Self-publishing packages can look remarkably different from one company to another.
One might cost a few thousand dollars. Another may cost substantially more.
One may include professional editing. Another may not.
One might include custom design while another relies on templates.
Some offer extensive distribution and marketing support. Others provide little assistance once the files are produced.
That makes comparing self-publishing companies difficult.
Instead of simply asking which package costs less, ask a better question:
What am I actually getting for my money?
Here are the most important areas to evaluate.
1. Professional Editing
Editing should be one of the first things you investigate.
Find out whether editing is included and what kind.
There is a meaningful difference between proofreading a nearly finished manuscript and performing more substantial editorial work.
Ask who performs the editing, what the process includes, and whether you will have an opportunity to review proposed changes.
A professional-looking cover cannot compensate for a poorly edited book.
2. Custom Cover Design
Your cover is one of the most important pieces of marketing material you will own.
Determine whether the package includes custom design or uses a template-based system.
Ask how many concepts you will receive.
Find out how revisions work.
Look at books the company has previously designed.
A professional cover should not merely be attractive. It should also communicate the genre and positioning of the book to the appropriate reader.
3. Interior Book Design
Do not focus entirely on the cover.
The interior affects the reader’s experience throughout the entire book.
A professional package should clearly explain how the manuscript will be formatted for print.
This includes typography, margins, headings, chapter openings, page numbering, spacing, and other design elements.
More complex books may require special handling for photographs, illustrations, tables, charts, or other visual material.
4. eBook Conversion
If you want an electronic edition, determine whether eBook conversion and publishing are included.
Print books and eBooks have different formatting requirements.
The digital edition should be prepared so it works properly on compatible reading devices and platforms.
5. ISBN and Publishing Setup
Ask who handles ISBN assignment, barcodes, metadata, and other technical publishing requirements.
These details may not be exciting, but they are necessary.
One of the benefits of professional assistance is not having to learn every technical requirement yourself.
6. Proof Copies and Author Approval
Authors should have an opportunity to review their books before final publication.
Ask whether electronic proofs are provided.
Will you receive a physical proof?
What can be changed during proofing?
Who provides final approval?
A clear proofing process helps prevent avoidable surprises after the book becomes publicly available.
7. Distribution
The word “distribution” can mean different things.
Ask specifically where the book will be available and how bookstores, online retailers, wholesalers, and libraries can access it.
Also understand whether distribution applies to print books, eBooks, or both.
Do not settle for vague statements such as “worldwide distribution.”
Ask how it actually works.
8. Rights
This is critical.
Who owns the publishing rights?
Who owns the copyright?
Is the agreement exclusive or non-exclusive?
What happens if you want to leave?
Can you use your manuscript elsewhere?
Never choose a publishing package without understanding what happens to your intellectual property.
9. Royalties
Find out exactly how royalties work.
What percentage do you receive?
Is the percentage based on retail price, wholesale receipts, or net sales?
Do different formats have different royalty rates?
When are royalties reported and paid?
Are there costs deducted before your percentage is calculated?
The details matter.
Explore MindStir Media’s Self-Publishing Packages
MindStir Media offers multiple professional self-publishing options with different combinations of publishing and author services.
Explore MindStir Media’s self-publishing packages to compare available options and see what is included.
10. Author Support and Project Management
Who do you contact when you have a question?
This may sound minor before publication begins.
It can become extremely important once your manuscript is moving through editing, design, proofing, production, and distribution.
Ask whether you will have a dedicated contact or project manager.
Find out how communication works and how often you can expect updates.
Professional support can make the difference between a manageable publishing experience and a frustrating one.
11. Creative Control
Ask how much input you retain.
Can you approve the cover?
Can you provide feedback?
Do you approve editorial changes?
Can you influence the retail price?
What happens if you disagree with a recommendation?
If creative control is important to you, make sure the agreement reflects it.
12. Marketing and Publicity
Publishing and marketing are different.
A book can be professionally produced and still receive very little attention if nobody promotes it.
Find out whether the package includes any marketing.
Then determine what those marketing services actually are.
A social media post is different from an advertising campaign.
A press release is different from ongoing publicity.
An author website is different from email marketing.
If substantial marketing is not included, ask whether additional professional services are available.
13. Printing and Author Copies
Understand how physical copies are produced.
Is print-on-demand available?
How do you purchase author copies?
What do they cost?
Are complimentary copies included?
Can you order books for events, speaking engagements, signings, or direct sales?
These details become important after publication.
14. Timeline
Ask how long publication generally takes.
Also understand what could affect the schedule.
A manuscript requiring extensive editing will naturally take longer than a polished manuscript needing minimal changes.
Author response times matter too.
Professional publishing should have a process, even if the exact timeline varies from project to project.
15. The Contract
Read it.
Do not rely solely on what someone tells you during a sales conversation.
The agreement should explain the services, rights, payment obligations, royalties, and other important aspects of the relationship.
If something matters to you and you do not understand how the contract addresses it, ask before signing.
16. Reputation and Track Record
Investigate the company itself.
How long has it been operating?
Can you see books it has produced?
Are there author testimonials?
Does it have independent recognition?
Does the company have a real team and publishing infrastructure?
Can you identify who is behind it?
A publishing relationship can last well beyond the production period, so the company matters as much as the package.
Don’t Compare Self-Publishing Packages on Price Alone
This is probably the biggest takeaway.
Imagine Package A costs $3,000 and Package B costs $7,000.
Package A is not automatically the better deal.
If Package B contains substantial professional editing, custom design, stronger royalties, broader services, project management, marketing, and other benefits that Package A does not provide, you are comparing two different products.
Conversely, there is no reason to pay for expensive extras you do not actually need.
Compare value.
Compare quality.
Compare rights.
Compare royalties.
Compare services.
Compare support.
Then compare price.
Create Your Own Publishing Checklist
Before speaking with publishing companies, make a list of what matters most to you.
For example:
Do I need editing?
Do I want custom design?
Do I need print and eBook editions?
What distribution do I expect?
How important are royalties?
Do I retain my rights?
How much creative control do I want?
Do I need marketing?
Do I want a dedicated project manager?
What is my budget?
What is my desired timeline?
Once you have those answers, comparing publishing packages becomes much easier.
Find the Right Publishing Package for Your Book
The best self-publishing package is not necessarily the cheapest or the most expensive.
It is the one that provides the professional services your book actually needs while giving you terms, support, quality, and control you are comfortable with.
MindStir Media offers professional self-publishing options for authors at different stages and with different publishing goals.
Schedule a publishing consultation with MindStir Media to discuss your manuscript and determine which publishing services may be appropriate for your book.