Print books are personal in a way ebooks aren't. Readers want signed copies, gift editions and a book to hold at a talk or fair. Selling them yourself can be rewarding and profitable, but it involves money, stock and time that ebook sales don't. This guide walks through each option with the numbers.
The options at a glance
| Option | Upfront cost | Your work | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| Author copies, sold in person | Buy stock | Carry, sell, handle payments | Events, talks, fairs |
| Author copies, posted | Buy stock and packaging | Pack, post, track | Signed and personalised copies |
| Local shops | A few copies | Pitch, deliver, follow up | Local and regional readers |
| Print-on-demand store | None | List and promote | Everyday orders anywhere |
Author copies
Most print platforms let you order your own copies at or close to printing cost, plus shipping. On KDP, for example, a 300-page black-ink paperback costs about $4.60 to print on Amazon.com, so author copies of that book cost roughly that plus delivery. Order enough for an event, not a garage full: print on demand means you can reorder any time.
| 300-page paperback sold at a $15 event price | Amount |
|---|---|
| Printing cost per copy (example) | $4.60 |
| Shipping to you, per copy (assumed) | $1.50 |
| You keep per copy | about $8.90 |
Illustration with an assumed shipping cost; card fees apply if readers pay by card.
That's more per copy than most online print sales, which is why events can be worthwhile. The catch is volume: you sell only to the people in the room.
Selling at events
- Bring a simple display: a stand, a sign with the price, and your series in reading order.
- Take card payments with a small card reader or phone app, plus some change for cash.
- Offer a bundle: a series set or two books at a small saving.
- Sign on request, and have a pen that works on the paper stock.
- Collect emails with a newsletter sign-up sheet or QR code.
- Track sales so you know what to bring next time.
Book fairs and markets
Book fairs, craft markets and church or school events put your books in front of readers who've come to browse. Table fees vary, so estimate how many copies you need to sell to cover the fee and your costs before booking. Choose events whose audience matches your genre: a children's author does better at a school fair than a thriller writer, and a devotional author may find a church bazaar more fruitful than a comic convention.
Selling at talks and workshops
If you speak, teach or lead workshops, the "back of the room" table can be your best sales channel. People who have just heard you speak are warm buyers. Mention the books naturally at the end, have a clear price and payment option ready, and offer to sign. Non-fiction authors in particular often sell more copies at talks than online.
Signed copies by post
Signed and personalised copies are a lovely thing to offer your most loyal readers. Price them to cover everything: the book, packaging, postage, card fees and your time. Postage varies a lot by country and weight, so weigh a packed copy and check your postal service's current rates before setting a price. Offer them from your website or storefront with clear delivery times, and consider running them as a limited window (say, before the holidays) rather than year-round.
Local bookshops and consignment
Many independent bookshops are happy to support local authors, often on consignment: the shop displays your books and pays you an agreed share after each sale, returning unsold copies later. Terms vary, so agree them in writing: the share, how often they'll pay, how long they'll keep the books, and what happens to unsold copies.
- Visit in person with a finished copy, at a quiet time.
- Explain the local angle: a local author, setting or subject.
- Offer an event, such as a signing or reading.
- Keep records of copies left and sold.
For wider bookshop ordering beyond consignment, shops usually order through distributors. See KDP vs IngramSpark.
Print-on-demand stores that ship for you
The easiest way to sell print online is a store that prints each copy when it's ordered and ships it straight to the reader. You hold no stock, pack nothing and never visit the post office. You earn less per copy than an event sale, but you can sell to anyone, anywhere, while you write.
| 300-page paperback at $14.99 ($4.60 printing, example) | You earn |
|---|---|
| KDP on Amazon.com (60% minus printing) | about $4.39 |
| B&N Press (55% minus printing) | about $3.64 |
| BooksOasis (price minus printing and a 30% handling fee on it) | about $9.01 |
Illustration assuming the same printing cost everywhere; actual BooksOasis quotes appear in your dashboard for each edition. Readers pay shipping on BooksOasis.
Pricing print sold direct
- Keep online and in-person prices consistent, or round to an easy number at events.
- Cover your real costs: printing, shipping to you, packaging, postage, card fees.
- Keep the ebook clearly cheaper than print; Kobo pays 70% on ebooks only if they're at least 20% below every print edition.
- Price hardcovers as premium editions, well above the paperback. See paperback vs hardcover profit.
Packaging that arrives well
A damaged book spoils the experience. Use rigid mailers or padded envelopes sized to the book, add a card or bookmark if you like, and wrap hardcovers so corners don't dent. Weigh a packed copy once so you can price postage accurately, and keep a few spare packages ready before busy seasons.
