Business Book Publishers vs. Self-Publishing Companies

By BookBaby author Scott McCormick

Estimated reading time: 9 minutes

Publishing a business book is a significant step for any entrepreneur, executive, or thought leader looking to share their expertise and influence their industry. When it comes to publishing, authors have two primary routes: traditional publishing and self-publishing. Traditional publishing involves selling your publishing rights to a large company, while self-publishing allows authors to publish their work independently. Each option has its own set of advantages and challenges.

In this guide, we’ll explore the key differences between traditional publishing and self-publishing and look at how to choose the best self-publishing partner for your business book. Understanding these options is crucial to making informed decisions that align with your goals, resources, and vision for your book.

Exploring self-publishing for business books

In recent years, self-publishing has emerged as a powerful option for business authors. Unlike traditional publishing, where the author submits their manuscript to a publisher and hopes for acceptance, self-publishing is available to all authors, and it gives them full control over the production and distribution of their book. This model has grown in popularity, particularly among business authors, because it allows for greater creative freedom and the ability to reach niche markets more effectively.

The self-publishing process and timeline

The self-publishing process is often more streamlined and faster than traditional publishing. Here’s a general overview of the steps involved:

1. Manuscript completion: The first step is, of course, finishing your manuscript. Start by writing a compelling business book that shares your specialized knowledge.
2. Feedback. Once your manuscript is finished, it’s a good idea to hire beta readers to get feedback. Try to get at least five readers so you’ll be able to spot trends and therefore know where your manuscript needs the most help.
3. Editing. After you have incorporated those changes and completed your final draft, you need to hire an editor. A skilled editor can refine your manuscript, ensuring clarity, coherence, and correctness. Do not skimp on this step! The good news is the pros at BookBaby offers affordable book editing services.
4. Formatting and eBook conversion: Once your manuscript is polished, the next steps involve formatting the book for print and digital formats. This is a crucial step because the design impacts the book’s marketability. To ensure your book will look perfect as a printed book or eBook, hire a pro.
5. Design: Your book cover is your single most important form of marketing and advertising. Do not leave this to an amateur. Hire a professional book cover designer.
6. Distribution: After formatting, you need to set up distribution channels. This includes choosing bookstores like Amazon, Apple Books, and other pleaces where your book will be available. If you choose to distribute your book with BookBaby, your book will be available in over 60 stores around the world.
7. Printing: It used to be hard for indie authors to distribute their printed books. Now, thanks to print-on-demand, it’s as easy as pie.
8. Marketing and launch: Finally, you’ll market your book to your target audience. This involves everything from social media promotion to email marketing and networking.

This entire process can take as little as a few months, giving authors the ability to publish quickly and efficiently.

Pros of self-publishing

Self-publishing offers several advantages that make it an attractive option for business authors.

• Higher royalties: One of the most-significant benefits of self-publishing is the potential for higher royalties. While traditional publishers might offer a royalty rate of 10-15%, self-published authors can retain up to 85% of their book’s sales, depending on the platform.
• Complete creative control: Authors maintain complete control over the content, cover design, and overall presentation of their books. This is particularly important for business authors who want to ensure that their books align with their brand and message.
• Faster publication: Traditional publishing can take years from manuscript submission to book release. In contrast, self-publishing allows authors to set their own timelines and bring their books to market much more quickly.
• Direct marketing to niche audiences: Self-publishing allows authors to market their books directly to specific audiences. This can be especially beneficial for business authors who have a clear target market in mind.

How BookBaby offers additional support

While self-publishing offers many benefits, it also comes with challenges, particularly in areas like marketing and distribution. This is where a company like BookBaby can be invaluable.

BookBaby provides comprehensive support throughout the self-publishing process. From professional editing and cover design to distribution and marketing, BookBaby helps authors navigate the complexities of self-publishing. This support can make the difference between a book that gets lost in the crowd and one that reaches its intended audience. Learn more about BookBaby’s comprehensive publishing services here.

Traditional business book publishing

Traditional publishing has long been the gold standard for business authors. Major publishing houses have established processes and networks that can give books wide exposure and a certain level of prestige. However, the landscape of traditional publishing has changed significantly in recent years, with increased competition and new challenges for authors.

