—BOOK PUBLISHING SERVICES
Publish Your Book on Amazon and Beyond
KDP publishing services that set up your book on Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, IngramSpark, and Google Play in your name. One-time setup fee from $249. Accounts registered to you, 100% of rights and royalties retained, live in 5 to 30 business days.
—WHAT YOU GET
What KDP Publishing Services Actually Buy You
The line item says “publishing.” The actual deliverable is six different jobs across 30 to 60 days.
A real publishing service handles file preparation (EPUB, MOBI, print PDF for Amazon KDP and IngramSpark), metadata setup (BISAC categories, keywords, descriptions per platform), ISBN coordination, distribution registration across major retailers, copyright registration guidance, and launch-day coordination across the first 30 days.
Bowker data reported by Publishers Weekly shows 3.5 million self-published titles were released in the United States in 2025, and most authors hit the same setup wall on day one: BISAC categories, ISBN decisions, trim size, royalty rate tiers, and KDP Select exclusivity choices that lock in for the life of the book. Ebook publishing services exist to handle that wall so you do not.
—DISTRIBUTION
Book Distribution Services Across 7 Retail Channels
Most first-time self-published authors believe Amazon is the publishing endgame. It is the largest single retailer for ebooks and self-published print, but Amazon is one of seven channels that matter, and the other six handle different reader populations who do not buy on Amazon.
How Book Distribution Services Reach 7 Channels
Seven retailer channels orbit a single manuscript. Each reaches different reader populations.
Manuscript
Amazon (KDP)
65 to 70% US ebook
Kindle device users, Audible subscribers, Prime members
ebook + print + audio
Apple Books
~10% US ebook
iPad and Mac users, tablet-reading audience
ebook + audio
Kobo
Largest non-Amazon globally
Canada, Netherlands, 35+ countries
ebook + audio
Barnes & Noble
5 to 8% US ebook
Older readers, US-focused
ebook + print
Google Play
Android default
Android users, mobile readers globally
ebook
IngramSpark
Print + libraries
Bookstore browsers, library borrowers
print + hardcover
D2D + Smashwords
Aggregator
OverDrive, Hoopla, library platforms
ebook (multi-platform)
Why Distribution Breadth Matters
Authors who distribute beyond Amazon earn 15 to 30% more total revenue than Amazon-exclusive authors at the same sales velocity, because they reach readers Amazon does not.
—INVESTMENT
KDP Publishing Services Pricing Across 3 Tiers
Tier price covers a complete publishing setup at the level your book needs. Three tiers map to three reader-reach decisions: Amazon-only launch (Starter), multi-platform global launch (Growth), or premium launch with hardcover, audiobook setup, and library distribution (Authority). All tiers set up accounts in your name with full rights and royalties retained. Same setup team across all tiers.
| Feature |
Starter $249 Choose Starter |
Most Popular
Growth $549 Choose Growth |
Authority $1,299 Choose Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Launch scope | |||
| Best for | Amazon-only ebook launch | Multi-platform global launch | Premium launch with hardcover and audiobook |
| Timeline | 5 to 10 business days | 10 to 15 business days | 15 to 30 business days |
| Payment options | Single payment | Single payment | Single / 50-50 |
| Ebook distribution | |||
| Apple Books direct upload | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Kobo Writing Life | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Barnes & Noble Press | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Draft2Digital alternative path | ✗ | Optional | Optional |
| Print and hardcover | |||
| Amazon KDP paperback | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| IngramSpark paperback | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Hardcover, KDP and IngramSpark | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Print proof review coordination | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Audiobook and library | |||
| Audiobook setup, ACX or Findaway | ✗ | ✗ | Platform setup and distribution only |
| Library distribution, OverDrive and Bibliotheca | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Pre-order setup across platforms | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Metadata and profiles | |||
| Categories | 2 categories | 2 categories | 2 categories + A+ Content briefing |
| Keywords | 7 keywords | 14 across platforms | 21 + A+ Content briefing |
| ISBN guidance | ✗ | Free Amazon or Bowker | Owned ISBNs across all formats |
| Universal Book Link | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Goodreads author profile | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| BookBub author profile | ✗ | ✗ | ✓ |
| Launch and post-launch | |||
| Launch coordination | Single live launch | Multi-platform coordinated | Founder coordination + checklist |
| Pre-launch quality check | Ebook file | Ebook + print | All formats |
| Post-launch monitoring | ✗ | ✗ | 30 days, platform issue resolution |
| Copyright registration guidance | ✗ | ✗ | US, UK, Canada, Australia |
In every tier
- Amazon KDP setup
- Metadata configuration
- Pricing strategy consultation
- Amazon Author Central profile
- Every account set up in your name
- 100% rights and royalties retained
- The same setup team, whichever tier you choose
—BUNDLE OPTIONS
Publish Your Book Online with Cover and Format Bundles
Three bundles for finished and edited manuscripts. Cover, format, distribution, one invoice. Save up to $1,148.
