Distribution, easy self-management, pricing and quality are all key factors when searching for a printing company for your self- published book. Listed below are three of the best companies on the market and why you should trust your creative work with them.

IngramSpark (www.ingramspark.com) and CreateSpace are both excellent printer choices for the self-published author who wants to manage the process himself or herself and expects quality work. Both IngramSpark and CreateSpace will get your book listed in the Ingram Catalog. IngramSpark will also send your title information to Baker & Taylor.

Lightning Source (www.lightningsource.com) is the printer of choice for commercial publishers. Quality books for authors who are self-publishing and creating their own publishing company.

IngramSpark Advantages:

They offer hard cover books.

Their print quality for colored books is better then many of their competitors.

Some say better quality paper.

Wider bookstore and library distribution by placing your book in the Ingram Catalog for bookstores.

Their lower external distribution costs and cheaper rates when you order a large quantity of books.

CreateSpace Advantages:

No setup fees.

Owned by Amazon.

Your book can be available to bookstores through the Ingram Catalogue.

Offers easy online customer support which allows for easy setup for the indie author.

In summary, IngramSpark has set-up costs and is used by many authors who want to focus on expanded print distribution other than Amazon. They are interested in getting their books into physical bookstores or have bookstores that are interested in purchasing their books in bulk quantities. Authors who need hardcover books list their books on Amazon using IngramSpark. CreateSpace is popular because it is owned by Amazon and has no set up fees. Many authors specifically use CreateSpace when they want to focus on distribution by Amazon. CreateSpace offers expanded distribution using Baker and Taylor to supply libraries and academic institutions when you purchase a CreateSpace ISBN.

When Amazon receives an order and finds that the books are available via CreateSpace, the service is immediate because CreateSpace is owned by Amazon.

IngramSpark and Lightning Source are owned by Ingram, the world’s largest book distributor. Because of this, it offers the new, smaller, publisher more distribution than any other print company can. It is no wonder that many authors today use both CreateSpace and IngramSpark as their chosen printing companies.