Self-published authors face a critical decision: print-on-demand (POD) or traditional printing. Each has distinct advantages, costs, and appropriate use cases.
Understanding Print-on-Demand (POD)
How POD Works
POD printing produces books only when ordered. No warehousing, no upfront inventory.
Process:
1. Upload your manuscript and cover to POD platform
2. Select specifications (trim size, binding, paper quality)
3. Receive a proof copy to approve
4. Activate publication
5. Customers order copies
6. Printer produces books on-demand
7. Printer ships directly to customer or your warehouse
No Inventory Burden
With POD, you don’t purchase bulk inventory. Each book is printed when ordered, eliminating storage costs and inventory risk.
This is ideal for:
– Authors with limited budgets
– Niche books with small target audiences
– First books from unknown authors
– Books you’re unsure will sustain sales
POD Cost Structure
Per-book costs vary by platform and specifications:
Amazon KDP Print:
– 200-page paperback: $4-6 per book
– Black & white interior
– Competitive printing quality
– Free worldwide distribution
IngramSpark:
– 200-page paperback: $4-8 per book depending on paper quality
– Better quality paper options
– Access to bookstores and libraries (though limited)
– Higher per-book costs offset by distribution access
Smashwords:
– 200-page paperback: $4-7 per book
– Moderate quality
– Limited distribution
BookBaby:
– 200-page paperback: $5-9 per book
– Professional quality
– Assisted setup available (premium service)
Setup Costs
– ISBN: Free (platform-provided) or $125 (self-purchased)
– Cover design: $0-500 (DIY to professional)
– Formatting: $0-300 (DIY to professional)
POD Economics
Example: 200-page paperback
Retail price: $14.99
POD cost: $5.00
Amazon takes 40%: $5.99
Author royalty: $3.99 per sale
You profit $3.99 per copy sold. You need only 50 sales to break even on professional editing ($200). POD profitability improves quickly with modest sales.
POD Advantages
– No upfront inventory investment
– No storage costs
– Books always available (no going out of print)
– Perfect for niche audiences
– Low financial risk
– Paperback and hardcover options available
– Worldwide distribution (platform-dependent)
– Easy price adjustments
POD Disadvantages
– Higher per-book costs (limits profit margin)
– Limited quality control (especially with economy options)
– Longer delivery times (2-3 weeks typical)
– Inconsistent print quality across print runs
– Limited design flexibility
– Smaller discounts from retailers
– Bookstores rarely stock POD books
– Proof corrections can be tedious
Traditional Printing
How Traditional Printing Works
You order a bulk quantity (typically 500-5,000 copies), have them printed and warehoused, and manage sales/distribution yourself.
Process:
1. Get competitive quotes from traditional printers
2. Select printer and specifications
3. Submit final files
4. Printer produces full order
5. Books shipped to your warehouse (or your preferred location)
6. You manage inventory, sales, and distribution
Per-Book Costs (Traditional Printing)
Traditional printing achieves better per-book costs through bulk economies:
Example: 1,000-copy order, 200-page paperback
– Total cost: $2,000-3,000
– Per-book cost: $2.00-3.00
Example: 5,000-copy order, 200-page paperback
– Total cost: $6,000-9,000
– Per-book cost: $1.20-1.80
Comparison:
– POD per-book cost: $5.00
– Traditional (1,000 copies): $2.50
– Traditional (5,000 copies): $1.50
Significant savings at scale.