If your manuscript is finished and edited, you need three services on one timeline: cover design, interior formatting, and platform distribution. Buying them separately works but takes longer, costs more, and forces you to coordinate three vendors who do not know about each other. Publish-Ready Bundles solve that by pricing all three on day one, in tiers matched to the three publishing tiers.
| Feature |
Publish-Ready Starter $1,099 $1,547 individual Save $448 · 29% off Choose Starter |
Most Popular
Publish-Ready Growth $2,195 $2,647 individual Save $452 · 17.1% off Choose Growth |
Publish-Ready Authority $3,295 $4,243 individual Save $948 · 22.3% off Choose Authority |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bundle scope | |||
| Best for | Multi-platform launch with cover and formatting | Full launch with print, audiobook setup, and profiles | Premium launch with custom illustration and library reach |
| Manuscript size | Up to 30,000 words | Up to 60,000 words | Up to 100,000 words or 100 illustrated pages |
| Timeline | 4 to 6 weeks | 6 to 8 weeks | 6 to 8 weeks |
| Cover design | |||
| Cover design tier | Cover Design Growth ($399) | Cover Design Growth ($399) | Cover Design Authority ($999) |
| Cover formats | Ebook + paperback | Ebook + paperback + hardcover | Custom illustration, all formats |
| Interior formatting | |||
| Formatting tier | Standard Bundle Formatting ($599) | Standard Bundle Formatting ($599) | Advanced Bundle Formatting ($1,495) |
| Format coverage | Ebook + print, up to 30,000 words | Ebook + print, up to 60,000 words, no overage | Complex print + ebook, up to 100 illustrated pages |
| Formatting overage waived | Included to 30,000 words | Up to $360 near 60,000 words | Included to 100 pages, then $20 per page |
| Publishing and distribution | |||
| Publishing tier | Publishing Growth ($549) | Publishing Authority ($1,299) | Publishing Authority ($1,299) |
| Audiobook setup, ACX or Findaway | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Library distribution, OverDrive and Bibliotheca | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ |
| Pre-order setup across platforms | ✗ | ✓ | ✓ coordinated across platforms |
| Author copies shipped | 5 paperback | 10 paperback + 2 hardcover | 25 paperback + 5 hardcover |
| Marketing and author profiles | |||
| Amazon book description optimisation | ✗ | $150 value | $150 value |
| Author Central profile setup | ✗ | $100 value | $100 value |
| Goodreads author profile setup | ✗ | $100 value | $100 value |
| BookBub author profile setup | ✗ | ✗ | $100 value |
In every bundle
- Multi-platform distribution
- Single payment or 50-50 split
- Every account set up in your name
- 100% rights and royalties retained
—ADD-ONS
Six Add-Ons for Ebook Publishing Services Launches
These add-ons sit on top of the Starter, Growth, or Authority publishing tiers. Most authors do not need any of them. Some authors need exactly one or two. Buy what solves a real problem you have, skip what does not.
Copyright Registration Filing
$199+
We file your copyright registration with the US Copyright Office on your behalf. You receive the official certificate to your name, not ours. For UK, Canada, and Australia authors, copyright is automatic on creation under the Berne Convention, so registration is optional in those jurisdictions. We provide guidance only at no extra fee, and you handle any voluntary registration directly. Worth buying for US authors who skipped the copyright registration guidance in Authority tier and want it handled.
Bowker ISBN Purchase
$30+
We coordinate your Bowker ISBN purchase so you own your ISBN instead of using Amazon’s free ASIN. Worth buying if you plan to publish the same book across multiple platforms with consistent identification, or if you plan a series and want unified ISBN management. Skip if you are Amazon-only at the Starter tier.
Series Setup on Amazon
$99
Multi-book series linking on Amazon, automatic “Book X in series” labeling, series logic on Author Central, and reader-discoverability optimization across the series. Worth buying if your current book is part of a planned 3+ book series and you want Amazon’s series engine working in your favor from the start. Skip if this is a standalone book.
