How to Find a Reliable Book Publishing Company (and Avoid Scams)

How to find a reliable book publishing company and avoid scams: red flags, questions to ask, what contracts should say and how to check ownership terms.

By The Author Publishing Team 5 min read

A reliable book publishing company is open about what it charges and what it does, lets you keep your rights, publishes in accounts you own, makes no guarantees about sales and gives you a written contract before you pay. Scams and poor-value deals share the opposite habits: pressure, vague fees, big promises and control of your book. You can spot most of them by asking a few plain questions.

This guide explains the types of publisher, the warning signs, the questions to ask and the contract clauses that matter. We are a publishing services company, so we have a view, but the checklist applies to any provider, including us. For the two main routes, see self-publishing versus traditional publishing. For the cost side, read how much it costs to self-publish a book.

Key takeaways

  • Reliable providers give written, itemised quotes and clear contracts
  • You should keep your rights, your royalties and your accounts
  • Be wary of guaranteed bestsellers, pressure to sign and unexplained fees
  • Check independent warnings and reviews, and ask for samples and references
  • If something is unclear, do not pay until it is explained in writing
In this article
  1. What types of publisher and publishing company exist?
  2. What are the red flags?
  3. What questions should I ask a publishing company?
  4. What should the contract say?
  5. How do I check a company before I pay?
  6. Why do accounts and ISBNs matter?
  7. How do we work at The Author Publishing?
  8. What if I am a first-time author with no one to ask?
  9. Frequently asked questions
  10. Services that can help

What types of publisher and publishing company exist?

Traditional publishers buy or license your book and pay you, and they do not charge authors. Self-publishing service companies sell services, such as editing, design and formatting, while you remain the publisher. Hybrid publishers charge authors but offer some publisher-like services, and the quality varies a lot. Vanity presses charge high fees, often take rights and rely on authors to buy copies. Knowing which kind you are dealing with helps you judge the terms.

What are the red flags?

  • Guarantees of bestseller status, sales, rankings or reviews
  • Pressure to sign or pay quickly, or special offers that expire today
  • Unclear or changing fees, or add-ons that appear after you sign
  • A requirement to hand over your copyright or the publishing accounts
  • Publishing under the company’s account or ISBN with no way for you to take the book elsewhere
  • Cold calls or messages praising a book you have not shared
  • Paid awards or contests that anyone can enter for a fee

What questions should I ask a publishing company?

  1. Who owns the copyright, and who owns the files and cover?
  2. Whose accounts will the book be published under?
  3. Whose ISBN is used, and who is listed as the publisher?
  4. What exactly does each fee cover?
  5. How and when are royalties paid, and can I see the reports?
  6. What happens if I want to leave and publish elsewhere?
  7. Can I see samples and speak to past authors?

A reliable provider answers these directly and in writing.

What should the contract say?

The contract should state what you receive, the price and payment stages, the delivery dates and the number of revisions. It should say that you keep your copyright, that you own the final files and that you can move the book. It should explain royalties, reporting and how to end the agreement. Read every clause, ask questions about anything unclear and have a lawyer review the contract if the amount is large. If a provider will not provide a contract before you pay, walk away.

How do I check a company before I pay?

Search the company’s name together with words such as reviews, complaints and scam, and read more than the first page of results. Look for independent author organisations that publish warnings or ratings, such as the Alliance of Independent Authors and Writer Beware. Check how long the company has existed, whether it names its team and whether its address and contact details are real. Ask for samples of finished books and talk to authors who have worked with it, not only the testimonials on its own site.

Why do accounts and ISBNs matter?

Where your book is published decides who controls it. If the book lives in an account that you do not own, you may not be able to move it, see real sales or receive royalties directly. If the company’s ISBN is used and you are not listed as the publisher, changing providers can mean losing reviews and records. Ask that the book be published in your own accounts, with your name or imprint, so you can always take it with you.

How do we work at The Author Publishing?

We publish nothing in our own name for you: you keep your rights, your royalties and your retailer accounts. We do not publish a price list, because every book is different, so we give a free quote with a fixed price in writing before work starts. We do not guarantee sales, rankings, reviews or bestseller status, and we tell you plainly when a service is not worth buying. You approve each stage before it moves on, and you can leave at any time.

What if I am a first-time author with no one to ask?

Ask in author communities, read independent guides to self-publishing and compare at least three providers. Start small with a single paid service, such as an edit or a cover, before you commit to a full package. Keep every email and written quote, and do not hand over passwords. A good provider welcomes questions and a slow decision, while a bad one tries to hurry you. Trust your instinct when something feels too good to be true.

Frequently asked questions

Is a hybrid publisher a scam?

Not necessarily. Some are transparent and fair, and others are not. Check the contract, the fees, who owns the rights and whether the results are guaranteed.

Should a publisher ever charge me fees?

Traditional publishers do not. Services companies charge for services. A company that calls itself a publisher and charges you should explain exactly what the fee buys.

Can I trust online reviews of publishing companies?

Read them carefully. Look for detailed, independent reviews and warnings from author organisations, not just testimonials on the company’s own site.

What if I already paid and have doubts?

Ask for everything in writing, read your contract and contact the company about changes. Consider speaking to an author organisation or a lawyer about your options.

Is it safe to pay a deposit?

Yes, with a reputable provider and a written contract that states what the deposit covers and when the rest is due.

Can a company promise bestseller status?

No honest company can. Rankings and sales depend on readers and on the retailer’s systems.

Services that can help

This guide is part of our book publishing guides and connects to our book publishing services.