Fees and Charges for Book Indexing

Book Indexing Fees

Indexing fees range from as little as $2.25 to $7.50 per indexable page. .

• An indexable page is any page of the book that carries potential information,
  including pictures, figures or graphs for the index;
  
  
• Front and back matter are generally not considered "indexable" unless you
  request that they be indexed.
  

Indexing fees reflect the amount of time and work involved. For instance, an academic
book may have 20 index entries per page, whereas a general trade book may have 3
index entries per page.

As a general rule of thumb:

• A complex academic text requires more work than a basic trade book or textbook, because it requires more time and analysis;
  
  
• A technical book takes more time, more energy, and more expertise
  than a "light" mass-market general trade book.
  

• As a good business practice, a short indexing contract will be prepared and sent
  to you outlining the indexing fee and related matters. Your signature secures a place
  in the indexer's schedule to index your book.
  
  
• Copyright to the index is transferred to you upon full payment of the indexing fee.
  

• Accurate indexing depends on the page numbering remaining stable from the
  beginning of the indexing process to final printing. Page proofs are required to
  write an index.
  
  
• If the book's pagination changes after indexing has begun, additional hourly
  charges will apply for the time involved to correct the index.
  
  
• Requests for extensive editing and changes to the index will be invoiced on an
  hourly rate.
  

• Rush fees may be 25% to 50% of the project price.
  

• Please keep me posted on any changes in your schedule so we can work together.
  Jobs that are suddenly cancelled or rescheduled with less than 10 days' notice may
  result in a penalty of 25% of the originally agreed-upon total for the project.