—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.

See How It Works ↓ Estimate Your Book Cost →

publish your book on amazon and other platforms

—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. Paid up front, fee-for-service, no royalty share, no contract that locks you in.

—WHAT WE OFFER

Where Assisted Self-Publishing Fits

Assisted self-publishing is fee-for-service setup with no royalty share.

Assisted self-publishing means you pay a one-time setup fee, we handle the technical work to publish your book on Amazon and other platforms, and you keep every right and every royalty. The accounts are in your name. You can leave at any time.

This is different from traditional publishing (you query agents and give up rights), DIY (free but takes 90 to 180 days for first-timers), hybrid (charges $5,000 to $25,000 plus takes 30 to 50% of royalties forever), and vanity publishing (predatory). If you are still deciding between paths, see the “When Not the Right Fit” section below before signing with anyone.

—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.

Your
Manuscript

★ Anchor

Amazon (KDP)

Kindle device users, Audible subscribers, Prime members

ebook + print + audio

Apple Books

iPad and Mac users, tablet-reading audience

ebook + audio

Kobo

Canada, Netherlands, 35+ countries

ebook + audio

Barnes & Noble

Older readers, US-focused

ebook + print

Google Play

Android users, mobile readers globally

ebook

IngramSpark

Bookstore browsers, library borrowers

print + hardcover

D2D + Smashwords

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.

Starter

$249

Growth

$549

Authority

$1,299

Feature	Starter $249	Most Popular Growth $549	Authority $1,299
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 $249	Single $549	Single / 50-50
Ebook Distribution
Amazon KDP setup	✓	✓	✓
Apple Books direct upload	✗	✓	✓
Kobo Writing Life	✗	✓	✓
Barnes & Noble Press	✗	✓	✓
Draft2Digital alternative path	✗	Optional	Optional
Print & Hardcover
Amazon KDP paperback	✗	✓	✓
IngramSpark paperback	✗	✓	✓
Hardcover (KDP + IngramSpark)	✗	✗	✓
Print proof review coordination	✗	✓	✓
Audiobook & Library
Audiobook setup (ACX or Findaway)	✗	✗	Setup only, see note
Library distribution (OverDrive, Bibliotheca)	✗	✗	✓
Pre-order setup (all platforms)	✗	✗	✓
Metadata & Discoverability
Metadata configuration	✓	✓	✓
Categories	2 categories	2 categories	2 categories + A+ Content briefing
Keywords	7 keywords	14 across platforms	21 + A+ Content briefing
Pricing strategy consultation	✓	✓	✓
ISBN guidance	✗	Free Amazon or Bowker	Owned ISBNs across all formats
Universal Book Link (UBL)	✗	✓	✓
Author Profiles
Author Central profile	✓	✓	✓
Goodreads author profile	✗	✗	✓
BookBub author profile	✗	✗	✓
Launch & 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
Rights & Account Ownership
Accounts in your name	✓	✓	✓
100% rights and royalties retained	✓	✓	✓

Choose Starter

Choose Growth

Choose Authority

—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 do not need a publishing service alone. You need three separate 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 with a unified timeline. Three tiers built around the three publishing tiers, each adding cover design and formatting at a matched scope.

Starter

$1,099

Save $448

Growth

$2,195

Save $452

Authority

$3,295

Save $1,148

Feature	Publish-Ready Starter $1,099 $1,547 individual Save $448 · 29.0% off	Most Popular Publish-Ready Growth $2,195 $2,647 individual Save $452 · 17.1% off	Publish-Ready Authority $3,295 $4,443 individual Save $1,148 · 25.8% off
Bundle Scope
Best for	Multi-platform launch with cover and format	Full launch with print, audiobook setup, 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 150 illustrated pages
Timeline	4 to 6 weeks	6 to 8 weeks	6 to 8 weeks
Payment options	Single / 50-50	Single / 50-50	Single / 50-50
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	Complex print + ebook, fixed-layout capable
Publishing & Distribution
Publishing tier included	Publishing Growth ($549)	Publishing Authority ($1,299)	Publishing Authority ($1,299)
Multi-platform distribution	✓	✓	✓
Audiobook setup (ACX or Findaway)	✗	✓	✓
Library distribution (OverDrive, Bibliotheca)	✗	✓	✓
Pre-order setup across platforms	✗	Included via Publishing Authority	Included (multi-platform coordinated)
Author copies shipped to your door	5 paperback	10 paperback + 2 hardcover	25 paperback + 5 hardcover
Marketing & Author Profiles
Amazon Book Description Optimization	✗	$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
Bundle Savings
Individual services total	$1,547	$2,647	$4,443
Bundle price	$1,099	$2,195	$3,295
You save	$448 (29.0%)	$452 (17.1%)	$1,148 (25.8%)

