In some cases instead of publishing directly to an ebook store you might choose to publish via an ebook “aggregator”.
What is an Ebook Aggregator?
An ebook aggregator deals with ebook authors directly and interfaces between them and ebook retailers such as Apple and Sony.
The ebook aggregator may offer other services besides distribution, for example ebook design and formatting services.
Why Use an Ebook Aggregator?
Some of the valid reasons to use an ebook aggregator include:
- You are non-resident and haven’t yet acquired the various requirements (e.g. B&N requires you to have a US bank account and U.S. Tax ID).
- You don’t have the hardware or software required to publish your ebook directly (e.g. Apple requires a Mac).
- You don’t know how to technically format the manuscript (e.g. to ensure your epub file passes validation checks).
The following quick comparison chart of ebook aggregators shows who they distribute to as well as their fees charged and royalties paid. I had to shrink it slightly to fit on this page. You can click on the chart to see it at its original size.
Notes
1. To the best of my knowledge the information in this chart was correct in March 2012. Smashwords also distributes to Diesel Ebooks. XinXii also distributes to Casa del Libro.
2. ISBNs are required for distribution to Apple and Sony stores. Check terms carefully. Some ebook aggregators will offer you one of their ISBNs free and this usually identifies them as the publisher. They might also offer a paid option which identifies you as the publisher. You can also “Bring Your Own” ISBN number.
3. Smashwords pays you a royalty of 60% of the retail price when your ebook sells at Apple, Barnes & Noble, Sony or Diesel stores. At Kobo the royalty is 60% of list for most sales but 38% of list for certain sales. For exceptions and further details see this page.
4. Some aggregators take a percentage of the net revenue paid by an ebook retailer.
Example: at Apple the royalty paid on an ebook sale is 70%. Lulu, an aggregator, will keep 20% of that, which is 14% of the retail price. This leaves a self-publishing author with 56% royalty on the retail price.
4b. Lulu ran a promo from September 2011 until 31 January 2012 keeping only 10% instead of 20%, i.e. the author received 90% of net, or 63% of retail on an ebook sold at iBookstore/B&N.
5. BookBaby charges an annual fee for each book starting in the second year.
6. Lulu pays by PayPal monthly or by check quarterly.
7. EBookit charges only $49 for conversion and distribution if the ebook is provided to them in a valid ePub format.
8. Bibliocore was included in an earlier version of this chart. However their web site declared that as of 31 October 2011 they no longer provide ebook distribution.
9. Most aggregators charge additional fees if an ebook is provided to them in PDF format.
10. Lulu has several options for ebook conversion. To purchase their conversion services costs $99 to $299 depending upon book length. You can also convert Word/RTF files for free using the Lulu ePub Converter.
Did you find this information useful? Please share a comment below.
If you would like to use the chart image on your own blog or web site you are welcome to do so. I would appreciate a link back to this page.
About the Author
Gary McLaren is the author of “The Indie Author’s Guide to Publishing Ebooks” a 200+ page guide to publishing your ebooks at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, iBookstore and more. It is available for download here.
Which of these aggregators will work with video enhanced ebooks? Also will Sony and Barnes and Noble take video enhanced ebooks by indie authors without an aggregator?
Thanks in advance for your help
Susan
OMG totally helpful had no idea at all about ebook aggregators and what their purpose was. Thanks.
I have launched a book through Amazon’s DIY service, in print version. Now it’s time to step up to e-book publishing. Thanks for the article!
Thanx for the chart and comparisons. There is so much to consider that I’m wondering if an aggregator is my best option at this point in my development.
It’s amazing what a stick-in-the-mud I have become. I have used just one self-publisher for years now and am only just investigating new posibilities. This post makes really interesting reading.
Your site is a wealth of information.
Thank you
Karen
Thanks for the chart. I believe I will use an ebook aggregator. This seems to be an option that would relieve a lot of anxiety or stress in publishing an Ebook. I am so glad I found your website!
Thanks for this information. The next step for me will be to do some Internet research to see which one seems to have the best market presence.
Three Questions:
1. Am I right to understand that these companies will take my manuscript and format it for these various stores and submit it to them?
2. Do they create a front and back cover, or do I do that?
3. What is the cost and procedure to have my own ISBN? In your opinion, what’s the best thing to do about ISBNs?
Thanks for the great site.
Reynold
Hi Reynold –
I was happening by, found your questions and thought I’d tackle #3.
Amazon and B&N *do not* require you to have an ISBN to list on their site.
