Questions to Ask Your Publisher Before Hiring Them

You have written the book. You have poured your time, energy, and probably a few tears into those pages. Now you are looking for someone to help you bring it into the world.

Before you pay an invoice or sign an agreement, ask questions.

A beautiful website and an enthusiastic conversation can make a great first impression. But you also need to understand what the publisher will do, what you will pay, and how the relationship will work after your book is released.

As the founder of pRose &nd Ink Publishing, I want authors to feel comfortable having these conversations. You deserve enough information to make a confident decision about your work.

Here are the questions I encourage you to ask.

1. What kind of publishing relationship are you offering?

Start here because the word “publisher” can describe different arrangements.

Ask:

• Are you offering a traditional publishing agreement, a hybrid arrangement, or paid publishing services?

• Who pays for producing the book?

• Are you acquiring publishing rights or helping me publish under my own imprint?

• What responsibilities belong to me?

If you are paying a company, you should understand exactly what you are purchasing. If you are granting publishing rights, you should understand what the company is committing to provide.

2. What is included in the price?

“Full publishing package” sounds comprehensive, but you still need an itemized explanation.

Does the price include editing, cover design, interior formatting, ebook conversion, an ISBN, proofreading, distribution setup, or marketing?

Also ask what costs extra. Additional revisions, illustrations, printed copies, shipping, and promotional materials may be handled separately.

Ask for a written breakdown you can review before making a payment.

3. What kind of editing will my manuscript receive?

Editing is more than checking spelling.

Ask whether your book will receive feedback on its structure and development, sentence-level editing, copyediting, or a final proofread. Find out who will do the work and whether you will have an opportunity to review and discuss the changes.

A useful follow-up question is:

“What happens if my manuscript needs more work than the package includes?”

That conversation helps both sides set realistic expectations.

4. Can I see books you have published?

Look beyond the promotional graphics. Ask to see actual books, including samples of their interiors.

Consider the cover, readability, formatting, and overall presentation. Look for books in your genre or books with production needs similar to yours.

You can also ask whether the publisher has authors willing to discuss their experience. Useful questions include whether communication was consistent, deadlines were explained, and the finished book matched the agreed scope.

5. What rights are you asking for, and for how long?

Ask the publisher to explain the rights covered by the agreement.

Does it address print, ebooks, audiobooks, translations, or other formats? Is the arrangement exclusive? What territories and time period does it cover?

Also ask what happens to those rights when the agreement ends.

You do not need to pretend you understand every term. Ask for explanations and take the time you need to review the agreement.

6. Who controls the publishing accounts and files?

Ask whose name will appear as the publisher and who will control the accounts used to release the book.

Will you receive the final cover and interior files? Are editable source files included? Who manages pricing, metadata, and future updates?

These details matter if you later want to revise your book, change providers, or release another edition.

7. Where will my book be available?

Ask the publisher to name the retailers, platforms, and distribution channels included in the agreement.

Then ask a more specific question:

“When you say bookstore distribution, do you mean stores can order my book, or that you will actively pursue placement?”

Online availability, orderability, and physical shelf placement are different outcomes. Make sure you understand which activities and results the publisher is promising.

8. How will payments and sales reporting work?

Ask how your share of sales will be calculated, which expenses or deductions apply, and when payments will be issued.

Request a sample calculation using a hypothetical sale. Seeing actual numbers can make an explanation much easier to follow.

Also ask how often you will receive sales reports and what information those reports contain.

9. What marketing will you actually do?

“Marketing support” needs a clear definition.

Will the publisher create promotional graphics, write a press release, contact reviewers, run advertisements, or help organize a launch? How many deliverables are included, and when will you receive them?

Find out whether advertising costs are included and what promotional work you will be expected to handle yourself.

Ask for specific commitments you can recognize and track.

10. What is the timeline, and who will keep me updated?

Ask for the expected stages of the project, including editing, design, proofreading, production, and release.

Who is your main contact? How often should you expect updates? How quickly should you expect a response?

Also ask how delays, missed approvals, and changes to the manuscript will affect the schedule.

11. How are revisions, errors, and disagreements handled?

Before a problem happens, understand the process for resolving it.

Ask how many revision rounds are included, who approves the final files, and what happens if an error is discovered after publication.

You should also know how to raise a concern and who has responsibility for addressing it.

12. What happens if we stop working together?

Ask what happens if either party ends the relationship.

What does the agreement say about unfinished work, refunds, outstanding payments, publishing rights, account access, and final files? What happens to editions already on sale?

This is a practical business question. A clear answer helps you understand the commitment you are making.

Your Book Deserves a Clear Agreement

You are allowed to ask questions. You are allowed to compare options. And you are allowed to take your time before making a decision.

Pay attention to how a publisher responds. Are the answers specific? Do the written terms match the conversation? Do you feel comfortable asking for clarification?

The right publishing relationship should give you a clear understanding of the work ahead, the costs involved, and the responsibilities on both sides.

Before you hire a publisher, make sure you understand what you are agreeing to. Your book deserves that care, and so do you.