals.

How Do I Choose the Best Books for Financial Success This Year?

Read the descriptions of the books for financial success and see which resonates with you. There will definitely be books you don’t get anything from or don’t find motivating, but those that speak in a way you can understand may help you transform your life.

Are There Any Books That Cater to People With Different Levels of Financial Knowledge, From Beginners to Experts?

Yes, there are books for teenagers, college students, new entrepreneurs, and established people. You can find books that speak to your specific audience, providing advice you can use immediately to change your finances.

How Do I Make the Most Out of These Books To Ensure Practical and Actionable Financial Advice?

The key is to take notes and implement the steps provided in the books you read if they resonate with you. Even if the steps feel outside your comfort zone, that’s the key to exponential growth.

How Many Books Do the Rich Read a Month? How Many a Year?

On average, millionaires read two books a month, which equals 24 books a year, but more illustrious rich people, like Bill Gates, read twice as many books per year.

How Many Hours Do Rich People Read a Day?

Rich people always set aside some time for personal development, which includes reading books. Even 30 minutes a day is enough to transform your mindset to think like a millionaire.

What Do Successful People Read?

Successful people read books on all topics, not just money-making. While the best books about money are an obvious choice, they also read books about perfecting their mindset, networking, and growing their lives in other ways.

What Genre of Books Do Rich People Read?

Rich people most often read self-help books and autobiographies about the most successful people in the world who they want to replicate.

What Do CEOs Read Daily?

Along with the same self-help books, CEOs often read the Wall Street Journal and The Financial Times to stay up-to-date on the world’s latest financial news.

What Does Bill Gates Read Every Day?

Bill Gates focuses on non-fiction books, including self-help and books on technology and science, to continually increase his knowledge and ability to increase his wealth and do good in the world.

Did Elon Musk Read 2 Books a Day?

According to an interview with Rolling Stone magazine, Elon Musk credited his success to reading two books daily, for 10 hours a day, along with guidance from his parents.

What Does Mark Cuban Read Every Day?

Mark Cuban reads anything he can get his hands on, but it’s always non-fiction. He focuses on books about business but will read anything that will help him level up in his life.

The Bottom Line

Finding books on how to make money is the key to transforming your personal finances.

If you want to make the best money of your life, check out some of the books on this list to learn how you can automate your money-making and have more money than you ever thought possible.

Samantha Hawrylack is a personal finance expert and full-time entrepreneur with a passion for writing and SEO . She holds a Bachelor’s in Finance and Master’s in Business Administration and previously worked for Vanguard, where she held Series 7 and 63 licenses. Her work has been featured in publications like Grow, MSN, CNBC, Ladders, Rocket Mortgage, Quicken Loans, Clever Girl Finance, Credit Donkey, Crediful, Investing Answers, Well Kept Wallet, AllCards, Mama and Money, and Concreit, among others. She writes in personal finance, real estate, credit, entrepreneurship, credit card, student loan, mortgage, personal loan, insurance, debt management, business, productivity, and career niches.

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How to Make Money Selling Ebooks in 2024

Written by: Orana Velarde

Everyone knows that a free ebook is one of the best lead magnet strategies for businesses of any size. But if you’re an author looking to earn some income you can make money from selling ebooks. Writing ebooks for money is also a common form of passive income, preferred by some, especially after the pandemic.

In fact, ebooks are in popular demand, so much so that ebook sales have exploded in the past few years, and the growth is expected to continue to grow at a steady annual rate of 3.92% up to 2028 internationally.

Even though free ebooks offer value to the subscriber exchanging their email for the download, paid-for ebooks must deliver a wealth of valuable information plus actionable advice for the reader.

In this article, we'll help you learn why ebooks are great for earning passive income, and share tips and guidelines for where and how to sell your ebooks.

Here’s a short selection of 8 easy-to-edit ebook templates you can edit, share and download with Visme. View more templates below:

• Table of Contents

Why Ebooks Are Good For Passive Income

7 sites to help you sell ebooks, ebook file types and formatting, how to sell ebooks in 11 simple steps, selling ebooks faqs.

• Ebooks are not just for lead magnets but make a great source of passive income that can help you to make money in the long term.
• You can use several sites to sell your ebook, including Visme, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords, Rakuten Kobo, Sellfy, Payhip and Gumroad.
• Choosing the right file type and formatting for your ebook is essential. File types include Printable PDF, Interactive PDF, Multimedia/Interactive HTML5 or EPUB.
• To sell your ebook, you should know your audience, get an ISBN, write and design your ebook, create an eye-catching cover design, publish and share it, price it, create a landing page, promote it, track sales and nurture leads.
• With Visme, you can choose from a wide range of beautifully designed ebook templates to get started, access intuitive editing features, or publish your ebook with a shareable link.

Passive income is one of the most sought-after sources of income today. It means you're able to generate income with minimal labor involved. In other words, work less and earn more. Who doesn’t want that, right?

Well, ebooks are a great addition to any passive income strategy. The hard work starts at the beginning, and once it’s done, all you need to do is maintain your sales and marketing. Once you create an ebook, market it and share it, it can technically sell itself.

To make money writing ebooks takes a decent amount of effort to write valuable content. Not to mention, building a strong brand that will carry your ebook to success is not an overnight task.

But when you do set everything up correctly, ebooks can help you make money for a long time. In fact, the more evergreen your content is, and the more you keep promoting and updating it, the longer the life of your ebook.

Need more convincing? Here are some reasons why ebooks are great for passive income:

They’re relatively easy digital products to make.

Even though an ebook will take work to put together and publish, it’s still a much easier digital product to create than a multi-lesson online course. You might even have most of the content in your blog post articles that can together create the foundation for an ebook.

Templates also make ebook creation a lot easier than starting from scratch. Using them also increases your chances of creating a successful ebook.

Visme, for example, offers pre-designed multipage templates in lots of different designs and for a variety of industries.

Putting the ebook together once you have the content is pretty straightforward. If you’re working with a team inside your company, then it’s even easier. Using collaboration tools makes ebook building an accessible and inspiring activity.

Plus, even if it takes you a while to create your first ebook, it will be much easier to make more. Why? Because you'll learn from the failures and successes of your last ebook (or ebooks) and make sure your future works are best-sellers.

Beyond being an easy digital product to make, you can easily sell your ebooks online. In the latter part of this article, we’ll discuss how to sell an ebook online.

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They make for great lead magnets.

Collecting leads for your business is a vital step in the marketing funnel. Ebooks are great lead magnets because you are offering value as you get the person’s email. Many people create free ebooks in exchange for a sign-up, so your paid ebook must provide more value than a free one.

The best ebooks, specifically the ones that are most suited for passive income, are the ones that offer evergreen content. A good example of evergreen content is a topic that won’t change or evolve too fast after you’ve written it.

They help with link building.

Ebook creation and promotion generally need a landing page on your website as the lead generation starting point. Add the landing page URL to relevant blog posts and other content on your site.

Likewise, other people can add your link to their content, and you can share the landing page directly on social media.

Selling ebooks needs a good and trustworthy platform. There are many publishing and distribution options, big and small. Choose the one that works for you.

If your ebook is not in the file type your publisher or distributor asks for, there are plenty of free online converters. Additionally, if you have the content and want someone else to convert it to ebook format manually, you can find many people on Fiverrr who offer this service.

In this section, we’ll show you where to sell ebooks online and how to get started.

Visme is an all-in-one design and content creation platform. Its easy-to-use platform lets users with little to no design experience create visually stunning content from scratch or with the help of professionally designed pre-made templates.

Writing and selling an ebook is a long and challenging process. Visme provides a comprehensive space for authors to finish their ebook designs confidently without the need to hire a programmer or designer.

Access ready-to-use ebook templates designed for the B2B or B2C space or Visme's AI Designer to help quickly generate a personalized template that suit your needs. For ebooks of fiction and non-fictional genres, you can bring your ebook cover ideas to life with Visme’s AI image generator or access a library of thousands of images, icons, graphics, animations and so much more.

