How to Self-Publish a Book in 2026: The Complete Step-by-Step Guide
The short answer
To self-publish a book in 2026: finish your manuscript and have it professionally edited and proofread, commission a cover and interior, get an ISBN, choose print-on-demand or a print run, distribute through Amazon KDP and IngramSpark (and wider retailers), then launch and market. You keep 100% of your rights and royalties.
Updated October 2026 · By Harmony Publishing
Step 1. Finish and edit the manuscript
The book must be complete before anything else. A developmental review looks at structure and argument, a copyedit fixes clarity, consistency and accuracy, and a proofread is the final error pass. See our editing services, copyediting and proofreading.
Editing rates (2026, per word): developmental editing $0.026 to $0.053, copyediting $0.020 to $0.032 and proofreading $0.014 to $0.021 on the Reedsy marketplace. The Editorial Freelancers Association 2026 Rate Chart shows comparable figures (copyediting fiction 2.0 to 2.7 cents a word, proofreading fiction 1.2 to 2.0 cents). For an 80,000-word book, Reedsy puts hiring an editor at $1,920 to $4,560.
Sources: Reedsy editing costs · EFA rate chart
Step 2. Design the cover and interior
Your cover is the biggest driver of clicks at retail. The interior must be typeset for print (correct margins, bleed and trim) and separately for ebook. Reedsy's self-publishing guide puts the average total spend of self-publishing at $2,800 to $5,300, which includes design. See our cover design page.
Step 3. Get an ISBN
In the US, ISBNs come from Bowker, the only official US ISBN agency: $125 for one, $295 for a ten-pack. You buy them and you own them. Never let a publisher own your ISBN. One ISBN covers one format of one book, so print and ebook each need their own if you want separate retailer records.
Outside the US, each country has its own national ISBN agency (Nielsen in the UK, for example); see our UK, Kenya and South Africa guides. More on ISBNs for books.
Sources: Bowker (MyIdentifiers) · Bowker, US ISBN agency
Step 4. Choose a print format and trim size
Trim size and page count drive the price per printed copy, and a full-colour interior is priced well above black and white. Compare formats in our guides to trim sizes, paperback versus hardcover and binding types.
Step 5. Print-on-demand or a print run
Print-on-demand (POD) needs no upfront inventory: a copy is printed when it is ordered. KDP's own formula is a fixed fee plus a per-page fee, so using KDP's worked example figures ($1.00 fixed plus $0.012 a page), a 200-page black-and-white paperback comes to about $3.40 to print.
A print run (offset) carries a fixed setup price, so the price per copy falls as the run grows. You pay for all the copies upfront and hold the stock. Where the break-even sits depends on your book's specification, so ask for a print quote rather than guess. Learn more about print-on-demand printing, or estimate with the book printing cost calculator.
Source: Amazon KDP, printing costs
Step 6. Set up distribution
- Amazon KDP reaches the Amazon storefronts (US, UK, DE, FR, ES, IT, CA, AU, JP). Paperback royalty is 60% of list price minus the printing price. See publishing a book on Amazon.
- IngramSpark reaches 40,000+ retailers, libraries and bookstores worldwide, which is what makes a title orderable by bricks-and-mortar shops. It charges more per copy than KDP but offers bookstore and library terms.
- Draft2Digital distributes ebooks widely (Apple Books, Kobo, Barnes & Noble, libraries through OverDrive).
Sources: Amazon KDP · Self-Publishing Advice · books.by comparison
Step 7. Launch and market
An Amazon listing optimised for keywords and categories, a plan for gathering reviews and a simple author platform give every other channel something to build on. If you would rather a publisher handle the whole process, see our self-publishing packages (from $699). We also offer publishing and marketing support.
How long does it take?
Timelines vary by book, so we give no fixed number of weeks. Here is what drives each stage.
| Stage | What sets the time |
|---|---|
| Editing and proofreading | Depends on word count and the level of edit. Edits come in passes: developmental, then copyedit, then proofread. |
| Cover and interior design | Can run in parallel with editing; the interior is finalised after the last edit. |
| ISBN and setup | Usually quick once your files are ready. |
| Print-on-demand | A copy is printed per order, so there is no print wait before you list. |
| Print run | Includes proofing and a printing slot. Ask for a quote with dates for your book. |
Self-publish yourself or use a service?
Both are honest routes. Doing it yourself (KDP, IngramSpark and your own editor and designer) usually costs least upfront but demands time and judgement. A full-service publisher bundles everything for one price and does the work. You keep 100% of your royalties either way.
Want us to handle it?
Harmony Publishing takes your manuscript through editing, design, ISBN, printing and distribution while you keep 100% of your royalties and rights.
Frequently asked questions
How much does it cost to self-publish a book?
Reedsy puts the average total spend of self-publishing at $2,800 to $5,300, including editing and design. Editing alone for an 80,000-word book is $1,920 to $4,560 on the Reedsy marketplace. Harmony Publishing's packages start at $699; see the packages page for what each includes, and the printing cost calculator for print prices.
Do I need an ISBN to self-publish?
For retail distribution, yes. In the US ISBNs come from Bowker ($125 for one, $295 for ten) and you should own your own so no publisher holds your title's record. One ISBN covers one format of one book.
Can I publish on Amazon for free?
KDP does not charge to upload a title and takes its printing price from each paperback sale. The real price of self-publishing is the production: editing, cover and interior design.
What is the difference between print-on-demand and a print run?
Print-on-demand prints a copy when it is ordered, with no upfront inventory. A print run (offset) has a fixed setup price, so the price per copy falls as the run grows, but you pay for all copies upfront and hold the stock.
How do I get my book into bookshops?
Distribute through IngramSpark, which reaches 40,000+ retailers, libraries and bookstores worldwide and makes your title orderable by bricks-and-mortar shops.
Do I keep my rights and royalties?
Yes. When you self-publish you keep 100% of your rights. With Harmony Publishing you also keep 100% of your royalties.
How long does self-publishing take?
It depends mainly on your manuscript and the level of editing. Editing and design can run in parallel, and print-on-demand has no print wait. Reedsy names unrealistic timelines as one of the most common self-publishing mistakes, so plan the schedule before you commit to a launch date.
Should I pay a company to publish my book?
Both routes are honest choices. Doing it yourself (KDP, IngramSpark and your own editor and designer) usually costs least upfront but takes your time and judgement. A full-service publisher bundles the work for one price. You keep 100% of your royalties either way.
How do I self-publish a book step by step?
Finish the manuscript, get it edited, produce the cover and interior layout, register the ISBN, print or convert to eBook, then set up distribution to stores. A full-service package does these steps in one project.
What is the difference between self-publishing and vanity publishing?
Self-publishing puts the author in control and keeps the rights and royalties with the author; vanity publishing charges the author and often takes rights or royalties. Check who owns the rights and the ISBN before signing.