Royalties payments for each ebook-selling site

jamesread · 09-03-2010, 12:36 AM

Perhaps some self-published authors here can answer some questions I have on this subject, for which I would be appreciative.

What are the options for how a self-published author in the US can get their royalty payments sent to them in each of the following:

-Amazon DTP (I know someone who did this a few years ago and they said you needed to give Amazon a US bank account info. They didn't offer to pay royalties via Paypal at that time. Has it changed now?)

-Kobo

-Sony ebookstore

-Barnes and Noble

-Borders

-Apple's iBookstore

???

Do you need to give them one's bank information, or will just a Paypal account do?
(I know Smashwords does the Paypal payments.)

Thanks in advance for any clarification and help.

jaxx6166 · 09-04-2010, 09:15 PM

I don't think you can independently sell on any of them except Amazon. You have to be listed through a distributor like SW, I think.

From what I know - Amazon pays monthly, Smashwords quarterly. Good luck

Valmore Daniels · 09-06-2010, 11:37 AM

Jaxx is correct. Unless you are a publisher with a backlist, most online retailers would prefer you deal with Smashwords, who will get you listed on those sites. Anyone can deal directly with Amazon at this time.

Smashwords pays either paypal or check. Amazon will give you direct deposit or check (if you are outside of the US).

jamesread · 09-06-2010, 11:59 AM

Thank you, both Jaxx6166 and Valmore Daniels for your replies. If one writes under a pen name, does the check or paypal come in your real name or would cashing a check made out to a pen name be difficult?

This is a weird question, but I'm really such a newby at this digital publishing venture, I have no idea how this would work.

Thank you again!

Valmore Daniels · 09-06-2010, 12:18 PM

Amazon will make the check out to whoever you tell them to; cashing it is something you should discuss with your bank. You may have to provide them with a document saying you are doing business as <pen name>, which I'm sure any lawyer or registry office can create for you.

indie · 09-06-2010, 10:09 PM

Amazon will pay via check, or U.S. bank account. They don't work with paypal because that is technically a rival company, and I don't think there are any future plans. Eg. Paypal is owned by Ebay.

jaxx6166 · 09-06-2010, 10:54 PM

There shouldn't be a problem using a fictitious name, most of the payments are tracked through your SSN or whatever your country of origin gives its residents. This is for W-9/tax purposes. You pretty much are signing up as almost an independent contractor or your own company offering to do business with them.

jamesread · 09-06-2010, 11:09 PM

Thank you for all your responses! I now have a clearer understanding of how this all works and I'll share this thread with some of my writer friends also.

I hope this thread could also help out anyone else looking to get into this ebook-publishing/selling endeavor.

Thank you so much for all of your replies once again!

MaggieScratch · 09-07-2010, 01:38 AM

Yes--you are paid under your real name, but published under a pen name.

neilmarr · 09-07-2010, 09:41 AM

Don't confuse 'royalties' with retail commissions, James. Much depends on your geographical position. Without an 'official' US presence, the big new online ebook stores won't touch you (unless you jump through hoops). Smashwords is an option, but if you're not US, prepare yourself for 30% retained tax-at-source on each sale, minus Smashwords' own 18% and individual retail commissions. Neil (whose wee publishing house just spent a small fortune in legal fees, etc on US registration so that we can deal direct with the US stores and upload our own, perfectly prepared, ebook versions) Neil

B.K. Wright · 09-07-2010, 02:14 PM

You can definitely work directly with these retailers. Going through SW is not necessary. Contact Kobo - they will give you a separate account with them, with instructions on how to upload. Beau to Beau Books (B.K. Wright, i.e. me and my staff) works directly with Kobo. Apple will work directly with you - Beau to Beau Books works directly with Apple. We have our own account with Apple, have reformatted our own epubs to their specifications, and work directly with them. Amazon is easy to work directly with, as you know. Barnes and Noble - might want to wait to see what happens with the company - company is for sale.

Any questions on how to work directly with any of these - contact me at info@beautobeau.com.

Trapezium ebooks is a new site - work directly with you, also.