Visme has a rich library of stock photos you can use in your ebook. If you don’t have any image that fits your context, Visme’s AI image generator is a great solution. With a descriptive prompt, you can generate unique visuals, including images, art, 3D graphics, paintings, pencil drawings and more.

“Some templates you stumble upon and are blown away that someone put the time and effort into creating them. You did not know you needed them in your life until that minute.” - Lorens K., A Graphic Designer who uses Visme .

Plus, you can easily edit your ebook’s most essential information with dynamic fields . This allows you to automatically insert or edit personalized text fields or assign any value needed without the need for painstaking manual updates.

Here's a quick video tutorial to walk you through creating an ebook in Visme:

Once you’ve finished designing your ebook in Visme, whether it’s plain text, multimedia, interactive or animated, you can decide to download or share your ebook as a digital PDF or a printable PDF with bleed marks to ensure your content and words stay in their designated area when professional printed.

You can also turn it into a shareable link that you share with your readers once they’ve made a purchase on your website. As well as make your ebook a private project so you decide who gets to view or read your ebook.

You can also track the number of views on your ebooks when you share them via Visme. This is great for analyzing the performance of your content as you track sales and marketing efforts.

2. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing

Amazon is one of the largest online platforms for selling digital ebooks. Most authors are proactively selling ebooks on Amazon. Publishing your own ebook is one of the most popular ways to make money on Amazon , which can potentially make $1000+ a month.

Ebooks on Amazon are published using Kindle Direct Publishing. KDP will request that you upload your manuscript, which should meet certain requirements. You can upload Microsoft Word files, EPUB and their signature Kindle file type, KPF.

Choose to publish it as an ebook, paperback or both and once it’s been accepted by Amazon, your ebook will be available to readers worldwide.

3. Smashwords

Smashwords is an ebook publisher and distributor that offers lots of solutions for new and experienced ebook writers. You can upload a Word document or an EPUB file. They turn it into a digital ebook product and distribute it to all major ebook consumer platforms.

4. Rakuten Kobo

Rakuten Kobo is another ebook publisher and distributor offering to sell your ebooks on their site and many other distribution sites. To publish with Rakuten Kobo, simply follow the steps on the website. You can upload Microsoft Word and EPUB files, among others. They also offer solutions for selling audiobooks and even have their own digital readers for sale.

Moving away from sites that concentrate on ebooks alone, there’s also Sellfy — a digital product marketplace where you can sell any digital product for download. You can sell directly from Sellfy or use the link on your website.

Another digital download marketplace is Payhip. To sell an ebook on Payhip, it has to be ready as the file type of your choice. For a site like this, you’re better off selling your ebook as an EPUB. Sell with a Payhip link or add the link to a button on a landing page.

Finally, we have Gumroad — this online marketplace allows users to create a store to sell digital products such as courses, memberships, and ebooks. You have a bit more control over where and how your ebook is marketed as well as the price for an ebook when compared to other platforms.

Ready to use any of these platforms? You can start raking in your ebook profits by pairing Visme with any of the tools we’ve shared.

People have different ways of consuming content, and that’s why your ebook should be easy to read in a variety of digital formats. Also, there’s no golden rule that says your ebook must be in a vertical orientation.

For example, reading an ebook on a laptop is easier when it’s horizontal as the entire page is visible. The choice you make depends on how you expect your readers to view the ebook.

The next choice you need to make is the format and file type. There are four commonly used ebook formats and file types:

Printable PDF

Interactive pdf, multimedia/interactive html5.

The file format you choose will mostly depend on your ebook's style. Many ebooks are just plain text, resembling a paper book but digital. Think Kindle readers, for example.

Other ebooks are highly visual and have more of a magazine feel, with large images and creative fonts. Furthermore, an ebook can be interactive with videos, animations and even sound.

But what’s the difference? Let’s take a look.

The classic printable PDF is one of the most common digital formats for transforming paper books and documents into online versions. Essentially, a PDF ebook can be printed and bound or read on a digital device.

The main downside with a static PDF ebook format is that the pages aren’t responsive on screens, and the viewer needs to zoom in and out to read small text.

Your best use of a printable PDF is to offer one as an option to the reader. Create an interactive PDF or digital experience and provide a printable PDF download as an option.

A great way to improve a regular PDF ebook is to make it interactive.  Add hyperlinks, in-document navigation, informational popups, videos and interactive data visualizations.

Downloading interactive PDFs will only keep the links; everything else will deactivate. To share the full interactive version with the reader, you’ll need to share your ebook via a link and offer the option to download the less interactive version.

Like an interactive PDF, you can share your multimedia interactive ebook  as an HTML5 file or via a live link. Of all the formatting options, this is the one we like to call “a digital experience” due to the multimedia capabilities.

Not only can you add links, videos and popups, but you can also add animated elements and transitions between pages.

EPUB is the universal ebook file format legible by most digital readers. To create an EPUB ebook, use a design tool like Adobe InDesign or Pages from Apple. Thankfully, you can also convert PDF files into EPUB files. But the best conversion suggestion is from HTML5 to EPUB.

You’re much better off publishing as an EPUB than a PDF for professional ebook publishing and distribution. EPUB ebooks are responsive and fit better on digital readers for easy reading.

Now to the good part — selling your ebook(s). Even if you’re hoping for your ebook to grow your brand awareness and be a good lead magnet, you also want it to be profitable.

Here are the steps to follow for selling ebooks that fatten up your bank account.

1. Find Out What Your Audience Wants, and Plan

To make money from ebooks, they need to be worth paying money for. Your ebooks must bring valuable information and actionable advice to the reader.

The content should be either timely or evergreen. If the content is about a current trend, you must update the ebook when needed and send previous buyers a notice to download or read the new version.

Have a planning meeting, or start a Slack channel with your team to get the ebook project off the ground and running. Use a project management document with charts to organize the tasks by importance, dependency and person in charge.

Brainstorm with your team to get a good plan going and start doing the research. Here's a project plan template you can use to organize and plan your own book writing project:

The one golden rule about ebooks is to “write what you know.” That said, it also needs to be content that your audience wants; otherwise, they won’t feel the need to buy your book.

Use tools like Google Trends, SEMrush, Answer the Public, Quora and Reddit to find out what people are searching for in topics you know about. Also, check what your current customers ask your support team; you might get some ideas there.

Here are the best-selling ebook categories on Amazon:

• Religion and Spirituality
• Biographies and Memoirs
• Business and Money
• Cookbooks, Food and Wine

Finally, look at the ebooks already available online. Take notes on the best-selling titles, their price, number of pages and what the cover looks like.

To help with the voice and message of your ebook, create a user persona profile to have a better idea of whom you’ll be writing the ebook for.

Here's a user persona template you can customize for your own use:

You might already have user personas from branding and marketing strategies; leverage those to save time. When planning the outline of the ebook, have the user persona always in mind for the messaging, wording, voice and tone.

2. Write Your Ebook

Now it’s time to write your ebook . Before you start, check if you don’t have content you can reuse from blog posts or newsletters. You can, of course, write the book with all new content.

Here are some tips for writing the content for your ebook.

Start with an outline.

Like any type of long-form content, start your ebook with an outline. The depth of subheadings and bullet points depends on your earlier choice: text-heavy or visually rich formatting.

Separate your content into chunks; for an ebook with mostly text, you’ll need main headings, similar to how chapters have titles. When creating a visual style ebook, branch down from your main headings and use subheadings, bullet points and quotes. Make a note of any image placements and their captions.

Use the main titles to draft an initial table of contents. Rule no.1 of creating the table of contents pages: Do so at the very end; you won’t know the final page numbers and titles until you’ve finished the entire ebook.

Write the content.

