How Writing a Book Creates New Income Streams for Therapists-Turned-Consultants

If you’re a therapist ready to step into consulting, one of the smartest moves you can make is writing a book. Not just because it feels good to see your name in print, but because your book can become a business asset that brings in new income streams while positioning you as an expert.

Direct Sales (Beyond Just Amazon Royalties)

If you’re thinking the only way to make money is though the pennies per book that you might get from a $2.99 ebook, you are missing the point. Selling your book on Amazon, Kindle, or Audible is a start, but the bigger opportunity is bulk orders from organizations. Schools, hospitals, and corporations often buy hundreds of copies at once for staff training. That’s a five-figure payday from one client.

Paid Speaking & Training

And while we’re talking about 5 and 6 figure paydays. When you’re “the person who wrote the book on it,” you’re easier to book as a speaker. And here’s the kicker: organizations often buy your book for every attendee. That means you earn from both the speaking fee and book sales.

When I wrote my first book, Drag ‘Em Kicking and Screaming, which was directed at educators, I was able to have a built in upsell which is still in the community today supporting my reputation as a thought leader.

Licensing Your Content

Your book can become the blueprint for courses, staff development workshops, or online training programs. Instead of selling once, you can license your materials for an annual fee, creating steady, predictable income. I am always preaching the value of outlining your process, framework or signature sauce for how you do what you do. When you put a label on something, it immediately becomes more valuable.

Upsells Into Consulting Packages

The last chapter of your book is prime real estate. If you include a clear invitation—like booking a strategy session—you can turn casual readers into five-figure consulting clients.

My favorite example of this is the incomparable Brene Brown. Not only has her first book spawned 8 others, but each led to podcasts, speaking engagements and corporate partnerships that helped dozens of other providers stand out by having her stamp of approval. Even if you don’t have massive multi-million dollar dreams, you can license your methodology to a local nonprofit and walk away with the easiest $25,000 you’ve ever seen when you’re the expert on the subject and the book gives you the platform to be just that.

FAQ: Making Money From Your Book as a Therapist Consultant

Q: Can therapists really make good money from book sales?
A: Truthfully, direct sales alone rarely create big profit, but when combined with speaking, bulk sales, and consulting, a book becomes a powerful revenue generator. The positioning of your book matters the most. Yes, the market has lots of books on Anxiety, but overcoming anxiety as a non-profit leader, will give you a platform for speaking across the globe.

Q: Should I self-publish or find a traditional publisher?
A: If your goal is speed and control, self-publishing wins. If you want distribution and prestige, traditional publishing might fit, but it takes longer. Both can work, but one requires you to convince someone that you’re worth a shot and the other gives you the power to do it on your own. I’ve done both. The support that comes with traditional is wonderful, but I wrote my book a solid 18 months before it hit the shelves. And unlike the celebrities, no one is standing by waiting to promote your book. I didn’t know that then. When I help my clients create a strategy for their books now, it includes making sure that you have buyers and readers and that you have a plan to make as much money as possible.

Q: Do I need a huge audience first?
A: Absolutely not. You need the right audience. Even a small, well-positioned audience can help you leverage your book. And if you get your book in front of the right decision-makers, that can translate into contracts.

Do you want to stop leaving money on the table and get your book out fast? Check out my templates which can significantly cut down on your time or sign up for one of my mini-strategy sessions where we’ll outline a book AND a marketing plan to get you paid.