There’s nothing quite like holding a great book in your hands. That feeling is even better when the book has your name on the cover.
Self-published authors interested in printing their own work have a number of options. The toughest part is narrowing down the choices, so what’s what we’ve done for you. Here’s everything you need to know about printing your own book.
There is a range of book printing services available, and prices can vary widely. Cost per book depends on the service you use, the number of pages, hardback vs. paperback, paper quality, and images, for example.
Some printing services will let you order one or two books at a time, and others will require a minimum purchase of, say, 50 books, for example.
Every service sets their own royalty structure. Some will give you 10% of every sale, others as much as 50%. Some, like Amazon’s Kindle Direct Publishing, give you more control over your royalty rate.
Profit from your book sales is taxable, usually considered self-employment income. To make sure you’re doing your due diligence, consult this basic guide to taxes for self-published authors.
Consider how many books you think you can reasonably sell. Are you marketing your book via email, social media, display ads, your own website, etc.? A strong marketing plan increases the likelihood that you will move your inventory.
If you’re a brand new author with a small following, 1,000 books is probably too many. Starting in the tens or low hundreds is a safer choice. And if the book is a hit, you can simply order another print run. If you’re unsure of how many you might sell, a print-on-demand service is best for you.
Printing hardback books typically costs more money. Plus, paperback vs. hardback will affect the weight of your book. If you plan to ship your books to readers, weight can affect the cost of shipping.
Trim size (the length, width, and height of your book), paper quality, and whether your book includes colored text or images will affect the cost of printing.
How will you process payment and take orders? How will you get your book to readers? Some book-printing services will do these things for you, others will ship you the finished product and it’s on you to take orders, collect payment, then pack and ship books to your readers. Some services, like Lulu, will even let you sell directly through your author website while they handle the distribution part.
Many writers will find it more convenient to have their printer handle distribution. Others prefer to do it themselves so they can personalize their orders with a note or an autograph.
Choosing a budget will make it easier to choose a printer. Consider that the retail price of your book should be higher than the printing cost. You want to make a profit, after all.
Review the list of considerations above and choose your must-haves, then consult our handy guide to book printers below.
To sell books, you have to have a promotion plan. This might include email marketing, social media, display ads, or readings / book signings. The more you market, the more you sell.
Ask a friend to proofread it for you or, if you can, hire a professional proofreader (some services, like BookBaby, can help you find editors and proofreaders). There’s nothing quite as frustrating as enjoying your hard work in physical form only to spot the dreaded “form” instead of “from” on page 50.
The cost to print a book depends on a number of factors, like trim size, paper quality, cover type, number of pages, and quantity of books.
In general, expect to pay about $5–$25 per book, or more if your book is image- or color-heavy.
For example, a 300-page, 6×9” paperback with 60# paper will cost $7.95/book to print through Lulu. The same book in hardcover will cost $15.20/book.
Lulu is a very popular, easy-to-use service for printing your own books.
KDP is Amazon’s self-publishing and distribution service. Authors can create ebooks and paperbacks.
BookBaby has two printing options: global print on demand and direct-to-reader. Global print on demand allows you to make your book discoverable through retailers like Amazon and Barnes & Noble, and direct-to-reader lets you sell through your own BookBaby digital storefront.
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This is a great tutorial! I'm going to try printing my own book soon!
This post is incredibly helpful! I’ve always wanted to print my own book but was overwhelmed by the process. The tips on formatting and choosing the right printing service are exactly what I needed. Thanks for sharing such valuable insights!