Using the outline, write the content. Remember we said to write what you know? Well, that doesn’t mean you don’t have to fact-check. You need to show that the statements you make are accurate and back them up with expert quotes, links to research, footnotes or proof of personal and professional experience.

When giving advice or tips, use examples of possible scenarios that apply to what you’re sharing. It’s better if the examples are real, but you can change names for anonymity. Mention and refer to case studies or previous experiences to prove that your advice works.

When you’ve got the entire ebook written, put it down for a couple of days (if you have the time) and then come back to it with fresh eyes. Read it from beginning to end and check for these things:

• Is there a flow from opening to closing?
• Is the introduction inviting and interesting?
• Does the content progress in some way from one topic to another?
• Are all the visuals supporting the content positively?
• Does all the interactive and multimedia content work as it should?
• Do the transitions between sections make sense?
• Is the conclusion concise and well-rounded?

Don’t forget to proofread!

Finally, don’t forget to proofread the text. Use tools like Grammarly or Language Tool as you write, and then do a final check with Grammarly Pro or Hemingway App to find language and grammar inconsistencies. If there’s an editor in your team, have them look through it and make changes to improve the flow, message and tone.

One of the reasons we love interactive ebooks made with Visme and shared with a live link is that all changes will reflect for the user the next time they open the ebook. This way, changes as small as a typo or as significant as a missing paragraph won’t mean republishing the ebook completely.

Having a writer's block? Or perhaps you need help proofreading your ebook. Visme’s AI text generator can help you create high-quality content. You can also use it to draft your ebook outline or proofread your content.

3. Get an ISBN For Your Ebook (Optional)

Before you design your ebook to sell, you might need an ISBN for it. ISBN stands for International Standard Book Number and is what distributors and bookstores use to distinguish your ebook from others.

Most publishers and distributors need an ISBN to sell any book, including an ebook. The only exceptions are Amazon and Visme live links and some digital download sites like Gumroad.

If you self-publish a physical book and an ebook of the same manuscript, each will need a unique ISBN. The same applies to different file formats of the same ebook.

4. Design Your Ebook

Designing your ebook is next. If you decide on a text-heavy format, incorporate some visuals to break up the content here and there. For expert knowledge ebooks, don’t use random stock photos to fill up space; use data visualizations instead.

These will both add visual richness and value for the reader. If you write a fiction book with very few visuals, try adding a small illustration at the beginning of each chapter, even the title or chapter number can be creative.

For ebooks with a highly visual approach, you’ll need to consider visuals a homogeneous and balanced collection. The imagery is meant to both support and accompany the text while helping with the flow of content.

Placement of the visuals is vital for an easy-to-read pattern on every page. Take a look at some magazines to get inspired. Analyze how the text is easy to read with images and visuals dispersed in between.

Here’s a quick rundown of the pages your ebook needs:

• Content Pages

About the Author

The info page includes the copyright, ISBN, year of publication, any disclaimers, acknowledgments and primary sources of content that need mentioning.

You have two choices to begin putting everything together: start with a template or design from scratch. The choice depends on your team and how confident the person in charge feels about it.

Even if you want to start with a blank canvas, there might be a template you like the look of. Templates are great for inspiration, and if you didn’t know, even designers use templates .

Start with a template.

Templates are great for free ebooks because they’re usually shorter and include less information. But that doesn’t mean you can’t use these for longer ebooks that you will charge for.

Look for templates on sites like Visme, Behance or Renderforest and choose one that fits your content. You can add, remove and duplicate pages in templates easily.

Graphic Design Ebook

Remote Team Management Ebook

Documents Case Studies Guide

Baking Recipe Interactive Ebook

The Future of Event Marketing Ebook

Investment Fundamentals Ebook

Create your ebook View more templates

As you design the pages, you’ll notice why it was important to separate the content into clusters. Separating the content this way makes it easier to format both the text and visuals into the pages.

Take note of what content you copy into the template to avoid duplicating or missing significant sections.

Design your ebook from scratch.

Designing an ebook from scratch does need a certain level of design experience and time. If you want to add your own unique flair to your ebook, rather than using a template, then create from scratch.

You’ll need to plan the formatting first and take notes from ebook templates or ones you’ve bought or read previously.

Try out a couple of designs with sample pages and test with your team before fully finalizing all the pages. This technique will save time, much like a wireframe saves time when designing websites.

Here’s a checklist to help you complete all the steps when creating an ebook.

Tips to improve your ebook design.

Regardless of whether you’re using a template or not, these design tips will help. Each section has a link to more helpful reading about design. Open them in a new tab to read later.

• Font choice: Use no more than two fonts (or two styles of the same font) in your ebook—one for the headings and the others for body text. Great fonts for body text are; Lato, Garamond and Verdana. Choose the one that best matches your brand voice and tone.
• Color palette: Choose a color palette that won’t tire the reader. Avoid using color for the main body text and stick to black or a very dark gray. For the visuals, stick to the same balanced color palette for illustrations, data visualizations and even for photography .
• Visual hierarchy: Follow the rules of visual hierarchy on every page of your ebook. Also, apply flow hierarchy from page to page. Every section starts with a large title, maybe a smaller subtitle and then the body content in a regular size. Further down in the hierarchy could be footnotes and image captions.
• Margins and spacing: One of the biggest mistakes made by non-designs is to forget about the margins . Give your ebook page margins big enough to make the content feel like it's floating in the center of the page. Maintain the same margin for every single page. The only exceptions are full-width images.
• Page numb​​ers: Remember to number the pages in your ebook, but do so at the very end. You don’t need to put a page number on the cover, info page, or table of contents. Most document creators can number the pages automatically , look for that before trying to number the pages manually.

5. Create an Eye-Catching Ebook Cover Design

Create a clever and exciting ebook cover design with the target reader/user persona in mind. Use visuals that will be attractive or relatable to them. Remember that the cover design will not only be part of the ebook itself; you’ll also use it in a mockup to promote the ebook.

The cover design should include the following elements:

• Ebook Title
• Company Name/Logo
• Brand Colors and Imagery

Even though people say to “not judge a book by its cover,” you can bet that people will do just that, regardless. Make sure the cover is inviting and makes sense with the topic of the book.

Use visual hierarchy to organize the content. For example, the title has the largest font, then the subtitle and finally the author name. You can see this in the example below.

6. Download & Publish Your Ebook

When you’re confident that your book is ready to publish, you’ll have to get it ready to sell. Refer back to the section above, where we list the different types of ebook file types. Choose the one that’s right for you. Here are a few more tips regarding your options.

If you choose to download it as a PDF (static or with active links), you’ll need some way to send the ebook to your clients. Here are some ways to do that:

• Upload the PDF to your website to generate a link.
• Add the PDF file to a Dropbox folder, generate the link and when sending it to the client, change the last digit from 0 to 1, so it downloads as soon as someone clicks on it.
• Publish the ebook to the web with Visme and share the live link with customers. They’ll be able to read in Visme (without needing an account) and can download from there if they wish to do so. This option also allows for password-protected access.

Do you want to publish your book on one of the online publisher or distributor sites? You’ll need an EPUB or Word document file.

• Use an online converter to change your PDF ebook into an EPUB— the best only for mostly text publications.
• For responsive ebooks with lots of visuals, download it as an HTML5 and convert it to EPUB.
• Upload your Word document file ebook to the publishing site, and they will convert it for you.

Is your ebook a digital visual experience with multimedia, animations, videos and more? Your best bet is to use the Visme publication option mentioned above.

7. Price Your Ebook

When putting a price on your ebook, it’s crucial to do some market research. How much are other writers charging for their ebooks on similar topics?

Notice how books are priced like this: $6.76, $16.78 or $13.89. It’s all about pricing psychology and how consumers see the price in decimals as being lower than a whole number.

When you choose the platform to publish and distribute your ebook, look at how much they take as a service fee. Mark up the price to a point where you’re making a profit.

