epubli

epubli is a German self-publishing and book printing service that prints every book on demand and sells it through the German-language book trade, Amazon and its own shop. The site describes itself as "Made in Berlin" and says that "Seit 2008" (since 2008) it has been a partner for printing and publishing books; the newsletter consent text names the operating company as Neopubli GmbH. According to the homepage, more than 100,000 books and e-books from more than 30,000 authors are available in bookstores and online shops. It is aimed at self-publishers and small presses writing in German, and it also prints books for private and business use without publishing them.

The publishing model

epubli's core promise is that publication costs the author nothing. The homepage says, "Veröffentliche auch du dein Werk 100 % kostenfrei und ohne Verlag mit epubli" (publish your work 100 percent free of charge and without a publisher with epubli). It adds that the author pays neither for the ISBN nor for later updates or new editions. The contract has no minimum term and no notice period; the FAQ says an author can withdraw a book from the market at any time and that the cancellation takes only a few days.

The print-on-demand page explains how the company earns its money instead. It prints nothing in advance: the book exists as a file until an order comes in, and only then is a copy printed and shipped. The page walks through an example in which a reader orders the book at a Thalia store in town, the order goes straight to epubli's printing house, and epubli prints the copy and sends it out at once. The FAQ states that printing and shipping are included in the service and that the author does not have to handle anything. The page says epubli uses print on demand exclusively, and it presents the model as sustainable, since no more copies are printed than readers order.

The site is open about the trade-off. Under "Gibt es auch Nachteile bei Print on Demand?" (are there downsides to print on demand?) the FAQ says a single copy cannot benefit from the volume discounts of a larger print run, so the book costs somewhat more to produce, in exchange for carrying no risk.

How a book gets published

The print-on-demand page describes three steps. First the author uploads a PDF of the book and checks it in a print preview. The homepage adds that the author uploads text and cover, that epubli's software checks the files automatically and prepares them for print, and that the cover can optionally be built in the "epubli Cover-Designer". For authors who do not want to set up the file themselves, the FAQ points to epubli's formatting templates for Microsoft Word, which are already formatted so the text only has to be pasted in.

Second, the author enters the metadata (title, genre, author biography) and sets the retail price, which also sets the royalty. Third, the author checks everything and releases the book. epubli then transfers it to the book trade, where, in the page's words, it is available "nach wenigen Tagen" (after just a few days).

Every print-on-demand book gets a standard trade ISBN and is listed in the Verzeichnis Lieferbarer Bücher (VLB), the German directory of books in print. The FAQ says this means the book can be ordered throughout the German-language book trade, just like a publisher's title, including online shops such as Amazon, large chains such as Thalia and small local bookshops. A book still needs an imprint page: the FAQ states it is mandatory and must carry an address where legal documents can be served.

Small publishers are welcome too. The FAQ says a Kleinverlag (small press) can publish through epubli, and that distribution and the organizational process are identical whether the author appears as a publisher or as a self-publisher.

Royalties and the price examples

epubli states its cut plainly: on copies sold through the trade it keeps 30 percent of the net proceeds and the author keeps 70 percent, a share already built into its project examples and its price calculator ("Preisrechner"). The benefit list adds that royalties are paid out monthly, at "bis zu 70 % vom Nettoerlös" (up to 70 percent of net proceeds). The FAQ says an author earns a markedly higher royalty on sales through the epubli shop than through other retailers.

The print-on-demand page gives three worked examples of the royalty per copy sold:

• A novel in paperback format, 200 pages, retail price 11.99 euros: 2.58 euros through the epubli shop, 1.46 euros through the book trade.
• A non-fiction book in DIN A5 format, 150 pages, retail price 14.99 euros: 3.74 euros through the epubli shop, 2.34 euros through the book trade.
• A children's book in the children's book format, 30 pages of which 15 are in color, retail price 10.99 euros: 2.49 euros through the epubli shop, 1.46 euros through the book trade.

For any other page count, format or price, the site sends authors to the price calculator.

Formats and printing

The homepage says authors choose from twelve formats, four binding types and five paper types, and decide which pages print in color and which in black and white before checking the preview. epubli prints "Schon ab 1 Exemplar" (from a single copy), and for larger orders the homepage promises savings through its "attraktiven Mengenrabatts bis zu 50 %" (attractive volume discount of up to 50 percent). The FAQ recommends the paperback format for novels, the non-fiction or DIN A5 format for non-fiction, and publishing in both softcover and hardcover to reach more readers.

Printing without publishing is a separate use of the same service. The homepage says books for private and business purposes can be printed online at any time, naming photo books, appointment calendars and academic papers as examples, all in what it calls "Buchhandelsqualität" (bookstore quality). The homepage lists genres it caters to, from children's books and novels to cookbooks, specialist books and memoirs, and the site also publishes e-books.

Editorial policy and support

epubli does not act as a gatekeeper. The FAQ says it checks only that a book does not breach its terms and conditions: "Ansonsten prüfen wir dein Buch nicht" (otherwise we do not check your book), and "Wir führen auch keine Qualitätskontrolle durch" (we also do not carry out quality control). It does not edit books either ("Lektoriert epubli mein Buch? Nein", does epubli edit my book? No) and points authors who want professional editing to its "Buchprofis" directory. Authors keep all rights to their work and decide title, text, cover and retail price themselves.

Support runs through a help section and by phone, Monday to Friday. The page lists the phone hours as 9-12 on Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday, and 9-12 plus 14-16 on Wednesday. The site also offers free guides, including a 15-page whitepaper on publishing a book and a guide to printing, and a newsletter signup that comes with a 10 percent voucher.

Two authors are quoted on the print-on-demand page. Norman Brenner, author of the guide "Der Weg des Wassers", writes that he was at first skeptical, but after a successful release and many positive reader responses he looks forward to the next time. A second author, introduced as an author, singer and editor, says she chose epubli for print quality, service and ease of use, and that "Das Team hat immer ein offenes Ohr" (the team always has an open ear).

The public pages publish no per-copy printing prices outside the price calculator.

Who it suits

epubli suits German-language authors who want their book orderable in any bookstore in the German-speaking trade and on Amazon without paying for a print run, an ISBN or a publishing package. The zero-cost start, the monthly payouts and the contract that can be canceled at any time make it low-risk for a first book, and the Word templates, automatic file check and cover designer lower the technical barrier. Small presses can use the same route for backlist or niche titles.

It suits authors less well if they want a service that edits, proofreads or quality-checks their book, since epubli explicitly does neither and leaves that to the author or to paid professionals. The site and its support are in German, and its distribution promise covers the German-language book trade, so writers aiming at other markets get less from it.