Process and timeline

The traditional publishing process is much more involved and time-consuming than self-publishing. Here’s a general outline:

1. Proposal submission: The first step is to submit your book proposal to agents or publishers. Unfortunately, traditional publishing is highly competitive and, therefore, out of reach for most authors — even those authors who have unique and powerful contributions to make in the world of business publishing.
2. Contract negotiation: If a publisher is interested, they’ll offer a contract. This process can take months and involves negotiations over rights, royalties, and other terms. Publishing contracts are complex, and you will definitely want to hire an entertainment lawyer who specializes in business publishing.
3. Writing, editing, and revisions: Once the contract is signed, the author will then begin to write their manuscript. Once finished, they will submit it to their editor. Typically, the editor and author will go through a few rounds of revisions before the manuscript is finally accepted.
4. Design and production: After the manuscript is finalized, the publisher handles the book’s design and production, including the cover design, formatting, and printing. The author is seldom part of this process, which can be frustrating to authors who want to align the book with their brand.
5. Marketing and distribution: The publisher will also manage marketing and distribution, though the author is often expected to be heavily involved in promoting their book. It’s a common complaint in the industry: No author thinks their publisher does enough to promote their book.

The traditional publishing process can take anywhere from 18 months to two years, making it a long-term commitment.

Pros and cons of traditional publishing

While there are of course drawbacks, traditional publishing offers several advantages:

• Wider distribution: Books published traditionally often have the potential for wider distribution, including placement in brick-and-mortar bookstores, libraries, and international markets.
• Professional editing and design: Working with a traditional publisher gives authors access to professional editors and graphic designers, which can enhance the quality and appeal of the book.
• Credibility: Being published by a recognized publisher can lend credibility and prestige to a book, which can be particularly valuable in the business world.
• An advance: Traditionally published authors will receive an advance against their royalties, which is definitely a pro compared to self-published authors who typically have to pay to have their books published.

However, traditional publishing also has its downsides:

• Long wait times: The process is notoriously slow, with lengthy timelines from manuscript submission to book release.
• Loss of creative control: Authors often must cede control over key aspects of their book, including the title, cover design, and marketing strategy.
• Lower royalties: Traditional publishers typically offer lower royalty rates (10-15%) compared to self-published authors (who get up to 85% royalties in the BookBaby Bookshop), which means authors earn less per book sold.
• Difficulty securing a deal: The traditional publishing industry is highly competitive, and it can be challenging to secure a publishing deal, especially for first-time authors.

Key considerations for authors

When deciding between traditional publishing and self-publishing, you should consider several key factors:

Creative control

Maintaining control over the content, design, and marketing of your book is essential. Self-publishing offers complete creative control, allowing authors to make all the decisions about their book’s presentation and promotion. In contrast, traditional publishing often requires authors to compromise on these aspects in exchange for the publisher’s expertise and resources. There is no doubt that traditionally published books look great. But self-published authors love having total control.

Financial considerations

The financial implications of publishing are another critical factor. Self-publishing typically involves upfront costs for editing, design, and marketing but offers higher royalties and the potential for greater earnings over time. Traditional publishing, on the other hand, often covers these costs but offers lower royalties and less of a financial upside.

Marketing and distribution

Marketing and distribution are crucial to a book’s success. In self-publishing, authors are responsible for their own marketing efforts, but they also have the opportunity to target specific niches directly. Traditional publishers have established marketing and distribution networks, but authors still have to be active participants in promoting their books.

Timeline and flexibility

The timeline and flexibility of the publishing process are also important considerations. Self-publishing allows authors to move quickly and adjust their plans as needed, while traditional publishing involves long timelines and less flexibility.

Why choose self-publishing with BookBaby

Self-publishing with BookBaby offers a range of benefits that make it an attractive option for business authors. BookBaby provides professional editing, design services, distribution options, and marketing support, helping authors create high-quality books that stand out in the market. In short, publishing with BookBaby is very much hands-off while still allowing authors to maintain total creative control.

BookBaby’s services are designed to empower authors, giving them the tools and resources they need to succeed. Whether it’s through their professional editing services, custom book design, or global distribution network, BookBaby offers the support that self-published authors need to compete with traditionally published books.

Conclusion

The choice between traditional publishing and self-publishing your business book depends on your individual goals, resources, and preferences. Traditional publishing offers credibility and wide distribution, but it also comes with long timelines, lower royalties, and a loss of creative control. Not to mention that it is not available to all authors. Self-publishing, particularly with a service like BookBaby, offers greater flexibility, higher earnings potential, and the ability to maintain full control over your work.

For business authors looking to share their expertise and build their brand, self-publishing with BookBaby is a compelling choice. By taking control of your publishing journey, you can create a book that reflects your vision, reaches your target audience, and achieves your goals. With BookBaby’s support, you’ll have the resources you need to succeed at every stage of the process, from planning to publication and beyond.

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