How do you know if you’re making a profit? Calculate the time and work it took to create the ebook, to begin with. How much are you planning on spending on marketing?

Is your target audience people that will pay for a higher-priced book, or not? Calculate how many books you’d like to sell before making a profit and then price according to that.

Getting your pricing strategy right means you get to rake in good ebook profits.

8. Create a Landing Page For Your Ebook

Regardless of how you publish your ebook, you’ll need a landing page to promote it and bring people into your sales funnel. There are several ways to get your customers to pay for the book. Remember that the least number of clicks is always best.

Sell ebooks via your website using an e-commerce integration. Both Shopify and WooCommerce are great options. For something more simple, just add a PayPal button to the landing page. Then either set it up for automatic download or via an email to their inbox.

If you’re using a publisher or distributor like Amazon or a digital product marketplace like Gumroad, add the product link to the button on your landing page.

The landing page below is for a book that’s for sale both as a hardcover​​ or an ebook. Each button directs to the relevant sales page.

9. Promote Your Ebook

Now that everything is ready, it’s time to promote your ebook. Some writers and marketers start promoting the book before it’s even finished, building excitement and expectation.

It’s your choice whether to start promoting before or after the ebook is ready. To advertise in advance, you have to be confident that it’ll be finished on a specific date, otherwise, a delay can harm your marketing strategies.

A great way to promote and share news about your ebook is to create a mockup graphic. Here are some ways you can promote your ebook, using the mockup in a promotional design:

• Social media posts
• Social media ads
• Newsletters and email blasts
• Outreach opportunities like guest posts on other sites
• A popup on your site
• As a footer or sidebar ad on your blog posts
• Add a link to the landing page on your email signature
• Ask readers to leave honest reviews which you can share

When you have more than one ebook, create a landing page for all of them together like an archive. Add the main page with all ebooks to your website’s primary menu as an essential resource for your visitors.

Need help with ebook marketing? This comprehensive guide has everything you need to know about marketing your ebook.

10. Track Ebook Sales

Tracking ebook sales performance is essential to know how to proceed with promotional strategies or further ebook creation. Use a combination of techniques to track sales and reading time; that way, you can find out if the people who buy the book are actually reading it or just letting it sit in their inbox.

Most of the sites to sell ebooks in the list above offer some type of analytics. You’ll have to see what each of them has in store when you look at the pros and cons of choosing. Visme, for example, has an analytics tool that shows visitors, views and demographics.

Use Google Analytics to track who visits the landing page but doesn’t buy. Add a UTM parameter to the landing page link when sharing it on social media or anywhere else. Create unique UTM parameters to track where the visits are coming from specifically.

11. Nurture Your Readers

If someone bought one of your ebooks, they’d likely buy another. Once you’ve captured their email and contact through email or via a Facebook pixel, nurture the communication with them.

Use an email provider to send newsletters about upcoming books and personalize messages relevant information to their interests.

Use Facebook ads to retarget people that have visited your site, landing page or Facebook page before. Use mockups with your cover design to make your ebook look inviting, interesting and worth buying. Send repeat buyers the first couple of chapters of an upcoming book, asking them to have first access when it goes live.

Q. Where Can I Sell My Ebooks?

There are various online platforms where you can sell your ebook. Some of the top platforms to consider are Visme, Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing, Smashwords, Rakuten Kobo, Sellfy, Payhip and Gumroad.

Q. Is It Profitable to Sell Ebooks?

Ebooks are profitable, but simply publishing one is not enough. eBooks are profitable when they are marketed and sold properly with intent. Some authors who use Amazon to publish their ebooks can potentially make $1000+ a month.

Q. How Much Can You Make Selling Ebooks?

You can make a lot of money selling ebooks. However, the question—how much do ebooks make?—isn't cut and dried. The amount of money you make from selling ebooks depends on a lot of factors, including the cost of your book, additional expenses such as ebook platform fees and how well it’s received by its audience.

Q. Which Ebooks Sell the Most?

Bubble Cow found that the five top-selling ebook categories were religion and spirituality, biographies and memoirs, business and money, self-help and cookbooks or those focused on food and wine.

Write and Sell Ebooks to Generate Passive Income

Ready to start making money selling ebooks? In this guide, we've shared how to write an ebook and make money, from writing, designing and publishing an ebook to several possible sites to sell your ebook through.

Adding an ebook to your passive income strategy might be just what you need for the next quarter. There’s surely a wealth of knowledge you could share with readers, or maybe a fictional story or memoir you’ve been working on. Inspiring ebooks do well also in both business and self-help circles.

If you’re looking for a platform to create an ebook to sell, try out Visme's online ebook creator . You can easily create a multimedia ebook to share as a live link or convert to EPUB. Or, create a static or interactive PDF ebook to download and share in various ways.

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Orana is a multi-faceted creative. She is a content writer, artist, and designer. She travels the world with her family and is currently in Istanbul. Find out more about her work at oranavelarde.com

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Do Authors Really Need to Spend Their Own Money to Make a Book Successful?

Maris kreizman on independent publicists, books tours, and vanishing book coverage.

Last week The Guardian ran an article about how some authors are seeking help outside of their in-house publishing teams to promote their books. This is nothing new. There are lots of independent publicists who’ve been working with authors to supplement the work of their in-house teams for years. But this piece seemed to strike a particular chord with literary Twitter, probably because of one particular line: “Book tours can cost $15,000, publicity campaigns up to $16,000, and marketing work up to $100 an hour – figures that can be considerable when compared to authors’ advances and distant promises of royalties.”

That’s a lot of money, I think we can all agree. So yes, (some) commercial authors are spending significant amounts of money on outside help, and the authors featured in the Guardian piece are happy with their investments. But I think a lot of readers came away from that piece feeling like they could not be successful without spending extra money. Not true! Here are some other things to keep in mind.

In-house publicists and marketers aren’t lazy. I mean, some of them might be, but that’s not what’s going on here. I’ve already written about how, overall, there are too many books , often because the people who run publishing companies consistently value quantity over quality. This is stressful for the workers on the ground, the ones who likely chose to work in book publishing in the first place because they actually, you know, like books. As workloads have increased and in-house staff become more overwhelmed by the day, outside consultants can be attractive simply because they have adequate time to spend on each of their clients.

The midlist is vanishing. There’s a wealth gap in publishing that has been accelerated by corporate consolidation. The rich (celebrities, politicians) are getting richer, while the rest of us (most of whom actually write our own books!) have less to work with in terms of money and resources. Theoretically a book advance should pay authors for the time that it took to write their book, as well as the time it will take to promote. With advances diminishing (or at least certainly not keeping up with inflation), authors can end up spending an amount of time on those jobs that comes out to way less than the minimum wage. Paying for outside help on top of such low wages is absolutely not an option.

Most readings and tours don’t make a huge impact on book sales . Most authors who pay for outside help with book tours are unlikely to see a big return on investment. There are other benefits to IRL readings: the community, the chance to interact with booksellers, the chance to see friends in far off places. But having a big tour is probably not what’s going to make or break a book, which can be a tough lesson to learn when so many of us (me included) have romantic ideas about what being an author actually entails.

Book coverage is more fractured than ever. As Kate Dwyer noted in a recent Esquire piece on why debut novels are more difficult than ever to launch, there is no longer a winning formula for the kinds of book coverage that would clinch bestsellerdom. Even the most prized spaces in print media are no longer a guarantee (even the cover of the New York Times Book Review , which was always my gold standard), nor are radio and television appearances or celebrity book club picks. Hiring the “right” outside publicist with the right connections to pitch their books might not pay off in the way authors might hope.

Authors have been asked to do more and more. Authors are constantly told to be your own brand , to develop your own following, to be active on social media, to bootstraps your way to literary success. Which is ironic because brand identity means so little to the book publishers themselves . Apart from a few really focused indie presses ( NYRB , you’re killing it!) and genre imprints, publishers do not distinguish themselves in ways meaningful to consumers. It’s a lot of pressure when the burden falls entirely on the author, so of course seeking outside help is appealing.

