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Apples to Apples Comparison of POD Publishers
This comparison was compiled by
expecting certain necessary functions of a publisher. Only those publishers
providing at least these services are included in this comparison. The
costs shown are for these services except where noted in the chart:
ISBN and Library of Congress #s
Barcode/EAN - must have to sell book
Formatting of book text - most time consuming of all
publishing jobs
Original cover design - distinguish your book from others
5 or more images (on disk)
Non-exclusive contract - common to almost all POD publishers
Electronic (or digital) proofs - common to all POD publishers
Distribution through Ingram and Baker &Taylor - must have to
sell book
Laminated cover
Perfect Binding
On site web page for your book - must have to sell book
|
Publisher |
Cost |
Edit
Review |
Free
Books |
Price
200 page
book |
Ingram
Discount |
Wholesale
royalty |
Publisher sales royalty |
Author
cost
25 |
of books
100 |
300 |
Back Cover
Edit |
Returns
Option |
Color
Books |
|
AuthorHouse
/1stBooks |
$873 |
No |
No info
on site |
No info
on site |
No info
on site |
No info
on site |
No info
on site |
No info
on site |
No info
on site |
No info
on site |
No |
Yes $699 |
Yes |
|
Book Publisher/ Wheatmark |
$1099
|
No |
5 |
$15.95 |
55% |
0.65
20% of net |
3.19
20% of list |
9.57 |
7.97 |
7.97 |
No |
No |
No |
|
CreateSpace |
$1497 |
No |
0 |
$14.99 |
NO
INGRAM |
1.49
10% of list |
3.74
25% of list |
11.24 |
7.49 |
7.49 |
$249 |
No |
Yes |
|
iUniverse
|
$1099 |
Incl |
10 |
$14.95 |
36%
50% |
1.13 (20%
.36 or 10%
of net) |
2.21
20% of net |
11.21 |
8.22 |
7.47 |
Incl |
No |
Yes |
|
Llumina |
$799 |
Incl |
10 |
$15.95
$13.95 |
50%
45% |
1.59 (10%
1.39 of list) |
4.77 (30%
4.18 of list) |
8.77
8.37 |
7.97 (200
7.67 bks) |
7.17 (500
6.97 bks) |
Incl
|
Yes $500 |
Yes |
|
Rosedog |
$1400 |
$25 + $2.50/
pg |
3 |
$23.00 |
NO
INGRAM |
2.76
12% of list |
6.90
30% of list |
13.80 |
13.80 |
13.80 |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Trafford
|
$1949 |
No |
40 |
$21.95 |
50% |
1.48
20% of net |
4.78
60% of net |
8.50 |
7.99 |
7.24 |
No |
No |
Yes |
|
Virtual Bookworm**
|
$495 |
No |
5 |
$13.95 |
35% |
1.58
50% of net |
$4.18
50% of net |
9.76 |
9.76 |
|
No |
Yes $500 |
Yes |
|
Xlibris |
$1600 |
No |
20 |
$21.99 |
50% |
2.20
10% of list |
5.50
25% of list |
13.19 |
13.19 |
13.19 |
No |
No |
Yes |
HOW TO READ THIS CHART:
Pay attention to anomalies. For instance, if the
retail price is very high and the royalty is also very high, that may seem good,
but is it? If other books of the same type, size, and number of pages are
selling for significantly less, then a high retail price is not competitive.
If the royalty seems higher than most, then ask yourself why. What retail price
is the royalty based on? What is the distributor discount? A low distributor
discount also means a low bookseller discount. For instance, with a 35%
distributor discount, the bookseller will probably only be able to make a 15% to
20% profit, while on books with a 55% discount the bookseller will get 35% to
40%. Which book do you think the bookseller is more likely to buy?
**Unlike the others in this comparison who offer
non-exclusive contracts, Virtual Bookworm has an exclusive contract with
a 90 day escape clause.
Other POD publishers we reviewed who do not offer all these services may
be listed on this site though not included in the comparison chart.
PUBLISHERS: If you see anything on this chart that is
incorrect, please
email me.
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