Agents Fee

AlphaMale 3OO

Hi all just required a little advice. A member of my family is publishing a historical book and the agent who is acting as a conduit for potential publishers and marketing the book has requested that he receive 16% of all profits made on the book. We have no idea whether this is above or below the going rate and as we are inexperienced in the industry we are struggling for influential contacts and are tempted to go with the 16%. Does anybody have any idea what a typical agent receives in such circumstances. Obviously this is usually a % as actual work is difficult to quantify. The book will be published in the UK and Ireland, and pending success, the USA. Any advice greatly appreciated.

gogglebok

The Writers and Artists Yearbook, or the Writer's Handbook, will give you some useful comparisons. These are published every year, and you'll get them in any decent bookshop.

You should also do some research into the agent. Who else is on their roster? Have you seen those people's books? Anyone can set themselves up as an agent, and you need do be sure you are dealing with someone serious. The books I've mentioned have agent listings, which give basic information about client lists and fees. They may not include this agent, but they are a useful starting point.

16% sounds well within the normal range, which seems to go from 10% as far as 20% for foreign or other rights. But then advice from a stranger off the internet should be approached warily too.

claire h

Yeah, between 10 and 20 % is pretty standard - some agents would take maybe 15% for the 'home' market (Ireland and Britain) and 20% for 'rest of world', so 16% seems reasonable enough, assuming it's a good agent. Though could you clarify 'historical book'? Those rates generally apply to fiction works and for non-fiction, particularly it's very specialised, you may or may not need an agent (though if you have a good one, the time and energy it will save you is probably worth that 16% - they are the experts in the industry after all).

I'd second checking out the Yearbook or Handbook as well - the 2009 editions should be out within the next couple of months - they're very useful.

AlphaMale 3OO

Great thank you both for the help.