How to Sell a Self-Published Book (and Actually Make a Profit)

You wrote the book. Now what?

Writing and editing are hard enough. You got through that. Maybe you even figured out formatting, cover design, and ISBNs. Maybe not.

Either way, once you’re holding a copy of your book, or staring down the invoice from your printer, you’re suddenly staring at a bigger problem:

How do you actually sell it?

A lot of authors get stuck here. You’ve done the creative work, and no one can doubt how hard that it is. It’s a well-documented struggle!

But nobody tells you how to run the business side. Or they do, but the advice is vague. Or failing that, it’s expensive or they take the liberty of assuming you’re already famous, at least in the TikTok sense.

The truth is, selling a self-published book takes more than passion. It takes planning. You need the right storefront, a good understanding of your costs, and a plan for getting books into readers’ hands quickly, cleanly, and affordably.

This post will walk you through the big decisions: where to sell, how to print, and how to avoid mistakes that quietly kill your profit margins before your book ever leaves the warehouse.

Part 1: Choose where to sell your books.

There’s no perfect place to sell a self-published book. But there are a few great options—and each comes with its own pros, cons, and fulfillment challenges.

Option 1: Amazon KDP or FBA

Selling through Amazon is the easiest way to reach a wide audience. You can list your book through KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing), and Amazon handles the printing and shipping. That’s convenient. But it’s also expensive, and you have zero control over how your book is packed or delivered.

If you want to use Amazon as a storefront but ship your own inventory, you’ll need to use Fulfilled by Merchant (FBM) or Fulfilled by Amazon (FBA). Either way, be prepared for extra fees, strict rules, and limited branding options.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=baV7WY-Mh_k

Option 2: Shopify, Squarespace, or WooCommerce

Setting up your own storefront gives you full control. You can set your prices, use your own branding, offer bundles, and run your own promotions.

The tradeoff? You now have to handle payments, inventory, fulfillment, and customer service—or find a partner who does.

The upside is margin. Selling direct means you can keep more of each sale. And if you’re running a campaign on Kickstarter or directing traffic to your site from social media, this is often the best option.

Important Note: Fulfillrite integrates directly with Shopify, WooCommerce, and other platforms. That means when someone buys your book, we handle the rest.

Option 3: Kickstarter and crowdfunding platforms

Kickstarter is great for launching a book with built-in urgency. You get upfront money, clear deadlines, and a crowd of early adopters who care about what you’re making. But fulfillment can be brutal.

Most creators underestimate what it takes to ship hundreds (or thousands) of books all at once. If your campaign goes well, you’ll suddenly need help storing, packing, labeling, and tracking every order. And, of course, you’ll need to do it right, the first time.

That’s a big ask.

So what should you choose?

There’s no one-size-fits-all answer. If you need reach, Amazon works. If you want control, go direct. If you’re launching something new, crowdfunding could help you build up your name in the way that new authors often like to do.

What matters most is knowing what your choice means for fulfillment—and whether you’re prepared to handle that part on your own. If not, now’s the time to think about a book fulfillment partner who can grow with you.

Part 2: Plan your book’s print run and run the numbers.

Let’s talk money.

A beautiful book is worthless if it never reaches your customer. And it’s even worse if you’re losing money every time you ship one.

Printing is where things get real. And your decisions here have a direct impact on your profit margin, your timeline, and your sanity.

Print-on-demand vs. bulk printing

Most new authors start with print-on-demand (POD). You upload your files, and the printer ships one copy at a time when someone places an order. No inventory, no upfront costs, no warehouse.

Sounds perfect—until you realize you’re paying $6–$10 per copy and have no control over packaging, shipping speed, or quality. POD is fine for low-volume, low-risk experiments. It is not how you build a long-term business.

Bulk printing is the opposite. You print 500 or 1,000 books at once, often for $2–$4 per copy, depending on specs. That slashes your per-unit cost, gives you control, and opens up better fulfillment options.

But bulk printing comes with its own challenges: you need to store inventory, handle packing and shipping, and keep tight control of your numbers.

This is one place where Fulfillrite, and companies like ours, help. We receive your inventory, store it in a climate-controlled warehouse, and ship each book to your customer, and on your terms.

Margins matter. Know them cold.

Let’s do some back-of-napkin math.

You sell your book for $20.

POD printing: $8
Amazon fees: $4–5
Profit: $7–8

Bulk printing: $3
Fulfillment + shipping: $5–6
Profit: $11–12

Again, you’ll definitely want to run your own numbers. Every situation is a bit different and you can’t take anything for granted when it comes to basic revenues, expenses, and profitability.

