What to Look for in a Self-Publishing Service: Comparing 5 Major Self-Publishing Platforms
Analysis-Paralysis slowing down your publishing process?
Read this guide to learn which self-publishing service is best for your needs.
Self-publishing your book can be a life-changing experience. Whether you’re a first-time writer or an experienced author, choosing the right self-publishing service significantly impacts your book’s quality and success. You may have searched for terms like “What is the highest rated self-publishing company?” or “best self publishing companies,” encountering countless options that probably made you feel a little overwhelmed (and, unfortunately, a few that looked a little shady). If you're specifically interested in getting your book published in Canada, this guide is intended to help you narrow down your choices and make an informed decision before you commit to any particular service.
In this article, we’re going to examine four popular self-publishing services—Tellwell, FriesenPress, Reedsy, and Fiverr—and compare them to Foglio’s comprehensive self-publishing services. We’ll discuss each service's pros and cons regarding cost, quality, rights retention, and overall support, highlighting why Foglio is an ideal choice for authors seeking a supportive, transparent, and professional publishing partner to take them from manuscript to market. Buckle up—it’s gonna be a big one.
Why the Right Self-Publishing Service Matters
Let’s clear up a few things right off the bat. Self-publishing involves more than just printing a book—it requires quality editing, professional layout, strategic marketing, and clear rights ownership. A good self-publishing service simplifies and streamlines the process, allowing you to focus on your writing while also enjoying the process of preparing your work for the world. Key factors to consider when selecting a self-publishing service include:
Rights Retention: Who maintains ownership of your book?
Cost Transparency: Are all fees disclosed upfront?
Quality of Services: Do they offer professional editing, design, typesetting, and marketing?
Customer Support: Will you receive personalized, ongoing assistance?
Distribution Options: How and where will your book be available?
Reputation and Author Feedback: What experiences have other authors shared?
Understanding Foglio Print’s Approach
Before comparing other services, let’s highlight how Foglio Print uniquely supports authors:
Full Rights Retention
We believe authors should maintain complete control over their intellectual property. With Foglio, you retain 100% of your book rights and royalties, ensuring freedom in future publishing opportunities, adaptations, or translations.
Expert 1:1 Support
Each Foglio author works with a dedicated project manager through every stage:
Editing and Proofreading: Comprehensive content, copy editing, and proofreading.
Professional Design and Layout: Custom cover design and professional interior formatting/typesetting. Learn more in our blog about the Importance of Good Typesetting.
Printing and Distribution: Professional printing and strategic distribution support, ideal for targeting readers, especially in the Canadian market.
Transparent Pricing
Foglio offers clear Publishing Packages, detailing exactly what each includes without hidden fees or surprises.
Commitment to Quality
Foglio consistently produces books that match or surpass traditionally published standards, which bodes well for your credibility as an author.
Comparing Popular Self-Publishing Options
Tellwell
Tellwell is a Canadian company providing comprehensive publishing services, including editing, design, and marketing. They offer structured packages that cater to a range of author needs, making the publishing process accessible even to those unfamiliar with self-publishing. However, while their service bundles can streamline the process, they may lack some flexibility and transparency regarding additional or hidden costs.
Pros:
Local Canadian presence.
Variety of publishing services.
Some control over pricing and royalties.
Cons:
Higher pricing for comprehensive packages.
Potential hidden costs.
Limited personalized service for certain tasks. Additionally, their services can often feel quite cookie-cutter, providing standardized packages that might not fully address or cater to an author's unique needs and vision.
Foglio’s Edge: Foglio emphasizes transparent pricing and personal support, ensuring authors maintain complete rights and control. Our dedicated project managers work closely with each author throughout the publishing process, providing consistent communication and tailored assistance. This personalized approach helps ensure authors fully understand and control each step, resulting in a smoother publishing journey and superior final product.
FriesenPress
FriesenPress offers extensive publishing packages and benefits from a robust printing background. Established as part of Friesens Corporation, a reputable printing company, FriesenPress leverages this connection to provide high-quality book production services. Their comprehensive packages cover editing, design, marketing, and distribution, appealing to authors looking for structured and professional publishing support. However, it can be unclear exactly what rights FriesenPress retains or if authors are required to pay royalties, potentially affecting long-term profitability and control over your book.
Pros:
Strong reputation and print quality.
Comprehensive editing, layout, and marketing services.
Experienced in various genres.
Cons:
Potential for costly packages and upselling.
Less personalized once production starts.
Some authors have criticized their lack of responsiveness and difficulty in getting timely answers or support from the team.
