An Incomplete Guide to POD Publishers

An Incomplete Guide to Print On Demand Publishers

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BookSurge Publishing
Manuscript screening:	No
Kind of contract:	Non-Exclusive
2+2=5	There's a long list of problems with their contract. These are the most relevant ones: Royalties are described in terms of a reference to the publisher's site... which they can modify whenever they want. The contract asks for more rights than the ones they are going to need. As a rule it is not recommended to grant publishers rights they are not going to exercise. The contract may be interpreted as granting the publisher the right to feature the work in a compilation. They reserve the right to modify the agreement even after it's been signed (authors can invoke their termination clause but all fees paid would be lost in this event).
Distribution:	Their site and some online retailers
Basic fees:	Paperback publishing	Basic paperback fee is $499.00.
	Hardcover publishing	Basic hardcover fee is $697.00 (this information may be outdated)
	Combo publishing	Not available
	Color publishing	Basic color publishing fee is $699.00.
Royalties:	Royalties are 25% of retail price on direct sales (15% for hardcovers), 10% on external sales.
Author's discount:	Discount is 30%, some bulk discounts may apply.
Break-even point:	Between 300 and 400 copies (approximation based on external sales of an average length book using their least expensive package).
Basic retail price:	Somewhat expensive (about $15.99 for a 200-page book)
Layout:	Layout is based on your choice out of eleven possible templates.
Graphics:	Up to six graphics included. More can be added as an extra.
Cover options:	Cover design is your choice out of eleven possible templates.
Trim size:	You have a number of trim sizes to choose from.
Additional options:	You can publish for only $99.00 (b&w) or $499.00 (color) if you can submit a ready to print PDF interior and cover art. You can also add a custom cover, custom illustrations and editing services.
Pros*:	*They are reasonably priced if you can supply a ready to print file.
Cons*:	Somewhat limited distribution (no distribution via Ingram). Royalties and discounts are kind of low. Their setup fee is moderately expensive. You have very little freedom when it comes to too many aspects of your book's design (they retain full right over the book's final format and pricing). *There are number of very serious problems with their contract.
Comments*:	This publisher has renamed itself twice (first it used to be Great Unpublished, then it became Global Book Publisher and then BookSurge Publishing).
Visit the publisher's site		Visit the publisher's forum
Last updated: 2006-05-13

* These represent my personal opinion based on what I've seen in the publisher's site.

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