An author-centric model with the distribution muscle of a traditional publisher. | Business Model

Greenleaf Book Group is a publisher and distributor that specializes in the development of independent authors and the growth of small presses. Our publishing model was designed to support the independent author and to make it possible for writers to retain the rights to their work and still compete with the major publishing houses. In addition to the books we publish, we distribute select titles from small and independent publishers to major trade outlets, including bookstores, libraries, and airport retailers. We serve the small and independent publishing community by offering industry guidance, business development, and unmatched production, distribution, and marketing services.

You may be a good fit for Greenleaf Book Group if

• You're an author looking for a selective publisher with high quality standards, national
  distribution, sales-focused marketing services, and a smart, author-centric model.
• You're a self-publisher or small press looking for competitively priced, high-quality editorial,
  design, and production services.
• You're a self-publisher or small press with fewer than ten titles seeking national distribution
  and innovative, sales-focused marketing services.

It's an appropriate time to contact Greenleaf if

• You have a book proposal or idea with significant potential to thrive in America's retail book
  market. Greenleaf prefers to begin work on a project as early as possible and often
  collaborates with authors to define the project's content direction before the manuscript
  is complete.
• Your manuscript is complete and ready for professional editorial feedback or production.

  If Greenleaf is interested in publishing your work, we will produce an editorial diagnosis to identify the project's market viability and define a publication plan for your book.

• Your manuscript is ready for press or you need production services to prepare it for the
  printer. Greenleaf offers production services to small and independent publishers-even
  if we do not publish or distribute the title.
• Your book is at press or recently published. Though our post-production acceptance rate is
  very low, Greenleaf does distribute and market select titles from small presses and
  self-publishers. We're looking for projects with extraordinary production quality, marketing
  plans, and sales potential.

Our Goals

Greenleaf accepts a small percentage of the submissions we receive. We find the most promising independent authors and small presses, and then we help them reach their goals and become profitable. We are not interested in playing the lottery with our title list, hoping one hit can compensate for multiple failures, or in working with a high volume of low-producing, short-term projects. Rather, we guide our clients to two basic objectives:

Multiple Print Runs

Small presses and independent authors increase their profit margins exponentially with subsequent print runs. We use our production, distribution, and marketing programs to help push the titles we publish and distribute into bigger profits.

Additional Titles

One of our primary roles in the expansion of our clients' businesses and careers is to help them expand their brands and profitability. To do this, we work to develop a complete vision for their publishing success.

How We Reach Our Goals

Greenleaf 's success is contingent upon the success of our clients, so reaching our goals means helping our clients reach theirs. We approach each project from an intelligent business perspective, armed with comprehensive knowledge and experience in the book industry. The following principles are at the core of our success.

Competitive Products

To enter this industry is to accept the reality that nearly 200,000 new books are published each year (nearly 550 per day). To succeed, you must be able to compete with the big players in all areas: production, distribution, and marketing. If one link in this chain is broken, the project will be lost in the crowded book industry. We help our clients compete by minimizing production costs, maximizing quality, selling the book to retailers and consumers nationwide, creating book industry awareness, and building successful brands.

Commitment

At Greenleaf Book Group, we regard our clients as long-term partners. When we accept a new project, we assess its growth potential and commit to helping our client reach that potential.

Viable Businesses

We believe in thoughtful, strategic execution of business plans based on logic and practical knowledge of the book industry. Our success is rooted in the belief that publishing should be profitable and enjoyable for small presses and independent authors. We are not in the business of selling dreams; we are in the business of building careers and growing small businesses.