Kindle Publishing Income Review: Scam or Legit?

With the rise of ChatGPT, almost everyone can write a book now. But you may not know the details of publishing a book on Amazon.

Sophie Howard’s Kindle Publishing Income course claims to help you self-publish a book on Amazon.

The course claims to reveal the three secrets Sophie Howard used to make $20,000-$30,000 per month with minimal effort.

I’ve tried to publish a book on online side hustles before, so I know one or two things about Amazon KDP. But, of course, my expert level can’t be compared to Sophie’s.

So I decided to join her course to see if she can teach me how to make more money from books.

I remember I only sold 10 copies last time…

At the end of this article, I’ll also tell you about another business model that has allowed me to make a full-time passive income.

Who is Sophie Howard?

Sophie Howard is a well-known figure in the world of Amazon FBA. Originally from New Zealand but raised in Britain, she started her Amazon journey in 2014 while living in New Zealand.

What’s impressive is that she managed to build a seven-figure business within just 18 months, all while caring for her newborn baby. She’s often dubbed as “The Amazon Selling Queen” and the brains behind the successful brand “Aspiring Entrepreneurs.”

Sophie’s success story revolves around her online tea store, which she developed with the help of remote workers. Her private label business is about an organic tea line called Higher Tea. According to Sophie, she eventually sold her business for $1 million, which she proudly mentions in her online course.

I’ve delved deep into her so-called acquisition, but couldn’t find any evidence to support the transaction. For more info, you can check out my full review of Sophie Howard. 

In 2016, Sophie authored a book titled Amazon Jetstream Income, promising to unveil the secrets of making money through Amazon sales. However, the book is nothing more than a sales pitch. You won’t find any substantial insights. It appears to be a lead magnet for her expensive course Blue Sky Amazon. 

Sophie is also active on Podcast. Since 2017, she has been sharing business advice alongside Augustus Kligys, the creator of Orange Klick. One of the notable topics she covers is Amazon FBA. 

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

What is Kindle Publishing Income?

Kindle Publishing Income is a course by Sophie Howard, an expert in Kindle publishing. It helps you understand Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Amazon’s platform for self-publishing. With KDP, you can publish your work easily, without the traditional publishing hassles.

Sophie’s course covers using ghostwriters to create books for Amazon and promoting them with paid ads. It’s perfect if you want to make money selling Kindle eBooks without writing yourself.

According to Sophie, she’ll share her secrets to making $20,000-$30,000 a month in passive income. The course includes video training and bonuses to guide you in publishing your first Kindle ebook.

Who is Kindle Publishing Income for?

Kindle Publishing Income is perfect for anyone keen on making passive income by writing ebooks. According to Sophie, it doesn’t matter if you’re a newbie or an expert. 

Yes, you don’t need special skills or physical products. Just some money for the course and to make your book…

How Does Kindle Publishing Income Help You Make Money?

Sophie Howard shares three simple steps that you can follow to learn how to create and sell eBooks on Amazon Kindle and make money. Here’re the details:

Step 1: Find a Profitable Niche

The first step is to find a niche market that has high demand and low competition. You can check the Amazon bestseller list to get some ideas and then research the potential profitability of those markets.

Step 2: Create an eBook

You don’t have to be a writer to create an eBook for Kindle. You can hire ghostwriters to write on any topic you choose. Once you have your eBook ready, you need to format it properly and upload it to the Amazon platform using your Amazon account.

Step 3: Promote Your eBook with Amazon Ads

To get your eBook in front of potential buyers, you can use Amazon ads.

It may take some effort to figure out how to run better ads, but it’s worth it. These ads will expose your book to a wider audience and help you generate more sales.

While Kindle Publishing Income seems like a reputable program, it’s important to note that there’s no mention of the required investment. So be sure to do your research before signing up.

What’s Inside the Course?

The course consists of 6 modules that cover everything you need to know to successfully publish and promote your eBooks. Here are some of the features you can expect from Sophie’s course:

Course Modules

The Kindle Publishing Income Course has 6 modules to guide you through publishing your first book and earning passive income faster.

• Module 1 – Laying the Foundation: Get familiar with Kindle Direct Publishing basics to prepare for your first ebook.
• Module 2 – The Secret to Building a Successful Business: Sophie shares the mindset needed for online business success.
• Module 3 – Book Ideas: Learn how to generate book ideas with low competition and high demand, following Sophie’s process.
• Module 4 – Best Seller: Sophie guides you in developing a high-content book using overseas workers.
• Module 5 – Make It Sell: Discover techniques and tactics from Sophie to increase your book’s sales.
• Module 6 – Sales Boom: Learn how to advertise your Kindle book on Amazon to boost rankings with Sophie’s tips on Amazon ads.

