Glossary
Print on demand
Print on demand: Print on demand (POD) is a service that prints and ships a physical book only when a copy is ordered, so the author holds no stock and pays no printing cost upfront. Amazon KDP, IngramSpark and Lulu are the main providers; the printing cost is deducted from each sale before the royalty is paid.
How the economics work
A 200-page black-and-white paperback costs about $3.50 to $4.50 to print on KDP. At a $12.99 list price, Amazon keeps 40%, deducts printing, and pays roughly $3.50 to $4.30. The same book as an ebook at $4.99 pays about $3.40. Many authors publish both: the paperback anchors the ebook price and reaches gift buyers.
Files you need
- An interior PDF with the trim size (6 × 9 in and A5 are common), margins and bleed set correctly.
- A full wrap cover PDF: back, spine and front, sized to the page count.
- An ISBN, free from KDP or your own.
KDP versus IngramSpark
KDP prints for Amazon and, through Expanded Distribution, some other retailers at a lower royalty. IngramSpark reaches bookshops and libraries worldwide through the Ingram catalogue, with better discount options and a setup fee in some countries. Serious print authors use both: KDP for Amazon, Ingram for everyone else.
Frequently asked questions
Can I turn my ebook into a paperback?
Yes, with a print-ready interior PDF and a wrap cover. The typeset A5 PDF from create-ebook is a starting point for the interior; the cover wrap needs the spine width.
How long does printing and shipping take?
Amazon usually prints within a day or two and ships like any product; Prime delivery applies.
Is there a minimum order?
None. One copy at a time, including author copies at printing cost.