All of literary culture suffers if the barrier to entry is too high. It would be terrible to live in a world where the only way to become a bestseller is to pay for it. We’re not there yet (well, except for political books bought in large chunks by PACs). Yes, outside help can absolutely be worth the money, but it doesn’t guarantee success (and the opposite is true: if an author doesn’t have extra money to hire outside help their book is not doomed). Ideally, publishers would be able to provide all of the resources to enable their authors’s success, but even in the good old days success was never guaranteed.

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More From Forbes

How to make money writing – 6 ideas.

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Learn how to get paid to write for beginners and much more.

Strategies For Earning Money By Writing

Ghost writing, copywriting, technical writing, social media writing, magazine and newspaper writing, frequently asked questions (faqs).

Do you have a way with words? You could turn your prowess with pronouns, verbs and adjectives into a lucrative side hustle when you learn how to make money by writing. Many large and small websites hire freelance writers to produce their content, offering you a platform to share your insights and an opportunity to make some extra dough. Even those who have never written anything besides personal social media posts or journal entries can find a place to sell their writing. This list provides a step-by-step guide to how to earn money by writing and will answer all your questions, whether you’re a beginning or veteran scribe.

You can make money by writing in many different ways, including blogging, ghost writing, penning reviews and working for small businesses. You have a greater chance of being published by pursuing several options simultaneously instead of prioritizing one. It’s like baiting multiple fishhooks. The more you cast, the better your odds of pulling something in.

You will make the most money by working for bigger sites and businesses, and you can do nearly all of it remotely. Ghostwriting pays better than blogging because businesses want more polished, focused writing. Blogging, however, may take less time and allow you the chance to complete more assignments. Journalism gives you greater opportunities for creativity in your work, and social media writing appeals to those who like pithy, funny writing. Copywriting and technical writing can be drier, but they also provide higher payment and steadier work than other writing. Here is a breakdown of the main ways to make money while writing.

Blogging means publishing content online written especially for that publication. Individuals, businesses, journalists, influencers, homemakers and many more publish blogs, which are often but not always written in first person. Anyone can write their own blog and publish it through a self-publishing platform, such as Medium, Blogger or WordPress.

The time and effort required for blogging depends on what you write about. For instance, if you run in your spare time and decide to start a running blog, you may be able to write several short blogs about running a race in under an hour. But if you want to explore the ethical implications of artificial intelligence using reliable sources, it could take hours to finish one post. The better the writing and sourcing, the better a post will perform, so making the extra effort to be informed and publishing grammatically correct copy is always worth it.

Best High-Yield Savings Accounts Of 2024

Best 5% interest savings accounts of 2024.

You don’t need experience to become a blogger. Anyone can do it, though it may take a while for you to settle into a style and voice that becomes popular. You need readers to make money on a blog. People make money on blogs in several ways:

• Advertising : You can sign on with a blogging ad network or sell your own ads to local businesses to make money.
• Sponsorship : You can write about a sponsor’s products in return for money, though you must disclose that you received compensation for your post.
• Syndication : You can sign on with syndication networks to distribute your blog on larger networks that will pay for your work.

How much can you make from blogging? The answer varies according to how often you publish, what type of payment method you use, and the popularity of your work. Some top bloggers make six figures per year. Sponsorships with big companies like Walmart that pay people to hawk their goods can be lucrative, paying thousands of dollars. But most bloggers make a few hundred dollars per month, enough to pay off a car or credit card bill but not enough to live on.

Blogging, ghost writing, copywriting, technical writing, social media writing and newspaper and ... [+] magazine writing are six of the most lucrative ways to earn money writing.

Ghost writing is the most lucrative type of writing. Ghost writers channel the voice of a third party, writing as though they were that person or business and presenting their ideas in first person. Businesses and thought leaders use ghost writers to take their thoughts and ideas and present them in a prettier package.

Ghost writing can take many forms. You might produce communications for a company CEO or create a book about an important event for a historical society. Every job is a little different. Ghost writing usually requires several years of writing experience, though if you are a subject matter expert on something—for example, if you are a nurse asked to write articles for a nursing degree program—then you may be able to get a job without writing experience. Time spent on an assignment will vary, but it takes longer than blogging. Ghost writing demands high-level clarity, grammar and readability.

You can make money by earning an hourly or per-project rate from the client. Most ghost writing gigs pay well, from $50 per hour and more. Some ghost writers pull in six figures per year, though those have extensive experience. To get started, search LinkedIn for the words “freelance writer” or “writer.” Or think about companies you would like to work with and send an email to the hiring manager introducing yourself and spelling out your expertise. You can also sign on with agencies that hire out ghost writers to businesses. Again, send your resume and a letter of introduction (LOI) to the agency hiring manager or search job ads online.

Copywriting is similar to ghostwriting, but sometimes you will receive a byline and the writing is not always presented in first person. Copywriting includes copy on businesses’ websites, material for pamphlets, mission statements, advertising, newsletters and more. People with copywriting skills are persuasive and clear writers good at conveying information and encouraging sales.

You can start with simple copywriting jobs and work your way up to higher-paying ones. Experience is required for bigger companies, but small businesses around your town might hire an inexperienced writer. You can begin by approaching them and offering to, for instance, rewrite their website or start a monthly newsletter. As you gain knowledge and confidence, you can reach out online to larger places. Follow freelance job boards to find new opportunities, interact with companies on LinkedIn to get your name out there, and send LOIs to hiring managers wherever you want to work.

You can get a little creative to find jobs, too. Find newsletters for companies you love or share expertise with. Send them an LOI outlining your subject matter background and what you could contribute. Copywriting work requires precision and often background research, and it takes longer than many other types of writing. You can make a good living as, like with ghost writing, clients tend to pay on the higher end of the payscale for copywriters, often $40 per hour and more. The best copywriters can make more than $150,000 per year.

Technical writing refers to communicating information about niche topics, such as medicine, engineering, manufacturing or construction. It can also encompass things like the directions to put something together or operate an electronic device. The aim is to create digestible, informative content while eliminating jargon.

Technical writing requires a great deal of writing experience, but it can be lucrative. Few people have the skills to boil down information and serve it back up in the right format. It can take hours to finish even a short writing assignment because you need to get every word right and leave out extraneous ones. But most jobs are paid per hour ($60 and up for experienced writers), so the time and effort pay off.

A lot of technical writing jobs are full time. But you can find part-time opportunities using job sites such as LinkedIn, Indeed, Monster and more. Taking courses in technical writing could be a worthy investment, as that background will open up new opportunities and give you valuable experience.

Technical writing, a great way to earn money by writing, may involve simplifying jargon and ... [+] complexities for a lay audience.

Social media writing is a relatively new way to make money. Many businesses hire people to write captions on Instagram , video descriptions on YouTube , thought leadership posts on LinkedIn and much more. This is an excellent entry point for writers with little formal experience.

Social media writing pays more modestly than other types of business writing, anywhere from $15-$35 per hour. However, it takes less effort. You can often bang out lots of posts in an hour, and very little knowledge or experience is needed, beyond knowing the character limits for different social platforms. You can find jobs by looking at writing job sites or reaching out directly to businesses with LOIs. Try small businesses in your hometown first to get some examples for your resume before targeting more prominent places.

Magazine and newspaper writing is one of the more specialized forms of writing to make money. But if you have some training and are more interested in writing as a means of changing the world and informing people, it is a worthy pursuit. You can start by publishing pieces in hometown newspapers or niche magazines.

You won’t break the bank with journalism writing. Even some bigger papers and publications pay less than $1,000 per story, and you would need to string together a lot of assignments to make a living. But to make extra spending money and perhaps affect change, you can’t beat journalism. You will need to learn the publication’s style guide and adhere to it for pieces you submit. Editors make assignments, which you can get by pitching (sending a cold email) to the editor explaining your story idea and why you are the right person to write it.

