Three Easy Steps
Greenlamp Book Publishing Overview
Greenlamp Books is built directly into your Greenlamp account, giving you a simple, streamlined way to publish and ship your physical book - without having to manage printers, logistics, or ISBN registration yourself.
Our process has three steps, and our team handles almost everything behind the scenes.
Step 1: Request a Quote + ISBN, Barcode & Spine Width
Start by submitting a few details about your book inside Step 1 of Greenlamp Books:
- Trim size
- Page count
- Paper weight & color
- Cover type
Once submitted:
- We’ll invoice you for the one-time setup fee of $80 (details below).
- We’ll issue your ISBN (normally $150), along with your barcode and spine width—all required for your cover design.
- We’ll source and provide a custom quote tailored to your exact book specifications.
This information will give your designer everything needed to prepare your cover and internal files correctly.
Step 2: Submit Your Book Files
When your cover file and interior PDF are ready (following our design guidelines), upload them in Step 2.
Our team will:
- Review your files for formatting issues or setup errors
- Provide guidance if something needs fixing
- Set up your book with our print team once everything is correct
- Prepare and ship your physical proof copy
See “Proof Terms” below for important details about proof costs.
Step 3: Start Selling Your Book
Once your proof is approved, we fully integrate your book with your Greenlamp account so orders flow automatically to our fulfillment partner.
We handle:
- Printing & order fulfillment
- Sending tracking numbers to your customers
- Address/order issue coordination
- Warehouse storage for bulk orders
- Automatic reorders at your chosen reorder point
Your responsibility:
Set up your Greenlamp account (email, domain, Stripe accounts etc)
Build your sales page in Greenlamp
Create a product inside your Greenlamp account for your book
After that, your analog knowledge empire can run on autopilot.
Setup Fee ($80 per book)
The one-time setup fee covers:
- Issuance of your ISBN (a $150 value)
- Creation of your barcode
- Manual coordination with our print partner
- File checks, setup work, and logistics management throughout the entire process
Because we source custom quotes for every print specification, we can only provide pricing after Step 1 is submitted inside your Greenlamp account (and after this fee is paid).
Proof Terms
Print on Demand (POD):
- First proof: billed at your quoted per-book POD rate + shipping
- Additional proofs: $80 re-setup fee + POD rate + shipping
Bulk Print:
- First proof: included in the order
- Additional proofs: $80 re-setup fee + shipping
Book Options
Print Run Types:
Print on Demand (POD)
- Lowest startup cost
- Approx. 10–15 business days to print & ship (sometimes faster; no guarantees)
- Books are billed in the first week of the month following shipment
Bulk Print
- Minimum order: 250 copies
- Best savings typically start at 500+ copies
- Faster shipping + lower cost per unit
- We store your books free of charge
- Bulk print orders are paid in full upfront; your monthly invoices will then only include shipping & handling
Standard Trim Sizes
- 8.5" × 11"
- 6" × 9"
- 5.5" × 8.5"
- 5" × 7"
Paper Options
- 50# white
- 60# white (recommended)
- 70# white
- Light cream options may be available upon request, depending on stock
Interior printing:
- Standard: Black & white
- Full color available
Note: Even if only a few pages are in color, the book is billed at the full-color rate due to setup requirements
Cover Types
- Paperback
- Hardcover (100 minimum; typically 3–4× the cost of paperback)
- Spiral bound (250 minimum; typically 1.5–2× the cost of paperback)
Shipping, Packaging & Handling (Estimated and subject to change)
Domestic (U.S.)
- Standard (5–7 days): ~$6.75
- Expedited (2-day): $25–$30
International
- Standard (14–28 days): ~$16–$22 depending on country
(Actual costs vary by weight and size.)
Summary of Estimated Costs
You can expect the following expenses:
- Greenlamp Subscription: $99/month
- Setup Fee: $80 per book
- Printing + Shipping Costs: Based on your custom quote from Step 1
POD invoices include printing + shipping/handling. Bulk invoices include shipping/handling only (books themselves are prepaid)
Example POD Estimate (for reference only)
A standard POD book:
5.5" × 8.5"
B&W interior
Paperback
~130 pages
60# paper
Typical cost: $4.75–$5.25 per book
Bulk Print Savings
Approx. 20%+ cost reduction at 500 copies, with greater savings at higher quantities.
"The only right answer is test."
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