Book Publishing Services That Take Your Manuscript From Draft to Bookstore
Our book publishing services cover everything between a finished manuscript and a book on sale: editing, cover design, formatting, ISBN registration, printing, distribution and launch support. You keep 100% of your rights and every royalty, and we never take a cut of your sales.
- 250+
- Books published
- 170+
- Authors served
- 50+
- Bestsellers achieved
- 100%
- Author ownership
Instead of hiring a dozen freelancers and hoping they work well together, you deal with one team and one project manager. We put a fixed quote in writing before work starts, so you know the cost from day one. Ready to talk? Get a free consultation and we'll map out the right path for your book. There's no obligation, and you'll leave the call knowing your options.
01 · What Are Book Publishing
What Are Book Publishing Services?
Book publishing services are the professional tasks required to turn a manuscript into a finished, sellable book. They usually include editing, cover design, interior layout, ISBN and copyright setup, printing, ebook and audiobook production, distribution and marketing.
You can buy these pieces one at a time or as a package. A full-service package bundles them under one contract, one schedule and one point of contact, which is far easier to manage than coordinating separate vendors. It also means the editor, designer and production team are working from the same plan.
Think about what a bookstore shelf or an online listing quietly demands. A clean, well-edited text, a cover that looks professional, the right trim size, correct metadata, and a file that prints properly. Missing any one of them shows. Publishing services exist so none of them is missing.
0202 · Publishing Options Compared: Traditional,
Publishing Options Compared: Traditional, Hybrid and Self-Publishing
Most authors choose between three routes. The right one depends on how much control you want, how quickly you want to publish, and how much you're ready to invest.
| Factor | Traditional | Self-publishing | Our full-service model |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | Usually none to the author | You pay for each service | Fixed quote, paid in milestones |
| Control | The publisher decides | You decide everything | You decide, with expert guidance |
| Royalties | A share of each sale | Most of the sale, minus retailer fees | You keep all royalties |
| Speed | Often a year or more | As fast as you can work | Typically 4 to 8 weeks |
| Rights | Often licensed to the publisher | Yours | Yours, 100% |
None of these routes is wrong. A first-time author with a strong platform and plenty of patience may enjoy the traditional route. A hobbyist with a technical streak may be happy self-publishing. Most of the authors we meet want something else: a professional result, on a reasonable schedule, without handing over their rights.
Traditional publishing offers prestige and bookstore placement, but it's competitive and slow. Pure self-publishing gives you freedom, though you carry every decision alone. Our model sits between the two: professional production and guidance, with ownership staying with you. We work across four tracks (Traditional, Self Publishing, Digital and Specialized) and tell you which one fits your book.
03 · What Our Book Publishing
What Our Book Publishing Services Include
Each service below can be part of a package, and each has its own page if you want the details. Together they cover structural, line and proofreading editing, print and ebook formatting, cover design, ISBN registration, catalog metadata, distribution, and marketing and launch support.
04 · Where Your Book Will
Where Your Book Will Be Sold
Getting a book printed is easy. Getting it where readers shop is the harder part, and distribution is where many authors run into trouble. Metadata, categories and pricing all affect whether a reader can find your book at all.
We set your book up for online retailers such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble (Nook), Apple Books, Kobo and Google Play Books, plus library and subscription platforms such as OverDrive, Scribd and Storytel, and genre-specific platforms where they fit. Files are validated before submission to avoid rejections. You can also reach readers through Kindle Direct Publishing for Kindle and print on Amazon.
For bookstores and libraries, wholesale access matters. The IngramSpark distribution network makes your title available to independent bookstores, libraries and retailers who order through wholesale catalogs. That wholesale path is what lets a reader ask their local shop to order your book.
Availability in a catalog doesn't guarantee a store will stock a title, and no publisher can promise that. Readers can also request your book at their library, which is often how a title first appears on a local shelf. Local outreach helps, so browse our publishing directory by state to find bookstores, libraries and resources near you.
05 · Rights, Royalties and Contracts
Rights, Royalties and Contracts
You keep 100% of your rights: copyright, credit and royalties. We don't license your book, we keep no copyright, royalty interest or publishing claim, and we don't tie you to a long exclusive contract. Ownership is confirmed in writing at the start of the project.
