Lightning Source question

[Cindy]

I'm getting ready to sign up with LS, but I have questions. (I've set up my own publishing company with business license, etc. and have my own IBSNs). If I use their "print to order" service, who processes the orders?

I understand that I have to be my own marketer and have a solid plan before I go forward, I'm just unsure about the details of setting up and processing orders.

Also, since I'm a new author/publisher, will LS even take me on? Thanks for any help.

[Geoff]

Cindy - I've been with LS since 2010 and they will 'take you on' because they don't pay you anything until they have the cost of production, after selling your book. You do ALL the marketing - they will place your book in their catalog (for an annual fee).
I opened an account with Paypal so that I could do the invoicing and process the sales made by myself.
e.g I sell for $10 to someone in the UK (I live in Oz) and I instruct LS (UK) to print, pack & post to my customer, which they do very well - they invoice me say $8 for their services via my credit card (which they have) and I keep the $2 because I invoiced the customer via Paypal and the customer paid me. If they sell copies of the book (not my sale) say via Amazon etc they will pay me the profit (the system is all in their contract) after the profits have reached $25 (USD). They are able to pay you in various currencies. A couple of years ago they opened in Oz and I have set it up that they pay direct in to my Australian bank account in AUD, when ever sales reach the minimum and the payment is at the end of a period (3 months I think).
BTW - I bought ten ISBNs and have only used two (one for the paperback and one for the e-book)I could have sold you the balance cheap because a UK publisher picked up my book and re-issued under a new title :-o)
Feel free to ask any questions as the DIY system can be daunting if you want to avoid mistakes.
Good luck
Geoff