Should you self-publish or use a hybrid publisher for your business book?
The short answerSelf-publish if your budget is tight or you want to run every part of the project yourself. Use a hybrid publisher if you would rather pay one team to edit, design, publish, and distribute the book while you keep running your business. Either way, read the contract before you pay: the right choice is the one where you keep your rights and royalties, you know the full price up front, and you know exactly who does the work.
See published pricesThe difference in one look
In both models the author pays for the book to be made. The difference is who does the work and who manages it.
You are the publisher
- Who does the work: you, or the freelancers you find and hire yourself (editor, cover designer, layout designer, proofreader).
- Who manages it: you. You set the schedule, review the work, and make every call.
- Who owns it: you, and the retailer accounts are in your name.
- What it costs: whatever you choose to spend. You can keep costs low by doing more yourself.
- The tradeoff: your time. Every step that you do not hire out is a step you do.
You pay a publisher to run it
- Who does the work: the publisher's team. Some hybrid publishers also write the book with you; others only publish a finished manuscript.
- Who manages it: the publisher, with you approving the big decisions.
- Who owns it: it depends on the contract. Some hybrid publishers leave all rights and royalties with the author; others keep a share. Check before you sign.
- What it costs: a price for a defined scope of work. Ask how and when it is paid.
- The tradeoff: money. You pay more than you would doing the work yourself, in exchange for a team that does it.
Not sure whether a company is a hybrid publisher or a vanity press? Read how to tell a vanity press from a hybrid publisher.
When to choose which
- Your budget is tight. You can spend only on the pieces you cannot do yourself.
- You want full control of every decision and you enjoy managing the details.
- You have the time to find, hire, and manage an editor, a designer, and a proofreader, and to set up your own retailer accounts.
- You have already written a strong manuscript and mainly need it produced.
- Your time is worth more running your business than managing freelancers.
- You want one team accountable for editing, design, publishing, and distribution.
- You need help writing the book itself, not just publishing it.
- You can afford the price, and the contract leaves the rights and royalties with you.
How to judge any hybrid publisher
There is no neutral ranking of the best hybrid publishers for nonfiction books. Instead of trusting a list, ask every publisher on your shortlist these six questions and compare the answers in writing.
- Who owns the rights and the royalties? Find out whether you keep all of your rights and all of your royalties, or whether the publisher keeps a share. Get the answer from the contract, not the sales call.
- Are the prices published? A publisher that posts its prices lets you compare before you talk to anyone. If you can only get a price on a call, ask for it in writing.
- What exactly is included? Ask for the list: rounds of editing, cover options and revisions, interior layout, audiobook, author copies, ISBNs, and copyright registration. Ask what costs extra.
- Who writes the book? You, a ghostwriter, or a writer working from interviews with you. If someone else writes it, ask how they capture your voice.
- How is the book distributed? Ask which formats (print, eBook, audiobook), which retailers and platforms, and whose name the retailer accounts are in.
- How does the contract read? Read the whole agreement before you sign. Look for the payment schedule, what happens if the project runs long, any fees beyond the price, and whose imprint goes on the book.
Thinking about hiring a writer as well? See ghostwriting company or freelance ghostwriter.
How Scribe Media answers those six questions
Scribe Media is one option to put on your list. Here is what our pricing pages say, word for word where it matters, so you can compare it with anyone else.
Who owns the rights and the royalties?
Each package lists “100% of All Rights and Royalties” and says: “All book profits and rights are yours. All accounts are yours.”
Are the prices published?
Yes. The pricing page says: “We publish what every Scribe service costs because we work on behalf of the author, and that starts with transparent pricing.” The prices are listed below.
Source: scribemedia.com/pricing
What exactly is included?
The pricing page says: “Every Scribe package includes professional editing, cover design, interior layout, publishing, and distribution to Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and other major retailers. The difference between tiers is the level of writing support you receive.” Each package page lists what is included and what costs extra.
Source: scribemedia.com/pricing
Who writes the book?
It depends on the package. Scribe Publishing: “You've written your manuscript. We handle everything else.” Scribe Professional: “We interview you and write your book. You talk, we create.” Scribe Elite: “The premier ghostwriting experience. White-glove, start to finish.”
Source: scribemedia.com/pricing
How is the book distributed?
The Scribe Publishing agreement says: “We will format, publish, and distribute your title on the Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and IngramSpark self-publishing platforms.” The Scribe Professional agreement says: “All book and distribution accounts are yours (the Author's), not ours (including Amazon, iBooks, etc.). We place those accounts in your name and you have full control.”
Sources: scribemedia.com/pricing/publishing and scribemedia.com/pricing/professional
How does the contract read?
The full agreement is on each package page, before you sign. It opens: “This agreement is intentionally written in plain English.” On the imprint, it says: “You will publish under our Scribe Media Imprint. If you request it, you may publish under your own imprint.”
Every price, out in the open
The three Scribe packages most business authors compare, as listed on our pricing pages.
Scribe Publishing
$4,833 / month
6 monthly payments, $29,000 total
You've written your manuscript. We handle everything else.
See Scribe PublishingScribe Professional
$4,667 / month
12 monthly payments, $56,000 total
We interview you and write your book. You talk, we create.
See Scribe ProfessionalScribe Elite
$9,000 / month
15 monthly payments, $135,000 total
The premier ghostwriting experience. White-glove, start to finish.
See Scribe EliteIf those numbers are more than your book needs, self-publishing may be the better fit, and that is a fine choice.
Questions authors ask
Should I self-publish or use a hybrid publisher for my business book?
Self-publish if your budget is tight or you want to run every part of the project yourself. Use a hybrid publisher if you would rather pay one team to edit, design, publish, and distribute the book while you keep running your business. Either way, read the contract first: keep your rights and royalties, know the full price up front, and know exactly who does the work.
What is the difference between self-publishing and hybrid publishing?
In self-publishing, you are the publisher: you do the work or hire and manage freelancers yourself. In hybrid publishing, you pay a publisher whose team does the work and manages the project. In both, the author pays for the book to be made. Rights and royalties with a hybrid publisher depend on the contract.
When is self-publishing the better choice?
When your budget is tight, when you want full control of every decision, when you have the time to hire and manage an editor, a designer, and a proofreader yourself, or when you already have a strong manuscript and mainly need it produced.
What are the best hybrid publishers for nonfiction books?
There is no neutral ranking. Judge each hybrid publisher on the same six questions: who owns the rights and royalties, whether the prices are published, what exactly is included, who writes the book, how the book is distributed, and how the contract reads. Scribe Media is one option; its prices and full agreements are published at scribemedia.com/pricing.
Does Scribe Media take any of my royalties?
The Scribe pricing pages list “100% of All Rights and Royalties” and say: “All book profits and rights are yours. All accounts are yours.”
What does Scribe Media cost?
Scribe Publishing is $4,833 a month for 6 months ($29,000 total). Scribe Professional is $4,667 a month for 12 months ($56,000 total). Scribe Elite is $9,000 a month for 15 months ($135,000 total). Every price is listed at scribemedia.com/pricing.
Not sure which path fits your book?
Schedule a free Author Consult. We'll help you figure out the right path for your book, with no obligation.
Schedule a Free Consult