Bookvault

Bookvault is a UK print-on-demand book printer and distribution service for independent authors and small publishers. It prints books in six bindings, adds special-edition finishes such as sprayed edges and foiling from a single copy, ships "Worldwide from the UK," and connects to an author's own online store so each sale is printed and sent automatically. Its homepage sums up the choice it offers: sell "through our retail network or retain maximum profit through your direct selling store!" The site is run by CopyTECH (UK) Limited, trading as Printondemand-worldwide and registered in England.

How it works

The homepage lays the process out in three steps. First, upload: create a Bookvault account and set books up for print "in minutes." Second, sell: automate sales and sell direct, or list the books with major retailers. Third, print: "You can receive print orders directly, or allow Bookvault to print them on demand when they are sold, and then send them worldwide to readers!" So an author can order copies in bulk for events or stock, or leave every order to be printed one at a time as readers buy.

Bookvault's blog adds that titles are "ready to purchase within the hour" of being added, and that it accepts files formatted for Kindle Direct Publishing, so an author moving an existing book does not need a designer to reformat it. A bulk title tool, announced in October 2024, lets publishers with larger catalogs upload many titles at once instead of one by one.

Direct selling and integrations

Selling direct is the center of the offer. Under "Sell," the site lists integrations with Shopify, Payhip, Wix, WooCommerce and Kickstarter, plus an API. When a reader buys from an author's store on one of these platforms, the order passes to Bookvault, which prints and ships it. The homepage makes the case in three points: keep more of each sale "instead of paying marketplace commissions," own the customer relationship with "access to customer data," and keep complete control over prices, promotions, bundles and presentation.

For authors without a store, Bookvault Shop, listed among the latest updates, gives "independent authors an easy way to sell directly, with professional storefronts, automated fulfilment and no need to manage stock or shipping." A July 2024 post covers selling through the Payhip Marketplace. Every pricing plan also includes selling on the Great British Bookshop and access to Bookvault's automation tools.

Retail distribution and royalties

For wider reach, Bookvault distributes titles "through major retailers like Amazon, Gardners and Alibris." The homepage promises real-time sales reporting and "Royalties paid out in 90 days." A worked example on the homepage is based on a book with a recommended retail price of £20.00 and an available retailer discount of 35%.

Bindings and starting print costs

The homepage lists print costs "from" these prices per binding:

• Saddle stitched, from £0.49
• Paperback, from £1.17
• Wiro-bound, from £1.52
• Spiral-bound, from £1.52
• Hardback, from £3.82
• Cloth hardback, from £4.82

A blog post describes "a near-infinite selection of custom sizes" and "six different types of binding, from hardback to wire-bound." The same post says Bookvault prints on coated stocks for vivid color, which it recommends for children's and picture books, and invites authors to request a sample copy. The exact price of a given book comes from an instant online quote, and a sizing calculator sits under Resources.

Bookvault also prints low-content books such as diaries, notepads and journals, which its blog suggests selling through an author's own store for a high margin.

Special editions with BookvaultBespoke

BookvaultBespoke is the special-edition line. The homepage says it adds "high-end luxury embellishments, available on orders from a single copy!" and names sprayed edges, cover foiling, endpapers, ribbons, and head and tail bands. The print menu also lists box sets and slipcases, introduced in February 2025. Blog posts cover sprayed edge printing, launched in August 2024, and new machinery for special editions. For a seller, this means a signed hardback with foiled cover and sprayed edges can be sold as a limited edition or a Kickstarter reward without committing to a print run.

Pricing plans

The homepage shows three plans, with the monthly fee printed in two currencies in different blocks:

• MyBookvault, "A small selection of titles": free, with a £19.95 title setup fee and bulk discounts of 3% to 10%.
• Bookvault Indie, "Several books each month": £24.95 per month in one block and $31.95 in the other, with a £4.95 title setup fee and bulk discounts of 3% to 10%.
• Bookvault Pro, "Suitable for larger businesses": £89.95 per month in one block and $114.95 in the other, with free title setup, bulk discounts of 3% to 15%, discounted rush services and advanced bespoke reporting. The second block adds direct developer support.

The second block also lists a tree planted with every order on every plan. Authors who do not fit a plan are invited to e-mail for a tailored one.

Where it prints and ships

Books ship worldwide from the UK. A January 2025 blog post announces local printing in Australia, and recent updates cover Australian pricing, Canadian pricing adjustments and EU customs changes.

Support

The blog says support is free, through a team available by e-mail or live chat, and that authors can request a call or a meeting through the contact page. The help menu lists a Help Centre with search, a compliance hub, a file upload guide, a contact page and a quote form. The blog also runs practical guides for authors, on matte against gloss finishes, foil colors on covers, marketing by genre, growing a readership, the value of a backlist and automation. The homepage carried a notice of an outage of some services, with a link to a status page.

Who it suits

Bookvault suits an indie author or small publisher who sells, or wants to sell, from their own Shopify, WooCommerce, Wix or Payhip store and wants each order printed and shipped without holding stock, while still listing the same titles with Amazon, Gardners and Alibris. It is a strong fit for special editions, since foiling, sprayed edges, endpapers and slipcases are offered from a single copy, and for authors with a backlist, given the bulk upload tool and the free title setup on the Pro plan.

It suits less well an author who needs editing, layout or cover design, since the service starts from finished files, and a seller who wants products other than books.