What Is the Difference Between a Publisher and a Printer?
What is the difference between a publisher and a printer? A printer makes physical copies of your book. A publisher helps turn your manuscript into a finished, marketable book and gets it to readers.
Knowing the difference helps you understand exactly what you are paying for. Some companies only print. Others offer editing, design, distribution, and marketing. Many offer something in between.
In this article, you will get a clear answer, then the solution step by step, and then an industry hack that makes choosing easier and helps you avoid common hurdles.
Questions and Answers
Q: Is a print-on-demand service a publisher?
A: Not usually. Print-on-demand services print and ship copies when someone orders one.
Q: What does a hybrid publisher do?
A: A hybrid publisher shares costs with the author and usually provides more services than a printer.
The Solution
List the services your book needs: editing, design, distribution, marketing.
Ask each company which of those are included.
Ask who owns the ISBN and the files.
Ask about royalties and payment schedules.
Get everything in writing before you sign.
The Industry Hack
Ask any company you are considering for a sample of a finished book they produced in your genre, plus its Amazon link. Look at the cover, description, reviews, and sales rank. A real example tells you more than any sales pitch.
Keywords for Amazon and YouTube
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Want to see how your book measures up? Download the free 10-point checklist at selfpublishmedia.com.
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