Do Publishers Differ That Much?
Below you will find a chart outlining how the services of various POD publishers compare and contrast. Most publishers provide certain standard benefits for all. For the chart, however, I attempted to isolate important features and show you how each publisher compares to all others. Try not to select a publisher based on only one or two variables. I encourage you to look at all the features of a publisher, and, check out the grades I’ve given publishers on a separate page, before moving forward.
Unofficial, Evolving POD Comparisons
Publisher Extras
|
E-book |
Color Option |
Returns Option |
Email Marketing Option |
Promo Coaching Option |
Author Website |
|
|
Outskirts |
No |
Yes |
$500 |
No |
Yes, two years |
$299 |
|
Yes |
Yes |
No |
$369 |
One session: $150 |
$600 |
|
|
AuthorHouse |
$149 |
Yes |
$699 |
No |
No |
$759 |
|
BookSurge |
$299 |
Yes |
No |
No |
One session: $100 |
No |
|
iUniverse |
? |
Yes |
$550 |
$Yes |
Monthly Podcast |
$759 |
|
Trafford |
Yes |
Yes |
No |
No |
No |
No |
|
Xlibris |
No |
Yes |
$1149 |
$Yes |
No |
$549 |
|
Wheatmark |
No |
No |
Includ. |
No |
No price stated |
No |
|
Xulon |
No |
No |
$149 |
No |
No |
No |
|
Holy Fire |
$199 |
Yes |
$299 |
No |
No |
No |
|
Virtual Bookworm |
$99 |
Yes |
$500 |
No |
No |
$240 |
|
Aventine |
No |
No |
No |
No |
No |
$800 |
|
Llumina |
$65 |
Yes |
$500 |
$Yes |
No |
$839 |
|
Dog Ear |
No |
Yes |
$499 |
$Yes |
No |
$343- 999 |
|
BookLocker |
$135 |
? |
No |
No |
No |
No |
Basic Stats
|
Price Range |
Time Till Publ. |
Free Books |
Retail: 200- page book |
Author unit cost: 100 books |
Retail Sales Royalty |
|
|
Outskirts |
$199 to $999 |
70-90 days |
10 |
$16.95 |
$6.85 |
$2.37 |
|
$369 to $1369 |
50-60 days |
1 |
$12.95 |
$8.50 |
$1.00 |
|
|
AuthorHouse |
$598 to $1298 |
20-25 days |
1 |
$12.30 |
$8.85 |
$2.46 |
|
BookSurge |
$499 to $3387 |
40-80 days |
20 |
$15.99 |
$11.19 |
$5.60 20% list |
|
iUniverse |
$599 to $2099 |
37-41 days |
10 |
$14.95 |
$8.22 |
$2.21 20% net |
|
Trafford |
$1497 to $6497 |
? |
20 |
$21.95 |
$8.12 |
$1.31 60% net |
|
Xlibris |
$299 to $5999 |
44-54 days |
20 |
$21.99 |
$10.21 |
$2.20 25% net |
|
Wheatmark |
$1299 to $3999 |
90-180 days |
5 |
$16.95 |
$8.45 |
$1.53 20% list |
|
Xulon |
$599 to $1650 |
90 days |
2 |
$14.99 |
$6.85 |
$5.00 |
|
Holy Fire |
$499 to $1200 |
60 days |
5 |
$14.99 |
$7.50 |
$1.30 |
|
Virtual Bookworm |
$495 to $2350 |
45-56 days |
5 |
$13.95 |
$9.76 |
$2.93 50% net |
|
Aventine |
$399 to $1689 |
90 days |
2 |
$11.95 |
Varies |
$2.02 |
|
Llumina |
$799 to $999 |
84-112 days |
10 |
$13.95 |
$8.77 |
$1.60 50% net |
|
Dog Ear |
$1099 to $3499 |
? |
5 |
$13.95 |
$5.28 |
$6.67 |
|
BookLocker |
$612 |
28-42 days |
? |
$13.95 |
$7.27 |
$2.09 |
This publisher comparison table does not record general features most POD companies tend to include in their packages. You will find these provisions to follow:
-
Non-exclusive contract
-
ISBN number
-
Five or more images
-
Electronic proofs
-
Distribution through Ingram and/or Baker & Taylor
-
“Perfect” book binding
-
Onsite web page advertising
-
Barcode
-
Formatting of book text
-
Original cover design (not necessarily custom-designed)
-
Laminated cover