Stock and cash flow
Every copy you buy is money spent before you've earned it back. Start small: order for the next event or the next month, not the next year. Keep a simple stock sheet (copies bought, sold, given away, damaged) so you know your true profit. Store books somewhere dry and flat; damp and heat ruin paperbacks.
Sales tax and records
Depending on where you live, selling books in person or by post may bring sales tax or VAT obligations, and income from direct sales needs recording for your taxes. Keep receipts for author copies, postage and event fees. Check local rules or ask an accountant once direct sales become regular.
Selling print on BooksOasis
On BooksOasis, you add a paperback or hardcover edition to your book, and every copy is printed on demand and shipped to the reader when they order. The dashboard quotes each edition's printing cost and minimum price (the printing cost plus 30%), and everything above the minimum is yours. Readers pay shipping at checkout and get tracking when their copy ships.
- No stock and no posting.
- Five trim sizes; paperbacks 32 to 800 pages, hardcovers 24 to 800.
- Pre-orders ship on release day.
- Your own promo prices, which can't go below the minimum that covers printing.
What BooksOasis does not do
- It doesn't sell author copies in bulk for you to resell at events.
- It doesn't handle signed or personalised copies.
- It doesn't distribute print books to other retailers or bookshops.
A combined approach
- Print on demand for everyday orders.Readers anywhere can buy without you lifting a finger.
- Author copies for events.Bring stock to talks and fairs.
- Signed copies in limited windows.Holidays or launches.
- A few local shops on consignment, if you have a local audience.
Three authors, three approaches
A children's author visits schools each term, bringing a box of author copies and signing each one, and points parents to her online store for copies after the visit.
A leadership author sells hardcovers at the back of every workshop, where most of his print income comes from, and lets a print-on-demand store handle online orders.
A local-history author places copies in three shops in her town on consignment, runs a signing at each once a year, and sells signed copies by post in December.
Common mistakes
- Ordering too many author copies and tying up cash.
- Forgetting postage and packaging in signed-copy prices.
- No written terms with consignment shops.
- No card reader at events, losing sales to readers without cash.
- Not collecting emails from people you meet in person.
Sources
Checked September 2026: KDP printing cost; B&N Press May 2026 updates; BooksOasis: royalties and earnings.
In short
Sell print direct in the way that fits your life: author copies for events and signed editions, local shops for a regional audience, and a print-on-demand store for everyday orders you never have to pack. Count every cost, start small with stock, collect readers' emails wherever you meet them, and let print on demand handle the rest.
Questions
How can I sell print books directly?
Three main ways: buy author copies and sell them yourself at events or by post, place books in local shops, or use a store that prints and ships each order for you.
What are author copies?
Copies you order from your print platform at or near printing cost, plus shipping, to sell or give away yourself. They're ideal for events, signed editions and reviewers.
Is it worth shipping books myself?
For signed or personalised copies, often yes. For everyday orders, postage, packaging and time add up quickly; a print-on-demand store that ships for you is usually easier.
How should I price print books sold in person?
Usually at the same list price as online, or a round number close to it, which makes cash sales easy. Event bundles, such as a series set, can offer a modest saving.
Can local bookshops stock my book?
Many independent shops consider local authors, often on consignment, where the shop pays you only for copies that sell. Ask politely, bring a copy, and agree terms in writing.
What is consignment?
An arrangement where a shop displays your books and pays you an agreed share after each sale, returning unsold copies. Terms vary by shop.
Do I need to charge sales tax on direct print sales?
It depends on where you live and sell. Check local rules for in-person and online sales, especially if you sell regularly.
How do I sell signed copies online?
Offer them from your website or storefront at a price that covers the book, postage, packaging and your time, and set clear delivery times.
Can readers buy print books from my BooksOasis author page?
Yes. Each book page offers the paperback and hardcover where you've published them, and every copy is printed on demand and shipped to the reader.
How much do I earn on a BooksOasis print sale?
The list price minus the printing cost and a 30% handling fee on that printing cost. The reader pays shipping.
Are book fairs worth the table fee?
Estimate how many copies you need to sell to cover the fee and your costs, and choose events whose audience matches your genre. Many authors also count the newsletter sign-ups they collect.
How many author copies should I order?
Enough for your next event or month, not a year. Print on demand lets you reorder whenever you need more, so there's no reason to tie up cash in stock.
Do I get tracking for print orders on BooksOasis?
Readers get tracking by email when their copy ships, and can follow the order's status in their library.
How should I package books I post myself?
Use rigid mailers or padded envelopes sized to the book, protect hardcover corners, and weigh one packed copy so you can price postage accurately.
Sell print without holding stock
BooksOasis prints each copy on demand and ships it to your reader.