Self-published books now account for 30% to 40% of eBook sales, which bodes well for self-publishing authors, for whom eBooks are the preferred format. They will continue to see healthy growth in sales as more and more people adopt e-reading. To help indie authors who want to self-publish their books proficiently, we give you a list of top publishing companies. KDP, Lulu, IngramSpark, LA Book Publishers, and Kobo are prominent names on the list.
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Bookbaby
Bookbaby sells books through their virtual bookshop and also distributes them to other merchants. Aside from publication and distribution, they also offer editing services, cover and interior design, and marketing campaigns. You can purchase the services separately or as a package. All services are prepaid. Ebooks yield 100% royalties, excluding the retailer’s commission. Sales sold through the Bookshop earn 85% royalties. Bookbaby also offers print-on-demand services that generate royalties ranging from 10% to 30%.
Lulu
Lulu is one of the leading online self-publishing platforms and a well-known distributor of online and print books. They sell books through their bookshop and distribute them to various online retailers. Lulu offers print books in both paperback and hardcover formats. Their publishing and distribution services are free but offer editing, cover design, and book promotion. Lulu charges a 20% commission on books sold on their marketplace after deducting any book manufacturing costs associated with print copies. Sales generated by partner retailers would also result in their commission.
IngramSpark
Ingram, the world’s top print book distributor, launched this self-publishing service, which is connected to 39,000 bookstores, libraries, and online merchants in over 150 countries. IngramSpark also distributes eBooks to all major online retailers. They publish hardback books and even provide a premium level of printing—which is useful for novels with many photographs. They also provide a book returns option for writers; authors who participate have a better chance of being stocked by brick-and-mortar bookstores, which are normally hesitant to carry self-published works.
Kobo
Kobo, an anagram of the word “book,” contributes to around 2% of the entire eBook sales in the top five English-language markets combined. It is a prominent participant in Canada, accounting for up to 25% of eBook sales.
Kobo, like the Kindle, offers both an e-reader and an app for reading on different gadgets. Kobo-published eBooks are available in nearly 190 countries. It also operates the Kobo eReading Program in collaboration with the American Booksellers Association, allowing member bookstores to provide their consumers with access to over 5 million Kobo titles. Kobo also has connections with e-book stores all over the world.
Royalty rates range from 45% and 70%, based on the ebook’s pricing.
After deducting book manufacturing costs, IngramSpark charges a commission of 53% to bookstores and 30% to online retailers. They also have a $49 setup fee and a $12 yearly fee.
Barnes and Noble
Previously known as NOOK Press, Barnes & Noble’s self-publishing portal accounts for 3% of total eBook sales, nearly all of which come from the United States. It also provides print-on-demand publishing. Books published by Barnes & Noble Press are only available at their physical and online bookshops.
Royalty rates range from 40% and 65%, based on the price of the book.
iBooks
Apple’s iBooks is the second-largest ebook retailer after Amazon, accounting for 10% of total sales in the top five markets. Its more than 40 country-specific ebook marketplaces provide unique benefits for authors: They can price their books differently in each location based on the prices of comparable books and even establish rates in the local currency. Furthermore, authors have the flexibility to schedule free books and discount offers at any moment, and there is no exclusive distribution contract. Direct publishing on iBooks requires a Mac device; otherwise, you will need to use an ebook aggregator. Apple charges a fixed 70% royalty rate.
Kindle Direct Publishing
Amazon owns KDP, which produces and sells eBooks that you can read on Kindle devices or devices with the Kindle app installed. About 80% of total English-language eBook sales take place on Amazon, with self-published titles accounting for 42% of this total. The Kindle eBooks use the.MOBI format, unlike most others who use EPUB. If you created your eBook in MS Word, you can convert it to.MOBI format using free software. KDP’s royalties amount to 35% to 70% of the book’s list price.
LA Book Publishers
The company started its journey in the “City of Angels,” Los Angeles, and quickly expanded its horizons through creativity and invention to become a well-known name in the literary world. They are now successfully providing end-to-end publishing services to both aspiring and experienced authors in the United States and elsewhere. With the spirit of wordsmithing and narrative, the publishing agency delivers services of editing, design, marketing, and distribution.