If you want to list with the eRetailers that do require an ISBN, (without going through an Aggregator), ISBNs can be purchased at bowker.com for $125.
Given the current structure of the eRetailer world, that $125 will allow you to list on:
1. Kobo (if you’re willing to wait months for a contract and you know how to use ftp
2. iBooks (if you have access to a MacBook Pro)
All other ISBN-required-for-entry venues (Sony, Ingram, et al) are closed to authors unless the author owns a corporation *and* has a growing catalogue of titles that’s nearing tipple digits.
Hope this helps.
Nina
Hi Reynold, yes the aggregators typically assist with manuscript formatting and submission. Sometimes, for example with Smashwords, you still need to do a considerable amount of formatting yourself, to get your manuscript into the format they require, in preparation for the additional formatting they provide. Some aggregators do offer an additional cover design service.
Hello Gary – Thank you for the comparison post. I didn’t know that SW didn’t list on Amazon.
As an ebook aggregator for print=published authors, I was surprised by how few of your highlighted aggregators listed on Sony and Kobo. In your travels, did you happen upon any aggregators that list with Ingram or OverDrive (Overdrive provides content to libraries)?
Gary, it’s great to see information about the various aggregators collected in one place. Last I heard Smashwords was working to get going on Amazon again. $125 for an ISBN? I’m glad I’m in Canada where they are free. Please feel free to contact me if anyone needs help formatting their electronic works.
Folks, I’m pretty sure Smashwords works with Amazon.
My strategy for “No Roads Lead to Rome” is to use Amazon’s “KDP” service (Kindle Direct Publishing” to work with Amazon and Smashwords for everything else.
Since my sales are 95% through Amazon, this gives me a better royalty with them.
In addition to managing the details for all the other online stores, an additional thing I like about Smashwords is the ability to create discount coupons. I often give away free samples this way.
Thanks for your blog. It’s great.
I’m glad you had, in note # 1, that the info was current as of early November; the article date is much earlier. Great info, thanks!
Thanks for mentioning that Adan. I’ve updated the article date to match.
Good chart, but Lulu does distribute to Barnes and Noble now, so you can update that.
Hi Gary,
Thanks for putting this up. My question is, when one has their book uploaded as an ebook to whichever aggregator site, are you limited to using only one aggregator per book or can one make use of them all for one book?
Gavin
Aggregators do not normally seek exclusivity so you could potentially use two for one book. Of course you shouldn’t use two aggregators to put the same book in the same store twice – but I’m sure that’s not what you meant (I know Amazon in particular is seeking to reduce duplicate content). You could use different aggregators to distribute the same book to different ebook stores.
Hi Gary, I’d like to add XinXii as a leading eBook aggregator in Europe. They convert into ePub and mobi for free and distribute to major retailers (Amazon, B&N, Casa del Libro, iBookstore, Kobo): http://www.xinxii.com
Thanks so much for all of the info on your site Gary. I really appreciate it. We’re just starting out with the eBook format and I’ve chosen to use Smashwords as I live in Canada and do not yet have that US Tax ID spoken about earlier.
I wanted to know if I could place our eBooks on Amazon directly and then have Smashwords push them out to the rest and leave the Amazon one alone? Or do they do it all regardless? S>
Hi Susan. Certainly you can do it that way and I think it is true to say that a large percentage of indie authors outside of United States do that, i.e. publish directly to Amazon through their Kindle Direct Publishing, and use an aggregator such as Smashwords for easy access to the other main stores.
Hi: BookBaby sells their ISBN’s for $19.00 when you have an account with them. Seems tome to be a very good deal [$99.00]. AFTER you have your book formatted and with a cover, they will upload it to several sites and will keep $000 of your hard-written money.
Problem:If an author wishes to participate in Kindle’s KDP Select, he/she MUST give Kindle exclusive right to the book for 90 days.
Note: At the same time, the book can be sold thru their library at a price the author sells, giving the reader an option.
Question: Has anybody determined which way to go: Kindle KDP VS listings on several sites, including Kindle but not KDP?
Bob
Thanks for the info Gary. I have 11 books on Amazon and am now looking at promoting them elsewhere so your above info was very helpful. I’ve had a few issues formatting 3 picture books for kindle and am still not %100 happy with the layout as it appears but I’ve been told it’s early days for kindle picture books. I’ll check out Smashwords and Lulu as aggregators. It would appear to make sense to let them sort out the issues involved with getting the titles out there to more outlets. Thanks for the good advice.