Bonuses

1. Expert VIP Concierge Team: You get 1 year of support from experts.
2. Sophie’s List of Contacts: Access a list of overseas workers to save time and money on hiring.
3. Weekly Group Coaching: Join live classes with other students, ask questions, and get help from Sophie and her team.
4. Three 1-on-1 Check Ins: Personal meetings to track your progress and address any problems.
5. Niche Finder Software: Helps identify profitable niches and estimate book sales.
6. Public Domain Masterclass: Learn to publish public domain books without hiring ghostwriters.
7. Low Content Masterclass: Create books with minimal writing, no ghostwriters needed.
8. Paperback and Audible Profit Multiplier: Increase profits by releasing paperback and audiobook versions.
9. International Profit Multiplier: Guide for translating ebooks to reach a global audience.
10. Fast Launch Facebook Group: Access a group to market your book and boost rankings on Facebook.

Can You Publish a Book Without Being a Writer?

Sure! There are ways to publish a book even if you’re not a writer yourself. Sophie Howard, like many other self-publishing experts, suggests outsourcing the writing of your Kindle ebook and even creating the cover. This makes sure you can produce high-quality content that readers will want to buy.

If you don’t want to spend a dime, Sophie offers two free methods for creating your book:

1. Public Domain Books: These are works written by authors who have passed away, and their copyrights have expired. You can freely use and reproduce these books without needing to write anything yourself or hire a ghostwriter. It’s a way to make passive income online.

2. Low Content Books: These are ebooks where most of the content is filled in by the consumer. Examples include activity books, planners, and journals. You don’t need to hire a ghostwriter for these either. You just need to come up with your own unique format.

But there’s also a modern twist: with generative AI tools, you can actually try writing a book yourself. ChatGPT, for example, can help you generate text for your book. OpenAI allows users to use text generated from ChatGPT for commercial publications.

However, be aware of potential legal consequences. The text might not always be unique, and you could be held accountable for reproducing copyrighted material.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Are Students Getting Results with Kindle Publishing Income?

I’m not sure if Sophie’s students have made any money from self-publishing.

However, on YouTube, I did find an interview video where Sophie’s student Shamsa Khan revealed her path to success. 

Shamsa Khan, from the UK, hit a rough patch about ten years ago while managing her Amazon FBA business. She discovered that her own negative beliefs were holding her back, after reading a book about Emotional Frequency Tapping (EFT). She was also inspired to write a book to share the concept of the ‘inner child.’ That’s the beginning of her Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) business.

In the interview, Shamsa attributed her success to one-on-one coaching and Amazon ads. According to Shamsa, she’s expanded her offerings to include workbooks, coloring books, and journals. She’s now planning to delegate some tasks and grow her business even more.

Unfortunately, we don’t know Shamsa’s exact earnings from KDP. Amazon’s royalty rates can go up to 70%, but they vary based on factors like book price and location.

Despite the success stories, I found some student complaints on Trustpilot:

 

 

 

 

 

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

How Much Can You Make with Kindle Publishing?

Wondering how much you can earn from Kindle publishing? Well, let’s break it down.

Sophie Howard, who teaches the same online business model she follows, rakes in $20,000 to $30,000 monthly. Your earnings depend on factors like how many books you publish, how many people buy them, and your pricing strategy. Amazon Kindle takes a cut of 35% to 75% from each sale.

According to Zon Guru, if you self-publish on Kindle, your earnings can range from $150 to over $20,000 monthly. But how much you make depends on factors like your book’s category, audience, royalty choice, and format (ebook, paperback, audiobook).

These earnings might seem impressive compared to traditional publishing, but hitting it big on Kindle takes hard work.

How Long Does It Take to Publish a Book on Kindle?

When you publish a book through KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), it usually takes between 24 to 72 hours for your book to become available for sale. This means you have to decide carefully when to hit that “publish” button, especially if you’ve already told people your book will be available at a certain time.

In my experience, I decided to publish my book on a Friday, two days before my planned launch on Sunday. To my surprise, it was live on Amazon within just a few hours.

But if you’re creating a low-content book like a journal or planner, the process can take longer—up to 10 days. That’s because Amazon has strict quality standards for these types of books. They want to make sure that even though there’s less written content, the book still provides real value to readers.

How Much Does Kindle Publishing Income Cost?

Kindle Publishing Income requires a payment of $497, which can be spread out over five monthly installments. In total, this amounts to $2,485.