But even at the quickest glance, you can see that the difference adds up fast. Especially if you’re shipping a few hundred books, or bundling with extras.

You need to think about book fulfillment and packaging before it’s a problem.

Books are heavy. They dent. They warp. One bent corner is all it takes for someone to demand a refund or leave a bad review.

Your print specs—spine width, trim size, paper weight—affect not just cost, but how the book fits in a box, and what kind of packaging you need.

Bad fit = extra padding or oversized boxes = dimensional weight fees from carriers.

Good fit = optimized packaging = real savings.

Fulfillrite, and fulfillment centers like ours, also help optimize your shipments to avoid those hidden charges and keep your margins intact.

Here’s how you build a fulfillment system that works for you, not against you.

Shipping self-published books is harder than it looks.

Now you’ve got stacks of padded mailers, a thermal printer you barely know how to use, and a growing pile of orders to pack before lunch. Every mistake—wrong address, bent cover, missed tracking number—feels like a small fire to put out.

That’s the reality for a lot of first-time authors. Selling the book is exciting. Fulfilling the orders is…not. But it doesn’t have to stay that way.

You don’t need to turn into a shipping expert. You just need a repeatable system—and maybe the right help.

Part 3: Prep your book fulfillment process.

Shipping is not just putting a book in a mailer and calling it a day. There’s a whole stack of decisions behind every package: where your books are stored, how orders are packed, how quickly they go out, and what happens when something goes wrong.

Let’s break it down.

What’s actually involved in fulfillment?

Here’s what goes into every single order:

• Pulling the right book (or books) from inventory
• Choosing the right packaging (mailers, boxes, bubble wrap)
• Packing it securely (no crushed corners, no sliding around)
• Printing and attaching the correct shipping label
• Adding tracking and updating the customer
• Handling returns if needed

Now do that 10, 20, 200 times. With speed. And accuracy. Across time zones and continents.

It’s not impossible. But it’s not free, either—not in time, energy, or money.

Many self-published authors start out packing boxes in their garage. That’s fine—until it isn’t. The moment fulfillment slows you down or starts hurting your customer experience, it’s time to get help.

Why books are trickier than most products

Books may seem simple. They’re not.

They’re heavy for their size. They have sharp corners and bendable covers. They’re often shipped in bundles or with extras—bookmarks, maps, signed inserts, stickers, you name it.

And they’re expectation-heavy too. A reader won’t be thrilled if your book shows up in good shape. That’s what they expect. But if it’s bent, delayed, or missing? You’re going to hear about it.

This is where working with a specialized books fulfillment center matters. Someone who knows how to pack media. Someone who has the materials and systems in place to ship on time, in good shape, and without drama.

Fulfillrite has shipped thousands of titles for authors, crowdfunders, and publishers. We’ve handled limited edition drops, press kits, subscription boxes—you name it.

Real-world fulfillment scenarios

Let’s say you’re launching a Kickstarter and need to ship 500 books to backers.

You’ve printed your run and stored it in your living room. Now the campaign ends and the clock starts ticking.

You spend your nights printing labels. Some addresses bounce. You run out of mailers halfway through. International orders stall at customs. Some backers get their books three weeks late. A few never arrive. You’re exhausted. And now you’ve got a dozen angry emails to answer.

Now rewind. Imagine those same books went to a 3PL that specializes in fulfillment for books.

Your backers receive their packages on launch day. No damage. No delays. You check a dashboard, see everything’s shipped, and spend your evening doing literally anything else.

That’s the difference a real fulfillment system makes.

Part 4: Plan for international book shipping.

International customers are loyal. They’re often your earliest fans. But shipping to them is a minefield. Especially if you don’t know what you’re doing.

Here’s what can go wrong:

• Delayed delivery: Packages get stuck in customs. Some never arrive.
• Unexpected charges: Your reader gets hit with VAT, duties, or handling fees on arrival.
• Damaged goods: Long-distance shipping increases risk of crushed corners and torn packaging.
• Lost trust: A single bad experience can turn a fan into a critic—and they’ll post about it.

These problems aren’t rare. They’re normal if you’re not set up for international shipping.

Fulfillrite offers international fulfillment with Delivered Duty Paid (DDP) options. That means you cover the costs up front, so your readers don’t get surprise fees or angry emails.

DDU vs. DDP: Know the difference

• DDU (Delivered Duty Unpaid): The buyer pays customs or VAT on delivery. Often leads to frustration, returns, or abandoned packages.
• DDP (Delivered Duty Paid): You, the seller, cover those costs. Slightly more expensive on your end—but a much better customer experience.

