Amazon Self Publishing 101: Everything You Need to Know

If you can write it, you can publish it, and you don’t need to lose ownership of your content to make it happen.

Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) on Amazon lets you bring your work to life in ebook, paperback, and hardcover formats, with zero upfront printing costs. It provides global exposure, and you get your royalties paid monthly.

What’s even better? With the help of a professional book publishing service, you get expert support every step of the way. So, let’s walk through everything you need to know about Amazon book publishing.

Understanding Amazon KDP and the Advantage of Expert Support

Amazon KDP lets authors publish their books digitally and physically, using print-on-demand, so there is no need for inventory. Your book can reach readers in over 200 countries via Amazon’s dominant ebook and print platforms. The best part is that you stay fully in control of your work, rights, and pricing.

But let us make it a little bit easier for you. Book Publishings full-service offering means you never have to worry about file formats, ISBNs, royalties, or promotional tools on your own. We manage the details so you can focus on what you do best, that is, writing.

What You Can Publish?

You can basically publish anything. Whether you’ve written a novel, a how-to guide, a journal, or a cookbook, you can publish it with Amazon Self Publishing.

Here’s what you need to know about the file formats:

Ebooks: Supported formats include DOC/DOCX, EPUB, and KPF (exported from Kindle Create). MOBI files are no longer accepted.
Paperbacks and Hardcovers: Require a print-ready PDF for the interior and a separate PDF for the cover.

Amazon provides a free Kindle Previewer to test how your book will look across devices. Taking time to preview can save you from formatting mistakes that might lead to poor reviews.

ISBNs and Rights Made Easy

A common question is: Do ebooks need ISBNs? The answer is no. But paperbacks and hardcovers do need one per format. You have the option to use your own or let Amazon supply one for free. Either way, our team handles the registration, so you never have to worry about it.

Beyond the technical side, you also keep your publishing rights. Whether you choose an Amazon ISBN or your own, your work remains yours. You can move it or distribute it elsewhere if you want to, especially if you skip exclusivity programs like KDP Select.

So, What Do You Actually Earn?

How much you earn through Amazon Self Publishing depends on a few factors. Here’s what the data shows:

Ebooks

Amazon offers either 35 percent or 70 percent of the list price royalties. The 70 percent option applies if your price is between $2.99 and $9.99 in eligible territories. There is a small delivery fee based on file size (typically around $0.06 per sale), which our formatting team helps keep low so you earn more.

Print (Paperback/Hardcover)

Royalties are 60 percent (paperback) or 50 percent (hardcover), after subtracting printing costs. Printing costs depend on page count, color vs black-and-white, and location. We run projections through Amazon’s royalty calculator to help you choose prices that are reader-friendly while still profitable for you.

KDP Select & Kindle Unlimited

KDP Select is an optional, 90-day exclusivity program for ebooks that can unlocks Kindle Unlimited (KU). You also get access to Amazon promotional tools like Free Book and Countdown Deals. However, it does require exclusivity during each 90-day term.

In July 2025, the KU fund was about $59.9 million, with a per-page payout of roughly $0.00419 in the US. That means a 300-page book fully read earns about $1.26 in KU, in addition to any direct sales.

Our team analyzes your genre, target audience, and goals to help you decide whether enrolling is right for you. We can also handle Amazon Self Publishing enrollment and manage promotional scheduling. We ensure your book receives maximum visibility without you worrying about deadlines.

How Does Book Publishings Help You?

While we are not offering a full launch plan, here is how our service supports your publishing journey:

Manuscript conversion and formatting: We’ll refine your book shine, perfecting every page for a beautiful experience for your readers.
Cover design: We craft covers that work at thumbnail scale and convey genre-appropriate appeal.
Metadata optimization: Titles, subtitles, categories, backend keywords, we make every element count without any stuffing.
ISBN and listing setup: We take care of ISBN needs, pricing, royalty configurations, and KDP Select enrollment if desired.
KU strategy support: We help you assess whether KU and KDP Select make sense for your book, provide ROI projections, and manage the enrollments.
Ongoing support: You get peace of mind knowing technical and promotional aspects are handled professionally, so you can focus on writing more great books.

Focus on writing—we’ll manage formatting, royalties, and publishing to launch your book successfully.

Why This Matters

Publishing independently is powerful, but getting all the details right is what turns effort into results. With millions of books available, the right metadata, pricing, format, and genre alignment can be the difference between leaching just another book or becoming a bestseller.

With our help, you benefit from:

Expert precision in conversions and formatting.
Knowledge of metadata rules and marketplace best practices.
Informed decisions about strategy, such as whether KDP Select delivers the ROI you’re aiming for.
Time savings and reduced stress, so you can stay creative and write more.

Conclusion

Amazon self publishing opens the gateway to readers worldwide, with no upfront cost and total creative control. But to truly thrive, you need clarity on formats, files, royalties, metadata, ISBNs, and program choices like KDP Select. That is where a full-service, professional support system makes all the difference.

We handle all the hard work so you get a polished, compliant, and high-visibility book, while staying focused on writing your next project.