Keep in mind that there may be additional expenses. You might need to hire graphic designers, content writers, and invest in Amazon Ads, which could bring the total cost to around $3,000.

Refund Policy

Kindle Publishing Income provides a 180-day money-back guarantee. To qualify for a refund, you must demonstrate that you tried the course and didn’t find it beneficial.

Proof of this means completing all course videos and publishing at least one book on Amazon Kindle Direct.

This requirement is in place because the program believes that customers who genuinely engage with the strategies taught will see positive results.

Praises For Kindle Publishing Income

1. Reputable Coach

Sophie Howard is a respected figure in the world of Amazon sales and Kindle Publishing. She’s been called “The Amazon Selling Queen.”

Her track record of success speaks for itself. When you enrol in her course, you’re learning from the best in the business.

2. Comprehensive Training

Sophie Howard’s course goes deep, breaking down the content into six easy-to-follow modules, including valuable bonuses and additional resources.

It provides a step-by-step roadmap for setting up and managing your Kindle publishing venture.

3. Outsourcing Made Easy

Sophie teaches you how to establish a genuine publishing business while delegating tasks to online freelancers.

This means you can enjoy the growth of your business without the burden of doing everything yourself.

4. Legit Business Model

Kindle Direct Publishing is a legitimate and profitable online business model.

Sophie Howard’s course provides an in-depth exploration of this model and equips you with the skills needed to get started.

Criticism of Kindle Publishing Income

1. Overpriced

The program is pricey, making it difficult for some to afford.

Sophie Howard’s expertise might justify the cost, but there are likely cheaper ways to self-publish a book on Amazon. 

In fact, I learned how to write and publish an ebook just by watching free YouTube tutorials.

2. Substantial Initial Investment

In addition to the program fee, you’ll need to invest more money in resources, freelancers, and Amazon ads.

Ghostwriters can charge different rates for their services, according to data from Reedsy. They might ask for anywhere from $0.10 to $2 for each word they write, $35 to $140 per hour, or $1,500 to $42,000 for a whole project.

Usually, for big projects, ghostwriters set a fixed fee. This covers everything from researching to writing and editing the manuscript. If there’s extra work needed, they might charge by the hour for that.

3. Strict Refund Policy

Compared to other similar programs, it’s hard for Sophie’s students to get a refund. 

The training program follows a strict action-based refund policy, meaning you must implement all instructions before qualifying for a refund.

Recommendation: Here’s The Best Alternative

Is Kindle Publishing Income A Scam?

Nope, Kindle Publishing Income isn’t a scam—it’s a legitimate course. But let’s keep it real about what to expect when it comes to making money through Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP).

KDP is a tough gig because there’s a ton of competition out there. Getting your eBook noticed can be like finding a needle in a haystack. And getting reviews to boost sales? Tricky, because only buyers can leave reviews. You might need to spend some money on Amazon ads to give your book a push.

Apart from the ad costs, if you follow Sophie’s method, you’ll also need some money to hire an editor, cover designer, and possibly an illustrator, along with an ebook formatter. These costs are just for producing the final ebook file.

Remember, if you price your book between $2.99 and $9.99 to qualify for the 70% royalty rate, you’ll still have to cover delivery fees for paperback orders. And your royalties hinge on whether your book is part of KDP Select, which lets readers borrow it instead of buying.

If you price your ebook at $3.99 (a common ebook price), you’ll need to generate a considerable number of sales just to cover your costs, let alone turn a profit.

Learn more: Best Ways to Make Money Online

Is There A Better Way to Make Money Online?

If you want to make a stable and secure stream of passive income, I would suggest you start an affiliate marketing business online instead.

Affiliate marketing is perfect for anyone who is new to online business.

In fact, of all the online business models I’ve tried, affiliate marketing is the easiest and most rewarding so far.

In affiliate marketing, you can actually run your business almost with zero cost and achieve a steady and sustainable passive income to pay for your bills. You don’t need any initial capital and can even do it as a side hustle.

And if you really want to learn affiliate marketing and build a business from scratch, I’d recommend you to get started with the most reputable platform for affiliate marketing: Wealthy Affiliate.

Wealthy Affiliate is an all-in-one platform for building your affiliate marketing business from scratch. It offers you a free account (including a free website) with comprehensive training on SEO (free traffic methods), which enables you to get started with affiliate marketing right away without paying a penny.

But How Much Can You Earn with Wealthy Affiliate?

A 21-year old student from Wealthy Affiliate was able to earn $7,395 in just 1 week, which means he made more than $1k a day…all while using free traffic methods.

For more information, you can check out our full review of Wealthy Affiliate.