Choosing the Right Book Printing Service for Your Work

Posted by Daria King on March 4th, 2020

Whether it’s a church cookbook, a historic account of your hometown, or a sci-fi novel, here are some things to look for in a book printing service.

Price

One of the first factors, and perhaps the foremost on your mind as a self-published author will be the price. When it comes to book printing services the price margin is not as cut and dry as it may seem. Premium pricing does not necessarily mean you will receive better quality items, and cheaper or more affordable options do not mean your books will be low quality.

As you research different companies to work with it helps to know your budget and your printing needs are so that you can get accurate quotes. Knowing how many copies you need, what size of book you want, and whether or not you want to color, black and white, matte, or glossy for the covers, will help you find the company that can provide the supply you need at the price point you are comfortable with.  

Platform

Secondly, there is a platform to consider. Decide whether you want to make your book easily purchasable for book stores, or if you will be doing most of the distribution yourself. This can have a big effect on your choice of who to work with. If you plan to print-on-demand, consider shipping and lead times. If it takes several months to get a copy of your book, this is not the best choice for consumers, so you may want to have some in-stock and available for purchase via your own website or online store. However, if shipping is free and it is only a few weeks of wait time, this could be an acceptable way for book stores and shops to gain inventory.

Electronic versions of literature and audiobooks are very popular right now. As you evaluate different physical printing companies see if any can offer e-reader or digital copies of your book if these are formats you are interested in offering to your readers.

Service

Perhaps one of the most important determining factors for your printing partner is their level of customer service, especially if this is the first book you are publishing. You may not be aware of the intricacies and nuances that come along with bookbinding, and an agent or company that provides proofing, formatting, or even design services can be a very welcome help.

Besides, pre-printing benefits look for book printing services that offer post-printing incentives as well such as free shipping, a satisfaction guarantee, or refund and replacement policy if any books are printed incorrectly. Talk with local authors or read some online reviews to see what companies others chose to work with for some more insight.