Let’s talk about your book!

Simply fill out the form below to select a date & time for your no obligation consultation
to see if self-publishing with Outskirts Press is right for you.

By providing a mobile number, you grant Outskirts Press consent to send text message communications for promotional purposes. Consent is not a condition of purchase. Message frequency varies and data rates may apply. Reply "STOP" to unsubscribe at any time. We do not share your information with anyone (see our Privacy Policy).

This site is protected by reCAPTCHA and the Google Privacy Policy and Terms of Service apply.
Professional Book Indexing

Indexing Services for Nonfiction Authors

Make your nonfiction book easier to use, reference, and navigate with an accurate subject index designed around your finished book.

Two Levels of Indexing Support

Choose the Indexing Service That Fits Your Book

Choose a budget-friendly computer-generated starting point you can customize yourself, or have an experienced professional indexer create your index for you.

Express Indexing

$299 flat

A streamlined, budget-friendly index generated through computer-based text analysis and delivered to you for review and customization. Express Indexing is not powered by AI.

What You Receive

  • A detailed index framework you can refine to your preferences
  • Alphabetized entries with headings and subheadings where appropriate
  • Page references based on your final formatted interior
  • Freedom to add, remove, or adjust entries
  • Final review before the index is inserted into your print-ready files

How it Works

  • Your formatted interior is analyzed to identify references and corresponding page numbers
  • You receive the generated index for review
  • You add, remove, or adjust entries as needed
  • You submit the finalized index for insertion into your print-ready files

Premium Manual Indexing

$7 per page

A professional, human-crafted subject index created by an experienced indexer. It's ideal for complex nonfiction and authors who want a fully curated result.

What You Receive

  • Subject terms carefully selected by a professional indexer
  • Alphabetized entries with headings and subheadings where appropriate
  • Page references based on your final formatted interior
  • A reader-friendly structure aligned with your book's content and audience
  • Final review with the opportunity to request minor changes

How it Works

  • Your indexer works from the final formatted interior
  • Key topics, names, concepts, and relationships are identified
  • A tiered, cross-referenced subject index is created
  • You review the completed index and can request minor changes before publication
Compare Your Options

Which Indexing Option Should You Choose?

Choose the level of support that best matches your book, budget, and how involved you want to be in creating the index.

Choose Express Indexing if you want:

  • A lower-cost indexing solution
  • Fast, straightforward processing
  • A useful index framework you can refine yourself
  • Full control over which entries remain in your final index

Choose Premium Manual Indexing if you want:

  • A fully curated index created for you
  • Professional human judgment for nuance and hierarchy
  • Cross-referencing and organization for more complex material
  • An excellent fit for technical, academic, or reference-oriented books
Express Indexing: $299 flat. Computer-generated index framework that you review and customize.
Premium Manual Indexing: $7 per page. Human-crafted index created by a professional indexer.
Why Add an Index?

Make Your Nonfiction Book More Useful to Readers

A well-organized index helps transform a nonfiction book into a resource readers can return to again and again.

Find Information Faster

Help readers quickly locate important topics, names, concepts, and references throughout your book.

Improve Navigation

Make longer or information-rich books easier to browse, navigate, and revisit.

Add Professional Polish

A useful subject index adds credibility and professional presentation to serious nonfiction.

Increase Reference Value

Give workbooks, how-to books, business books, academic titles, and other nonfiction greater long-term usefulness.

Frequently Asked Questions

Book Indexing FAQs

Is Express Indexing powered by AI?

No. Express Indexing is not powered by AI.

Do I get to review the index before it's added to my book?

Yes. With Express Indexing, you finalize the index before insertion. With Premium Manual Indexing, you review the completed index and can request minor changes before publication.

How is Premium Manual Indexing priced?

Premium Manual Indexing is $7 per page, based on the full length of your final formatted book, not the length of the completed index.

Which option is best for technical or academic books?

Premium Manual Indexing is often the better fit when your book benefits from human curation, hierarchy, cross-referencing, and professional judgment for complex subject matter.

Ready to Add a Professional Index to Your Book?

Choose the indexing option that fits your book or talk with us about the publishing services that best support your project.

Author Experiences

Why Authors Trust Our Full-Service Publishing