If you plan to ship overseas—and you should, because global readership is real—build international logistics into your plan early. Don’t treat it as an afterthought.

Fulfillment isn’t just domestic. And it’s not just boxes.

Book fulfillment isn’t about shipping paper. It’s about delivering experiences. Yes, it’s corny, but it’s true! And readers in the UK, Australia, Canada, and beyond expect the same quality as those in the U.S.

With the right books 3PL (third-party logistics company), you can serve international customers without fear of delays, damage, or surprise fees.

Staying Profitable After Launch Without Burning Out

Launch day is only the beginning.

You did it. You launched your book, made your first sales, maybe even ran a successful Kickstarter. You signed some copies. Shipped your first batches. Saw those early reviews roll in.

Then things changed.

A few weeks go by. Orders slow down. You’ve got half your print run still boxed up in the spare bedroom. A couple returns trickle in—wrong address, bent cover, buyer changed their mind. The momentum fades, and now you’re stuck in the least exciting part of the job:

Keeping the book available. Managing inventory. Handling problems.

This is where a lot of self-publishers fall off. The launch is exciting. The maintenance? Not so much.

But here’s the truth: most books don’t make money because of the launch. They make money over time. Weeks, months, sometimes years. That’s the long tail. And if you want to stay profitable, you have to treat fulfillment like an ongoing system, not a one-time task.

Part 5: Keep your profits (and sanity) as you grow.

Let’s talk about what happens after the hype dies down—and how to make sure your fulfillment process isn’t silently bleeding money.

Storage adds up fast.

Books take up space. And they don’t move quickly unless you’re on a bestseller list or constantly promoting.

Storing 50 copies? Easy. Storing 2,000? You’re suddenly talking about pallets, climate control, pests, and accessibility. That’s not a job for a closet—or even a rented storage unit—unless you want to be climbing over boxes every time you need to ship one order.

Fulfillrite stores books in a climate-controlled warehouse, which protects against warping, mold, and seasonal damage, all of which are things that a lot of new authors don’t consider until it’s too late.

Returns: small in number, big in cost.

Books have low return rates compared to apparel or electronics. But when they do come back, they hit hard.

A return usually means a refund plus lost shipping plus time spent fixing the issue. If it’s your fault (wrong item, damaged in transit), you lose even more: the buyer’s trust. That’s a problem if you only had one chance to make an impression.

A fulfillment partner with error rates below 0.1%, like Fulfillrite, helps reduce this risk. And if a return does happen, they’ll process it cleanly, without dragging you into a back-and-forth over one $20 book.

What about bundling? What if you want to add merch?

Many self-publishers add extras: stickers, bookplates, maps, pins. These aren’t just for fun. They boost perceived value, drive reviews, and can justify higher prices.

But here’s the catch: bundling adds complexity.

If you’re handling fulfillment yourself, you have to track stock for each item, pack orders carefully, and keep everything organized. One mismatched bundle means wasted postage and a disappointed reader.

It’s the kind of service that matters after you scale—not just at launch.

Don’t ignore the long tail.

Most indie books don’t blow up. They grow slowly. They reach niche audiences, get recommended, and sell a few dozen or few hundred copies at a time, often over the course of months or years.

That’s fine. That’s good, even.

But long-tail success requires long-tail systems.

You can’t ship every copy by hand forever. You can’t answer every tracking email. And you definitely can’t scale a business that needs you to tape every box.

What you can do is build a system that runs quietly in the background. Orders come in, they’re packed and shipped the same day, tracking is sent, returns are handled, inventory is updated—and you never touch a roll of tape.

That’s what real fulfillment does. And it’s what lets you stay focused on what comes next: marketing, writing your next book, building your catalog.

Final Thoughts

Selling a self-published book isn’t just about writing well. Or designing a good cover. Or even launching strong.

You’re getting into business, and that means you need to make sure every piece of the business works—especially the parts that readers never see.

Fulfillment isn’t the fun part. But it’s the part that keeps your customers happy, your margins intact, and your time protected.

If you’ve reached the point where packing boxes is taking too much energy, or mistakes are eating into your profits, or you’re just ready to hand off the shipping side of things to someone who actually enjoys it, then here’s your sign: reach out for help.

Fulfillrite handles book fulfillment for self-publishers, small presses, and crowdfunded campaigns. We specialize in fast, accurate shipping with real-time tracking, transparent pricing, and low error rates. You stay focused on writing—we’ll handle the rest.