Print on demand means that a book is only printed at the moment it is ordered: no stock, no minimum run. A print on demand book can therefore be printed from a single copy, exactly when you need it. Ideal for self-publishers and anyone who wants to start small.
How does print on demand work?
You supply your book once as a print-ready file. As soon as an order comes in, one copy or more, the book is produced and dispatched. So you do not have to print or store anything in advance.
Advantages of POD
- No upfront investment and no stock risk
- Publishing from a single copy
- Always available, even with low demand
- Easy to update or adjust a title
What should you keep in mind?
The unit price with POD is somewhat higher than with a large offset run, and very special finishes are not always possible. For authors, small publishers and companies that want to publish flexibly, however, the advantages far outweigh that. Curious whether print on demand suits your book? Feel free to get in touch.
Who is a print on demand book suitable for?
Print on demand is popular with self-publishers, authors who want to test their manuscript, and makers of photo books, family books and poetry collections. Companies use it too, for documentation that changes regularly. In short: wherever you want to stay flexible and do not want to hold stock, a print on demand book is the logical choice. If you also want to sell your book, you need an ISBN; see the International ISBN Agency.
Print on demand versus a print run up front
The difference is not only in the price per copy, but in when you pay and what your risk is. With a run up front you put down money all at once and then have a low price per book, provided you shift them all. With a print on demand book you pay more per copy, but only at the moment there really is an order.
For a debut, a family book or an edition whose demand you cannot estimate, that second model is almost always the wiser one. If the book does better than expected, you can still switch to a larger run; offset then becomes interesting and your unit price drops considerably. You can read where that tipping point lies in our article on the print run at which offset becomes cheaper.
What print on demand is less suitable for
Not every book lends itself to it. Special editions — a dust jacket, foil on the cover, coloured endpapers or an unusual format — require handwork in the bindery and are simply expensive per copy. With very large print runs you also lose out to offset.
And take the delivery time per order into account. A book that is only printed after someone has ordered it is not on its way the same day. For a reader counting on a birthday, that is a difference. If you sell directly, state the delivery time clearly, or keep a small stock for peak moments.
Frequently asked questions about a print on demand book
What does print on demand mean?
That a book is only printed when it is ordered. No stock, no minimum run: you print from a single copy.
Is print on demand more expensive?
The unit price is higher than with a large offset run, but you save on stock and risk. For small quantities it is actually cheaper.
Is a print on demand book of lesser quality?
No. It is printed on the same presses and the same paper as a small run. The difference is in the moment of printing, not in the result.
Can I adjust my text in the meantime?
Yes, and that is one of the biggest advantages. You simply replace your PDF; the next copy rolls off the press with the correction. With a run printed in advance you are stuck with what is on the shelf.