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Amazon KDP Publishing Done Right, Under Your Own Account and Control
Amazon is where most self-published books find their first readers, and KDP rewards a careful setup. Our Amazon publishing service prepares your files, listing and formats, then publishes through your own KDP account so you control the book, the money and the data. We handle the dashboard work and explain each choice, from ISBN to categories, so nothing is left to guesswork.
What You Receive
Included In Every Amazon Publishing Project
- Kindle ebook, paperback and hardcover set up under your KDP account
- ISBN guidance with the free and own ISBN trade-offs explained
- Keyword, category and product page copy chosen for your readers
- Author Central profile and A+ content prepared where eligible
- Proof copy review and a final check of the live listing
01
One book, three formats, one tidy listing
A single KDP title can carry a Kindle ebook, a paperback and a hardcover, and Amazon links them on one product page when the metadata matches. That matching is where many first-time authors slip. A subtitle typed slightly differently, or an edition number that does not agree, can leave formats stranded on separate pages. We enter the same title, subtitle, series details and author name in every format, then check the live page once the book is published.
Each format has its own technical needs. The ebook needs a clean reflowable file and a front cover image. The paperback needs a print-ready interior PDF and a full wrap cover with the correct spine width. The hardcover adds case laminate or dust jacket choices and its own page minimum. We prepare every file against the current KDP specifications, upload it, and review the online previewer page by page before anything goes live. Any problems are listed for you before upload.
You decide the order of release. Some authors launch the ebook first to gather early feedback and add print later. Others publish all three together so the product page looks complete from day one. Either works. We usually suggest ordering a proof of the paperback before you approve it, because a screen preview cannot show you paper color, gutter margins or how the cover prints. We explain the trade-off and let you choose the sequence.
02
ISBNs, categories and keywords: the decisions that stick
KDP offers a free ISBN for paperbacks and hardcovers, and you can also supply your own. The free one costs nothing but lists KDP as the publisher of record and cannot be reused with another printer. Your own ISBN, bought from your national agency, keeps your name or imprint as publisher and travels with the book if you later add other distribution. Ebooks do not require an ISBN on Amazon. We lay out both paths and help you pick.
Categories and keywords tell Amazon who should see the book. We research how comparable titles are shelved, then choose categories that fit your subject without stretching into a genre readers will not expect. Keyword slots are used for the phrases a real buyer would type, not for repeating words already in the title. Amazon also changes its category system and rules from time to time, so we check what is current when your project starts.
Your product page is more than the book itself. We write the description with a hook, short paragraphs and clean formatting, set up your Author Central profile with bio, photo and linked books, and prepare A+ content where your account is eligible. A+ content lets you add modules with images and text below the description, which can explain a series, show a map or compare titles. Eligibility and layout options change, so we confirm them first.
03
Royalties, KDP Select and proof copies explained
Amazon pays royalties as a percentage of list price, and the rate depends on format, price, file delivery costs and the territory where the book sells. Printed books also deduct a printing cost based on page count and ink. We do not quote exact figures because KDP revises them, but we walk you through the royalty calculator for your own book so you can see what a given price would earn in each format before you commit.
KDP Select is a choice, not a default. Enrolling your ebook means it is exclusive to Amazon for ninety day terms, and in return you can use Kindle Unlimited page reads and certain promotional tools. Going wide means your ebook can also sit in other stores. The right answer depends on your genre, your readers and how many books you have. We set out the pros and cons plainly and re-check the current program terms.
Before launch, order a proof copy. KDP sells author proofs at printing cost, usually marked as not for resale. Read it from cover to cover, check the margins, the spine text and the barcode area, and mark any slips. We can review the proof with you and correct the files if needed. Only after you approve it do we release the book for sale. This one step prevents most of the avoidable errors we see.
Why Authors Stay
What Authors Value Most About Working With One Team
Confidential by default
An NDA is signed before you share anything, and your name is the only one that appears on the book.
Pricing you can read
You get a written quote that lists what is included. Royalties are never shared with us, now or later.
