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United House Publishing

We make publishing a book obtainable, affordable, and enjoyable.

How we’re unique

Some things need to change. How to publish a book is one.

The publishing industry is changing, and if you want to publish a book, you can. Our heart as a Christian publishing house is to change this industry. We ensure the books which come out of our house are life-giving, done with excellence, and unite the body of Christ. We truly want to help get these world-changing messages out, no matter what the platform size or financial situation.

How UNITED HOUSE Publishing is different

UNITED HOUSE is unique among publishing options because we are a membership-based publishing house. We do not offer the pay advance/require authors to pays us back, and we also eliminate the need for a literary agent—leaving the author with more immediate commission in the end. We have a membership fee for the duration of publishing process, this covers the personalized author coaching calls, continual writing training services, and access to our author community for support throughout the journey. Once the book is released, there is no more membership fee. However, we continue to handle the royalty payments, distribution, bulk, and wholesale orders, etc.  

UNITED HOUSE Publishing royalty breakdown

Since our company was designed by authors, the royalty is much higher than the standard in the industry. The royalty contract for all UNITED HOUSE authors on print books and eBooks is 50% of the net profit from the distributors. So, it is a good fit for writers who have an average following (as we work with our authors to help them gain a following) and/or can’t afford to pay a large fee through a pay-to-publish company.

How traditional publishing houses work

To publish with a Traditional Publisher, author must be represented by a literary agent. To find a literary agent to represent an author, the writer must first write a query letter, and have either a manuscript completed (for fiction) or a solid book proposal (for non-fiction) to submit to agent. Each literary agency has their own submission guidelines for new authors. A literary agent typically agrees to work with authors who have a large following and have a good message/are great writers.  Literary agents help get book manuscript and/or book proposal ready to pitch to Publishers. Once Publisher chooses to work with author, agent negotiates terms, contract, royalties. Often, Traditional publishing houses pay authors a book advance. When the book comes out, typically the author must pay back the advance out of their royalties, then, after meeting their quota, they start receiving income. Also, the literary agent takes a cut of the author’s royalties.

Traditional publishing royalty breakdown

Authors typically make around 5-7% of retail price, or anywhere between 16-26% net profit from distributors. If a book is listed at $14.99 on Amazon, this translates to about $.75-1.05 per book royalty (if calculated from retail) or $1.01-$1.65 (if calculated off net profit from distributors), then the literary agent gets a cut (10-15% of the royalty).

Now, if you are famous and are going to sell one million copies, that’s great. But, if you are an average person with a medium platform, with a few thousand followers, more than likely, your following isn’t big enough to snag an agent or a land a publishing contract with a traditional publishing house. And if you do, the return is not very high. If the book sells for $14.99, the author/creator gets about one dollar? Doesn’t sound like the best deal.

How Pay-to-publish companies work

Pay-to-publish houses charge a large fee up front, and they get a cut of every book which is sold. If, someone uses UNITED HOUSE’s self-publishing services, we do it for considerably less (total project runs about ½ the cost, of the starting price of this service at typical pay-to-publish companies), and we only take 10% of the royalty, once the book is published (See our Self-Publishing Services page to see what on-going services the 10% royalty covers.)

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Testimonials

  • Miranda Trudeau, mirandatrudeau.com

    UNITED HOUSE Publishing is a company of honesty, integrity, and honor. They truly value each and every person who walks through their “doors” and treats them with the highest amount of respect possible. This is a life-giving and freedom-bringing publishing company and my life and book are better because of them.

  • Natasha Tubbs, fiercelysilent.com

    I self-published my first book. So, teaming up with UNITED HOUSE has impacted me, because it has given me the opportunity to JUST write, and leave the rest up to the team.

  • Jessica Bishop, highercallingblog.com

    The reason why I love UNITED HOUSE Publishing is because all you have to do is write, and they take care of the rest. It's simple and I LOVE IT!

  • Dianne Wyper, whoseiam.com

    UNITED HOUSE Publishing has been like the roadblock-remover to my dreams and my calling. It's because of them that I have got to become all I have dreamed of: An Author!

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