Additional Format Setup
$199
Adding a hardcover or large-print format to your existing book listing after the original launch is complete. The most common use case is launching ebook + paperback first, then adding hardcover six months later when sales justify the format. Worth buying if you want to expand format coverage post-launch without redoing the full publishing setup.
Audiobook Production
$1,500 to $5,000
Full audiobook production: narrator hire, studio recording, editing, mastering, and ACX or Findaway Voices submission. Custom quote based on book length (audiobooks run roughly 9,000 words per finished hour) and narrator selection (industry-standard rates run $200 to $400 per finished hour). Worth buying if you have an audience that listens, which most non-fiction and memoir audiences do. Skip if your readers are exclusively Kindle or print.
Translation Services
$0.18 to $0.20
Professional human translation by a native speaker in the target language. Spanish, French, German, Italian most common. Custom quote per language depending on technical complexity and turnaround. Worth buying if you have evidence of audience demand in a specific language market. Skip if you have not validated the international audience yet (Foreign Rights Pitch is the better starting point for that).
Universal availability and cost disclosure
Prices listed cover our coordination, filing, and setup work. Third-party costs (US Copyright Office filing fees, Bowker ISBN purchase fees, narrator talent fees, translator fees) are paid by you directly and vary by vendor selection, market, and timing. Estimated ranges shown are 2026 indicative rates that may change without notice. Availability of specific narrators, translators, and vendors depends on capacity at the time of booking.
—HOW IT WORKS
How to Publish Your Book on Amazon in 6 Steps
Most self-publishing horror stories trace to one root cause: the author tried to publish their book on Amazon before they understood which decisions were reversible and which were locked in for the life of the book. Six documented steps prevent that, with author approval gates between every irreversible choice.
I
Discovery and Pre-Launch Audit
A 45-minute consultation maps what you have (manuscript file format, cover status, ISBN ownership, audience research, prior publishing history) and what you need (which tier, which platforms, which formats, which timeline). We identify any pre-launch gaps before contracting (file conversion needs, missing assets, pricing strategy questions). Written proposal with tier, scope, timeline, and payment plan delivered within 48 hours.
II
Contract, Account Audit, and Setup Plan
Once you sign, we audit your existing accounts (KDP, IngramSpark, Author Central, Apple, Kobo, B&N) or create them in your name where missing. Every account is registered with your bank, your tax info, your bio. A written setup plan documents which platforms, which formats, which keywords, which categories, and which pricing tiers we will configure in steps 4 and 5. You approve the plan before any uploads begin.
III
Metadata, Description, and Categorization
The metadata layer that determines whether readers find your book. Title and subtitle finalization, BISAC category research and selection, keyword research using Amazon's auto-suggest plus dedicated tools, book description writing or optimization for each platform, contributor and series setup, and pricing strategy across regions. This is the highest-leverage step in the process. Bad metadata is the single largest cause of self-published books selling 12 copies in their first year.
IV
File Preparation and Validation
Manuscript files prepared and validated for each target platform. EPUB for Apple, Kobo, B&N. MOBI/KPF for Amazon Kindle. Print-ready PDF with bleed, trim size, and margin specifications for KDP Print and IngramSpark. Hardcover specifications if Authority tier. Cover files validated against each platform's exact pixel and DPI requirements. Test uploads run on every platform to catch validation errors before launch.
V
Platform Setup and Pre-Launch Configuration
Books configured on every platform you contracted for. Pricing entered, categories selected, keywords loaded, descriptions formatted (each platform handles HTML differently, which trips up most DIY authors). Author Central, Goodreads, BookBub, and any other author profiles built and linked. Pre-order windows set if Authority tier. Universal Book Link generated. Final dashboard review with you on a screen-share before launch goes live.
VI
Launch Day and 30-Day Monitoring
Books go live across platforms in the staggered sequence we mapped in Step 2. Launch-day checklist confirms each platform is live, search results are returning the book, and metadata is rendering correctly. For Authority tier, we monitor for 30 days and resolve platform issues as they surface (KDP categorization changes, IngramSpark distribution delays, Apple Books territory glitches, ACX audiobook validation queues). Most issues happen in the first 14 days, which is exactly when DIY authors are least equipped to handle them.
—WHEN NOT THE RIGHT FIT
When Not to Publish Your Book on Amazon Yet
Self-publishing is the right path for most authors most of the time. It is the wrong path for at least three specific scenarios. Read this before you sign a contract with any publishing service, including ours.