Setup Costs
– ISBN: $125 (you purchase your own)
– Cover design: $200-500 (you’ll get more options)
– Formatting/typesetting: $300-800 (professional required)
– Proof copies: $50-200 (you’ll request multiple)
– Freight/shipping: $500-2,000 (to your warehouse)
Total setup: $1,200-3,500 (significantly more than POD)
Traditional Printing Economics
Example: 2,000-copy order
– Production cost: $4,000
– Per-book cost: $2.00
– Retail price: $14.99
– Wholesale discount (50% to retailers): $7.50
– Your net per book: $5.50
– Profit per book: $3.50
To break even: 1,143 books sold (at 50% wholesale)
If selling direct (100% of retail):
– Profit per book: $12.99
– Break-even: 308 books
Traditional Printing Advantages
– Significantly lower per-book costs (improves profit margins)
– Better quality control (you can inspect before accepting shipment)
– Faster delivery times (books available immediately)
– Consistent print quality across entire order
– Design flexibility (custom options available)
– Attractive pricing for bulk sales
– Better margins enable author discounts
– Bookstores more likely to stock traditional-printed books
– Professional appearance signals quality
Traditional Printing Disadvantages
– High upfront inventory investment
– Storage/warehousing costs
– Inventory risk (unsold books are dead money)
– Long lead times (8-12 weeks typical)
– Minimum order quantities required
– Logistics management required
– Inventory tied up capital that could fund other projects
– Price changes require new print runs
– Unsold inventory becomes loss leader
Choosing Your Printing Method
POD Is Better If:
– You have limited budget ($500-2,000 total)
– Your book targets niche audience (unlikely to sell 1,000+ copies)
– You want minimal financial risk
– You want to test market response before investing heavily
– You don’t have storage space
– Your book is experimental or uncertain commercial potential
– You want your book continually available
– You’re publishing multiple titles (inventory management would be overwhelming)
Traditional Printing Is Better If:
– You have capital to invest ($2,000+ upfront)
– You expect strong sales (1,000+ copies likely)
– Your book is broad-appeal (mainstream audience)
– You have author platform to drive bulk sales
– You have storage capacity
– You want to maximize per-book profit
– Bookstore placement is important to you
– You’re willing to manage inventory and distribution
– You plan substantial sales directly or through events
Hybrid Approach
Many successful authors use both:
1. Start with POD for initial release
2. Once proven sales (1,000+ copies), order traditional print run
3. Sell traditional-printed copies directly, via events, bulk orders
4. Maintain POD availability as backup for retail and online sales
Hybrid approach captures advantages of both while managing risk.
Printing Quality Comparison
POD Quality
– Paper quality: Economical to good (varies by platform and option selected)
– Print clarity: Good for most purposes
– Binding: Usually perfect binding (softcover) or simple hardcover
– Color: Limited color options for interiors (usually B&W)
– Specialty effects: Limited (specialty effects increase costs significantly)
Traditional Quality
– Paper quality: Wide variety (economy to premium)
– Print clarity: Excellent
– Binding: Multiple options (perfect binding, case binding, spiral, etc.)
– Color: Full color interiors available
– Specialty effects: Dust jackets, embossing, foil stamping, etc.
For most books, both are adequate. Difference matters more for art books, children’s books, or luxury editions.
Distribution Implications
POD Distribution
Amazon KDP: Widest POD distribution
– Amazon Store
– International Amazon sites
– Some independent retailers via wholesalers
– Limited bookstore availability
IngramSpark: Better for bookstore/library distribution
– Access to Ingram wholesaler network
– Bookstore availability (though stock is limited)
– Library availability
– International distribution
Smashwords: Limited distribution
– Smashwords store
– Limited retailer integration
Traditional Printing Distribution
– You handle all distribution
– Direct sales (website, events, personal outreach)
– Bulk sales (educational institutions, corporate bulk orders)
– Bookstore relationships (you contact stores directly)
– Library sales (through wholesalers)
– Gift shops and specialty retailers
Calculating Break-Even
Before choosing method, calculate break-even point:
POD Example:
– Retail price: $14.99
– POD cost: $5.00
– Royalty per copy (Amazon): $4.00
– Break-even: 126 books (if you spent $500 on editing/setup)
Traditional Example:
– Upfront investment: $3,000 (2,000 copies at $1.50 each)
– Per-copy profit (direct sales): $12.99
– Break-even: 231 books
Both break even with modest sales. Traditional requires higher upfront investment but offers better per-copy profitability at scale.
Long-Term Strategy
Consider your overall publishing goals:
One-Book Author: POD is likely best. Low risk, manageable inventory.
Series Author: Traditional printing for series installments once established. Bulk sales to existing reader base justify investment.
Prolifically Publishing: POD for initial releases, transition to traditional once sales prove viability.
Corporate/Educational Bulk Sales: Traditional printing critical. Bulk discounts justify investment.
Final Recommendation
For debut self-published authors: Start with POD. Test market response risk-free. Once you understand sales patterns and have capital, consider traditional printing for proven sellers.
For established authors with audience: Traditional printing offers better margins and bookstore accessibility for high-sales books.
Neither choice is permanent. Many successful self-published authors combine both methods strategically across their catalog.
Making Your Decision: Print-on-Demand or Traditional?
The choice between POD and traditional printing depends on your specific situation. Low-volume publishers benefit from POD flexibility. High-volume publishers benefit from traditional printing economics. Both remain viable paths forward for indie authors and publishers.