Choosing Your Book Printer

You’ve written the book, gotten it edited, and the interior and cover have been well designed. What’s next? Figuring out how you will print and sell your book. There are two primary ways to do this: offset printing and print-on-demand. Today, we are going to break down a few popular P.O.D. services and why you may want to use them to print, distribute, and/or sell your book.

Amazon KDP

Amazon KDP is one of the top 3 P.O.D. services. Why? Because Amazon is a large international marketplace. Amazon is not a bookstore, but it is a book seller—and that’s an important distinction.

Publishing and distributing through Amazon KDP gives you access to:

   •   International markets

   •   An established network of customers

   •   Ad marketing services

   •   Related platforms such as Audible (ACX)

Many people jump on the Amazon bandwagon because of the ease of publishing and distributing books. Granted, this is a good way to go, but there are some aspects to take into consideration.

Cons:

   •   Amazon can drop the price of your book without telling you. Amazon offers its clients discounts and promos to encourage purchases. When they drop your book’s price, it cuts into your profits—not theirs.

   •   You have to play by their rules. Amazon sets the rules of the game. Recently, they established a policy dictating the minimum price that can be set for your book. This gives Amazon control over the market and how books are priced and sold on their platform.

   •   Limited print options. Amazon doesn’t offer a wide selection of print options. For example, Amazon doesn’t offer a hardback print option for books under 72 pages. This means many children’s book authors have to find another source to print hardcover books. Your desired print option may not be available through the KDP system.

   •   No access to customers. The biggest downfall of using Amazon KDP as a business owner is the limited access to customers. You don’t know who is buying your book, which means you can’t request reviews, send promos, invite them to your digital community, or alert them about your next release. This affects long-term business sustainability.

   •   Doesn’t play nice with others. Amazon is a book seller, not a bookstore. They don’t cooperate well with other book printers, sellers, or stores. For example, titles or formats produced through other services may not display properly online. Kindle Unlimited (KDP Select) restricts ebook distribution during enrollment. All of this supports Amazon’s bottom line—not yours.

   •   Payment schedule. Depending on the options you choose, there is a 60-day delay from sale to payout. Amazon has a $10 minimum for direct deposit and $100 for mailed checks. If you sell $100 worth of books in July, you won’t receive payment until October 1st. If you sell under $10, you’ll have to wait until you meet that threshold, then another 60 days.

   •   Hard-to-reach customer service. One of the biggest complaints we at Sunflowers and Romance Publishing hear is the difficulty in contacting Amazon KDP customer service. Some authors report receiving no support for metadata errors, pricing issues, or print quality. A few even had their accounts banned without support during the process. This could be a deal-breaker for some publishing hopefuls.

Why Choose Amazon KDP?

Amazon KDP is simple to use. Approval takes no more than 72 hours. You can access KU and Audible, which can generate revenue. KDP has a pre-established market of book buyers—you don’t need to find customers, just persuade them to buy your book. They also offer a built-in system for ad placement.

Barnes & Noble Press

Barnes & Noble Press is a P.O.D. service connected to the largest chain bookstore of the same name. It has a simple system that allows you to set up, print, distribute, and sell your book title. BN Press offers many trim sizes—comparable to IngramSpark.

BN Press also allows personal printing. If you want just one copy of a book, this is a great option! Some authors print early copies to perform physical edits. We’ve printed advanced copies for as little as $5 for paperback and $10 for hardcover.

Publishing through BN Press positions your book to be sold through a major bookstore’s platform. Your book will be listed on their website and on Nook. Physical store locations will also have access to stock your book—if they choose to. BN Press does not restrict your book’s availability on other platforms either.

Cons:

   •   No in-store guarantee. Publishing through BN Press doesn’t guarantee your book will appear in physical stores. You’ll still need to network and build relationships to get shelf space.

   •   No paid ads. BN Press doesn’t offer a paid ads program for their website, Nook devices, or physical stores. You’ll need to rely on external platforms like social media to drive sales.

   •   Royalty payment schedule. BN Press offers generous royalties (70% on eBooks and 55% on print), but there’s a 30-day payment delay and a $10 payment threshold. Sell $100 in July? You’ll get paid September 1st. Sell less than $10? Wait until you pass that mark.