B.K. Wright · 09-07-2010, 02:16 PM

Kobo powers the Borders ebook store, so what is uploaded to Kobo is sent to Borders, and also to the Chapters Indigo ebook stores in Canada.

Luke King · 09-09-2010, 05:22 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by neilmarr

Don't confuse 'royalties' with retail commissions, James. Much depends on your geographical position. Without an 'official' US presence, the big new online ebook stores won't touch you (unless you jump through hoops). Smashwords is an option, but if you're not US, prepare yourself for 30% retained tax-at-source on each sale, minus Smashwords' own 18% and individual retail commissions. Neil (whose wee publishing house just spent a small fortune in legal fees, etc on US registration so that we can deal direct with the US stores and upload our own, perfectly prepared, ebook versions) Neil

Smashwords is no longer required to withhold taxes from non-US authors according to the August 25 site update:

https://www.smashwords.com/about/beta

One reason why I would choose them over dealing directly with Amazon once they start distributing there. The other reason I would choose them is if you are pricing your book under $2.99 - Smashwords will pay you 42% of the retail price on books sold at Amazon, rather than the 30% Amazon would give you for dealing with them directly.

MrPLD · 09-18-2010, 06:43 AM

Other than marketing and exposure - what is the primary reason people are using other stores to sell their book - considering that you can setup a WWW page + paypal to do it yourself?

kcmay · 09-18-2010, 08:33 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by MrPLD

Other than marketing and exposure - what is the primary reason people are using other stores to sell their book - considering that you can setup a WWW page + paypal to do it yourself?

Marketing and exposure are king. I get only 10-15 visitors a week to my web site! When I'm ready for a new book, I don't go browsing authors' web sites to buy; I go to Amazon or to Smashwords. There, readers can see reviews written by others. On an author's web site, they don't know whether the 1-star reviews would ever be posted.

That's not to say we couldn't sell our books from our own web site using PayPal, but the hassle of sending out the file (or DTB), dealing with returns, etc. may be a little much. We have enough to do with writing and marketing. Some writers (like me) don't want to complicate our already busy day with sales on top of everything else.

09-03-2010, 12:36 AM	#1
jamesread Banned Posts: 59 Karma: 22 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	Royalties payments for each ebook-selling site Perhaps some self-published authors here can answer some questions I have on this subject, for which I would be appreciative. What are the options for how a self-published author in the US can get their royalty payments sent to them in each of the following: -Amazon DTP (I know someone who did this a few years ago and they said you needed to give Amazon a US bank account info. They didn't offer to pay royalties via Paypal at that time. Has it changed now?) -Kobo -Sony ebookstore -Barnes and Noble -Borders -Apple's iBookstore ??? Do you need to give them one's bank information, or will just a Paypal account do? (I know Smashwords does the Paypal payments.) Thanks in advance for any clarification and help.

09-07-2010, 02:14 PM	#11
B.K. Wright Zealot Posts: 26 Karma: 1010232 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Device: none	DIY (Do It Yourself) is BEST You can definitely work directly with these retailers. Going through SW is not necessary. Contact Kobo - they will give you a separate account with them, with instructions on how to upload. Beau to Beau Books (B.K. Wright, i.e. me and my staff) works directly with Kobo. Apple will work directly with you - Beau to Beau Books works directly with Apple. We have our own account with Apple, have reformatted our own epubs to their specifications, and work directly with them. Amazon is easy to work directly with, as you know. Barnes and Noble - might want to wait to see what happens with the company - company is for sale. Any questions on how to work directly with any of these - contact me at info@beautobeau.com. Trapezium ebooks is a new site - work directly with you, also.

09-07-2010, 02:16 PM	#12
B.K. Wright Zealot Posts: 26 Karma: 1010232 Join Date: Sep 2009 Location: Wichita, KS Device: none	One More DIY Thing Kobo powers the Borders ebook store, so what is uploaded to Kobo is sent to Borders, and also to the Chapters Indigo ebook stores in Canada.

