Is Print on Demand Right for You?

Good for Smaller Audiences

Print on demand may be a good choice for you if you are selling a book that has a smaller market than most. If you use a normal printing and stock system for materials with smaller audiences, you may end up with an overstock of printed materials and lose money. It is relatively cheap to publish your materials electronically. And with print on demand, you still give that small audience the option of print. It makes sense economically to print those print orders on an “as they come” basis such as if you do drop shipping.

Higher Royalty Return

Another pro for print on demand is a high royalty percentage rate. Print on demand books make money on a by book basis. Royalties are something that’s really important to think about when it comes to the publishing world. With print on demand, you have the potential to buy and resell books for less than the retail price and then turn a profit.

More Textual and Visual Control

One of the pros of print on demand is greater control over your text and its final version. Because it is primarily available electronically, you have more freedom when it comes to edits and distribution of a final draft. That also goes for any art or visual elements of your book. Also, say you have a very long book and normal printing proves to be expensive. Electronically, your book can be almost as long as you want. And whenever it does get ordered in print, that’s the only time that the cost of length comes into play.

Good for First Time Authors

Print on demand publishing can be a smart choice for people out there who are publishing first works. Because you aren’t printing out thousands of copies of something in the hope that those copies are then purchased by consumers, there is a lot less risk involved. It is a good environment to try out a new work electronically to see how it does while also getting your name out there, especially if you are a brand-new author.

Disdain from Traditional Publishers

One of the cons of print on demand is that this process of publishing is looked down on by many of the older, more traditional publishers out there. If you think you’ll be really successful in the long run with your publication, it would be more favorable to avoid print on demand as it might help you down the road. Also, many bookstores may be more hesitant to shelve your book because books from print on demand publishers usually have a higher rate of non-returnability.

Problems with the Print on Demand Business Model

Some people that decide to go forward with print on demand publishing encounter problems with the POD publishers themselves. Some of the print on demand publishers operate on a business model that makes them primarily concerned with turning a profit. Because of this, they might not have the most interest invested in the overall value of your work. You might encounter problems with editing and issues with your text in the final published version.