This is NOT a question. I answered another writer's question, but my comment appeared on the 3rd page of comments, hidden away, and I feel that this is something that new writers should know:
A short comment on a detail of --- -----'s point "they're going to risk the costs of registering for an ISBN [...]"
I contacted a "self-publishing agency" and this ISBN offer was presented as a BIG DEAL. I suppose that for inexperienced authors it seems so. Here are [some] facts:
(I'm a resident of Germany, so the amounts are German ones, but I'd guess that the general pattern holds for all countries.)
A self-publishing author is not obliged to buy an ISBN. It is, however, virtually necessary if you want to sell your book on amazon or in bookstores. In Germany, a single ISBN costs 89€. A 2nd (for your 2nd book... or a translation) will cost you 89€. A third will cost you... you're getting the picture: 89€.
A registered publishing house pays an initial "matriculation" fee of 139€. Once that hurdle is over, they can buy job lots of 1000 ISBNs for... 89€ - less than ONE CENT per title published. If we include the original (never to be paid again, even if they order 25000 ISBNs) 139€, it still works out as less than 2.5c per title.
So a "self-publishing agency" that charges you 499€ for a "special offer" that includes YOUR VERY OWN ISBN!!! is shelling out less than one cent for that detail. Of course, if you REALLY self-publish, you pay that 89€... But don’t let anybody fool you that they’re doing you this fabulous, very generous favour.
I was informed by the German ISBN agency that a brand new publisher can't order 1000 ISBNs, so I'm limited to 100. With VAT included, it came to 229.02 €. (1000 would have cost 273.05€) I needed to officially register my publishing company to do this. Can self-publishers in the UK buy ISBNs without setting up a company?
hi,
here in the UK it costs £118.68 for a batch of 10. from Neilson isbn agency UK. I bought a batch during my attempt to learn about self publishing. They have all sorts of information and services you will find useful, so I would recommend their site and services as a first stop before considering self publishing even on Amazon. In fact, there are advantages to having your own ISBN number when you use Amazon.
I am now set up to self publish a small anthology of short stories and my novel. That is, when I eventually finish getting it into shape!
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