'I suppose I am the only one in the world'
A. Conan Doyle, A Study in Scarlet
Many authors find, often in the last days before the proofs are due back, that indexing a book is a) much more complex and time-consuming than expected, and b) very expensive if handed over to a professional.
My indexing consultancy offers authors a middle way between the possibly intimidating option of
compiling an index unaided and the expense of hiring a professional to do the whole job. I aim simply
to provide help or advice on any aspects of indexing with which the author feels unconfident: these
might include, for example, the selection and wording of concept headings, avoidance of long strings
of undistinguished page numbers, and simple checking for E&O.
The above claim may be a little grandiose, but I am as far as I know the only one in the UK!