Time and effort vary depending on the scope of the story. Many can be quite involved. Editors often prefer to work with people who have experience, so build up your resume with pitches to smaller publications first.

Bottom Line

Writing can be a fun way to make extra money, or you can even turn it into a high-paying career with the right experience. Whether you pen blogs, website copy or social media posts, you can find an outlet that’s “write” for you.

How Much Do Writers Make?

Writers can make a decent salary depending on their experience level and who they write for. How much writers make may depend on on where they work, how many clicks their work generates, and how long the job took. 

The salary range for a writer, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics , is a median of $73,690 per year, or $35.43 per hour. Income rises with higher experience levels. 

What Websites Pay You To Write?

You can find hundreds of websites that pay for writing. A few of the most popular include: 

The Penny Hoarder

Bustle  

Transitions Abroad

Vibrant Life

Scary Mommy

Paying websites look for writing they think will draw readers. Using search engine optimization (SEO) techniques, such as incorporating keywords that people search for, can generate higher traffic, so be sure to mention any SEO knowledge when you apply, as that will help your chances. The more views you generate, the more money the website makes. Create a portfolio of your past work that you can share when you apply for jobs that shows your best efforts. 

How Can You Get Paid To Write Reviews?

You can get paid to write reviews across a number of platforms for products ranging from books to vacuum cleaners. Some of the most popular include Get Reviewed , Kirkus , UserTesting and Amazon Vine , though note that you get paid in products for that site. 

To become a reviewer, you may need no experience at all for many sites. They value trustworthiness and honest feedback. Some hire people they find through online reviews they have already posted. Other sites require more extensive background in writing reviews. For instance, if you want to work for DotDash, one of the largest editorial operations on the web that runs lots of reviews across its sites, you will need writing experience for a major website and product expertise. 

How Can You Get Paid To Write Letters?

You can write letters and get paid by watching for these jobs on freelance sites such as Upwork , Contently , compose.ly and Fiverr , which serve as clearinghouses to hire writers for businesses. A business may need one letter or a series. You can gain repeat work if you do a good job. 

You may have seen TikTok and YouTube videos about writing handwritten notes for businesses and earning $5 per letter. This is a scam that has been debunked by multiple websites. You won’t find companies paying you a lot of money to write handwritten letters. They want polished, professional copy for communications with clients and customers, and you must have experience doing this type of work. It falls under copywriting and can pay $40 per hour or more. 

How Can You Get Paid To Write As A Beginner?

How can you get paid to write for beginners? Breaking in with little experience can be difficult. Some aspiring writers choose to take volunteer gigs to build their portfolio, but you can probably find low-paying work that will do the same for you. 

Search job boards such as Indeed, ZipRecruiter, Monster and LinkedIn. You can also start a blog of your own with no experience, though it will take time to monetize it using the strategies outlined above. You could also submit poetry or prose to literary magazines, which usually pay an honorarium, or submit finished essays to magazines or newspapers. As you gain experience, you can approach higher-paying markets. 

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Advertisement

Jill Biden Could Make or Break Biden’s Campaign. She Says She’s All In.

If President Biden seriously considered departing the race, the first lady would be the most important figure other than Mr. Biden himself in reaching that decision.

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By Katie Rogers

Katie Rogers covers the Biden administration and the Biden family and reported from Washington. She is the author of a book on first ladies.

• June 28, 2024

President Biden knew immediately after stepping off the stage in Atlanta on Thursday night that the debate had gone wrong. In those first stricken moments after a raspy, rambling and at times incoherent performance, he turned to his wife, Jill Biden.

Whatever was going to happen next in Mr. Biden’s last presidential race, after perhaps the worst moment of his long political life, was always going to come down to her. His wife of 47 years had entered his life all those decades ago, reluctant to get into politics but fully embracing his dreams and his belief that he would one day reach the White House.

Now, her 81-year-old husband looked at her after a disastrous 90 minutes onstage.

The first lady’s message to him was clear: They’d been counted out before, she was all in, and he — they — would stay in the race. Her thinking, according to people close to her, was that it was a bad night. And bad nights end.

“To say they’ve been in foxholes together doesn’t even begin to explain their bond,” said Elizabeth Alexander, the first lady’s communications director, who has been with Mr. Biden since his Senate days.

So Dr. Biden spent the 24 hours after the debate putting her decades as a political spouse to the test, projecting confidence and normalcy while effusively praising her husband. But, like the president, she is an intuitive political messenger who can sense the mood of a crowd. She knows that along with the cheering supporters, there are legions of people suddenly accusing her of forcing an old man to put one weary foot in front of the other.

If Mr. Biden were to seriously consider departing the race, allowing a younger candidate to replace him, the first lady would be the most important figure — other than the president himself — in reaching that decision.

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Money blog: Rival to Netflix - Tubi - launching in UK from Fox

Welcome to the Money blog, your place for personal finance and consumer news and tips. Leave a comment on any of the stories we're covering below.

Wednesday 3 July 2024 00:01, UK

• Popular electric car 'has potential fault that could pull it onto wrong side of road'
• Morrisons and Heinz team up to offer free meals
• Rival to Netflix launching in UK from Fox - and it's free
• NatWest and Lloyds hike fees for some current accounts
• Thinking about switching energy supplier? These are the cheapest tariffs available right now

Essential reads

• Women in Business : 'We don't get invited to golf' - The women who coordinated pregnancies to start virtual cancer care business and raised £5m
• What are your rights if your holiday is disrupted by wildfires?
• Basically... What is income tax?
• Money Problem : 'I hired a car via EasyJet but they are directing my complaint to someone else - what can I do?'
• How to split housework fairly with your partner
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Ask a question or make a comment

A free streaming service to rival the likes of Netflix, Amazon Prime and Disney+ is being launched in the UK by Rupert Murdoch's Fox Corporation.

The service called Tubi will be funded by advertising and provide personalised streaming.

It already operates in North America where Fox said it has attracted 80 million active users.

More than 20,000 films and TV episodes will be on offer, Fox said, "one of the largest and most diverse content libraries in the UK".

While no specific titles were listed, Fox said users can expect blockbusters, original stories and hidden gems.

Is it any good?

It depends who you ask. 

It has a pretty bad 2.3 score on Trustpilot - but it's a relatively small sample at 66 reviews.

A PC Mag review was way more positive - rating it "excellent" with four stars out of five.

They said: "Tubi is a free, ad-supported video streaming service that features a delightfully large and frequently updated library of movies and shows. There's no reason not to give it a try."

Drawbacks were said to include no ad-free options and the 720p streaming resolution cap.

Why is it coming to UK?

Business presenter Ian King has been looking at this today.

He says: "Tubi's entry to the UK market has got some scratching their heads.

"Not only is the market seemingly saturated but production costs are rising, obliging the streamers to either raise subscription fees or rely on an increasingly smaller pool of advertisers.

"But rivals would do well to take the new competitor seriously and not least because Tubi has already, in the US, shown a clean pair of heels to many of the businesses it will be competing with here."

Read King's full analysis here ...

The average UK house price ticked up in June, leaving first-time buyers spending almost £2 out of every £5 on their mortgages.

Typical house prices rose by 0.2% to £266,064, meaning there has been a 1.5% increase on the same time last year, a report by Nationwide found.

June saw prices rise at half the pace they did in May, but housing affordability is "still stretched", said Robert Gardner, Nationwide's chief economist.

And Amy Reynolds, head of sales at estate agency Antony Roberts, observed more people were looking to downsize to release capital to live on and pay bills in a "hugely concerning" trend.

A bank with millions of customers in the UK will soon start charging people to use their debit cards abroad .

Metro Bank emailed customers last week to tell them it will introduce a 2.99% charge on all transactions outside the UK, including Europe, as of 29 August.