Traditional Publishing Potential
You have not queried agents yet. If your book is in a genre where traditional publishers actively buy debut authors (literary fiction, upmarket women’s fiction, narrative non-fiction with a strong author platform, certain YA categories), a Big 5 advance plus bookstore distribution plus marketing budget often exceeds what self-publishing earns over the same 5-year window. Query agents first. Most agents respond within 12 weeks. If you receive multiple offers, you have a real option. If form rejections come back after 30 to 50 well-targeted queries, self-publishing becomes the better path.
Try this instead
Query agents for 3 to 6 months before publishing.
Manuscript Not Finished or Edited
If your book has not been through professional editing yet, do not buy publishing services first. Publishing setup uploads your manuscript into a globally distributed system that is harder to reverse than to set up correctly the first time. Edit first, publish second. The most common pre-launch regret authors share with us in consultation calls is “I should have edited before I published.”
Try this instead
Book Editing Services is the right service to start with.
No Defined Reader Yet
The reader for your book has not been defined yet. Whether the writing started from a personal mission, a long-held idea, professional expertise, or external encouragement, the book needs a specific audience before publishing setup pays off. Books published without a defined reader sell to that defined reader: nobody. If the answer to “who specifically will buy this and why” is hazy, the book is not ready for publication regardless of how finished the manuscript feels.
Try this instead
Spend a week answering the reader and audience questions in writing first.
—Frequently Asked Questions
KDP Publishing Services Questions Authors Ask First
Thirteen questions, ordered the way they typically come up on intake calls. None rehash earlier sections.
If you set up my KDP account in my name, what happens if I want to leave AuthorWings later?
Nothing changes for you. The account is registered with your email, your tax info, your bank account, your bio. You have the password. We have nothing locking you in. If you want to manage the account yourself going forward, you log in and do that. If you want to hire a different service to run promotions or add formats later, you give them access to the same account. We are a contractor for the setup, not a co-owner of the publication.
Do I need an LLC or registered business to self-publish on Amazon?
No. You can publish on KDP, IngramSpark, Apple Books, Kobo, and Barnes & Noble as an individual, using your legal name, your personal bank account, and your own tax details. An LLC is optional. Some authors form one to keep book income separate from personal finances, to list a business name as the publisher of record, or for liability and tax reasons, but none of that is required to get a book live and paid. If you want that separation, an accountant or attorney can tell you whether an LLC fits your situation, and we register the publishing accounts to match whichever structure you choose.
What is the difference between a Bowker ISBN and Amazon's free ASIN?
Amazon's free ASIN identifies your book inside Amazon's ecosystem only. It does not work for IngramSpark, Apple Books, Kobo, B&N, or any other retailer. A Bowker ISBN is a global standard identifier that works across all retailers and stays with the book regardless of which platforms you publish on or who manages the listings. You own the Bowker ISBN. If you ever want consistent identification across multi-platform launch, library distribution, or future format additions (hardcover, audiobook), the Bowker ISBN is the right choice. Single ISBN $125. 10-pack $295 from Bowker directly.
Besides your setup fee, what else will I have to pay to publish my book?
A few third-party costs that go straight to the platforms rather than to us. The setup fee covers our work. Separately, you may pay for your own ISBNs if you want them (Bowker charges $125 for a single ISBN or $295 for a 10-pack, while Amazon's free ASIN covers Amazon-only publishing), the printing cost of any author copies or print proofs you order, and optional extras such as a Bowker barcode or the US Copyright Office filing fee. Ebooks have no printing cost. Retailers keep their standard percentage of each sale instead of billing you upfront, so there is nothing to pay per copy sold. We walk through every likely cost on the consultation call so nothing catches you off guard at launch.
Should I enroll in KDP Select for the first 90 days?
Probably not. KDP Select gives Amazon ebook exclusivity in exchange for Kindle Unlimited (KU) revenue and access to Amazon's promotional tools (Kindle Countdown Deals, free book promotions). The trade-off is you cannot list your ebook on Apple Books, Kobo, B&N, or Google Play during the 90-day window. For most authors, the lost royalties from non-Amazon retailers exceed the KU revenue gained. Exception: if your audience is heavily Kindle-concentrated (true for some genre fiction categories) and you want the promotional tools for a launch push. We will give you the math on the consultation call based on your specific genre.
What happens if Amazon flags my book during launch?
