Quote:
Originally Posted by nomesque
Seeking opinions! 
I've been mulling over this idea for a while...
There seem to be a number of authors around who find epublishing more effort than they'd like to expend, and also a number in need of an editing service. So I'm thinking that there could be a market for an epublishing service - editing + ebook formatting for a share of whatever sales might be made. Which, I honestly believe, WILL be higher with some polishing.
Here's the model I'm considering:
- I retain worldwide global rights to distribute the ebook for 2 years (to protect me from doing lots of work on a book, only to have the author take it back and not share profits)
- Two pricing options (author pays me): US$300 upfront and 10% of the list price (OR sale price) per sale - OR nothing upfront and 30% of the list price (OR sale price) per sale
- I publish via Smashwords using a Publisher account, which ensures that the correct person (the author, not me) gets credit for the work, payments go through me, but as long as the author has a Smashwords account, they get independent sales figures from Smashwords.
If you fitted into one of those categories, do you think you'd be interested in signing up with someone who'd edit and format your ebook (you having final say in the editing process), plus do some promotion for you, on those sort of terms? Would you have any concerns that I might not have considered? Would you consider this sort of thing to be different to Lulu and the like?
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I keep looking at your model. I think that it is a good idea. One that is good enough for me to consider. I do see a few problems:
1. It would require huge amounts of trust. This is a business model that you may never meet the person that you are creating a project with. A lot of business will have to be driven word of mouth.
2. You would want to do some legal documents for the contracts. You could be working with the sweetest little old lady in London but if she dies then you could find yourself against a nasty estate. Once you have a boiler plate then it should be pretty easy to work.
3. Samples. Clients will want to see samples of what you have done and what you can do.
4.Don't be afraid to specialize. You might be able to do the greatest science fiction format in the world but it will not do you any good if all you get are Romance.