These days, there’s no shortage of self-publishing companies. If you’re an author considering the best way to self-publish your book, the sheer number of options available can be overwhelming. I’ve been in the self-publishing game for a while, and it still surprises me how quickly the industry has grown in just the last decade.
For many authors, self-publishing makes a lot of sense. You maintain creative control, while also gaining the potential to increase profit, so that you put more of your hard-earned dollars back into your pocket. That’s why it’s critical that when selecting a self-publishing platform, you know what you’re getting.
Below, we’ll take a look at what Barnes and Noble self-publishing has to offer, and if it’s the right choice for you.
Let’s take a look at how it works, what you need to know, and go over their options.
Overall Rating: 4 out of 5 stars
What we’ll cover:
Barnes and Noble self-publishing
Barnes and Noble wasn’t the first platform to embrace self-publishers, but it was one of the first well-known book companies to provide this option to authors. With its launch of Publt! in the 2010s, it allowed independent authors to publish eBooks directly to Nook e-readers—their branded e-reader.
Since then, the company has continued to develop its self-publishing services to include print-on-demand (POD). including paperback and hardcover options. The platform also offers audiobook integration and pre-order capabilities.
Overall, the company has continued to expand its self-publishing offerings as the market has demanded more robust options for self-publishers.
Overview of the Program
In 2018, Barnes and Noble launched their self-publishing option called the Barnes & Noble Press, which was in direct competition with Amazon’s self-publishing program.
There’s no doubt that Amazon is still the biggest option out there, but Barnes and Noble Press is still a solid contender if you’re looking to get the word out about your book.
Along with their POD, eBook, and audiobook integrations, B&N Press also offers enhanced royalty rates for higher-priced books and additional trim-size options to make self-publishing with them more appealing to the end-user (author).
Is it worth it to publish with Barnes and Noble?
It depends on your end-goal. Compared to Amazon, B&N Press has a smaller audience, but what they lack in big numbers, they make up for in direct access to BN.com readers, NOOK devices, and the free NOOK app. They also offer marketing tools and detailed sales reports to keep authors dialed in to their sales numbers. Another benefit of working through B&N Press is that the Barnes and Noble brand is known as a book company, with a long history that dates back to 1873.
Will Barnes and Noble sell my self-published book?
Getting your book published on the B&N Press platform is a simple as uploading your book and cover through their user-friendly platform. Once you hit publish, your print book will be available through POD across all of Barnes & Noble platforms, and your eBook through the Nook platforms. To get into brick-and-mortar stores, you can email their Small press department to be considered for shelf space. The review process typically takes 4 to 6 weeks.
Can I publish on Barnes and Noble for free?
Yes, publishing on Barnes and Noble is free, which makes the barrier to entry low; however, they’ll still receive a percentage of your sales.
How long does it take to self-publish on Barnes and Noble?
Similar to Amazon’s KDP platform, turnaround for seeing your book on the website after publishing can take up to 72 hours.
Fees and royalties
As of publishing this article, B&N Press offers 55% royalties for paperback and up to 70% royalties for ebooks.
This is close to Amazon KDP, which offers 40-60% royalty for paperback and 35% or 70% for eBooks, depending on price and territory.
It’s free to upload books to the site, but you will need to buy an ISBN if you want to keep your name on the book’s data. Otherwise, you can use the free one offered through the platform.
Payments are every 30 days, depending on what you make each month.
Pros of using Barnes and Noble self-publishing
There are a few pros to using this program:
- They don’t require exclusivity, so you can still publish on other self-publishing platforms
- Free and easy uploading
- POD print costs fall within industry standards
- Good print quality if you do choose paperback
- Access to all shoppers on their website and Nook ereaders
- Large book platform with a long-standing history
- If your book is selling well, they may invite you to promotional offers
- Can set up pre-orders (both for digital and physical copies)
- People can find your book organically through their online store
- Sales reports
- Tools and tips to market your book
- Various print types
- Various paper types
Cons of using Barnes and Noble self-publishing
There are also some drawbacks:
- This doesn’t guarantee you a spot on their shelves
- Your book will only be on their website
- They don’t do any marketing for you by default
- Little to no direct customer support
- Your book is only distributed in the United States
- No audiobook publishing
Other features of Self-Publishing with Barnes and Noble Press
Here are some additional features that the company offers:
- Sales reports – You can log in and see all the stats on your recent orders, where customers came from, in their easy-to-understand sales reports
- Various print options – You can choose between paperback, hard cover, dust jacket, and various paper types (cream, white paper – regular, white paper – extra thick).
- Tips for marketing – While they don’t directly help you market your book (unless your book starts to sell well), they do have resources for you to market on your own. You might be invited to be featured in their emails or other places if you do well/
How to Self-Publish on Barnes and Noble Press
If you’ve self-published on other platforms, these tips are similar:
#1 – Pick your book format
First, you’ll need to pick your formats. Do you want to offer digital or paperback options?
Keep in mind, once your book is in their system, you can quickly offer various versions later on.
#2 – Upload all your files
Once you’ve picked your format, you’ll need to upload the following:
- your whole book
- book cover
- book description
- book price
- keywords and tags for your book
#3 – Publish
Hit publish, and start promoting your book.
How it compares to other self-publishing options
When it comes to self-publishing options, B&N Press is in line with industry standards. Here’s a quick comparison chart of five major self-publishing platforms.
| Platform | E-book Royalty | Print Royalty | Fees | Distribution |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Barnes & Noble Press | 70% of list price | 55% of list price minus printing cost | No setup fee; pay only per-book printing costs (varies by format, page count) | Sold through bn.com; print books available for order in stores |
| Amazon KDP | 70% (ebooks $2.99–$9.99, minus delivery cost) 35% (all other prices) | 60% of list price minus printing cost (standard) 40% minus printing cost (expanded) | No upload fee; $0.15 / MB delivery fee for 70% e-book rate; no delivery fee at 35% rate | Amazon marketplaces worldwide; optional expanded distribution to third-party retailers and libraries (40%) |
| Apple Books | 70% of list price (all territories) | n/a | No file delivery fee; no setup fee | Apple Books store on iOS and macOS in 50+ countries |
| Draft2Digital | 60% of list price (10% platform fee) | 45% of list price minus printing cost (retailer keeps 45%; D2D 10%) | No setup fee; 10% of retail price on e-books; print books incur retailer share + printing costs | Wide distribution: Amazon, B&N, Apple, Kobo, Google Play, libraries, subscription services |
| IngramSpark | 85% of net revenue | 45% of list price minus printing cost (recommended) | No title setup fee (first 60 days); $25 revision fee after 60 days; 1% market access fee on list price | Global POD distribution: bookstores, libraries, online retailers (Amazon, B&N, indie stores) |
Should you self-publish through Barnes and Noble Press?
As you can see from the chart above, there are only a few minor differences between what the major platforms offer. Selecting the best platform depends on what you need as an author. Consider questions like:
- What kind of distribution do I want (global or local)?
- Do I mind exclusivity, or do I want to publish on multiple platforms?
- How important is the royalty rate? Do I want the best rate available, or am I flexible within a few percentages?
- What type of support am I looking for in a platform? Is not having direct support a deal breaker, or can I work with knowledge bases or forums for answers?
- Do I want a platform that mainly focuses on books, or is a general platform a better fit?
If you’re an author who has chosen to self-publish, there are not too many drawbacks to using Barnes and Noble Press.
It is easy to use, has been around for decades, and falls in line with accepted industry standards.
What To Do Next?
If you’re trying to decide which publishing path to take, take our free assessment below:
Note: The original article written by Jackie Pearce has been updated.
