Beating Bowker (ISBN) ?

[Armand]

Hello- I'm looking into self publishing and have been reading up on the whole ISBN system. As you may know, if you want to publish a book under the name of your business, you will need to own your own ISBN number which can be purchased from a company called Bowker (that was appointed to sell ISBN's by the US government.).

The one drawback is that Bowker charges around $125 for a single ISBN. Ouch!

below is the link to Bowker:
https://www.myidentifiers.com/

The good news is that the price of ISBN's drops when you buy many of them. For example, 10 ISBN's cost $325 total (or $32 per ISBN). I am interested in working with a few other writers in creating an artist's studio group in which a few writers pool their money to buy a block of ten.

This proposal might work for anyone (like me) who want the publisher to be a distinct entity. In other words, if you don't want to be listed as both the publisher and author.

To be fair, the drawbacks would include spending some money on an ISBN (although less than buying a single one on your own) and that you would have to list the studio as your publisher.

If you are intersted, please drop a note in my goodreads in box.

thanks!

[Yasheve]

Not to squash anyone's hopes and dreams, but I would say that if you have to pool resources to buy your own ISBN then you might not be ready for self-publishing.

You also have printing costs and marketing costs to deal with.

[Sandy]

"You also have printing costs and marketing costs to deal with."

Ugh! Marketing costs! I am so tired of paying and paying and paying. Tell me I'll get a royalty check some day. Please. Someone tell me there's a lovely sunshiny light at the end of the rainbow. I don't need a whole pot of gold. Just something pretty. ;)

Seriously, though, yes, I have to agree. There are marketing costs.

From Sandy Lender

[Armand]

Thanks for the feedback. I do have to say that I'm not following the logic from point A to point B. It's my understanding that saving money and pooling resources is generally good business practice. And just because I'm interested in saving money when I can doesn't necessarily mean that I won't spend when I have to.

For example, I could buy 1 ISBN for $125

I have already found one person who is interested in working with me, so now we can split a block of ten, giving us 5 ISBN's each for $160.

If we get just one more person, then we could potentially have 3 each for $110 per person. Now I've got $15 back plus two bonus ISBN's.

Saving money is saving money.

: )

[Yasheve]

Saving money is saving money.

But sometimes, cutting corners isn't good business. I see trouble with this concept.

I can see sharing printing costs and joint marketing ventures, but something doesn't seem right to me about sharing ISBN costs.

As a self-publisher you are launching your own publishing company. In all likelihood, it will take several titles before you really start raking in money. You'll need your ISBNs. Plus, something just doesn't feel right about that to me.

[Svetlana]

Yasheve wrote: "Saving money is saving money.

But sometimes, cutting corners isn't good business. I see trouble with this concept.

I can see sharing printing costs and joint marketing ventures, but something..."

I agree. I cannot put my finger on it and pin it down, but it just does not feel right. Your name and book will be permanently attached to the authors you are splitting ISBN costs with through using umbrella publishing name? Who will own the rights to the publishing company name under which you will be registering ISBNs together? You maybe setting yourself up for more trouble than savings. I could be wrong...