Protect yourself
What should you ask a publishing company before you pay?
Short answerBefore paying, ask who owns your ISBN and accounts, what is in each package item, the full price in writing, what you keep, and the refund policy. A trustworthy company answers all of these by email without pressure.
About ownership
- Whose name will my ISBN be registered in?
- Will my Amazon KDP and IngramSpark accounts be in my name and use my email?
- Will I receive my final files (cover, interior, ebook)?
- Do I keep my copyright and my royalties, with no hidden cut?
About price
- What is the total price, in writing, including anything extra?
- What exactly is inside each package item, and who does each task?
- Will you ever add charges after I approve the quote?
About the work
- How many rounds of changes are included, and what happens after that?
- How long does each stage take?
- Is any part done with AI, and can I choose to avoid it?
About leaving
- What is your refund and cancellation policy, in writing?
- If I stop halfway, what do I pay and what do I keep?
How to judge the answers
Good answers are specific, written, and arrive without a sales push. Vague answers, "we will discuss it on a call", or "do not worry about that" are warning signs. Read more in 9 red flags of a publishing scam.
Not sure what applies to your book?
Author Support gives you a plain-words review of your quote and a written Book Needs Report. $50, with a 100-day refund or package credit.
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