What Should a Self-Publishing Package Include? A Buyer’s Checklist

Two publishing packages can promise the same thing and deliver very different work. One may include cover design and proofreading; another may assume your manuscript and cover are already finished. The price only makes sense once you know what you are buying.

So, what should a self-publishing package include? It should clearly identify the work your book needs, the files you will receive, the platforms covered and the decisions you must approve. Use the checklist below to compare those details before placing an order.

1. An editing scope that matches your manuscript

“Editing included” is not enough information. Ask what the editor will actually do.

• Developmental editing addresses larger issues such as structure, pacing and how an argument or story develops.

• Copyediting works more closely with the language, correcting errors and improving consistency.

• Proofreading is a final check for remaining errors, usually after the main editing work.

Providers use these labels differently, particularly “light editing.” Ask for the scope in writing and, where available, a sample of the work. A manuscript needing substantial restructuring should not be treated as ready for a final proofread. Reedsy’s guide to copyediting and proofreading explains the distinction in more detail.

Check before buying: the manuscript word limit, the editing level, how changes are delivered and whether further editing would need a separate quote.

2. Cover design for the editions you plan to sell

An ebook cover and a print cover are different deliverables. A paperback needs a front, spine and back cover prepared for the chosen trim size and page count. A hardcover may need another layout.

Ask which editions the package covers, how many initial concepts you receive and how many revision rounds are included. Confirm whether the final handover includes editable source files or only finished publishing files. If artwork or stock photography is used, ask what usage rights come with it.

Check before buying: cover formats, design revisions, image licensing and final files. Review actual cover examples in your genre rather than judging the service by a long feature list.

3. Interior formatting and usable final files

Your print edition needs a consistent layout. Your ebook needs text that works on different screen sizes. A package should explain which formats it prepares and which files you receive.

• A print-ready interior PDF for the agreed trim size.

• An ebook file suitable for the selected publishing platform.

• A working table of contents where appropriate.

• A review stage for headings, page breaks, images and front and back matter.

Books with tables, illustrations, footnotes or complex layouts may need a different scope from a text-only novel. Share a representative sample before the work is quoted. Our book formatting service explains the available support.

4. Clearly defined publishing and distribution setup

Ask for the names of the platforms included and the tasks the provider will handle: account setup, file uploads, book descriptions, categories, keywords and final submission.

Retailer availability should not be confused with guaranteed bookstore stocking or book sales. Ask what “distribution” means in the particular package and what happens if a platform requests corrections.

Also separate the provider’s service fee from the platform itself. Amazon KDP allows authors to publish ebooks, paperbacks and hardcovers for free. A paid package covers the agreed professional work involved in preparing and setting up your book.

Check before buying: included platforms, account access, approval before submission and support if files need changes.

5. ISBNs, ownership and ongoing costs explained

Find out whether an ISBN is included, who supplies it and what publisher name will appear. KDP’s free ISBN can only be used with KDP; an ISBN you obtain independently can support publication outside KDP. KDP ebooks do not require an ISBN. See Amazon’s ISBN options before choosing.

Ask who controls the publishing accounts, where royalty payments go and which final files you can keep. Read the agreement rather than relying on a headline about ownership.

Check for costs outside the package, including printed copies, shipping, advertising spend, website hosting, domain renewal or additional revisions. Do not assume a service is included because it appears elsewhere on a provider’s website.

6. A review process, timeline and clear handover

A useful timeline starts with the materials the provider needs from you. Ask when work begins, which stages need approval and how changes or late feedback affect delivery.

Before paying, have written answers to these questions:

• What must I submit to start the project?

• What is the expected delivery time for my manuscript?

• How many revision rounds are included?

• Will I approve the cover, layout and publishing setup?

• What support is available after the book goes live?

At Publishing Spot, the timeline depends on your manuscript, chosen services and the readiness of your files and approvals. A project timeline is shared before work begins, and authors review the layout and design before upload.

7. Author branding and marketing listed separately

An author website, Amazon Author Central profile or Amazon A+ Content can be useful additions. They are specific deliverables, not a substitute for a defined marketing campaign.

If a package includes marketing, ask what will be produced, where it will run, how long it will last and whether advertising spend is separate. Compare the work promised rather than treating a sales forecast as a guaranteed result.

Which self-publishing package fits your book?

The right choice depends on what is already finished.

• Basic — $199: for authors with a cover and formatted manuscript who need publishing setup, uploads and listing optimization.

• Standard — $399: adds cover design, ebook and paperback formatting, publishing setup and one Amazon A+ Content module.

• Premium — $999: combines proofreading and light editing, cover design, ebook and print formatting, publishing setup and author branding, including an author website and up to three Amazon A+ Content modules.

Premium is worth considering if you need several of those services together. If your files are already prepared, a smaller package may be the better fit. Confirm the scope for your manuscript, including word count, revisions and any external costs, before ordering.

Compare Publishing Spot’s publishing packages and full inclusions. To order Premium, select PREMIUM in the PACKAGE menu on the product page and click Buy Now.