Publishing FAQs

Why should I use TEACH Services, Inc. as my publisher?
It is best to have your title published under a well-known imprint. Most national chains and book distributors will not purchase self-published titles. We have an excellent reputation and distribution system that makes your book available nationwide, and even international. We also offer excellent features such as e-book publishing.

Will ABC's buy direct from me, or my non-Adventist publisher?
Would you as an Adventist bookstore buy a book from a non-believing publisher, selling mostly worldly books, offering you an unknown book, from an unknown author, that is purportedly a believer just like you?

Unlike other, non-Adventist publishers, our retail buyers and bookstores know that we only publish materials that are in accordance with Adventist beliefs—thus saving them the worry and time of reviewing new titles or hassle of getting them approved before purchasing. Bookstores also know they can purchase 1 or 100 books with fast service and huge savings on bulk shipping.

Why do I need BISAC, ISBN and LOC codes on each book?
Most chain and larger bookstores require correct bar codes on each book for their electronic scanning at check-out counters. Your title will be registered with Books In Print using the industry’s BISAC (Book Industry Standards and Communications) topic codes, ISBN (International Standard Book Number), and LOC (Library of Congress) number at no extra charge to you.

What are Royalties and how are they figured?
Royalties here at TEACH Services, are based on the list price (Suggested Retail Price or SRP). Royalty rates normally range between 10 and 12 percent on print books and 25 to 50 percent on e-books.

Some publishers pay their royalties based on the amount they collect (12-15% of the $3.00 or around 36-45 cents). When an Adventist ministry bought 1,000 copies of a $10.00 book, we gave the ministry a 70-percent discount. Of the $3.00 we then collected we have to pay the printer (around $1.50), pay the author their royalties (around $1.00), and make a profit (around $0.50).

    — TEACH Services pays $1.00-$1.20
    — Other publishers pay $0.36-$0.45

Reports are emailed on the first Sunday of each month listing all sales for the previous 365 days. In the spring of the year (around May) a printed annual report is mailed to all authors with royalties due from the previous year along with their royalty check. Should there be a large sale during the year (usually over 5,000 units or $5,000) a special royalty check may be issued early at that time.

U.S. Internal Revenue Service (IRS) regulations require:

For USA Authors:
For those of you who receive a royalty payment and are a United States citizen, you must mail us a completed W-9 before a royalty payment will be mailed out. You can find a W-9 copy online at: https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw9.pdf

For Non-USA Authors:
U.S. tax law requires us to report royalty payments made to entities and persons residing outside of the United States and to withhold and remit taxes on such royalty payments to the IRS. You may also be required to report and pay taxes to your own government, but we are not involved in this process, and we must follow U.S. tax laws on this matter.

The standard tax-withholding rate applied to royalty payments made to residents outside of the United States is 30%. If you are a non-U.S. author and your country of residence has an existing income tax treaty with the U.S., provided you furnish us with a valid IRS Form W8-BEN https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/fw8ben.pdf and/or other required documentation, you may be eligible for a reduced rate of U.S. tax withholding on the royalty payment you receive. Without the completed forms we are required to withhold, report, and pay 30% in taxes. To learn more about this requirement, please refer to the IRS 515 Publication https://www.irs.gov/pub/irs-pdf/p515.pdf and go to page 39 and 41 to find your country under the "Copyrights" section.

Should I have the copyright in my name?
When you wrote your book, your book’s content was automatically copyrighted. However, you may want to have the copyright officially filed with the Library of Congress by filling out the required paperwork yourself—there is a filing fee for this process. Copyright information can be found at www.copyright.gov.

How long does it take to get my book published?
Your book can be done as quickly as three to six months from start to finish. During this time, we will edit, typeset, and design your book. This timeframe also includes the proofing stages where you, as the author, will sign off on the edited manuscript and designed book. This timeframe depends on how quickly you sign off on drafts and proofs and if you submit additional changes during the production process.

Do I have to pay for my job all at once?
No. Most books are paid in three (3) equal installments. One-third down when you begin, the second third when editing of your manuscript is complete, and the last third before your book goes to press. (Six-, nine-, and twelve-payment options are also available.)

May I sell my book retail, through seminars, book signings, etc.?
Yes. TEACH Services sells your book via our Web site and to wholesalers. We encourage you to sell your book by any means you choose.