How We Run A Amazon Publishing Project
Our Process, Step By Step
- 1
Account and goals call
We confirm your KDP and tax details are in your name, learn your goals, and agree which formats to publish. A confidentiality agreement is available before any files are shared.
- 2
Files and specs check
We review your manuscript and cover files against current KDP rules, trim size, page count and image resolution, and list anything that needs fixing before upload.
- 3
Metadata and ISBN
We draft the title, subtitle, description, keywords and categories, and help you pick the ISBN route. You approve the wording before it goes into the dashboard.
- 4
Upload and preview
Files are uploaded to your account and checked in the online previewer, page by page, for cut-off text, odd breaks and cover alignment. Anything that looks wrong is fixed and uploaded again before you approve.
- 5
Proof copy
You order a printed proof. We help you review it and apply corrections, then you approve it for sale. Printed copies show problems a screen hides.
- 6
Publish and verify
We submit the book, wait for Amazon's review, then check that all formats are linked on one page and that the live details are correct.
Complete Your Book With Our Other Services
Five Services, One Team
Who This Service Is For
Authors We Work With Most Often
First-time authors
If you have a finished manuscript but the KDP dashboard feels confusing, we handle the setup and explain every field, so your first book goes live correctly and stays under your control. You approve each choice before it is saved.
Authors adding print
Many writers start with a Kindle ebook and later want a paperback or hardcover. We build the print files, match the metadata, and link the new formats to your existing page. Your reviews and ranking history stay attached to the same listing.
Authors fixing a listing
If your book is live but the categories, description or formats are off, we can audit the page, correct what is wrong, and update it through your account. Nothing changes without your approval first. You stay in control.
Book Your Free Consultation
Tell us about your book. A project manager replies within one business day with a clear plan and a written quote.
Amazon Publishing: Your Questions Answered
Do I keep the rights and royalties?
Yes. You keep copyright and receive royalties directly from Amazon into your own account. We charge for our work and never take a share of your sales. The book is published under your KDP account, so you can see every report and change anything yourself later.
Should I use the free KDP ISBN or my own?
The free ISBN is simple and costs nothing, but it lists KDP as publisher and works only with KDP print. Your own ISBN keeps your imprint as publisher and can be used elsewhere. If you plan wide print distribution later, your own is usually the safer route.
Is KDP Select right for me?
It depends. Select gives Amazon ebook exclusivity in return for Kindle Unlimited and some promotion tools. Going wide reaches other stores. Genre, series length and reader habits all matter. We explain both options and check the current terms before you decide.
How long does the process take?
Setup usually takes one to two weeks once your final files are ready, plus time for a proof copy to arrive and for Amazon's review, which can take a few days. Timing varies with the formats and any file fixes needed.
Can you tell me how many copies I will sell?
No. Nobody can honestly promise sales, rankings or best-seller status. A correct setup gives your book a fair chance to be found. Results depend on the book, the cover, the price and how you promote it. If a provider promises otherwise, treat that as a warning sign.
Do you use my account or yours?
Always yours. You create the KDP account, and we work in it with your permission or guide you through each step. That way the listing, the reports and the payments all remain yours. If you ever stop working with us, nothing about your book changes.
Services That Pair Well With Amazon Publishing
Self Publishing
ISBNs, files, KDP and IngramSpark setup and launch checks, all under your own accounts.
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Validated EPUB files, device checks and uploads to Kindle, Apple Books, Kobo and Google Play.
Read moreAmazon Book Marketing
Listing, pricing, Amazon Ads and honest review requests, tracked against your real KDP data.
Read moreMore in Books Publishing
Ready to write your book?
Why Authors Choose HivesPublisher
- Free first call: Talk through the idea, the reader and the format before any money changes hands.
- Written, itemised quote: You see what is included and what each stage costs before you commit.
- NDA before you share anything: Your drafts stay private and your name is the only one on the book.
- Rights and royalties stay with you: The copyright is yours in full when the book is finished.
- One named contact: A project manager replies within one business day and owns your timeline.