Magazine start-up costs

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Convertito on November 19, 2008 at 6:35pm

speaking strictly about just creating page templates for all features + departments, bare minimum $3-8k depending on the complexity of the project and number of revisions...costs could EASILY go way higher, not going to be less....you're not asking about printing + production costs are you?

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Permalink Reply by Kimberly Porrazzo on November 21, 2008 at 2:56pm

Thanks for the input. No, right now just the actual creation of the design and editorial wells. Have you done this from scratch before?

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Convertito on November 21, 2008 at 6:21pm

I've designed + built about a dozen mags from scratch, mostly new launches, but a few relaunches too...mostly videogame, skateboarding, and automotive tiles tho...and all consumer newsstand titles. here's a link to the publisher's note relating to an emergency 3-day rebuild + redesign I did for a car mag DSPORT earlier this year:



If I can't help out personally, I'm sure I can help recommend a talented magazine designer—my wife and I manage a loose network of professional freelancers in between the deadlines of our full time jobs ;)

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Convertito on November 21, 2008 at 6:51pm

link button is buggy, try this:

http://www.dragsport.com/issue/2008/0408_pub_note.shtml

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Permalink Reply by ms. cookie on June 15, 2009 at 2:02am

Hi Kevin, i am trying to create my own magazine from scratch. It's seeming harder than i had expected because there is not alot of info on how to start a mag from scratch. Im am just lost and was hoping that maybe you could just tell me the first steps of starting a magazine cause i cant seem to get anyone to help me. it has always been my dream to start my own magazine and i don't want to give up but i can't find the info i need to get started!!! Please Help!!!!!

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Permalink Reply by Douglas Hebbard on June 18, 2009 at 6:29pm

Go ahead and message me and ask what you want (I sometimes get paid for this kind of thing, but I assume you wouldn't want to cut me a check, right?)

Creating a magazine is a relatively easy thing to do if you are just doing something simple like printing up a few copies and giving them out at the local store. Distribution, whether national, regional or local, can sometimes be the thing that stops a lot of people.

(Not to mention the fact that, like all new products, creating it costs real $$.)

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Permalink Reply by ms. cookie on June 24, 2009 at 4:38pm

Ya I understand that, i am trying to get a grant or a small business loan. When i apply for my grants, Im wondering am I trying to get a publishing,printing,or just a regular business grant? If i can get a grant i will definetly share a cut for your expertise or when i get it going i will make sure to remember you! LOL

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Permalink Reply by Kevin Convertito on June 22, 2009 at 4:21pm

did you see Debra's blog post on this? it's got some great advice... http://mediapro.foliomag.com/profiles/blogs/how-to-start-a-magazine

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Permalink Reply by patricia woods on February 28, 2009 at 11:36pm

Is this just to have the art work completed, not the printing

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Permalink Reply by Joshua Thomas on November 26, 2008 at 3:55pm

A lot depends on publication content, genre and design complexity. Depending on the complexity of creative needs, certain portions might be offshore-able reducing overall cost. I tend to lean towards in-house or domestic creative and rely on offshore for more production-oriented pages and labor, i.e. template pages like certain departments, TOC, etc. Even if there isn't much being done offshore, every little bit helps when working within tight startup budgets. Naturally, production and creative costs change drastically from one publication to the next. Kevin's prices are about on par with my experiences. Anywhere from $5-$10k as a starting point.

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