| Xlibris |
| Manuscript screening: |
No |
| Kind of contract: |
Non-Exclusive |
| 2+2=5 |
While they do describe their contract as non-exclusive, it is not available online. |
| Distribution: |
Through their site and online retailers mostly |
| Basic fees: |
Paperback publishing |
Basic paperback fee is $449.00. |
| Hardcover publishing |
Not available |
| Combo publishing |
Basic combo fee is $1,099.00. |
| Color publishing |
Basic color publishing fee is $449.00. |
| eBook publishing |
eBook publishing is bundled into their packages except their least expensive one (this is probably not a good thing). Royalties are unclear though they may be 50% of net receipts. |
| Royalties: |
Royalties are 10% of retail price on external sales, 25% of retail price on direct sales. |
| Author's discount: |
Basic discount is 40% on paperbacks and 35% on hardcovers. |
| Break-even point: |
Between 200 and 300 copies (approximation based on external sales of an average length book through external channels using their least expensive package). |
| Basic retail price: |
Very expensive ($19.99 for a 200-page book). |
| Layout: |
Your choice of two templates for a paperback and eighteen templates for a combo. |
| Graphics: |
Avaliable only as an extra for a paperback, up to 25 graphics for a combo (more can be purchased as an extra) |
| Cover options: |
Your choice of two templates for a paperback or nineteen templates for a combo. |
| Trim size: |
They have a single trim size available. |
| Additional options: |
There are a number of additional packages with set-up fees as high as $14,999.00.
They also offer a series of add-ons such as layout services, custom cover, footnotes and so on. One that is worth mentioning
The next price level, which adds eBook distribution is $649.00. |
| Pros*: |
*Good distribution. |
| Cons*: |
*With the exception of their basic, and very bare-bones, 'Advantage' package, their setup fees range from slightly expensive to very expensive depending on package choice. *Very high retail prices that will probably have a significant impact on book sales. *Their site is not particularly informative. *With one exception, which is a little too bare bones for comfort, eBook publishing is bundled into their print packages. *eBook publishing deal is not particularly favorable (with a couple of exceptions this is true of all POD publishers). |
| Comments*: |
This is one of several large publishers that were bought by Author Solutions (the others being AuthorHouse, iUniverse and Trafford). |
| The Bottom Line*: |
Even though their set-up fee seems to be a reasonable one, their basic package is too bare-bones to be truly viable. In addition to that an expensive retail price combined with low royalties, undisclosed terms and (in their more expensive pckages) a bundled eBook publishing package that is far from favorable make this a company you may want to avoid. |
| Visit the publisher's site |
| Last updated: 06-26-2011 |