Similar Threads
Thread	Thread Starter	Forum	Replies	Last Post
Problem with Sony Bookstore payments	ecbritz	Sony Reader	4	06-10-2010 11:12 AM
JCPenny selling an eBook reader?	hanmik	Alternative Devices	11	11-22-2009 12:34 PM
Some authors getting a bad deal on ebook royalties?	sirbruce	News	19	06-10-2009 10:43 AM

09-04-2010, 09:15 PM	#2
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	I don't think you can independently sell on any of them except Amazon. You have to be listed through a distributor like SW, I think. From what I know - Amazon pays monthly, Smashwords quarterly. Good luck

09-06-2010, 11:37 AM	#3
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	Jaxx is correct. Unless you are a publisher with a backlist, most online retailers would prefer you deal with Smashwords, who will get you listed on those sites. Anyone can deal directly with Amazon at this time. Smashwords pays either paypal or check. Amazon will give you direct deposit or check (if you are outside of the US).

09-06-2010, 11:59 AM	#4
jamesread Banned Posts: 59 Karma: 22 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	Thank you, both Jaxx6166 and Valmore Daniels for your replies. If one writes under a pen name, does the check or paypal come in your real name or would cashing a check made out to a pen name be difficult? This is a weird question, but I'm really such a newby at this digital publishing venture, I have no idea how this would work. Thank you again!

09-06-2010, 12:18 PM	#5
Valmore Daniels Grand Sorcerer Posts: 6,592 Karma: 2822668 Join Date: Jul 2010 Device: Kindle	Amazon will make the check out to whoever you tell them to; cashing it is something you should discuss with your bank. You may have to provide them with a document saying you are doing business as <pen name>, which I'm sure any lawyer or registry office can create for you.

09-06-2010, 10:09 PM	#6
indie Enthusiast Posts: 45 Karma: 30 Join Date: Sep 2010 Device: none	Amazon will pay via check, or U.S. bank account. They don't work with paypal because that is technically a rival company, and I don't think there are any future plans. Eg. Paypal is owned by Ebay.

09-06-2010, 10:54 PM	#7
jaxx6166 Wizard Posts: 1,222 Karma: 769316 Join Date: Mar 2008 Location: Eternal summer Device: 350, iPad, PW	There shouldn't be a problem using a fictitious name, most of the payments are tracked through your SSN or whatever your country of origin gives its residents. This is for W-9/tax purposes. You pretty much are signing up as almost an independent contractor or your own company offering to do business with them.

09-06-2010, 11:09 PM	#8
jamesread Banned Posts: 59 Karma: 22 Join Date: Aug 2010 Device: none	Thank you for all your responses! I now have a clearer understanding of how this all works and I'll share this thread with some of my writer friends also. I hope this thread could also help out anyone else looking to get into this ebook-publishing/selling endeavor. Thank you so much for all of your replies once again!

09-07-2010, 01:38 AM	#9
MaggieScratch Has got to the black veil Posts: 542 Karma: 2144168 Join Date: Aug 2007 Location: Southeastern Pennsylvania Device: Kobo Aura One, Kindle Paperwhite 2	Yes--you are paid under your real name, but published under a pen name.

09-07-2010, 09:41 AM	#10
neilmarr neilmarr Posts: 7,215 Karma: 6000059 Join Date: Apr 2009 Location: Monaco-Menton, France Device: sony	Don't confuse 'royalties' with retail commissions, James. Much depends on your geographical position. Without an 'official' US presence, the big new online ebook stores won't touch you (unless you jump through hoops). Smashwords is an option, but if you're not US, prepare yourself for 30% retained tax-at-source on each sale, minus Smashwords' own 18% and individual retail commissions. Neil (whose wee publishing house just spent a small fortune in legal fees, etc on US registration so that we can deal direct with the US stores and upload our own, perfectly prepared, ebook versions) Neil

09-18-2010, 06:43 AM	#14
MrPLD Author's pet-geek Posts: 933 Karma: 1040670 Join Date: Sep 2010 Location: North Queensland, Australia Device: Kindle 3 Wifi, Onyx Boox M96	Other than marketing and exposure - what is the primary reason people are using other stores to sell their book - considering that you can setup a WWW page + paypal to do it yourself?