Decide which publishing route you want
Traditional publishing, author-funded publishing, and hybrid arrangements operate differently. Begin by understanding who finances the project, who controls the publishing rights, how the provider is paid, and how the book reaches the market. No route is right for every author. The best choice depends on the manuscript, budget, timing, desired control, and long-term plan.
Start with the book, not the package
A completed manuscript that has already been professionally edited may need only production and publishing setup. An early draft may need structural work before design begins. An illustrated children’s book requires a different production process from a business book or memoir. A useful provider should ask about the manuscript, genre, audience, formats, illustrations, timing, budget, existing platform, marketing plans, and long-term objective before recommending a scope.
Make sure full service is clearly defined
There is no single list of services every full-service publishing company must provide. The written scope should explain the editorial work, cover and interior design, publishing setup, formats, metadata, categories, ISBN arrangements, proof process, distribution, marketing, public relations, websites, and any other included services.
Understand the editorial level
Developmental editing, line editing, copyediting, proofreading, manuscript evaluation, and fact or reference review perform different jobs. Ask which level is included, who will perform it, how many rounds are included, and how the author approves changes.
Review design and production details
The agreement should identify the number of cover concepts, revisions, formats, interior layout, image or font licensing, custom illustrations where required, source-file delivery where included, and author approval before release. Ask whether the design is original, template-based, or built from licensed materials.
Ask what publishing setup includes
Publishing support may include print-on-demand preparation, ebook conversion, metadata, book descriptions, categories, keywords, ISBN arrangements, pricing, proofs, platform setup, and distribution configuration. The company should name the platforms or distribution method rather than relying only on a broad phrase such as worldwide distribution.
Evaluate marketing as a separate scope
Publishing makes the book available. Marketing creates a plan for reaching readers. Ask whether marketing includes retailer optimization, advertising, social media, search, reader outreach, reviews, public relations, media, email, websites, reporting, or another defined activity. A long list of possible channels is not a substitute for a campaign plan.
Ask to see comparable work
A large portfolio is less useful than a relevant one. Review books similar in genre, format, length, or production complexity and ask what the company actually did. An illustrated book should be assessed for visual consistency. A nonfiction book may require a closer look at interior structure, references, tables, or index work. For any project, confirm the provider’s role rather than assuming it performed every part of the final result.
Understand who will complete the work
A full-service company may use employees, contractors, editors, designers, illustrators, partner teams, or specialists. What matters is how they are selected, managed, reviewed, and held accountable. Ask who manages the project, how the author communicates with the relevant people, how quality review works, and who is responsible for final delivery.
Review the agreement carefully
The agreement should identify the parties, project, included and excluded services, price, payment schedule, timeline, revision limits, author responsibilities, approval stages, ownership, publishing accounts, ISBN arrangements, royalty handling, cancellation, refunds, confidentiality, and third-party dependencies.
Confirm ownership before work begins
The contract should explain who owns the manuscript, approved final files, artwork, illustrations, source files where included, copyright, ISBNs, publishing accounts, website and domain, audiobook files, and sales information. A provider may need permission to produce and distribute the book without requiring permanent ownership of every underlying right.
Find out who controls the publishing accounts
Account control affects pricing, metadata, sales reports, updates, and royalties. Ask whether the book will be published through the author’s account or a company-controlled publisher or imprint account, who receives authentication codes, who can change the book, how the author sees sales information, and what happens when the relationship ends.
Ask how ISBNs and royalties will be handled
The company should explain who obtains the ISBN, which name appears as the publisher, whether the author can provide an ISBN, and what happens if the book moves to another arrangement. Royalties should be explained with enough detail to show retailer or distributor deductions, printing costs, any company share, reporting, and payment timing.
Compare complete costs
Do not compare packages by headline price alone. Request a written breakdown covering the work that matters to your project. Ask which costs are fixed and which may change, and how additional work is approved. A professional company is not expected to include unlimited work inside a fixed price, but it should make the boundaries understandable.
Review the production schedule and revision process
Editing, illustration, design, author revisions, proofing, printing, and platform approval take time. Ask for the major stages and approval points. The agreement should state how many revision rounds are included, what counts as a revision, whether approved stages can be reopened, and what happens when the author requests major new work.
Ask how quality is checked
Depending on the project, quality review may include editorial review, proofreading, design review, print-file inspection, ebook testing, link checking, metadata review, physical proof review, and final author approval. The author should have a reasonable chance to inspect important materials before release.
Separate publication from distribution
A book can be published and available to order without being physically stocked in bookstores. Ask whether distribution means online retail listings, print-on-demand availability, wholesale catalog access, ebook distribution, library systems, direct sales, bookstore outreach, or physical placement. The answer should match the service being sold.
Consider what happens after publication
The book may later need metadata corrections, price changes, updated files, new editions, additional formats, website maintenance, advertising, PR, or continuing consultation. Ask which services are included, which are optional, and how the author obtains final files and account information if the relationship ends.
Pay attention to communication
Establish the main contact, expected response process, meeting availability, reporting frequency, approval method, file-sharing method, escalation path, and who takes responsibility when a stage is delayed. Publishing can take several weeks or months, so communication is part of delivery.
Decide whether one company or several specialists is better
Individual specialists may be appropriate when an author needs only one or two services, already has trusted providers, or wants to manage each part directly. A full-service company may be more suitable when several connected services are required, consistency matters, the launch includes publishing plus marketing or media, or the author wants one company accountable for the overall process.
Choose clarity over promises
A useful publishing partner should explain what the book needs, what will be delivered, who will perform the work, what the author will own, how much the project will cost, how long it should take, which decisions require approval, and which outcomes depend on readers, retailers, media outlets, or other outside systems.
Stonebridge encourages authors to apply these standards when comparing any publishing provider, including Stonebridge.
This article provides general educational information. It is not legal advice.