The self-publishing revolution has democratized authorship, allowing anyone with a story to tell to bring it to the world. But while the concept of “doing it yourself” is empowering, the reality often involves collaborating with various self publishing book companies and platforms. These entities offer a spectrum of services, from simple distribution to comprehensive end-to-end production, acting as crucial partners in an author’s journey.
Understanding the different types of self-publishing companies and what they offer is the first step toward a successful and informed launch.
Types of Self-Publishing Companies
Self-publishing companies generally fall into a few key categories, each with distinct business models and offerings:
- Direct-to-Retailer Platforms: These are the giants of the industry, allowing authors to upload their book files directly to a specific retail store.
- Examples: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP), Apple Books, Kobo Writing Life (KWL), Barnes & Noble Press, Google Play Books Partner Center.
- How they work: You create an account, upload your formatted manuscript (for both ebook and/or print), design your cover (or upload one), set your price, and manage your metadata. They handle the sale, payment processing, and pay you royalties directly.
- Pros: Highest royalty rates (as you’re cutting out intermediaries), direct access to a large customer base (especially Amazon), quick turnaround for publishing.
- Cons: You need to upload to each platform individually to achieve wide distribution across various retailers.
- Aggregators/Distributors: These companies act as a bridge between authors and multiple retailers and libraries. You upload your book once to the aggregator, and they distribute it to many different sales channels.
- Examples: Draft2Digital (D2D), IngramSpark, PublishDrive, Findaway Voices (for audiobooks).
- How they work: You upload your book files (ebook, print, audiobook) to their dashboard. They then send your book out to dozens or hundreds of retailers, libraries, and subscription services worldwide. They take a small percentage of your royalties for this service.
- Pros: Massive time-saver for wide distribution, one central dashboard for sales reporting, non-exclusive terms (allowing you to use direct platforms like KDP simultaneously). IngramSpark is particularly strong for global print distribution to physical bookstores and libraries.
- Cons: They take a percentage of your royalties for their service, which means slightly lower per-unit earnings compared to direct uploads.
- Full-Service Self-Publishing Companies (Assisted Publishing): These companies offer a range of professional services, often packaged together, to help authors produce a high-quality book without needing to manage every detail themselves.
- Examples: BookBaby, Lulu (though Lulu also offers direct publishing tools), Xlibris (often considered a hybrid/vanity publisher, so caution is advised).
- How they work: You typically pay an upfront fee (which can range from hundreds to thousands of dollars) for services like editing, cover design, interior formatting, ISBN assignment, and often distribution to multiple channels. They act as a project manager, guiding you through the process.
- Pros: Convenience, access to professional expertise (editors, designers), a guided process, can be a good option for authors with less time or technical know-how.
- Cons: Significant upfront costs, potential for “vanity press” pitfalls (see previous article on mistakes to avoid), lower royalty percentages or slower recoupment of costs, less granular control over individual service providers.
- Print-on-Demand (POD) Services: While many retailers and aggregators offer POD (like KDP Print or IngramSpark), some companies specialize in high-quality POD for direct author orders or niche projects.
- Examples: Lulu, Blurb.
- How they work: You upload your print-ready files, and they print copies only when an order is placed, eliminating the need for large print runs and inventory. They can also facilitate distribution to major retailers.
- Pros: Cost-effective for small print runs, no inventory risk, ideal for author copies or niche books.
- Cons: Per-unit printing costs are higher than traditional offset printing for large runs.
Key Factors When Evaluating Self-Publishing Companies
When choosing a self-publishing company, consider the following:
- Cost & Royalties: What are the upfront fees? What percentage of royalties do you keep? How are printing costs calculated? Use their built-in royalty calculators.
- Services Offered: Do they provide editing, design, formatting, ISBNs, marketing support? Are these services high quality and transparently priced?
- Distribution Reach: Where will your book be available (Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, libraries, international markets)? Is the distribution exclusive or non-exclusive?
- Author Rights & Control: Do you retain full copyright? Can you easily terminate the agreement and get your files back? Do you have control over pricing and creative decisions?
- Ease of Use & Support: Is their platform intuitive? Do they offer good customer support?
- Reputation & Reviews: Research online reviews, author forums, and independent publishing resources. Be wary of companies with a high number of complaints or “vanity press” accusations.
The self-publishing industry offers a robust ecosystem of companies designed to support authors at every stage. By understanding their various models and carefully evaluating their offerings against your specific needs and goals, you can forge a successful path to getting your book into the hands of readers worldwide.
