STARTING BOOK PUBLISHING BUSINESS

A. Introduction

At first I have two businesses, namely printing and publishing. Publishing does not have to have a printing press. The books will be published can be printed at a print company outside. Only if we can print it by ourself the cost much cheaper. Moreover, I have had experience working in the printing company. So I think to use my both experiences to run the business. While offering books, I also offering printing services. Often I was carrying two boxes. In the right hand box contains the ordered books. In the left hand box contains two rim letterhead, 2 pack envelopes, business cards and forms one rim. Understandably all done alone. Ranging from writing, setting, printing, binding, market, deliver and collect.

Initially I knew nothing about the world of printing and publishing. I grew to know it after being accepted to work in publishing and printing company that recently opened in Yogyakarta. The first job of mine was as an editor. I knew very little about how to publish the books. Initially my work just correcting each book will be published both in terms of the choice of words, grammar and writing systematic. I use Macintosh LC 475 for running the job. The first time I hold this kind of computer. I know nothing about graphic design. Even holding the mouse still running to and fro. Accidentally since the time it turned out that I had started to learn the printing and publishing, namely editing and setting. I began to recognize some of the applications for the setting, such as: Page Maker, Free Hand, Photo Shop, O Photo and Microsoft. By superiors often invited around to campuses to the homes of the author, to almost all the publishers printing and book distributors and bookstores in Yogyakarta, Semarang and Solo. In addition, I was often asked to send a letter to publishers from various countries to ask for the catalog of books that have been published and if possible establish cooperation in the translation and publication of their books to Indonesia.

After working for about 5 years  in the field of printing and publishing, then a few years later I ventured with a minimum investment set up my own printing and publishing business. In this blog we will exchange experiences on how to set up a book publishing business with minimum investment.

B. Starting a Book Publishing Business

Book publishers are individual businesses or legal entities that produce and market books massively. From these business are expected to gain some profits. This profits come  from book sales price reduced by the cost of production and distribution

Book publishing bussiness  there has to be a little more capital, either in the form of money or knowledge of books to be published and knowledge of the publishing world. If printing can run even without a penny of capital. As with the publication, when no money at all, then it can not work. For example there is a manuscript ready for print, still can not be issued if there is no money to buy paper, to print and for marketing it. The amount of money is needed not only for the cost of production and marketing, but also for the cost of living before we have return from book sales.

For the beginners with no much capital, then for the sake of saving, all can be done alone. Starting from the observation of the market about what books the most demanding public. The next step is to write our own book. It is not common book. It must be the most interesting and needed by sociaty and obviously clear market share. After the manuscript finished then to be set designed the appearance, size and thickness in accordance with the quite attractive and affordable price. Do not forget to apply for ISBN (International System Book Number) at the National Library so the number could be listed on the cover of the book that will be published.

For the first printing, the circulations do not need too much, especially if the money tight, fit only for printing about 2000 or 3000 copies. We use only the cheaper paper like paper for newspaper and printed on one color using master papers and in a little offset machine. Consider of the first printing as a test to the market reaction. If for example it fails, then it is not too severe harm. If it was successful and in demand in the market, then the circulations can be improved so that cost of production is much cheaper. Thus, the benefits to be gained far greater than if little circulations. Even though the selling price slightly lowered still can gain even greater.

If we have a printing machine, it would be more efficient. If we have no any offset machine we rent printer machine to print our manusript. The important thing we must always control the printing process to make sure the best result printing.  After all to be printed and cut according to the size of the book, then the next jobs are folding, shorting and  binding of the printed sheets into books. For this finishing job we can ask help to our family  or other relatives. who do not need to be paid so that economical.

Block glue is the most practical, easy, inexpensive, fast and strong in bookbinding pocket. Take some set (eg 10 or fifteen sets) and we stacked them neatly and flat back upright. If the book is small, eg 1/4 folio size, then we can pile row two so that the pile is not easy to collapse. After that we press on the top of  pile by concrete block or other heavy things. Use a cutter to make the spine os the books quite rough so that the glue can stick well.  Put glue thinly and evenly. Wait until dry do it  again for two or three times to make sure our binding is enough strong. The next step is gluing the cover that we have prepared earlier one by one. The last step in the production process of the book is tidying up side down and forward with the cutter machine.