Securing a book deal with a big publishing house can be a challenge for many, especially when one doesn’t have an agent to pitch their idea. However, one of the great things about being an author in today’s times is that now you don’t need to rely on traditional publishing houses anymore to sell your book. Now you have an option to self-publish! Unlike the conventional medium, the author is in complete control of not only what he/she drafts but for its distribution and marketing too. Taking responsibility for the entire process might come as overwhelming, but these can be managed well with the help of a self-publishing company.

Understanding self-publishing companies
In a traditional set-up, an author’s book comes under a lot of scrutinies and the decision to publish it only comes after a publisher believes that it would be able to perform, content as well as sale-wise. With a conventional publishing company, an opinion about a book is subjective, therefore the chances of your manuscript getting picked up totally depend on what the editor perceives it as. On the bright side, if it is approved to be printed, the publishing company will pay for everything including editing, design, distribution and marketing initiatives.

Conversely, if you are planning to self-publish your book, you have the autonomy over the creative process as well as promotional activities.

Choosing the best self-publishing company
You can find plenty of best self-publishing companies in the market, however, to select the one that accommodates your requirements, scrutinize the following factors –

• Books published – Ask the shortlisted best self-publishing companies for a sample of print and e-books they have published. This will give you a fair idea about their quality in terms of design and presentation. The appearance of the final book is extremely crucial for a self-published book as it isn’t backed by the label of a recognized publishing house.
• Services provided – The best self-publishing companies make sure that they offer services involving editing, proofreading, design, distribution, marketing, and intellectual property rights (patent, trademark, and copyright). Having all these services at your disposal ensures that all your money is well-spent.
• Book printing expenses – As compared to traditional publishers, having a book self-published is comparatively riskier as you’re the one who is investing all your resources. Therefore, before you sign any contracts with a self-publishing company, scrutinize their price model for printing and other services offered.
• Royalties – Don’t forget to discuss how much royalty you will earn on your book. Usually, self-publishing houses have a royalty calculator on their website, which can give you an approximate number. However, the final bid can be only determined after considering all the aspects involved.