Print-On-Demand (POD) publishers merely print a single copy of a book at a time as it is ordered, rather than mass printing. Yet POD, as a term, has come to be synonymous with a business model in which publishers, in one way or another, charge authors to bring their books to readers. The payment may be through up-front set-up fees, a share of the sale price, or a combination of both. Authors who choose this form of publishing should understand that although their books may be available for sale on online retail sites, they will likely never appear in bricks and mortar bookstores. Authors will have to do their own marketing, and they can expect that their books will not be regarded as true publishing credits by most people in the publishing industry.

Despite these disadvantages, POD publishing is still right for some. If you wish to self-publish a book in order to reach a small, niche audience, POD is a low-risk means to do so. But before you choose the publisher who is right for you, you need to research the options and compare the offerings. When making your comparisons, don’t choose a company based on one factor alone. Be sure to consider all seven of the key factors outlined in this article, while giving slightly more weight to those issues that are most important to you.

1. Set-up Costs

Most PODs charge a basic set-up fee to publish your book. You may be inclined to choose a publisher that charges the lowest amount or nothing at all, but bear in mind that POD is a business, and publishers will make money one way or another. If you choose to minimize your set-up fees, understand the trade-off. PODs that charge lower set-up fees (or no set-up fees) often set higher cover prices, which could price your book out of the market. Additionally, they may pay lower royalties on average.

An initial outlay of funds could translate to higher total profits in the long run. If you expect to sell only a very few copies of your book, it may be best to avoid set-up fees. If, however, you expect to sell many copies of your book, an initial investment may be worthwhile if the publisher will pay you higher per book royalties.

When considering set-up costs, be careful to compare comparable services. Make sure you know what your set-up costs cover, and don’t pay for services you don’t need. Most authors will want a basic package to include, at a minimum, cover design, internal layout, an ISBN, and distribution to online retailers. Many packages load additional services you may secure at a lower price elsewhere, such as copyediting, promotion, and copyright registration (you can do that yourself). One company may charge no set-up fees at all, but you may have to design your own cover, which requires time and specialized knowledge.