Readers have certain expectations when they pick up an ebook or paperback book. One of those is that the book will be formatted correctly; standard margins, proper paragraph indentations, headers, footers, spacing, easy to read font … The list goes on.
Most readers don’t consciously think about it. But if there is something off with how a book is formatted, and they notice, it can have a negative effect on their reading experience. If there are too many mistakes, they may stop reading altogether.
This is not what we want as authors. We want to provide a great experience that allows the reader to escape the real world through a fictional story or fill their mind with interesting information from a nonfiction book.
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When to Consider Hiring a Professional Book Formatter
Tip!
- Authors should value their readers enough to provide them with a high-quality product whether it’s digital or paperback.
There are many great software products available to Indie authors for book formatting. But they do take time to learn and to use.
In addition to great book formatting resources, many wonderful companies offer professional book formatting services to indie authors. Here are some reasons to consider hiring this out instead of doing it yourself.
- Time: Our days can be filled with many activities. Maybe you work outside the home or you are a busy stay-at-home parent or it could be a variety of other reasons. The bottom line is you don’t have a lot of spare time. The time you do have, though, you want to spend it writing and marketing your books; not spend it on formatting.
- Business growth: If your author business is growing and bringing in money or you want it to grow more, you may want to spend more time on the tasks that only you can do and hire out the rest (like book formatting).
- Expertise: Understanding how to format a book is a skill that takes time to learn. Hiring someone who already has this skill and understands the industry and genre standards, can bring you peace of mind (and save time).
What to Look for When Hiring a Book Formatting Service
Experience and Expertise: As with anything you hire someone to do, you want to make sure they are knowledgeable about the topic, in this case, book formatting. There is nothing wrong with asking them to show you examples of books they have formatted. This is especially true if your book has lots of graphics, photos, illustrations, tables or footnotes. You want to be sure to find someone who understands industry standards.
Reviews and Testimonials: Learning about the experiences from other authors is crucial to the process. Do an Internet search of the company to see if there are reviews or testimonials. Also, feel free to reach out to other authors to ask them if they can share what it was like to work with this company.
Communication and Support: When hiring a company to do work for you, it’s important to make sure they have good customer service, clear communication and timely responses. This helps to build trust and know that your book is in good hands. Get a contract or email that explains exactly what you are paying for.
Turnaround Time: Before agreeing to anything, find out the estimated time it will take for the company to complete your book formatting. Keep this in mind when you create your production schedule for your book, and leave a bit of a buffer in case something comes up during the process.
Pricing and Packages: Compare costs to see if they offer packages and services that fit your budget. Ask how many revisions and updates are included in the price. A deposit is the norm, but I caution you not to pay for everything upfront. A portion should be paid upon completion of the job.
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7 Book Formatting Services to Consider
To help with your search, we rounded up seven different companies that offer book formatting services.
Visit their websites, contact them if you have any questions and search online for reviews.
The hope is you will find one to fit your budget and your specific formatting needs.
1. eBook Launch
Based in Canada, eBook Launch stands out for its personalized approach and comprehensive service packages. They are highly praised for their quick turnaround times and exceptional customer service. Their team of experienced professionals ensures that each book meets industry standards for both digital and print formats.
Services Offered: Professional formatting for both digital (eBooks) and print, cover design, and marketing services.
2. TLC Book Design
Located in the United States, TLC Book Design is known for its artistic excellence and attention to detail. Their award-winning design team creates visually stunning and professionally formatted books. They are noted for their ability to handle complex projects, including heavily illustrated books and unique layouts.
Services Offered: Book design, formatting for both digital (eBooks) and print, and typesetting.
3. Reedsy
Headquartered in London, Reedsy UK, provides access to a global network of vetted freelancers. Their unique platform allows authors to directly interact with potential book formatters. Reedsy’s rigorous selection process ensures that authors work with the best in the industry.
Services Offered: Professional formatting for both digital (eBooks) and print, custom quotes, collaboration tools.
4. Damonza
Based in South Africa, Damonza creates high-quality book cover designs and interior formatting. Damonza’s commitment to quality has earned them a reputation for excellence in the self-publishing community.
Services Offered: Book cover design, interior formatting for both digital (eBooks) and print, and promotional materials.
5. Kirkus Reviews
New York based company, Kirkus Reviews, has been in the publishing industry for decades. They are well-known for their book reviews, but they also offer other services, like book formatting, to authors. Kirkus’s strong reputation and history in the publishing world make them a trusted choice for authors seeking quality and credibility.
Services Offered: Book formatting for both digital (eBooks) and print, editing, and proofreading.
6. BookBaby
7. Polgarus Studio
Polgarus Studio is based in Australia and offers specialized formatting services for indie authors. Their attention to detail ensures that each book is professionally formatted to industry standards. They are known for their reliability and high-quality customer service.
Services Offered: Formatting for both digital (eBooks) and print platforms.
Books Formatting Services Comparison Chart
The information from above has been compiled into a chart, making it easy to quickly compare the different companies, to help you find the one that best serves your needs. Each element is rated on a scale of 1-5, with 5 being the highest. The “Cost” column has $ to indicate the expense of the services, from 1-3 dollar signs, with 3 being the most expensive.
Company | Experience and Expertise | Reviews and Testimonials | Service Customization | Support | Turnaround Time | Pricing and Packages | Cost |
eBook Launch | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 5 | 5 | $$$ |
TLC Book Design | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | $$$ |
Reedsy | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | $$$ |
Damonza | 5 | 5 | 5 | 5 | 4 | 4 | $$$ |
Kirkus Editorial | 5 | 5 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | $$$ |
BookBaby | 4 | 4 | 5 | 4 | 4 | 4 | $$ |
Self-Publishing School | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | $$ |
The Book Designer | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | $$ |
Polgarus Studio | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | 4 | $$ |
Introducing:
Booklinker Collections
One landing page for all your books. 100% free.
One link for easy sharing of your books across your backmatter, websites, emails, and social media.
Conclusion
Having a professionally formatted book allows for a great reader experience. There is nothing to distract from the story or information being shared.
When deciding whether or not to hire a book formatting service, consider your available time, goals for your author career and your level of expertise.
Choosing the right formatting service that best fits your specific needs and budget, takes careful consideration.
Experience, reviews, turnaround time and communication are a few important areas we covered and things to keep in mind with the seven companies we shared.
Respect yourself and your readers by publishing professionally formatted, high quality books.
