Service
Self-publishing services, with a team behind you
Last updated: November 2026
Self-publishing services are the professional help an author hires to publish a book without a traditional publisher, from preparing the manuscript to printing and distribution.
Big Impact Books offers a done-for-you alternative to piecing those services together. Experts keep their voice and ideas, spend about one hour a week in interviews, and get book marketing and publicity after launch, instead of managing editors, designers, platforms, and promotion on their own.
What are self-publishing services?
Self-publishing services fill the roles a traditional publisher would otherwise play. Some authors hire each one separately; others hand the whole process to a single team. The usual pieces are:
- Manuscript development and editing
- Cover design and interior layout
- Ebook and print formatting
- Uploading to platforms and setting prices
- Printing, either on demand or in an offset print run
- Marketing and publicity to reach readers
Big Impact Books focuses on the parts most experts struggle to find time for: turning their knowledge into a finished book and then promoting it so it supports their business.
How does print on demand work for books?
Print on demand means a copy is printed only when someone orders it. The author uploads print-ready files once, the platform lists the book, and each order is printed and shipped individually. There is no warehouse of unsold books and no upfront print bill.
The trade-off is cost per copy and control over print specifications. Print on demand suits most expert authors, whose sales happen mostly online and in modest daily volumes.
What is offset printing?
Offset printing produces a large batch of books in one run on a commercial press. Because setup costs are spread across many copies, it can make sense when you need hundreds of books at once, for example for a launch event, a conference, speaking engagements, or bulk orders from a company or association.
The trade-off is that you pay upfront and must store the copies. Many authors use print on demand for online sales and an offset run only for events.
| Option | What it is | Who does the work | Promotion included |
|---|---|---|---|
| Amazon KDP | Amazon’s self-publishing platform for Kindle ebooks and print on demand paperbacks. | The author uploads finished files. | Tools the author runs; promotion is up to the author. |
| IngramSpark | Print on demand and distribution platform from Ingram. | The author uploads finished files. | Up to the author. |
| Draft2Digital | Ebook and print distribution platform. | The author uploads finished files. | Up to the author. |
| Big Impact Books | Done-for-you book publishing and promotion service for experts. | A team, with about one hour a week from the author. | Book marketing and publicity, including podcasts and media. |
Amazon book publishing services: what KDP does and does not do
Amazon KDP lets you publish an ebook and a print on demand paperback without a publisher. It handles the listing, printing, and payment. It does not write, edit, design, or market your book; those remain your job or the job of whoever you hire.
Amazon matters for nearly every author. Reedsy's 2026 guide to book printing services states that 80 to 100% of sales happen on Amazon for most authors, and that Amazon pays 70% of the Kindle price between $2.99 and $9.99, and 35% outside that range.
Is there a free book publishing service?
Uploading to major platforms is free, which is why people search for a free book publishing service. The professional work around the book is not. Editing, design, and promotion either cost money or cost your time. Be cautious of any company advertising a free package that later charges for essentials.
Should I self-publish or use a done-for-you team?
Self-publish on your own if you have a finished manuscript, enjoy managing projects, and are prepared to run your own marketing. Choose a done-for-you team like Big Impact Books if you are a CEO, attorney, or business owner who wants the book finished in your own voice without giving up your calendar, and who wants promotion built in. Compare costs on our book publishing cost page.
Return to Big Impact Books book publishing services
Common questions
Should I use Amazon KDP or a book publishing service?
Use Amazon KDP if you are comfortable managing editing, design, formatting, uploading, and marketing yourself. Use a book publishing service if you want a team to manage those steps. Reedsy’s 2026 guide notes that 80 to 100% of sales happen on Amazon for most authors, so either way your book will likely sell there.
What is the difference between a book publishing service and a self-publishing platform?
A self-publishing platform, such as Amazon KDP, IngramSpark, or Draft2Digital, is a tool for uploading and distributing a finished book. A book publishing service is a team that helps you create, prepare, and launch the book. Big Impact Books is a service: it supports developing, publishing, and promoting the book.
Is a free book publishing service worth it?
A free platform can be worth it if your manuscript is finished and you can handle editing, design, and marketing yourself. Platforms such as Amazon KDP do not charge to upload, but the professional services around a book are not free. Be cautious of any company that promises a free package and then charges for essentials later.
What is print on demand?
Print on demand means a copy is printed only when someone orders it, so the author does not pay for inventory upfront. Platforms such as KDP Print and IngramSpark work this way. Offset printing, by contrast, prints a large batch at once, which suits authors who need many copies for events or bulk orders.
What does Big Impact Books do that a self-publishing platform does not?
A platform publishes the files you give it. Big Impact Books helps create the book through weekly interviews, publishes it, and then promotes it through book marketing and publicity, including podcast and media outreach. Founder Melanie Herschorn’s background as a celebrity publicist and journalist shapes that promotion work.
How much money does it cost to publish your own book?
Publishing your own book can cost little in platform fees, since major self-publishing platforms do not charge to upload. The real cost is the professional help you choose to buy: editing, cover design, formatting, and marketing are the usual line items. Prices vary by provider and book length, so get a written quote for each item before you commit.