Foglio’s Edge: Foglio combines professional-quality printing with highly personalized service, ensuring a more tailored and supportive publishing experience. Foglio assists authors with distribution and print-on-demand setup without taking any rights to their books. Authors simply pay for the services they require and retain 100% of their profits, offering complete financial and creative control. We've also worked with several authors who previously published with FriesenPress but later sought Foglio’s dedicated, highly personalized approach. They found that our focused attention and deep understanding of their individual needs made a significant difference in their overall publishing experience.
Reedsy
Reedsy connects authors with freelancers for editing, design, and marketing services. This approach gives authors flexibility to choose professionals based on specific expertise and budgets, creating a customized publishing experience. However, it also means authors must independently coordinate multiple freelancers, potentially leading to inconsistencies and extra project management efforts.
Pros:
Flexible choice of vetted freelancers.
Budget control by selecting professionals based on rates.
Ideal for authors with specific needs.
Cons:
Requires authors to independently manage multiple freelancers.
Varying quality due to freelance model.
Lacks cohesive project management.
Foglio's Edge: Foglio provides an integrated team of professionals, simplifying the publishing process through seamless coordination and consistent quality. Unlike Reedsy, which operates similarly to Fiverr by connecting authors to individual freelancers for each specific task (cover design, typesetting, editing, etc.), Foglio assigns you a dedicated team and project manager. This unified approach allows us to create a cohesive design language, ensuring that your book's branding—from the cover and interior typesetting to ebook formatting and marketing materials—is consistent and impactful throughout.
Fiverr
Fiverr is a budget-friendly freelance marketplace offering diverse self-publishing services. It connects authors with freelancers providing everything from book editing and cover design to marketing and formatting. While it is known for affordability and flexibility, the quality and consistency of results can vary significantly based on the individual freelancer selected.
Pros:
Highly affordable options.
Extensive marketplace with varied services.
Rapid turnaround times.
Cons:
Inconsistent quality due to the freelance nature.
Self-managed vetting and quality control required.
Potential communication and cultural barriers.
Foglio's Edge: Foglio provides a cohesive, integrated publishing experience from manuscript preparation through editing, design, distribution, and marketing. A significant advantage is our deep familiarity with each author's book, enabling us to fully understand its nuances and intricacies. This intimate understanding allows us to create more meaningful, targeted marketing campaigns, cover designs, and editorial strategies, in contrast to services like Fiverr, where authors typically manage multiple freelancers for different aspects such as cover design, typesetting, and editing.
Why Foglio Stands Out
When researching “best self publishing companies” or “highest rated self-publishing company,” Foglio consistently distinguishes itself by providing:
Complete Ownership and Royalties
Authors retain full rights, ensuring complete control over future adaptations, royalties, and publishing decisions.
Personalized Publishing Guidance
Dedicated, experienced publishing professionals guide you through every step. Explore our detailed guide on How to Publish a Book to get a glimpse of what’s involved in our supportive, bespoke publishing services.
Expertise in Canadian Publishing
With specialized knowledge of the Canadian market, Foglio effectively targets your audience, which is crucial if you intend to sell your book in Canada. Our services involve market research in your particular niche/genre for everything from cover design to book blurbs, ensuring that your book stands out while also remaining familiar to your target audience.
Transparent Publishing Packages
Our clearly defined Publishing Packages eliminate unexpected costs, enabling informed financial planning. And, because every book project is unique, a la carte service offerings are also available.
Professional Quality
Foglio Print delivers professionally edited and beautifully designed books that compete effectively in traditional publishing markets.
How to Choose the Best Self-Publishing Service for You
Each author has unique needs. Here's a helpful guide:
Prioritize: Identify essential factors—cost, quality, speed, personalized support.
Compare: Evaluate several services, noting what's included.
Request Samples: Review past projects to assess quality.
Protect Your Rights: Avoid contracts that compromise your ownership.
Ask Questions: Good services are transparent and communicative.
Concluding Thoughts
The "highest rated self-publishing company" is subjective, and will ultimately depend on your particular needs as an author. Tellwell and FriesenPress offer structured packages, Reedsy provides flexible freelance options, and Fiverr caters to budget-conscious authors.
However, if you value highly-personalized support, rights retention, professional quality, and clear pricing, Foglio Print is your best partner. Explore our comprehensive Ultimate Guide to Self-Publishing in Canada, or contact us to learn more about how we can help bring your book to life.
As founder of Foglio, I’m committed to ensuring that authors who work with us are supported and engaged at every stage, ensuring your publishing journey is successful, satisfying, and stress-free. I want you to be surprised by wonderful cover designs or sudden bursts in book sales, not hidden fees and interruptions. Work with us, and I’m sure you’ll love what we create together—guaranteed.