Royalties, put simply, are what a retailer pays you for each sale after its own fee and printing cost. Because your ISBN is registered in your name, those payments come to you, and you can move to another service later if you choose.
For context, traditional publishing typically returns 10 to 15% of the retail price to the author. Kindle ebooks priced $2.99 to $9.99 pay 70% of list price, and print on demand pays less per copy but carries no upfront financial risk. We give you a full royalty breakdown per platform before distribution, and no sales are guaranteed.
You also decide the price of your book, within the limits retailers set, and you can change it later. Your sales reports show what sold and where, so there's no mystery about your numbers.
Read any publishing contract closely, including ours. Look for who holds the rights, how long the agreement lasts, and exactly what each fee covers. If any of it is unclear, ask before you sign, and keep a copy for your records.
06 · How Much Do Book
How Much Do Book Publishing Services Cost?
Cost depends on word count, genre, the amount of editing the manuscript needs, revision rounds, design complexity, how many formats you want and your timeline. These are our starting points, and your final fixed quote depends on scope.
- Ebook Launch: from $1,490
- Complete Publishing (print and ebook): from $3,900
- Signature Edition (print, ebook, hardcover and audiobook): from $7,900
Which package fits depends on your goals. Ebook Launch suits authors who want to start digital and keep costs down. Complete Publishing adds a paperback for readers who want a physical copy. Signature Edition suits authors planning a bigger release, with hardcover and audio for gifting, libraries and listeners.
Cover design, formatting, audiobook and children's book projects are quoted per project after a free consultation, because page count, complexity and the number of formats change the work. Illustration is quoted per project too, though as a typical range a fully illustrated picture book runs $2,000 to $8,000 and chapter book spot illustrations $150 to $400 each, depending on the illustrator and scope. Rush timelines are available for an additional fee, quoted up front. Everything is quoted in writing with no hidden fees. See our publishing packages and pricing for more detail.
07 · Why Authors Publish With
Why Authors Publish With Small Press Distribution
We're a full-service ghostwriting and publishing company, with writing, editing, design, publishing and marketing under one roof. Our team has published 250+ books for 170+ authors, with 50+ bestsellers along the way.
Our work doesn't end when files are delivered. We stay available through launch, and we can continue with marketing support if you want it, from a launch campaign to an author website and media kit.
What authors tend to value most is simple. They own everything, they know the cost in advance, and someone answers within one business day. Revision rounds at each key stage mean you shape the result rather than just receive it. Our office is in Dothan, Alabama, and our team works remotely across the US. You don't need to live nearby, since everything from the first call to final proofs works online.
0808 · How to Choose a
How to Choose a Book Publishing Company
Watch for red flags. Be wary of anyone who takes your rights or a share of your royalties, hides fees until after you sign, promises guaranteed sales, or can't show how you'll receive sales reports. Ask who owns the ISBN, and walk away from vague answers. A trustworthy company explains its fees in plain language, shows you a sample contract, and is happy to let you take your time deciding. Pressure to sign today is another warning sign.
Free consultation
Tell us about your book. We'll tell you what it needs.
Every enquiry is read by a publishing consultant, not a sales script. You'll get an honest view of your project, a recommended route and a fixed written quote.
- 01Reply within one business day
- 02Fixed quote with milestone payments
- 03100% ownership, credit and royalties
- 04Confidential from the first message
Get your free quote
How it runs
Our Book Publishing Process, Step by Step
A typical project runs 4 to 8 weeks from manuscript handover to live distribution. Weeks 1 to 3 cover manuscript review, planning, editing and revisions. Week 4 starts cover design and interior formatting. Weeks 5 to 7 are for proofs, corrections, ISBN registration, metadata and platform submission. Week 8 confirms live distribution and checks your listings.
Step 1Consultation and quoteAfter a free consultation, we review your goals and manuscript, then send an itemized written quote you approve before work starts. If you don't have a manuscript yet, our ghostwriting services can write it first.
Step 2EditingYour editor works through the text, with revision rounds at each key stage so you can review every change and push back where you disagree.
