PUBLISH ON THE LULU BOOKSTORE
The Fastest Way to Bring Your Books to Market
You can list your newly published book, ebook, or calendar on the Lulu Bookstore immediately. This is the fastest and easiest way to make your book available for sale.
80% Revenue Share
Endless Options
Free to Publish
More Profit, Less Restrictions
Books sold on the Lulu Bookstore earn you 80% of the revenue from each sale. You won’t have to worry about shipping options, taxes, or any logistics. Simply list your book and share the link for your readers to purchase.
How to Publish on the Lulu Bookstore
You can select from any of our product options for the Lulu Bookstore. That includes the size, binding, ink, paper, and cover finish.
STEP 1
Start Your Project
Select Publish Your Project and choose which retail options you need.
STEP 2
Add Copyright & Metadata
Include important details, like your ISBN, author name, and copyright.
STEP 3
Design Your Book
Upload your file and select from the available paper, ink, and binding options.
STEP 4
Add Details, Pricing, & Payees
Finalize your book with a description and tell us how you want to be paid.
STEP 5
Publish
Finalize your project, select the retailers you’ll use, and pay any distribution fees necessary.
Sneak Peek the Upload Process
Lulu’s user-friendly interface makes it simple to print a book for yourself. We streamline the process so you only have to upload your interior PDF and create a cover. Then you’re ready to buy a copy of your new book!
PUBLISH WITH RETAIL DISTRIBUTION
Make Your Books Available on Popular Retail Sites
Lulu’s retail distribution services extend beyond the Lulu Bookstore to include major booksellers like Amazon and the Ingram network.
Global Audience
Standard Formats
One Dashboard
Meet Your Readers Where They Shop
Making your book available to readers everywhere they shop. Once accepted for distribution, you book will be listed on Amazon and with Ingram’s catalog, servicing over 40,000 retailers, schools, and libraries.
How to Publish for Retail Distribution
Books using retail distribution have some limitations based on the retailers we work with. You'll see which size, binding, paper, and ink options are available on the Design step.
FIRST STEPS
Gathering Your Metadata
Metadata is a fancy term for information about your book. These details, like the author's name, title, and ISBN, are necessary for distribution. Once you’ve added metadata and published your book, you won’t be able to change this information. Watch this video to learn more.
Here’s what you’ll need:
BEFORE PUBLISHING
Adding an ISBN
An International Standard Book Number (ISBN) is a unique identifier that let’s prints and retailers reference the exact details for your book. That includes the contents, copyright details, and specifications.
You’ll need to include an ISBN on the back cover of your book and on the copyright page.
Lulu can generate the image file for this ISBN while you’re publishing, either on the Copyright Step or when using the Lulu cover designer.
BEFORE PUBLISHING
Check Eligible Products
Not all of the our product options are available for retail distribution. Review our Eligible Products guide to see which sizes, binding types, paper, and ink will be accepted by Lulu’s retail partners.
The Retail Distribution Process
You’ll need to add an ISBN, copyright page, and author information to be accepted by retailers. Follow the steps below to ensure you add all the right metadata for your book.
STEP 1
Start Your Project
Select Retail Distribution when setting your Project goal.
STEP 2
Add Copyright & Metadata
Include important details, like your ISBN, author name, and copyright.
STEP 3
Design Your Book
Upload your file and select from the available paper, ink, and binding options.
STEP 4
Add Details, Pricing & Payees
Finalize your book with a description and tell us how you want to be paid.
STEP 5
Approval & Fees
Print and ebooks submitted for retail distribution require a one-time distribution fee. For print books, you must also approve a proof copy.
STEP 6
Review & Listing
Internal and retailer reviews may take up to 12 weeks. Once your book is approved, it will be listed on retail sites.
GOING WIDE
Publishing for Your Entire Audience
Self-publishing your book means you retain control over the content and distribution. When you use Lulu, you can publish your book everywhere, without any restrictions. Offer it on Amazon, on the Lulu Bookstore, through other retailers, and on your own site.
Book Pricing Calculator
Quality book printing at a reasonable price. Check pricing, format variations, retail pricing, and shipping for custom books or calendars.
Distribution Guides
These free PDF guides detail the products you can sell using retail distribution and how to prepare your books for sale on retail sites.
GUIDE
Retail Distribution Guide
Requirements and guidance to create a print or ebook ready for retail distribution.
GUIDE
Eligible Products Guide
Find the book size, page count, paper, ink, and binding options included in retail distribution.
Retail Sales FAQs
What is Retail Distribution?
Retail distribution is a common method of selling books through retail sites like the Lulu Bookstore, Amazon, and other online retailers. To utilize retail distribution, your book must have an ISBN, copyright page, and adhere to retailer guidelines for size, binding, format, and more.
How do I sell my book in bookstores?
To sell your book in bookstores, your book must be available through a retail distribution network that bookstores can order from. Many self-published authors distribute their books through networks like Ingram, which connects books to bookstores, libraries, and online retailers around the world. Authors can also increase their chances of bookstore sales by promoting their books locally, scheduling author events, and encouraging readers to request their books from bookstores.
Lulu's Retail Distribution service helps independent authors make eligible books available through the Ingram network while maintaining creative control and ownership of their work.
Where can Lulu distribute my book?
Lulu offers multiple ways to sell your published work: directly through the Lulu Bookstore, from your own site with ecommerce integrations, and through Retail Distribution. You can select one or multiple selling options.
The Lulu Bookstore allows you to sell directly to readers through a product page on Lulu.com.
Lulu Direct allows you to sell on your own website by connecting with Lulu’s ecommerce integrations with Shopify, Wix, or WooCommerce. These options typically provide higher earnings per sale for authors because there are no retailer discounts or third-party distribution fees involved.
Lulu's Retail Distribution service can make eligible books available through major online retailers and the Ingram distribution network. Depending on your book's format and eligibility, your title may become available through retailers such as Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books, and thousands of bookstores, libraries, and schools that order through Ingram.
Retailer availability can vary by region, format, and retailer requirements.
How does Retail Distribution compare to the Lulu Bookstore and Lulu Direct?
Retail distribution generally results in lower earnings per sale because additional companies are involved in selling and delivering your book.
When a book is sold through a retailer such as Amazon or through a bookstore ordering network, a portion of the sale price is used to cover retailer discounts, wholesaler fees, printing costs, and distribution expenses. These costs are deducted before author earnings are calculated.
If maximizing earnings per sale is your primary goal, selling directly through the Lulu Bookstore or on your website with Lulu Direct provides a higher profit margin because there are no retailer commissions or wholesale discounts. Retail Distribution, however, will potentially make your book available to a larger audience through bookstores and online retailers. Many authors choose to use both options to balance reach and profitability.
Use the Pricing Calculator to determine print costs, distribution fees, and estimate revenue.
How do royalties work for retail distribution?
Royalties from retail distribution are calculated after retailer discounts, printing costs, and distribution fees are deducted from the book's list price that you set.
When a book sells through a retailer such as Amazon or through the Ingram network, the retailer and distribution partners (including Lulu) receive a portion of the sale price for listing, selling, and fulfilling the order. The remaining amount becomes your author royalties.
Because retail partners take a share of each sale, earnings from Retail Distribution are typically lower than earnings from selling on the Lulu Bookstore or on your own website using Lulu Direct.
Many authors use the Lulu Bookstore and/or Lulu Direct to maximize profit per sale while also enabling Retail Distribution to reach readers through bookstores, libraries, and major online retailers.
Knowledge Base
Details about Lulu's fulfillment and shipping, along with guidance to help you make your project perfect. All from our dedicated support staff.