Choosing a book publication company is a commercial decision with long-term consequences. The agreement decides who controls your rights, your files and your book’s availability for years. Asking the right questions before you sign is the cheapest protection you have.
This guide sets out 12 practical questions for authors and small publishers, grouped by topic, with what a good answer sounds like and what should make you pause. It is general information, not legal advice, so have a solicitor or your author association review any contract before you sign. Prefer a printable version? Download the free 12-question checklist (PDF).
- Scope of services
- Rights and ownership
- Fees and timelines
- Revisions and quality
- Distribution and support
- FAQs
The 12 Questions at a Glance
| # | Topic | Core question |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | Scope | What exactly is included? |
| 2 | People | Who works on my book, and who is my contact? |
| 3 | Rights | Which rights do I keep and which do you ask for? |
| 4 | Files | Who owns the files, cover and ISBN? |
| 5 | Fees | What is the total cost and payment schedule? |
| 6 | Extras | What costs extra? |
| 7 | Timeline | What are the dates, and what if they slip? |
| 8 | Revisions | How many revision rounds are included? |
| 9 | Quality | How is quality checked before release? |
| 10 | Distribution | Where is the book sold, and who controls price and listing? |
| 11 | After publication | How are sales reported and updates handled? |
| 12 | Exit | How can the agreement end, and what do I keep? |
Scope of Services
1. What exactly is included in the service?
Ask for a written list of deliverables: editing level, design, typesetting, ebook files, proofs, ISBN, printing and distribution. A “publishing package” is not a scope. A good answer names each task, each output and the format you will receive. Pause if key items appear only as vague “support” or “marketing”. Services such as proofreading, typesetting and EPUB conversion should each be listed separately.
2. Who will work on my book, and who is my point of contact?
Find out whether editors, designers and typesetters are in-house or subcontracted, and who answers your questions. A good answer gives you a named contact, a response time and a way to see progress. Pause if you cannot find company details, or if you are passed between people with no single owner of your project.
Rights and Ownership
3. Which rights do I keep, and which do you ask for?
In a fee-based services agreement you would normally keep your copyright and grant only the permissions needed to produce and distribute the book. Ask which rights, territories and formats are covered, for how long, and whether any licence is exclusive. A good answer is specific and reversible. Pause if the company asks for exclusive or long-term rights while you are paying for the work. Contracts differ, so take advice.
4. Who owns the final files, cover and ISBN?
Ask who owns the final files, the cover design and any commissioned images, and whether you receive native files, such as the InDesign package and the EPUB source, not only PDFs. Ask whose name appears as publisher of record on the ISBN. A good answer lets you take everything with you. Pause if files are withheld or released only for an extra fee. Our book and journal production guide covers the stages that produce those files.
Fees and Timelines
5. What is the total cost, and when is each payment due?
Ask for an itemised written quote covering every service, with the payment schedule. Book publishing fees vary widely with page count, complexity and the services chosen, so compare quotes for the same scope rather than headline prices. A good answer ties payments to stages or deliverables. Pause if the whole fee is due upfront with no refund terms, or if prices can change after you commit.
6. What costs extra?
Find out what triggers additional charges: author changes after typesetting, extra proof rounds, image clearance or redrawing, rush delivery, additional formats and reprints. A good answer includes a rate card or a clear cap. Pause if the quote says “extras as required” without prices. Author changes at proof stage are a common cause of overruns, so ask exactly how they are charged.
7. What is the timeline, and what happens if it slips?
Request milestone dates from manuscript hand-over to publication, plus your own responsibilities, such as approving proofs within an agreed number of days. Ask what happens if either side misses a date. A good answer gives dates, owners and remedies. Pause if the timeline is promised verbally but absent from the agreement.
Revisions and Quality
8. How many revision rounds are included?
Ask how many revision or proof rounds are included, what counts as a revision, and how quickly changes are turned around. Separate corrections to errors the company introduced, which are usually free, from new author changes, which may be charged. Pause if rounds are unlimited in the sales call but undefined in writing.
9. How is quality checked before the book is released?
Ask to see sample work, how files are checked before release, and who gives final approval. For ebooks, ask about validation and accessibility checks; for print, ask about printer-ready preflight. A good answer describes the checks and gives you sign-off. Pause if you will not see a final proof before the book goes live.
Distribution and Support
10. Where will the book be sold, and who controls price and listing?
Ask which retailers, libraries and territories the book will reach, whether print copies are stocked or printed on demand, and who sets the price and controls the metadata. Ask whether the book stays available if you leave. A good answer names the channels and explains control. Pause if “worldwide distribution” is promised without specifics.
11. How are sales reported, and what support follows publication?
Ask how often you receive sales and royalty statements, what share you receive, whether you can see sales data directly, and who handles corrections or updates after launch. A good answer gives reporting dates and a defined update process. Pause if you cannot verify sales, or if post-publication changes are not covered at all.
12. How can the agreement end, and what happens to my files and rights?
Ask how either side can end the agreement, what notice and refunds apply, how rights revert, and what files you receive on exit and how quickly. A good answer is short and clear. Pause if there is no termination clause, or if leaving means losing your files or the book’s listing. Most authors forget this question, and it matters most when something goes wrong.
Warning Signs to Watch For
Whatever the answers, these signals justify slowing down and taking advice before you sign.
- Pressure to sign quickly, or discounts that expire within days
- Marketing packages with no stated deliverables
- Guaranteed sales, bestseller or review claims
- Reluctance to put answers in writing
- Exclusive rights requested for a fee-only service
- No named contact or company registration details
- Fees that appear only after the first invoice
Ask every company you compare the same 12 questions and score the answers side by side. Differences in clarity are often more revealing than differences in price. For another practical view of the same decisions, see what UK book publishers outsource.
FAQs
What is the difference between a traditional publisher and a book publication company?
A traditional publisher funds production and distribution and takes rights in return, usually paying an advance or royalties. A book publication company typically sells services to authors for a fee, and you should expect to keep your rights. Check which model applies, because the word “publisher” is used for both.
How much does it cost to publish a book through a company?
It depends on page count, complexity, the level of editing, design, formats and distribution chosen. Prices vary widely, so compare itemised quotes for the same scope rather than package names. Ask what is included in revisions and what triggers extra charges before you compare totals.
Should I pay the full fee upfront?
Staged payments tied to delivered work are common and reduce your risk. If a deposit is requested, ask what it covers and what is refundable. Treat pressure to pay everything immediately as a reason to pause and take advice.
Do I keep my copyright when I use a publishing services company?
In a fee-based services agreement you would normally keep your copyright and grant only the permissions needed to publish. Read the rights clause carefully and take advice, because contracts vary and some ask for exclusive or long-term licences.
How can I check that a publishing company is legitimate?
Ask for references and sample titles, check company registration details, such as Companies House for UK companies, and read independent reviews on more than one site. Where possible, speak to a recent client, and confirm that the agreement matches the written quote.
Can I negotiate a publishing services agreement?
Yes. Terms such as payment stages, revision rounds, delivery dates and reversion of rights can often be discussed. Request changes in writing and have a solicitor or your author association review the final text before you sign.
Sign With Confidence, Not Hope
A clear agreement protects both sides. Companies that answer these 12 questions plainly and in writing are usually the ones that deliver plainly too.
Download the Free 12-Question Checklist
Take a printable version into every conversation and compare answers side by side. If you would like to talk through your project, our team is happy to answer questions, with no obligation.