Step 3DesignCover and interior layout are designed and revised until you approve them, and you see proofs before anything goes to print.
Step 4Registration and proofsWe set up your ISBN, metadata and copyright details, and you check a proof of the finished book.
Step 5Production and distributionFiles go to the printers, ebook stores and distribution networks.
Step 6LaunchYour book goes live, and marketing begins according to the plan you chose.
Publishing packages
ISBNs are registered in your name and 100% of royalties are paid to you. Priced per title. See pricing
Ebook LaunchDigital
Ebook-only release on major stores.from$1,490/ title
- ✓Copyedit and proofread
- ✓Ebook cover
- ✓EPUB formatting
- ✓Store distribution
Complete PublishingMost requested
Print and ebook launched together.from$3,900/ title
- ✓Full editing
- ✓Print and ebook covers
- ✓Print and ebook interiors
- ✓Global distribution
Signature EditionAll formats
Print, ebook, hardcover and audiobook.from$7,900/ title
- ✓Everything in Complete
- ✓Hardcover edition
- ✓Narrated audiobook
- ✓Launch planning
What people say
All testimonials →“It existed to help writers and readers find each other.”
“SPD's service makes it possible for independents, as well as chains, to have a vital contemporary poetry section.”
“Critical to making independent books accessible to readers.”
“A critical partner for hundreds of independent literary publishers.”
“It looked like they were bringing SPD into the 21st century.”
“SPD will be deeply missed by publishers and authors throughout the literary community.”
How much does it cost to publish a book?
Costs depend on length, editing, design and formats. Our packages start from $1,490 for an ebook launch, $3,900 for print and ebook, and $7,900 for a signature edition with hardcover and audiobook. Your final fixed quote depends on scope, and we confirm it in writing before work begins. Rush timelines are available for an additional fee, quoted up front.
How do I get my book published?
Finish a manuscript, then choose a route: traditional, self-publishing or a full-service partner. With us, you submit your manuscript, receive a fixed quote, and we handle editing, design, registration, printing and distribution. Your project manager guides each stage so you always know what happens next.
What is the difference between self-publishing and hybrid publishing?
Self-publishing means you manage every task and vendor yourself. Hybrid publishing blends professional services with author investment, so a team handles production while you pay for it. The key question to ask either way is who owns the rights, the ISBN and the royalties.
Do I keep the rights to my book?
Yes. With our services you keep 100% of your copyright, credit and royalties, and we keep no copyright, royalty interest or publishing claim. Your ISBN is registered in your name. Always check any publisher's contract for rights language, because some companies license or claim parts of your book without making that obvious.
How long does it take to publish a book?
A typical project takes 4 to 8 weeks from manuscript handover to live distribution: editing and revisions in weeks 1 to 3, cover and formatting from week 4, proofs, ISBN and submission in weeks 5 to 7, and confirmed listings in week 8. The actual schedule depends on how much editing is needed, how quickly you approve designs and proofs, and which formats you choose. We give you a realistic timeline in your quote.
Will my book be sold on Amazon and in bookstores?
Your book will be available through Amazon KDP, Apple Books, Nook, Kobo, Google Play Books and more, and IngramSpark wholesale distribution makes it orderable by bookstores and libraries. Orderable is not the same as stocked, though. Whether a particular store shelves your book is up to that store, and we never guarantee placement.
Do I need an ISBN?
If you want to sell through retailers and libraries, yes. Each format, such as paperback, hardcover and ebook, normally needs its own ISBN. We register yours in your name so you stay the publisher of record, and we handle the metadata that goes with it.
Ready to Publish Your Book?
You've done the hardest part by writing the book. Now let us help you finish the job properly.
If your manuscript is finished, submit your manuscript and we'll review it and return a fixed quote with a clear schedule. If you'd rather talk first, get a free consultation or call +1 205-210-8070.
Whichever route you choose, you'll work with one team, keep every right and every royalty, and know the price before you begin. Our book publishing services are built to get you there without the guesswork, and with a real person on the other end of the phone whenever you have a question.
Call or email and our experts will walk you through the process, requirements and packages.