A Format

Consultant eBook Format Spec for KDP and Direct Sale

The exact production spec for a consultant eBook: word count, trim size, file format, DPI, front and back matter, and pricing, built for KDP and direct sale.

A consultant's book is a sales tool with a spine. It only works if the production is right: the trim size feels like a real book in a prospect's hands, the file format doesn't break on Amazon's upload, and the front matter positions you as the authority before page one. This page is the exact spec sheet for a consultant eBook built for KDP and direct sale on Quari. No guesswork on word count, formatting, or pricing. Use it as a checklist before you generate a manuscript, or hand it to a designer if you're finishing outside the platform.

Why the spec matters more than the writing

Consultants don't sell books, they sell the meeting that comes after the book. A prospect who downloads a 40-page PDF with mismatched fonts and no table of contents reads that as a signal about your work quality, not just your writing. The production spec below removes that risk. It's the same standard used by traditionally published business authors, adapted for a solo consultant who needs to move fast and control the file end to end.

KDP vs direct sale, and why the spec differs slightly

Amazon KDP has hard requirements: specific trim sizes, a minimum interior margin, and a file format it will actually accept without reflow errors. Selling direct from your own site or funnel has none of those constraints, which means you can ship a PDF instead of wrestling with EPUB validation. Quari generates both versions from the same manuscript, so you're not choosing one channel over the other. You build once and distribute to both.

Front matter and back matter are where consultants lose deals

Most business books written by consultants skip the parts that actually convert. A title page with no subtitle wastes the one line that could state the result you deliver. A missing About the Author page means a reader who finished your book has no path back to you. The spec below treats front and back matter as functional real estate, not filler. Every page in that section either builds authority or drives a next step.

Word count is a business decision, not a writing goal

A consultant eBook that runs 15,000 to 25,000 words gets read in one sitting on a flight or a Sunday afternoon, which is exactly the conditions under which a prospect decides to reach out. Padding it to 60,000 words to look like a 'real book' usually kills the read-through rate and buries your best insight on page 140. Shorter, sharper, and finished beats long and abandoned.

Format Spec

Trim size: 6 x 9 inches, standard for business nonfiction on KDP
Word count: 15,000 to 25,000 words (60 to 100 manuscript pages)
Back matter: About the Author page with a direct contact or booking link, short call to action for a next step
File format: EPUB for KDP upload, PDF for direct sale
Front matter: Title page with subtitle, copyright page, table of contents, brief foreword or framing note
Chapter count: 6 to 10 chapters, each addressing one distinct problem or framework
Suggested price: Free to $4.99 as a lead magnet, or $9.99 to $19.99 as a standalone paid product
Cover image resolution: 300 DPI minimum, 1,600 x 2,560 pixels for KDP cover upload

Key Takeaways

Target 15,000 to 25,000 words so the book gets finished in one sitting, not shelved.
Use 6 x 9 trim size, it reads as a legitimate business book on KDP and in print.
Export EPUB for KDP and PDF for direct sale from the same manuscript, don't reformat twice.
Front and back matter should drive action, not just fill pages, every page earns its place.
Decide your price around your actual goal, lead generation or standalone revenue, before you set a number.

Questions Worth Asking

What word count should a consultant eBook target?: Aim for 15,000 to 25,000 words. That's long enough to demonstrate real expertise and short enough that a prospect finishes it in one sitting, which is when they're most likely to reach out.
What trim size works for both KDP and direct sale?: 6 x 9 inches is the standard for business nonfiction. It reads as a real book on Amazon and prints clean if you ever offer a physical copy at a speaking event.
Should I price it low to get more downloads, or charge for it?: If the book is your primary lead magnet, price it low or free and put the value in the calls it generates. If it stands alone as a paid product, price it between $9.99 and $19.99. Either way, decide the goal before you set the price, don't default to one number because it's common.
Do I need a professional cover designer?: Not required, but the cover is the first thing a prospect judges. Quari generates a cover from your manuscript's positioning, and you can swap it for a designer's file later if the book earns its keep.
What file format do I actually deliver?: EPUB for KDP upload, PDF for direct sale from your own site. Quari exports both from a single manuscript so you're not reformatting twice.

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