The following list provides a guidance only of the difference type
of deals available amongst publish on demand services. Please check
with each individual resource for current offers and terms.
Most of the publishers below, with the exception of Golden Pillar
and Unlimited Pillar offer Non-Exclusive contracts. A key benefit
is the distribution network that each publisher has access to. Most
have their own online retail sites, and some have a network of other
online retailers to which they will offer your book.
The printing format of your book may limit your choices, with many
publishers not ofering hard cover options. If you have good marketing
experience, then look for publishers that allow you to purchase
your book for the price of publishing, so that you may sell them
through your own channels without royalties. Contracts vary signficantly
in this area so check carefully on any restraints you may have in
marketing your book.
Considering all factors, the top four publising services at time
of print are indicated by star ratings **
| Publisher |
Manuscript Screening |
Distribution |
Paper back |
Hard cover |
Combo |
Color |
Royalties |
Authors Discounts |
| ****Virtual Bookworm |
Yes |
Mainly Own Site & Online
Retailers |
$360.00 |
$430.00 |
$590.00 |
$625.00 |
50% net receipts.
|
30% |
| ***Lulu |
No |
Mainly Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$99.95 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
80% net receipts.
|
Printing costs (direct
printing costs are $3.00 more than external printing costs). |
| **Wingspan Press |
Yes |
Mainly Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$499.00 |
Not Available |
$699.00 |
$899.00 |
20% retail price on external
sales.
15% fulfillment charge on direct sales.
|
Buy at printing costs |
| *iUniverse |
No |
Mainly Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$499.00 |
Not Available |
$698.00 |
Not Available |
20% payments received by the publisher.
|
20%
Bulk discounts available. |
| Authorhouse |
No |
Mainly Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$698.00 |
Not Available |
$1048.00 |
$999.00 |
5-15% on external sales
10-50% on direct sales (see 2+2=5).
|
Equals royalties on direct sales. |
| Authors Online |
No |
Mainly Own Site & Online Retailers
|
£750.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
£750.00 |
60% net receipts.
|
Printing costs plus 25% of retail
price. |
| Aventine Press |
No |
Mainly Online Retailers |
$399.00 |
Not Available |
$694.00 |
Not Available |
80% net receipts.
|
Printing costs plus 10% of retail
price. |
| Biblio Books |
No |
Mainly Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$1450.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
10% retail price on external
sales
20% on direct sales
7% on sales to libraries.
|
Not disclosed. |
| Booklocker .com |
Yes |
Mainly Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$217.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
$467.00 |
35% retail price on direct sales
15% of retail price on extenal sales.
|
35% of retail price, some bulk discounts . |
| Bookstand Publishing |
No |
Own Site Only |
$559.00 |
$699.00 |
Not Available |
$929.00 |
30% retail price on direct
paperback sales
15% of retail price on external hardcover sales. |
Basic discount is unclear. |
| Booksurge Publishing |
No |
Mainly Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$599.00 |
$697.00 |
Not Available |
$699.00 |
25% retail price on direct sales
(15% for hardcovers), 10% on external sales.
|
30%, some bulk discounts may apply. |
| Equilibrium Books |
Yes |
Through their site |
AUD $249.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
13.5% retail price.
|
27.5% of retail price as listed
on their website plus royalties. |
| Foremost Press |
Yes |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$347.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
20% retail price on direct
sale
10% on external sales (it is unclear whether this is 10%
of retail or wholesale price).
|
50% of retail price. |
| Golden Pillar Publishing [Bronze] |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$500.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
70% net receipts.
|
Pay only printing costs. |
| Golden Pillar Publishing [Gold] |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$3500.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
90% net receipts.
|
Pay only printing costs. |
| Golden Pillar Publishing [Silver] |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$1500.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
80% net receipts.
|
Pay only printing costs. |
| Infinity Publishing |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$499.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
30% retail price on direct
sales
15% wholesale price on external sale (~ 9% of retail price).
|
Discount is 40% of retail price
plus wholesale 10% royalties. |
| Inkwater Press |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$499.00 |
$899.00 |
Not Available |
$1299.00 |
40% net receipts
25% for color books
|
Authors can purchase copies of
their book at a 40% discount (minimum order is 12). |
Instabook Press
|
No |
None |
$150.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
100% net receipts
|
Pay only printing costs. |
|
Llumina Press |
Yes |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$799.00 |
$859.00 |
$999.00 |
$699.00 |
10% retail price on external
sales
30% on direct sales.
|
Discount is 30% of retail price
bulk disconts are available. |
| Outskirts Press [Diamond] |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$999.00 |
Not Available |
$1198.00 |
Not Available |
Set by the author on a base price.
|
Buy at base price. |
Outskirts Press [Pearl]
|
No |
Own Site & Some Online Retailers
|
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
$999.00 |
Set by the author on a base price.
|
Buy at base price. |
| Outskirts Press [Ruby] |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$599.00 |
Not Available |
$798.00 |
Not Available |
Set by the author on a base
price |
Buy at base price. |
| Outskirts Press [Sapphire] |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$399.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Set by the author on a base price.
|
Buy at base price. |
Pagefree Publishing
|
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$459.00 |
$609.00 |
$659.00 |
$589.00 |
75% net receipts.
|
Printing costs (these costs are
higher than the ones paid by bookstores). |
Universal Publishers
|
Yes |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$495.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
20% of retail price on external
sales
40% on direct sales.
No royalties on first three copies sold each quarter.
|
40% of retail price, bulk discounts
may apply. |
| Unlimited Publishing |
Yes |
Online Retailers |
$500.00 |
Not Available |
$625.00 |
Not Available |
50% net receipts
|
Printing costs plus a small administrative
fee ($1.00-$1.75 per copy depending on page count). |
| Wheatmark |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$799.00 |
Not Available |
$1448.00 |
Not Available |
20% payments on external sales
40% on direct sales.
|
Discount is 40% of retail price. |
| WritersWorld |
No |
Online Retailers |
£1598.00 |
Not Available |
Not Available |
Not Available |
100% net receipts
|
Pay only printing costs. |
| Xlibris |
No |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$499.00 |
Not Available |
$899.00 |
$999.00 |
10% retail price - external
sales
25% retail price on direct sales
|
Basic discount is 40% on paperbacks
and 35% on hardcovers. |
| Xulon Press |
Yes |
Own Site & Online Retailers
|
$1499.00 |
Not Available |
$1648.00 |
Not Available |
100% net recipts - external
sales
75% net receipts - direct sales
|
Discount is not clearly defined
(up to 70% on bulk orders, not defined for a single copy). |
