That's *in addition to,* in some cases, huge upfront fees for things like editing, cover design, and distribution. One respected hybrid publisher charged, the last time I checked, between $7,000 and $8,000 dollars up front, and ALSO taking, as you say, 50% of the revenues. You have almost no chance of making your money back if those are the numbers. (The average self-published book sells 500 copies, according to the Authors Guild, and hybrid books probably don't sell many more.) I'm a journalist who has covered book publishing for years for major media, and based on that experience, I'd say: Don't agree to that kind of financial deal UNLESS you have a lot of money to blow and the subject is very close to your heart. The cost might be worth it if, say, you're writing a family memoir or something else future generations will cherish. But in most cases, it wouldn't be worth it if your goal is to make money off a book.