Print On Demand Books: 11 Great Services For Authors

Are you a self-published author looking for services that offer print on demand books so you don’t have to fill your garage with unsold copies? You’ve come to the right place.

No matter where you are on your publishing journey, we want to show you your print on demand options so you never have to have a full garage of books again.

In fact, we’ve taught over 8,000 authors how to write, publish, and market their books over the last 10 years, so we definitely have our finger on what’s working well in publishing (view our self-publishing success stories)!

Read on to discover everything you need to know about print on demand books and the 11 great services for authors.

Print on demand books: what you learn

• What is a print on demand book?
• What are the best print on demand sites for books?
• How much do print on demand books cost?
• How to choose the right POD option for your book?

What is a print on demand book?

These days, a range of services exist that allow you to only order the quantity of books you need at the time you need them: this is known as print on demand (or POD). Before we get into print on demand, let’s talk about traditional printing. 

Traditional printing 

When books are published, the publisher or the author usually has to order a palette of books at a time. A palette will be a large number of books, as they’re mass-produced, so authors have to sell a lot of books to justify ordering another amount.

You may have heard of books going back to print, and this is basically what they’re referring to. A book has sold enough copies that the publisher is ordering another set of books from their manufacturer. 

This is one reason why pre-sales are so important for traditional and indie authors alike. Having an idea of how many people are interested in buying a copy gives everyone a better idea of how many books they’re going to need to order. 

The downside to traditional printing like this is that if you’re a self-published author, you’re ordering these copies yourself, often at a fee. Additionally, it’s usually much easier to get brick and mortar stores to sell traditionally printed books. 

The good news is, there are ways to make money publishing books on Amazon that don’t involve purchasing your own palette of books.

Print on demand books

When you choose print on demand books, they differ from traditional printing. Instead of printing sets of books yourself, you pay a company to print books to order. When someone makes a purchase, the book is printed and shipped to that customer. 

The cons for print on demand books

The author is usually afforded less opportunity for quality control (although many companies that offer print on demand books are perfectly reliable, and even traditionally published books can print wacky copies sometimes).

Plus, while there isn’t an up-front cost, you’re probably going to have to pay the print on demand company a set-up and yearly fee. 

It’s also important to know that print on demand books can be difficult to get into brick and mortar stores. There are ways to work around this—it just means it’ll be a little trickier and something to keep in mind if you want to sell your books in a physical bookstore. 

The pros for print on demand books

While all of this may make it sound like print on demand is a bad option for self-published writers, that’s not necessarily true!

Print on demand can be a hugely helpful and accessible option for writers who don’t have the resources, time, or space to print, store, and ship their books. It takes a huge weight off the author to be able to outsource to companies that offer print on demand books. 

Note: print on demand doesn’t necessarily guarantee that the company will handle distribution. Many of them do, and many of them will at least let you list the book for sale on their website for free. But you’ll want to do some research. You may need to buy an ISBN in order for them to distribute. Some companies will help you with this, though, and it’s often not super expensive to do. 

What are the best print on demand sites for books?

Here are just a few print on demand companies for you to check out: 

1. IngramSpark 

IngramSpark is one of the most popular print on demand companies out there. They’ll connect you to over 40,000 libraries, retailers, and e-commerce companies, which means it’s a huge help when it comes to distribution. IngramSpark also gives you some options as far as formatting goes, which offers some customizability. 

2. Draft2Digital 

Draft2Digital offers some customizing options, like glossy or matte finish or cream or white paper, and it offers some options for distribution, as well.

Brick and mortar stores are able to order copies of your book through Draft2Digital, which will generally make it easier to sell in those stores than if you brought your own copies to sell. 

3. Acutrack

Acutrack allows authors to work with their pre-press team to finalize your product before it goes to print.

They offer a variety of different options for your book, making the process super author-friendly. They also integrate the book into whatever storefront you use, allowing for easier distribution. 

