If you are self-publishing or starting a small press, you may wonder where to distribute online and what the differences are between eBook distributors. Is there an advantage of choosing one over another?
As a person who likes to be efficient (or aka lazy), I would want one distributor to cover as much ground as possible so I don’t have to approach each outlet individually. Regardless of who I pick, they are going to take a commission anyways in exchange for aggregating outlets.
Here are a few of the common distributors, their network list for eBooks and commissions they charge. Obviously, the more commission they charge, the less you make.
| Distributor | Network they have | Commission fees | Extras |
| Amazon | Amazon International, books are available to over 170 countries | They keep either 30% or 65% of profit after distribution fees. You can set a royalty rate of 70% or 35%. The difference is that for 70% royalty rate you have to pay for bandwidth charges per book. |
There is a community forum with lots of facts and tips. |
| Ingram Spark | All Romance eBooks (US)Amazon (US)Apple (US)Asia Books (Thailand)Baker & Taylor (US)Barnes & Noble Nook (US)
Better World Books (US) Bilbary Trade (UK) Blinkbox Books— formerly GoSpoken/Mobcast (UK) BOL.com (Netherlands) Bookshop Krisostomus (Estonia) Booktopia (Australia) Campus eBooks (Denmark) Completebook.com (US) CoreSource Fulfillment (Worldwide) Covenant Christian (US) DEA Media Group (Italy) Disal Books (Brazil) DMC (US) EarlyAccess, Inc. dba eBookPie.com (US) eBookMall (US) eBookShop (South Africa) eReatah (US) FeedBooks (France) Fishpond (New Zealand/ Australia) For-Side.com (Japan) Gardners (UK) Hastings (US) Infibeam Trade (India) Kalahari.net (South Africa) Kobo Books (Canada) Libri.de Internet GmbH (Germany) Lybrary.com (US) MBS Books (eBook) (US) Mediander Trade (US) Mobile Systems, Inc (US) MobiLire (France) Mogul View Media (Switzerland) MPH Online (Malaysia) Off World Books (US) Online Book Place (India) Oyster Books (US) Paddle (UK) Page Foundry (US) Prints India (India) QBend LLC Trade (India) Rethink Books/Bookshout! (US) Repro India (India) |
They keep 60% of profit after distribution fees.You keep 40% royalties after distribution fees. | Pretty bare bones, not much extras as this is supposed to be for small presses and not self-publishing authors. |
| Smashwords | Premium Catalog: Apple (US)Barnes & Noble (US)Sony (US)Kobo (Canada)Flipkart (India)
Diesel eBook Store (US) eBooks Eros (US) Baker & Taylor (US) Page Foundry (US) WH Smith (UK) FNAC (France & Portugul) Livraria Cultura (Brazil) Angus & Robertson (Austalia) Bookworld (Australia) Rakuten (Japan) Whitcoulis (New Zealand) |
They keep 40%-60% of profit after distribution fees.You keep 40%-60% royalties after distribution fees. | Lots of free books on how to distribute eBooks (free regardless), Smashwords author page and other promo stuff such as setting up pre-orders. |
| Book Baby | Apple iBooksAmazonBarnes & NobleKoboCopiaGardners
Baker & Taylor eSentral Scribd PagePusher |
They keep 35% of profit after distribution fees.You keep 65% royalties after distribution fees. | BookPromo is a suite of free promotional services – guidebook and promo tips |
| Barnes & Noble | Barnes & Noble, books are available to over 30 countries. | They keep either 35% or 60% of profit after distribution fees.You can set a royalty rate of 65% (book priced $2.99 – 9.99) or 40% (<$2.99) after distribution fees. | |
| Kobo | Kobo International, books are available to over 190 countries. | They keep either 30% or 55% of profit after distribution fees. You can set a royalty rate of 70% (book priced $1.99 – 12.99) or 45% (<$1.99) after distribution fees. |
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| Apple Ibooks | Apple International, books are available to over 50 countries. | They keep 30% of profit after distribution fees.You keep 70% royalties after distribution fees. | |
| Vook | Amazon (US)Apple (US)Barnes & Noble (US)Kobo (Canada)Samsung (US)Sony (US)
Google Play (US) Baker & Taylor (US) Vook (US) |
They keep 15% (Vook storefront)-60% of profit after distribution fees.You keep 40%-85% royalties after distribution fees. | Fancy analytics software, marketing promo advice and white papers. |
Vook estimates that the three biggest distributors of eBooks in the United States—together accounting for an estimated 95% of sales—are Amazon (60%), Barnes & Noble (15%), and Apple (20%). At the moment the US is still the largest eBook market although there are reports that claim by 2017 it will be Europe.
Keep in mind that no matter which distributor you chose, you can opt out of certain outlets. For example, I can sign up with Ingram Spark, but chose not to distribute to Amazon through them so that I can earn more royalties by dealing directly with Amazon.
It is a difficult decision to make, should you give up more royalties for potential reach? Would it be worth it? Ingram is the biggest distributor on the list, but just because you put your book there it doesn’t mean it will sell! At the end of the day you still have to do a lot of your own marketing because no one will help you toot your own horn! Good luck!
~~~~~~~~~~~~~~> JF Garrard is a multicultural fantasy author of The International House of Vampire Series. Book 1, The Undead Sorceress has a release date set for April 8, 2014. Her website features concept art, a blog and podcast about her journey on writing and publishing. Connect with her at About.me.
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