Amazon's automated content review occasionally flags books for manual review (most often for cover content, pricing structure, or category placement). If your book is flagged, the listing is paused while Amazon investigates, typically 24 to 72 hours. Authority tier includes 30-day post-launch monitoring, which means we handle Amazon support escalation if a flag occurs. For Starter and Growth, you handle it directly using Amazon's support documentation. We cannot guarantee Amazon will not flag any specific book, because their review system is opaque.
Do I have to tell Amazon if I used AI to write or edit my book?
Only if AI generated the actual content. Amazon KDP asks you to disclose AI-generated text, images, or translations through a checkbox in the publishing workflow. Work that is only AI-assisted, meaning brainstorming, outlining, grammar checks, or editing your own writing, does not need to be disclosed. The disclosure is internal to Amazon, is not shown to readers on your product page, and does not affect your royalties, ranking, or category eligibility. Skipping it when disclosure was required can get a title removed or an account flagged, so when in doubt, disclose. Amazon revises this policy from time to time, so we confirm the current wording on KDP's own guidelines page before we submit your book.
How much will I actually earn per book sold?
Depends on format, retailer, and pricing. Amazon ebook royalties are 70% on books priced $2.99 to $12.99, 35% outside that range. Amazon paperback royalty is roughly 40 to 60% after print costs (varies by trim size and page count). Apple, Kobo, B&N pay roughly 70% on ebooks at any price. IngramSpark print royalties are typically 45 to 55% after wholesaler discount. A $4.99 ebook sold on Amazon at 70% earns $3.49. The same ebook on Apple at 70% earns $3.49. A $14.99 paperback through Amazon earns roughly $5 to $7 depending on print costs. Specific numbers depend on your book's specs, which we calculate during pricing strategy in Step 3.
What if I have already started publishing my book somewhere and want to move it?
Possible in most cases. If your book is on KDP and you want to add other platforms, that is straightforward. If your book is locked into a hybrid publisher contract, you need to read the contract for an exit clause (most hybrid contracts make leaving difficult or expensive). If your book is on a vanity press platform, the rights situation needs review by you and an IP lawyer if necessary. We will audit your existing publishing situation in the discovery call and give you an honest read on how migratable it is.
Will my book be available in bookstores?
Maybe, with caveats. IngramSpark distribution (included in Growth and Authority tiers) makes your book technically available to any bookstore through Ingram's wholesaler network. Whether a specific bookstore actually orders it depends on the bookstore's purchasing decisions, your discount terms (we recommend 55% wholesale discount with returns enabled for bookstore-friendly terms, which costs you per unit), and your book's local relevance. Self-published books rarely appear on bookstore shelves without local promotion. They appear on bookstore order forms and can be purchased on request.
How long does the publishing setup actually take from start to live?
Depends on tier. Starter (Amazon-only ebook) goes from contract to live in 5 to 10 business days. Growth (multi-platform print + ebook) takes 10 to 15 business days. Authority (everything plus hardcover, audiobook setup, library distribution) takes 15 to 30 business days. The variable inside that range is how quickly you respond to approval gates (metadata review, cover proof approval, final dashboard walkthrough). If you are responsive within 24 hours at each gate, projects land at the fast end of the range. If approvals take a week each, the project lands at the slow end.
Do you handle the marketing after the book is live?
Not by default in publishing tiers. Authority tier includes 30-day post-launch monitoring (resolving platform issues), Author Central setup, Goodreads listing, BookBub author profile setup. None of those are marketing. Marketing is separate. Our Book Marketing Services cover ongoing launch promotion, ad campaigns, email automation, and PR. Many authors bundle publishing and marketing through the Publish-Ready Bundles above.
Can I publish under a pen name?
Yes. KDP, Apple Books, Kobo, B&N, and IngramSpark all support pen names. The publishing accounts are still registered to your real legal name and bank account (required for tax reporting and royalty payment), but your published name on the book cover, listings, and Author Central can be a pen name. We handle the setup so the public-facing name is the pen name and the back-end administrative info is your legal info. For full privacy (anonymous Bowker ISBN, separate business entity for royalty receipt), there are additional steps that require an IP lawyer or accountant. We can refer you to professionals for that level of separation.
Next Steps
❦See exactly what your book publishing will cost
Build your quote in 60 seconds. Pick your services, see real pricing with no hidden fees, no forms, no waiting for a sales email. When you are ready, book a call with a publishing specialist who will tell you honestly which of three things is true: this is the right fit, a different service serves you better, or now is not the time.
Mutual NDA available before the call on request. 100% rights retention guaranteed. No contracts until you decide.
AuthorWings· Transparent Pricing · 100% Your Rights
Last updated: July 2026