4. Amazon KDP

KDP is perhaps the most popular and widely-used publisher for print on demand books, and it’s easy to see why. It’s extremely user-friendly for self-published authors to upload to Amazon.

Not only will Amazon give you a free ISBN with your paperback sale, but this will also allow you to use their Expanded Distribution Network, which allows other companies like stores and schools to order copies of your book.

They have your book ready between 24 and 48 hours, and if you haven’t created your own manuscript, they have templates for authors to use. 

5. Lulu 

Lulu lets you print hardcover books as well as paperback. They also offer a huge variety of book formats, like yearbooks, comics, or novels.

This versatility means authors can make their books much more personalized, and it gives the author more say in how the book turns out. You’ll be able to sell on Amazon, but it takes a little longer for Lulu to get your book ready than Amazon does. 

6. Bookbaby

BookBaby is also a great option for self-published authors, but it might be better for self-published authors with an established platform and some cash to invest in their production.

The cost for using BookBaby is a bit steeper than other platforms, and they have a minimum order quantity. This means you have to order 25 books first before print-to-order comes into play. 

7. The Book Patch 

The Book Patch advertises no setup or listing fees and instead charges based on the number of books you order. The more books you buy, the cheaper the book.

You also could potentially keep all of your royalties using The Book Patch, making this a compelling option if the fees on Lulu or KDP are a deterrent for you. 

8. Blurb

Blurb allows you to straightforwardly order books as-needed to print. There are fees if you want to sell through sites like Amazon, but you can sell your book through Blurb’s website for free. They also allow the author some control over the profit margins on each sale. 

9. Trafford Publishing

Trafford Publishing is another option for self-published authors with a little more cash to invest. They offer printing if you buy one of their packages. They’re an established company with quality printing, so in exchange for the up-front cost, you’re getting a very polished product. 

10. Diggy POD 

Diggy POD allows you to print books in batches of twenty-four, and they offer a pricing calculator on their website with more detailed information. They also offer free shipping on orders above one hundred. 

11. 48hr Books 

Like the name implies, 48hr Books gets your book ready to go between 24 and 48 hours. However, this company does require authors to order a minimum of ten books, which means it isn’t technically print-on-demand in the literal sense. 

You do get 25 books free when you order 100 or more books.

How much do print on demand books cost?

The cost for print on demand books can vary widely depending on which company you use. Broadly speaking, the cost depends on up-front fees and royalties. 

For example, KDP doesn’t charge anything to set a book up on their storefront, but they do take a chunk of the profits.

BookBaby offers print on demand books starting at $199. IngramSpark used to charge a setup fee of $49 to upload a title to print, but they no longer do. Costs occur in other areas, which you can read more on pricing here.

Many of these companies will offer pricing calculators, which can give you a better idea of what you’re going to pay in setup fees and in royalties.

It’s also worth knowing that using something like IngramSpark might appeal more to brick-and-mortar stores who don’t want to buy from Amazon, since they’re competitors. 

This isn’t to deter you from using KDP or IngramSpark. Both are reputable companies that can allow their authors to make a living with their writing—but it is to say that before you settle on an option, look into the company and do your research.

Decide what’s important to you:

• Do you want the option to distribute your book to basically anyone?
• Are you fine with having it just on that company’s website? 

Some companies also offer print on demand books in conjunction with packages that you have to buy first. These tend to be the pricier options.

How to choose the right POD option for your book?

As with every step in the self-publishing process, budgeting is key. First, you need to decide whether print on demand is the best option for you. If it is, then you need to compare different features across different companies.

If you’re a brand-new self-published author not looking to break the bank, signing up for an expensive package might not be the most viable solution.

While IngramSpark or KDP might take some of the royalties, they won’t break the bank, which might make it a safer overall choice. It all depends on what you’re able to spend on the printing of your book and what’s best for you.

Print on demand books: take your next step

Now that you know all about print on demand books, it’s time to take the next step in your author journey. Use our free resource below to get started outlining your book today!