Why Choose BN Press?

BN Press is created by a bookstore—so they understand both authors and readers. If your goal is to be stocked in brick-and-mortar locations, BN Press is a solid option. Higher royalties and fast approval times make them a worthy contender.

IngramSpark

IngramSpark is the largest book printing company. Allegedly, some other P.O.D. services use Ingram’s printers.

Ingram is the go-to distributor for independent and chain bookstores. Their vast selection of print options gives you control over your product. Their global distribution system lists your book everywhere—Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, Kobo, Apple Books, Google Play, Walmart, Target, and more.

You’ll find strong opinions about Ingram—both love and frustration. Here’s what to know.

Cons:

   •   Learning curve. IngramSpark has a more advanced setup. They’re particular about things like even page counts and CMYK formatting. But once you learn the system, it becomes second nature.

   •   Long processing times. Approval takes the longest of all services. Files are manually reviewed. Upload errors are common and can delay timelines.

   •   Shipping costs. Shipping is expensive, and basic shipping doesn’t include tracking. They don’t replace lost or delayed packages, so you’re paying for shipping risks.

   •   Customer service. Not as bad as Amazon, but still frustrating. Response times can be long and solutions may not be helpful.

   •   Printing costs. Book costs are mostly standard, but IngramSpark doesn’t display cost during setup. This makes it hard to plan pricing upfront. They’re working to fix this.

   •   Payment schedule. Payouts are delayed by 90 days. Sales from April will be paid in August. Payments go out on the first of the month.

   •   Limited customer access. You don’t get customer data—just billing name and purchase location. This affects marketing for serious author businesses.

Why Choose IngramSpark?

IngramSpark offers exceptional print quality. If your dream is to get books into stores—this is the service to use. Both indie and chain retailers stock from Ingram. Read the article Getting Your Book in Independent Bookstores to learn more. They now offer direct drop shipping to customers from your own website, giving you full access to buyer info. Their cover template system also makes it easy to format for print.

Lulu Printing

Lulu is a newer favorite. They offer a variety of options: linen covers, coil binding, yearbooks, comic books, and more.

Their API system is especially useful for authors who stock and ship books themselves. Lulu’s API automatically fulfills website orders (WooCommerce, Shopify, or Wix), prints, and ships—giving you customer info and passive income.

Lulu also offers global distribution to stores like Barnes & Noble, Books-A-Million, and platforms like Google Play and Apple Books.

Cons:

   •   Limited trim sizes. Custom sizes are no longer available. Common options include 8.5x11, 5.5x8.5, 6x9, 7.5x7.5, and 8.5x8.5.

   •   No direct eBook sales. Lulu does not support ebook sales through their API system.

   •   Limited paper options. Only two thicknesses are offered; roundwood isn’t available.

   •   RGB only. Lulu prints in RGB instead of CMYK, which may affect color richness.

   •   No direct deposit. Payouts are via check or PayPal. Thresholds: $5 for PayPal, $20 for checks. Distribution sales can take 6–8 weeks to payout.

Why Choose Lulu?

Lulu bridges the gap between you and your customers. If you sell various book types, their unique offerings help you stand out. Their API gives you fast payouts and full customer access. Cover templates are also easy to use. Though lesser known, Lulu has the power to elevate your author brand.

Other Printers

The printers listed here aren’t your only options. These are simply the ones Sunflowers and Romance Publishing has worked with and enjoyed. You may also want to explore BookBaby, Draft2Digital, or BookVault (UK-based). What works for one author may not work for another—and that’s okay! Subscribe to our blog for updates on P.O.D. services that could be a fit for your publishing journey.

Making the Choice

Still trying to figure out which service is best for you? That’s normal. Here are a few questions to ask yourself:

   •   Am I running a book business?

   •   What kind of book am I creating?

   •   What trim size do I want to use?

   •   Where do I want my book sold?

   •   Do I want my book stocked in stores?

   •   Do I want access to my customers?

   •   How quickly do I want to be paid?

Use these questions to develop a clear vision for your book. Sit down with one of our Publishing Professionals for an Author Consultation to get help creating that vision and building a plan to bring it to life today!