1. True Self Publishing.
You ARE the publisher! You do the page design, formatting and provide the cover art and inside graphics for your book. You find the printer and binder. You set the sticker price, acquire the ISBN and Library of Congress numbers.
You contract with book distributors.
The upfront costs are big, but successive printing runs will be less. You own and store your books, and the profits (the difference between what it cost you to print each book and what you sell it for)
are all yours.
2. Subsidy Press.
A "middleman" is involved, who has experience with publishing. They take your finished manuscript, do the page design, formatting, and integrate the graphics. Typically, they work with selected printers and binders. They can arrange for ISBN and LOC numbers and distribution. They charge for their services, so you have to pay them, and pay for the costs of printing your book. You own and store your books and the profits (the difference between printing costs plus subsidy press fees and what you sell the book for) are all yours.
3. Print-on-Demand
A new printing technology that literally prints each book one at a time, as it is sold. (Think of it as a very sophisticated Xerox!) You pay a modest set-up fee, and the POD publisher will do the page design and formatting. Some POD's offer free cover art, distribution packages and promotional materials. Authors do not make profits, they receive royalties. If authors want a supply of their own books, they must buy them from the POD, usually at a special author discount. |
Advantages:
You have autonomy over the aesthetics and content of your book.
You get smart about book publishing.
You can shop around for the best prices.
You own your own books.
Your profit potential is greatest.
Disadvantages:
You have to get smart about book publishing.
You need thousands and thousands of dollars.
Advantages:
You can leave the "details" to an expert.
You own your own books.
After paying for printing and subsidy fees,
the profits are all yours.
Disadvantages: You need thousands and thousands of dollars.
Advantages: Relatively small outlay of cash (hundreds not thousands)
Lots of extras such as page design, formatting, cover art, distribution, marketing materials and online presence on amazon.com and other internet booksellers.
Disadvantages:
You have to buy your own books.
You get royalties, not profits.
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