Would you like a complimentary estimate?

First round of each service

Estimates are for one round of work, and we will bill hourly for any and all tasks we do.

Based on what is known at the time of the estimate (known tasks), a certain number of hours is calculated for one round of defined, specific services. This estimated number of hours is then multiplied by our hourly rate.

Additional service rounds

Additional rounds (unknown tasks) will be estimated when they are known. These unknown tasks may include additional rounds of copyediting, additional design proofs, items that are not known at the time of the original estimate, and/or services that you've not yet selected.

Preapproval and prepayment

All services are preapproved and prepaid, and we must receive payment before work can begin.

You may prepay the estimate in full or prepay any number of hours at a time.

If you choose a partial prepayment, we will let you know when those hours have been used, and then ask you for another prepayment amount of your choice to keep your project moving forward.

Prepayment options

Credit card: An invoice will be sent to your e-mail address, and you may use either PayPal or another major credit card to make your prepayment. You may also give us your credit card number, and we will process it through PayPal for the desired amount. Half of the credit card fees will be included if you choose this credit card prepayment option.

Other electronic prepayment methods: We will accept your prepayment from other vendors (e.g., Venmo or Zelle); however, if there are fees involved, we will add half of those fees to our invoice.

Personal check: If you prefer to prepay by check (payable to BACKSPACE INK), please deduct the credit card fees and mail your check to the address listed on the invoice.

Authorization for us to use your credit card: If you choose this option, you will send us the first and last name on your credit card, the card number, and the expiration date (month and year). Credit card fees will be added, which represent half of the total credit card fees.

The estimate process

•  Contact us about the particulars of your book project. A short phone discussion and estimates are complimentary.

•  Send us your manuscript via e-mail attachment or other file transmission.

•  The estimate will be based on knowledge of the project at that time (known tasks).

•  We will be happy to prepare a short copyediting sample at no charge; more extensive copyediting samples will be estimated and prepaid.

•  If the estimate accurately describes the requested known services, please follow our e-mail directions for your approval.

•  Once we receive your prepayment, the e-mail approval of the estimate, and the final version of your manuscript, we will begin your book project!

At the end of the project, you may have some prepaid credit left in your account. You can either receive an immediate refund of that credit or apply it to other services as you wish.

If we anticipate needing more time than what we estimated, we will let you know as soon as we can tell that the time is going to go over, so you can decide whether you want to continue.

If tasks are added, or the scope of work has changed, you may request additional complimentary estimates at any time.

Discontinuing our services

If you wish to discontinue our services at any point during the project, you will receive an immediate refund for the unused prepaid hours.

Click here to see the complete list of our services.