Anyone wanting to withdraw cash from their account will also pay the fee plus a £1.50 ATM charge.

The bank currently does not charge for debit card use and cash withdrawals in Europe.

Walkers have confirmed one of its  snacks has been discontinued . 

The Walkers Stax, which were similar to Pringles, are no longer available in the UK. 

Writing on X, a customer said he had been able to find the product abroad and asked if he could buy them over here. 

"We used to make Walkers Stax here in the UK, but sadly they're no more," the crisp brand replied. 

It also said there were no plans to bring them back to market.

However, it seems like the crisps might not have been around for some time...

In 2021, Walkers replied to another online post saying it was sorry that they were no longer available. 

Savers transferred £4.2bn extra into cash ISAs in May, according to new figures from the Bank of England - a record for the month.

It built on the previous record £12.3bn poured into the accounts in April, as people made the most of their annual tax-free savings.

Investment platform AJ Bell said figures show the 2024-25 tax year has "started with a big bang" for cash ISA savers.

Laith Khalaf, head of investment analysis, said: "Early bird ISA savers are no doubt out in force because they know taxes are rising as a result of frozen income tax thresholds."

He added: "At the same time tax thresholds have been frozen, interest rates have risen, making it more likely that savers will breach their tax-free savings allowance," he said.

"That means more people pushed up into the higher rate income tax band, where the personal savings allowance (the amount of interest you can earn each year before paying tax) falls from £1,000 to £500, or indeed to £0 for those in the additional rate tax bracket."

ISA savers can earn tax-free interest on their ISA savings, which are limited to £20,000 each year.

The Mortgage Works has announced it will reduce its rates by up to 0.3% across a range of its buy to let products tomorrow.

The new rates, which will be available to new and existing customers, will start at 3.69%. 

Here are some of the deals: 

• Buy-to-let - two-year fixed rate (purchase and remortgage) at 3.69% with a 3% fee, available up to 65% LTV
• Buy-to-let - five-year fixed rate (purchase and remortgage) at 4.04% with a 3% fee, available up to 65% LTV
• Buy-to-let - five-year fixed switcher rate at 4.14% with a 3% fee, available up to 75% LTV
• Buy-to-let - two-year fixed rate (purchase and remortgage) at 5.69% with a £3,995 fee, available up to 75% LTV

"Our products are some of the most competitive in the sector and, with rates now starting from 3.69%, these new deals will improve affordability and help widen market access for buy to let investors," said the company's Joe Avarne.

It comes after The Telegraph reported three major lenders had already cut rates this week. 

Halifax and NatWest slashed rates by up to 0.23% - Clydesdale Bank by 0.38% 

The cuts come as economists hope interest rates will fall in August, which will increase buyer activity. 

Wimbledon is in full swing (sorry!) and the world's best tennis players are battling it out on the famous grass courts in the hopes of being presented with the trophy in under two weeks' time.

But it's not just pride that comes with winning - there's a fairly decent prize fund as well.

This year, the prize for winning the singles is a huge £2.7m - up by an inflation-busting 15% compared with £2.35m in 2023. The prize money is the same for both sexes and has been since the rules changed in 2007.

Players don't have to win the championship to get their hands on some cash though, as there's also a prize fund for getting through each stage of the competition.

Here's a breakdown for the singles championship:

• First round - £60,000
• Second round - £93,000
• Third round - £143,000
• Fourth round - £226,000
• Quarter-finalists - £375,000
• Semi-finalists - £715,000
• Runner-up - £1.4m

Meanwhile, the prize for winning the doubles is £650,000, with runners up getting £330,000. For mixed doubles, it's £130,000 and £65,000 respectively.

Players taking part in wheelchair singles have the chance to nab £65,000 for winning.

Overall, the total prize money on offer across all championships is a whopping £50m - up 12% from last year.

Food inflation has fallen to its lowest level since 2021, new figures show.

New data from the British Retail Consortium (BRC)-NielsenIQ Shop Price Index reveals that food prices in June were 2.5% higher than a year ago.

This was down from 3.2% in May, and marked the fourteenth consecutive slowing of food inflation.

It means the rate is now lower than at any point since December 2021, with the drop fuelled by tumbling prices for staple products such as butter and coffee.

Inflation on fresh food slowed to 1.5%, down from 2% in May, while overall shop price inflation fell to 0.2% - the lowest level since October 2021.

BRC chief executive Helen Dickinson said the winner of Thursday's general election "will benefit from the work of retailers to cut their costs and prices, easing the cost of living for millions of households".

In the eastern Aegean, the islands of Chios and Kos experienced dangerous fires yesterday - with blazes raging on Kos for a second day today amid tinderbox conditions and unusually strong winds.

The Greek prime minister has warned his country faces another dangerous summer for wildfires.

Beyond the human tragedy these blazes can cause, there's a knock-on effect on tourism in the country.

So what are your rights if your holiday is disrupted by the fires? We've got a quick explainer here…

What if I have a package holiday and face cancellation or disruption?

The Foreign Office is not currently advising against travel to Greece, and with the majority of the country and its surrounding islands unaffected, holidays are still going ahead.

But holiday operators do have the right to cancel holidays for situations out of their control.

If the company you booked your package holiday with cancels your trip, the Competition and Markets Authority says customers are entitled to a refund within 14 days of the cancellation date.

Alternatively, they should be offered a replacement holiday of the same or better quality, or a lower-grade holiday with a partial refund.

If something goes wrong while you're away on a package holiday, Citizens Advice recommends getting in touch with the company or travel agent you booked with as soon as possible.

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) advised package holiday customers during last year's wildfires they may be entitled to a partial refund for a trip cut short due to wildfires, depending on several factors including what services were included and how much of the holiday had already been taken.

Will my insurance cover any issues?

This depends on a few things - including when you took out the policy, who you took it out with and what the exact terms and conditions are.

If your policy includes trip disruption or natural disaster cover, you should be covered if you have to cut short or cancel your holiday due to wildfires, according to the ABI.

Natural disaster cover isn't included in every policy, so read the T&Cs carefully.

You're unlikely to be covered if you took out the policy or booked the trip to a specific area affected by wildfires after they were known about. You also won't be covered if you travel against Foreign Office advice.

If you have booked a package holiday with an operator and it comes with an Atol certificate, you'll have extra protections, although you'll still need insurance for health and accident cover.

If you've booked the separate parts of your trip yourself, you're more reliant on insurance and will need to make sure you've got a policy in place that would cover you for wildfires and other natural disasters such as floods and storms.

What are my rights if my flight is cancelled?

Your flight is covered by UK law if it departs from a UK airport, arrives at a UK airport on a UK or EU airline, or arrives at an EU airport on a UK airline.

Under UK law, if your flight is cancelled the airline must either give you a refund or book you on an alternative flight - either with them or a rival airline.

Each airline will have its own cancellation policy for customers.

If your flight is cancelled within 14 days of travel - and you can prove it was the airline's fault - you are entitled to compensation. However, extreme weather and other "extraordinary circumstances" mean the airline can get out of paying.

And if I cancel the holiday myself?

If the Foreign Office doesn't advise against travel to a wildfire-affected country or area then under normal booking conditions, you'd be ineligible for a refund.

However, you could speak to your travel agent or holiday company if you're particularly concerned. They may offer a change of dates or destination - but there's no guarantee.

Some holiday accommodation will allow refunds until a certain date - so just check the details of your booking first.

By Sarah Taaffe-Maguire , business reporter

The rate of price rises is slowing but consumers are still shopping "more cautiously" at J Sainsbury plc, the company that owns Argos and the Sainsbury's chain of supermarkets announced today. 

"Unseasonal" wet weather in recent weeks dampened some sales.

Argos sales were down a worse-than-expected 6.2%, particularly purchases of consumer electronics, most notably gaming sales. 