Choose Starter

Choose Growth

Choose Authority

—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

(plus $65 US Copyright Office filing fee paid by you) 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

$125

(plus Bowker fee, single ISBN $125 or 10-pack $295) 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

$0.10 to $0.18 per word (per language)

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 above is the better starting point for that).

Universal availability note: 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.

Discovery and Pre-Launch Audit (Days 1 to 3)

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.

Contract, Account Audit, and Setup Plan (Week 1)

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.

Metadata, Description, and Categorization (Week 1 to 2)

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.

File Preparation and Validation (Week 2 to 3)

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.

Platform Setup and Pre-Launch Configuration (Week 3 to 4)

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.

Launch Day and 30-Day Monitoring (Week 4 to Week 8)

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.

—RIGHTS DEVELOPMENT

Book-to-Screen and Foreign Rights Beyond Standard Publishing

Two services for authors whose books have audience traction and want to expand into film, television, or international markets. Coordination only. Outcomes are not guaranteed.

Most published books are never optioned for film or television, and most are never translated into a foreign language. Both outcomes become more likely when the author has professional treatment, pitch materials, and an active outreach campaign instead of waiting for inbound interest that almost never arrives. Rights Development Services exist to do that outreach professionally, on a fee-for-service basis, with no rights or royalties claimed by AuthorWings.

Book-to-Screen Opportunity Pitch

$4,995

covers logline development for film and TV adaptation, a 10 to 15 page Hollywood treatment, a pitch deck with visual assets for studios, a curated list of 20 to 30 producers, agents, and managers in your book’s genre, and a 4 to 6 week initial outreach campaign. If interest comes back, we coordinate handoff to Hollywood agents and entertainment lawyers. Entertainment lawyer fees ($2,000 to $10,000), talent agent commissions (10 to 15% if signed), and option negotiation costs are paid by you directly. Most pitches do not result in deals. We coordinate the work professionally. The outcome depends on Hollywood market conditions, your book’s adaptation potential, and timing.

Payment options: Single, 50-50, Milestone (25/25/25/25), or 3-month installment

Foreign Rights Pitch

$3,495 per region

covers a custom list of 20 to 30 foreign publishers in your target region (Europe, Asia, Latin America, Middle East), personalized rights pitches per publisher, a translated sample (roughly 5 pages of excerpt for pitching), an 8-week active outreach campaign, and coordination if interest is received. Foreign rights agent commissions (10 to 15% if signed), full translation costs, and legal fees for foreign rights deals are paid by you directly. The same realistic outcome caveat applies: most pitches do not result in deals.

Payment options: Single, 50-50, Milestone, or 3-month installment

These services are appropriate when your book has traction (consistent sales, reviews, audience growth) and an adaptation or translation case can be made on its merits. They are not appropriate for newly launched books with no sales history. We say so on the consultation call. Book sales results vary by author, genre, market conditions, and effort applied to marketing. AuthorWings does not guarantee specific sales, option, or rights deal outcomes.

—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

Ten 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.

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.

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.

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 $9.99, 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 20 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. → book marketing services is where ongoing launch promotion, ad campaigns, email automation, and PR work live. Many authors bundle publishing and marketing through the Publish-Ready Bundles in Section 6.

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 project will cost

Build your custom quote in 60 seconds. Pick your services, see exact pricing with no hidden fees, and book a free 45-minute consultation when you are ready to publish your book on Amazon and beyond. We give you one of three clear answers: this is the right fit, a different service fits better, or now is not the time.

Build your quote in 60 seconds

Mutual NDA available before the call on request.
100% rights retention guaranteed. No contracts until
you decide.