Book Seller

Book Seller Success Stories [2024]

Pat Walls

•

Updated: October 10th, 2024

Selling books is more than just opening a bookstore—it's about curating a literary journey for your customers. As a book seller, you'll source and sell books, catering to the diverse tastes of readers. From classic literature to the latest bestsellers, your role is to connect people with the stories that will inspire, educate, and entertain them.

Creating an inviting space, whether it’s a brick-and-mortar store or an online platform, is key. Your business will thrive on community engagement, book clubs, author events, and reading sessions. Managing inventory, partnering with distributors, and staying updated on literary trends are essential tasks.

If you love books and find joy in sharing that passion, this business offers a fulfilling experience. It requires dedication, organization, and a knack for marketing. But the payoff—building a vibrant community centered around the love of reading—is immensely rewarding.

In this list, you'll find real-world book seller success stories and very profitable examples of starting a book seller that makes money.

1. EOFire LLC ($1.8M/year)

In 2012, John Lee Dumas, a former tank commander and real estate agent, started listening to podcasts during his long commutes. Realizing the lack of consistent, inspiring content, he decided to start his own daily podcast, Entrepreneurs On Fire. Despite having no online presence or broadcasting experience, he took the leap, hired a mentor, and launched the podcast. It quickly gained traction and led to the creation of other successful products and services, generating over $100,000 in net revenue every month.

How much money it makes: $1.8M/year
How much did it cost to start: $500
How many people on the team: 5

The Story Of John Lee Dumas: From Tank Commander In Iraq To Starting A $100K/Month Entrepreneurship Podcast

John Lee Dumas launched Entrepreneurs On Fire, a daily podcast interviewing successful entrepreneurs, and went on to create multiple successful products and services including Podcasters' Paradise, which has consistently generated over $100,000 in net revenue every month for 89 months in a row.

Read this case study

Read by 7,871 founders

2. Foreword Reviews ($1.08M/year)

Victoria Sutherland, founder of Foreword Reviews, came up with the idea for her business while working for a small press magazine. She noticed that independent publishers were not getting much coverage and saw an opportunity to provide long-form reviews for these smaller presses. With her background in advertising and a passion for books, she started Foreword Reviews to fill the gap in the market and support indie presses.

How much money it makes: $1.08M/year
How much did it cost to start: $15K
How many people on the team: 7

The Story Behind A $90K/Month Independent Publishers And Books Reviews Publication

Foreword Reviews is a media company that started out as a magazine with a print run of 7,500 copies, serving as a brochure for publishing services including foreign rights exchange and digital content, and twenty years and some intense pivots later, it has become one of the most profitable in the book business.

Read this case study

Read by 8,175 founders