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Upfront Printing Cost to AuthorDistribution Process(Distribution Hiccups)Paper/Printing QualityRoyalty/EarningsExtra Features (sewn binding for lay-flat)Acquiring Author Copies to Sell Direct to ReadersOther Issues to Consider
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Traditional Publishing (HarperCollins, Chronicle Books, etc.) Handled by publishing houseReturnsHigh Lowest (about 10% of retail price after advance is earned out)SometimesHave to order through publisher (and pay for with upcharge)
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Found.us (and the like)NoneHandled by publishing service, but not available through Amazon or other online/physical retailers. Customers have to purchase through the Found.us (or similar) siteNo distribution through Amazon or physical bookstoresQuestionableHigher royalties but far fewer distribution options (often limited to sales off publisher's site only)NoUsually have to pay a significant upcharge that makes profit margin minimal at best
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Offset printer within USA (print large quantities in bulk)High; cost per book decreases as the order quantity increases; must pay to ship books to you or to your distributorHandled by author or a separate distribution serviceHave to distribute yourself or hire a distribution partnerHigh Varies: Depends on print cost, ship cost, distribution costSometimesN/A (build into book order)
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Offset printer overseas (print large quantities in bulk)High but lower than offset printer based in USA; cost per book decreases as the order quantity increases; must pay to ship books to you or to your distributorHandled by author or a separate distribution serviceHave to distribute yourself or hire a distribution partnerHigh Varies: Depends on print cost, ship cost, distribution costSometimesN/A (build into book order)Delay in shipping from printer (gets stuck in customs; small part of a large container shipping over)
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KDP/IngramSparkNonePrint-on-demand; orders are shipped to customers/booksellers by KDP or IngramSpark as they are ordered Returns (IngramSpark) from booksellers; Returns to Amazon by customers is rarer, but it happens); KDP says it distributes to physical booksellers via Expanded Distribution but those booksellers won't purchase from them (see Column C, Row 6)QuestionableVaries, payouts are consistent (every 30 days)NoOrder at your print cost + small commission to KDP/IngramSpark (it's minimal)Photos print with higher quality than art (illustrations, drawings, watercolor, etc.)
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Other POD (BookBaby, Lulu)NoneSome work with Amazon; Some SAY they distribute to physical booksellers, you have to read the fine print on that. Amazon's expanded distribution does NOT work well for sales to physical booksellers because they don't offer 55% discount or returns to booksellers (and, they're booksellers' #1 competition)Physical bookstores not likely to order (see column C, row 6)QuestionableVaries, payouts are consistent (every 30 days)NoOrder at your print cost + upcharge to publisher (upcharge depends on publisher)
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*As a cookbook author or children's book author, you can only pick 2 (maybe 3) features in row 1. Which are most important to you?
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