Your Dashboard - track lifetime and unpaid revenue
Dashboard Overview
Your Dashboard provides a quick snapshot of your publishing business:
Revenue Metrics
Lifetime Revenue
Total earnings across all time - every dollar you've earned through Shelf Indulgence since joining.
Unpaid Revenue
Your current balance pending payment - money you've earned but haven't been paid yet (minimum $5 threshold).
Sales & Analytics
Navigate to Sales & Analytics in the sidebar for detailed performance data:
What You Can Track
- Sales by book title
- Revenue by distribution channel
- Sales by country/region
- Daily, weekly, and monthly trends
- Royalty breakdowns by retailer
Understanding Reporting Delays
Sales don't appear instantly on your dashboard. Retailers report sales on monthly or bi-monthly schedules:
| Retailer | Reporting Timeline |
|---|---|
| Apple Books | Monthly (30-45 days after sale) |
| Google Play Books | Monthly (30-60 days after sale) |
| Barnes & Noble | Monthly (60-90 days after sale) |
| Kobo | Every 2 months (45-60 days after sale) |
| OverDrive | Every 2 months (60-90 days after checkout) |
infoTimelines Are Averages
These timelines represent typical reporting schedules. Different authors and books may experience different results based on retailer processing queues and other factors. Sales appear in your dashboard as soon as we receive reports from retailers.
scheduleWhy the Delay?
Retailers process sales in batches and report to distributors on delayed schedules to account for returns, chargebacks, and internal accounting cycles. This is standard across the entire publishing industry.
Learn more about sales reporting delays →
Understanding how royalties are calculated →
Payment Schedule
When you receive your earnings:
Payment Threshold
- Minimum balance: $5.00
- Payments issued monthly if you meet threshold
- Balance rolls over to next month if under $5
Payment Timeline
- Month 1: Reader buys your book
- Month 2: Retailer reports sale, appears in your dashboard
- Month 3: Retailer pays us, we pay you (if over $5)
info60-90 Day Delay
Most retailers pay distributors 60-90 days after a sale. This is standard in publishing - not unique to Shelf Indulgence. Plan your finances accordingly.
Monitoring Book Performance
Key Metrics to Watch
-
Sales Velocity - How many sales per day/week
- Spike after launch, then stabilize
- Track trends over time
-
Best Performing Stores - Which retailers drive most sales
- Focus marketing on top performers
- Consider removing non-performers
-
Geographic Performance - Where readers are finding you
- Consider translations for strong markets
- Target marketing to engaged regions
Comparing Performance
Realistic Expectations
Indie ebook sales vary widely:
- First month: 10-50 sales typical for debut authors
- Established authors: 100-500 sales per month per title
- Bestsellers: 1,000+ sales per month
- Series perform better than standalone titles
Improving Sales
- Write more books (backlist sells frontlist)
- Run promotions and price reductions
- Build email list of readers
- Engage on social media
- Get reviews (social proof)
- Optimize metadata and descriptions
Troubleshooting Sales Data
Missing Sales
If expected sales don't appear:
- Wait 3-5 days for retailer reporting delay
- Check that book is live on that specific store
- Verify sale actually completed (not just cart add)
- Contact support if still missing after 7 days
Unexplained Revenue Drops
Sudden decreases could be:
- End of promotional pricing period
- Seasonal fluctuations (summer slump, holiday boost)
- Competitors releasing similar books
- Changes in retailer algorithms
Tax Reporting
For tax purposes:
- Download annual earnings statement from your account
- 1099 forms issued if you earn $600+ per year (US authors)
- Track income and expenses for your business
- Consult tax professional for specific advice