As a result, J Sainsbury plc was the biggest share price faller on the FTSE 100 index of most valuable companies with a 4.34% tumble. Overall the index was down 0.38% on Tuesday morning while the larger FTSE 250 list was 0.15% down.

The strength of the euro still means the pound buys less than for the majority of the last month - £1 = €1.1778. Sterling is also down against the dollar, around levels seen six weeks ago. One pound buys $1.2630. 

Bad news for motorists as the oil price is at a two-month high - a barrel of Brent crude oil costs $89.90. It's still below last year's September high point of $98.36. 

A popular electric car sold in the UK has a "potentially significant" issue that could veer the driver into oncoming traffic, research has found.

Consumer group Which? says it discovered issues with the MG4's lane-assist technology while testing it on public roads.

It said the system, which is designed to keep the car in lane, twice pulled the car onto the wrong side of the road, with the tester having to use a "significant amount of force" to steer it back.

In another incident on a narrow country road, the lane-assist tech steered the car towards an oncoming vehicle, again forcing the tester to manually intervene.

According to Which?, visibility was good in all cases and the wider road had a "clearly defined centre line, while the country road had a clearly defined edge line".

It said the incidents were noticed during testing outside of controlled lab conditions, and couldn't be repeated in subsequent tests.

The issues come despite MG4 boasting a five-star Euro NCAP score, which takes into account safety features such as lane assist.

A spokesperson for the assessment programme told Which? that manufacturers "have a responsibility to ensure that the vehicle performance seen on a test track is also reflected in on-road driving".

Meanwhile, MG told the consumer watchdog it was "aware of some inconsistencies relating to the lane-departure warning system", making it "oversensitive" in certain conditions.

"We have been working on a continuous improvement programme with the supplier and the relevant regulatory authorities," the company said.

"This has resulted in an improved calibration of the ADAS systems, which we are close to having approved. Once this has been completed, we will implement it as a full software upgrade at no expense to the customer."

MG added that customers can turn off the lane-assist function via the car's touchscreen menu - but it insisted it had received no safety-related reports.

Just 18% of companies in the UK are led by women, and while data suggests female entrepreneurs are on the rise, men still receive more funding and are entrusted with higher average loans to get them started.

In an eight-part series every Tuesday, Money blog reporter  Jess Sharp  speaks to women who are bossing it in their respective fields - hearing their stories, struggles and advice for those who want to follow in their footsteps by starting a business.

This week, she has spoken to Kelly McCabe, the co-founder of the UK's first virtual cancer care clinic Perci Health...

When Kelly and her co-founder Morgan Fitzsimons set up their business, they made an unusual decision - they sat down and planned when they'd both have children. 

It's a topic many men will never feel the need to discuss with their business partners, but as two women, it was something they realistically needed to think about. 

"We had a long conversation and made a decision that we would have children at different times so that one person would stay in the business to allow the other to take the time out they needed," Kelly said.

"Of course, you can't plan this thing perfectly, but we were fortunate enough that it kind of happened that way." 

Morgan was the first to have her baby and returned to work after a couple of months off, and Kelly gave birth six months later. 

A month after having her now nearly two-year-old son, Kelly returned to work and Perci Health has continued to grow ever since.

'Whether it was NHS or private care -  I saw the same problem'

Despite Perci Health being a virtual care clinic, Kelly's career background had nothing to do with app development - she started out in the NHS. 

One of the roles she had was helping people with cancer eat and drink while receiving treatment.

Working mostly with people with head and neck cancer, she supported them with tube feeding and their rehabilitation back to solid foods. 

After working in a similar area in private healthcare, she realised all cancer patients were experiencing the same problem.

"There was a universal experience at the end of treatment where you would have your final review with your cancer nurse or oncologist, and they would say 'see you again in six months or 12 months time'," Kelly said. 

"Patients would come back into our follow-up clinics with all sorts of problems they had been living with for six months or 12 months and no one was really managing them.

"They had just be grinning and bearing it, thinking it was just par for the course after having cancer." 

She decided to come up with an idea that would connect people living with cancer with professionals who could provide long-term support and optimise their wellbeing. 

Male investors in a male-bias sector 

With a plan in mind, she reached out to her friend Morgan, who had a background in digital marketing, and the pair got started working weekends and evenings to build their company.

When COVID hit, they made the decision to "just go for it", quit their jobs and put all their focus on the business. 

Their first round of funding came from family and friends, raising £500,000, which gave them enough to pay themselves a reduced salary and hire a small team. 

But more funding was needed, and they started reaching out to investors. 

With Kelly's clinical experience, the issue she was trying to solve in the health care sector seemed "obvious", but the first hurdle she faced was convincing others that it was "important enough to solve". 

"The challenges seemed very obvious to us, but they might not necessarily be obvious to investors, and I think that is particularly true if you're solving a problem that affects women," she said. 

"The majority of investors are still male... and when you are trying to describe yourself as a technology company, then sadly there is still a male bias in that sector."

"I'm really sad to say that it's kind of the old-fashioned things you think of, like a lot of them sell on the golf course or over lunch or going shooting, and we don't get invited to golf or to shoot. 

"You don't get many female-owned technology businesses, so that was a barrier." 

Pregnant, pitching and spotting red flags 

While meeting potential investors, Kelly was heavily pregnant and was "nervous" to explain her situation out of fear it would put them off investing. 

"When I had my first conversation with our now lead investor, I was 38 weeks pregnant, so we just did all the conversations on Zoom," she said. 

"She called and said 'we'd like to invite you in to meet the team and do a formal pitch. Can you do it next week?' and obviously I had to tell her I was heavily pregnant. 

"She could tell I was nervous about telling her... but she said she was sorry that I had to explain myself, and we could just delay the pitch. 

"We pushed it back about six weeks, but not all investors are that understanding, which is why I was so nervous to explain it." 

Unfortunately, Kelly said she was "definitely asked" in the early fundraising rounds if she was planning to have children. 

"The feedback from male investments clubs was that women don't know how they feel and may not return to work after having a baby or their motivation to run a business may change," she said.

"Early on, we were just looking for investment and we would have taken any partner, but now these are the red flags that we look for.

"There is some definite progress to be made."

In total, Kelly has raised £5m and still owns 40% of Perci Health. 

All the challenges

Away from the challenge of fundraising, Kelly also had to deal with life as a new mum, which brought its own challenges as a business owner. 

She explained how having children early in the company's life meant it was still "relatively fragile" and there wasn't the chance to take maternity leave knowing her job would be safe when she returned. 

"There was a bit of a juggle with that and needing to go back to work very quickly after the baby was born, and then the other challenge is childcare," she said. 

"You don't want to be taking too much money out of your business and you're rewarded with equity rather than a salary - but of course, equity doesn't pay for childcare." 

Kelly also found there was an "underestimation" of her abilities from male investors, and it was something she noticed in the choice of language used to describe her. 

"I believe women business owners are underestimated and that is evidenced by the fact that less investment goes to us, but there's research that shows women-owned companies are more profitable," she said. 

"The language they use is interesting. For example, I'm often described as a conservative CEO within the portfolio because I'm focused on financial preservation... but would my male counterpart be seen as such or would he be seen as having optimal control?" 

Kelly's advice

Kelly's top tip is to find a business partner, possibly even two, that can help your business grow. 

"Building a business alone would be significantly harder," she said. 

"Co-founders just help ease the burden when one of you needs to take time out, so find yourself a good business partner." 

She also recommended taking "a lot of time" to build a "strong network", which she said would help "protect you as your business grows". 

"There are a lot of female entrepreneurs or female business networks that are great. Morgan and I are members of lots of them," she added. 

"It's amazing how the amount of advice and support that we have been given for free from other women just wanting to help." 

She said it was important to have a "really thick skin and to be very persistent". 

"Even in the very best businesses, you get those 100 no's before you get that one yes," she added. 

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