5 Best Print-On-Demand Books Services – Forbes Advisor

Selecting the right print-on-demand book service isn’t a task to take lightly. It’s the infrastructure that supports your creative output, impacting everything from the tactile feel of the pages to the way your book appears on an international stage. Below we explore the vital components to scrutinize before making your decision.

Essential Features

• Quality of Print: Don’t compromise on print quality. Seek out services that offer high-resolution, vibrant color printing or rich grayscale for black-and-white publications. This ensures your book can hold its own against traditionally published works in terms of physical appearance.
• Distribution Network: A wide-reaching distribution network is key. Investigate whether the service partners with major online retailers, such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble and independent bookstores. This amplifies your book’s visibility and accessibility to a global audience.
• Customization Options: Your book is unique, and its physical form should reflect that. Prioritize services that offer multiple choices in book sizes, paper weight and cover finishes. Some services even offer embossing, foiling or other special features to make your book distinctive.
• Speed of Service: Review not just the printing turnaround time but also shipping durations and any possible bottlenecks. If you’re running a Kickstarter campaign or have a launch date, your timeline is not negotiable.
• Sustainability: If leaving a smaller carbon footprint is important to you, opt for services that use recycled paper and environmentally friendly inks.

Types of Print-on-Demand Book Services

• Retailer: These platforms, such as Amazon KDP, focus mainly on selling your book through their specific channels. They handle the printing and distribution but within their proprietary networks.
• Aggregator: Platforms, such as Draft2Digital, distribute your book across multiple retailers. They handle the distribution to various platforms but don’t offer printing themselves. Suitable for those who want expansive distribution without getting tied down to a single retailer.
• Full Service: Think of these as your publishing concierge. They offer end-to-end solutions, covering everything from book design to printing, distribution and sometimes even marketing strategies. Be on the lookout for vanity publishers, which are full-service companies to avoid.

Vanity publishers typically make their money upfront by charging authors high fees for the publication process. While they may offer to take care of all the aspects of publishing your book—making them appear “full service”—their primary income is derived from the authors themselves, not from book sales. As a result, they have little incentive to ensure that your book is of high quality or that it gets broad distribution and sales.

Ease of Use

Ease of use isn’t merely about a clean interface; it’s about how effortlessly you can bring your vision to life. Pay attention to the design tools offered, the user guide clarity and whether the platform supports bulk uploads or multiple formats, such as ePub or PDF.

Cost To Print and Royalties

Break down the cost structures meticulously. Some services may have no upfront costs but will take a significant portion of your royalties. Conversely, platforms with higher initial fees often offer more generous royalty structures. Analyze which model aligns better with your financial goals.

Flexibility and Control

Authorial control extends beyond the text on the page. Does the platform impose any restrictions on book pricing, updates or revisions? Are you free to distribute your book via other channels, or is there an exclusivity clause? Additionally, check if the service provides you with meaningful analytics to gauge your book’s performance in real time.