What is Print On Demand?
In the past, self-published authors were plagued with large upfront costs, printing more books than necessary, and managing excess inventory on their own. Print On Demand erases those troubles with an efficient small-run printing process that still provides maximum exposure, but with more author control and minimal investment.
Here's how it works
The order comes directly to us
Books are shipped
You get paid
Why is Print On Demand in demand?
- No inventory needed—you don’t have to buy 100s of books when you print one at a time.
- Print On Demand is a sustainable process that removes paper waste and reduces our overall environmental impact.
- Your printed books will be available in stores, and long-run bookstore catalogs around the world.
Choose from two Print On Demand options:
RETAILER-BASED
Make your title(s) available to the largest network of booksellers, libraries, and online retailers.
- Your book will be available through retailers including Amazon, Jumia Books, Nuria, Attic Books, as well as Ingram.
- Sell books on demand right next to your eBooks on online storefront and make more money with every sale.
- No more inventory issues or unsold book clutter or warehousing storage fees.
- We’ll manage your book’s logistics and track your sales reporting.
DIRECT-TO-READER
Enjoy more control and more royalties by placing your focus on your dedicated Bookshop
- Your book will be available exclusively through PortableVoices Online BookStore.
- Make 50% royalties on your retail price—up to 3X more than other self-publishing options.
- Thanks to POD, your printed book is guaranteed to always be in stock.
- Your book is up for sale quickly.
How much can I earn?
GENRE FICTION
6``x9``, 200 pages, perfect bound, black text, 60lb natural
| Retail Price | Royalty $ | Royalty % |
|---|---|---|
| Ksh. 1,000 | Ksh. 890 | 11% |
| Ksh.1,200 | Ksh. 1,008 | 16% |
| Ksh. 1,300 | Ksh. 1,079 | 17% |
| Ksh. 1,400 | Ksh. 1,246 | 19% |
| Ksh. 1,500 | Ksh. 1,215 | 20% |
CHILDREN'S BOOK
8.5``x8.5`` square, 28 pages, perfect bound, color, 60lb natural
| Retail Price | Royalty $ | Royalty % |
|---|---|---|
| Ksh. 800 | Ksh. 704 | 12% |
| Ksh. 900 | Ksh. 738 | 18% |
| Ksh. 1,000 | Ksh. 800 | 20% |
| Ksh. 1,200 | Ksh. 876 | 23% |
| Ksh. 1,500 | Ksh. 1,140 | 26% |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does print on demand mean?
Gone are the days where you absolutely have to order your books in larger quantities, just to have boxes of them taking up your living room space. Enter: print on demand. Print on demand is a revolutionary process where authors can conveniently and affordable print and distribute their books as needed. Your books will be marketed and sold across the globe, without you having the hassle of storing or shipping them. And you’ll never have to worry about having enough books in stock!
With print on demand, you won’t have the typical upfront costs that come with ordering your books in larger quantities. Your books will be available at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Powell’s, and tons of other bookstores and catalogs worldwide. Plus, it’s a sustainable process that helps to reduce paper wastes and our impact on the environment.
How can I benefit from print on demand services?
Print on demand services offer you the flexibility to distribute your book on an as-needed basis. That way, you won’t have to put out larger costs up front, only to have tons of books that need to get onto bookstore shelves.
Plus, our on-demand printing services will do the distributing for you. Just simply place your order, we’ll print and ship to the distributers, then collect payments, and you get paid! The self-publishing process really can be that easy with print on demand.
What does the printing and distribution process look like?
The printing and distribution process takes just a few steps when you use our Print On Demand services. When a customer orders your book online through sites like Amazon or Barnes & Noble, the order will come right to us here at BookBaby. Then, no matter what the size of the order, we’ll print, bind, and package your books and ship them to the retailer or wholesaler. Once the payment is collected, we’ll deduct the printing and selling costs, and you get paid the net sales!
We also offer plenty of options when it comes to the printing process — that is, you’ll have the option of whether to choose paperback vs hardcover, the trim size and binding of your book, as well as paper stock options. We make our printing process simple, so that you can customize and create the book of your dreams.