iUniverse

What iUniverse does

iUniverse is a self-publishing platform that operates as an imprint under Author Solutions, LLC, headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana. Founded in 1999, the company serves aspiring authors who lack the resources or access to traditional publishing by providing integrated publishing packages that combine editorial services, cover and interior design, marketing tools, print-on-demand printing, and global distribution through major online retailers including Amazon. The platform's core technology is a print-on-demand infrastructure that prints and ships books as orders are received, eliminating upfront inventory costs for authors and enabling worldwide availability in softcover, hardcover, and electronic formats.

The company's go-to-market is direct-to-consumer: aspiring authors reach iUniverse through the company website, a toll-free phone line staffed by publishing consultants, blog content, social media, and a $100 referral program that incentivizes existing authors to refer new writers. Revenue is generated primarily through one-time publishing package fees tiered by service level, with additional a la carte revenue from copyediting, author website setup, and marketing campaigns, supplemented by long-tail royalty participation from book sales through the iUniverse bookstore and retail channels. The company has published over 60,000 titles since inception, with 3,717 titles recognized through its Editor's Choice program that promotes quality works to agents, booksellers, and media. Customers are exclusively individual aspiring authors spanning fiction, nonfiction, memoir, business, and self-help genres, with no disclosed enterprise or institutional customer base.

Name

iUniverse

Legal name

Author Solutions, LLC

Website

https://iuniverse.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1999

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

501–1,000 employees

Short description

iUniverse, founded in 1999 and headquartered in Bloomington, Indiana, is a self-publishing platform under Author Solutions, LLC that helps aspiring authors publish books through integrated editing, design, marketing, print-on-demand, and global distribution services. The company has published over 60,000 titles for individual writers worldwide.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Self-Publishing Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (513130), Book Publishers (51313), Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Book Printing (2732), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Self-Publishing Platforms (KDP-style Marketplaces & Portals) (MPAJAJAA)

akta.pro secondary industries

Editorial & Production Services (Copyediting, Proofreading, Formatting, Typesetting) (MPAJAJAG), Author Website, Storefront & Direct-to-Reader Commerce (D2C Sales) (MPAJAJAE), Author Marketing, PR & Launch Services (Ads, Book Tours, Influencers) (MPAJAJAL), Author Business Tools & Analytics (Royalty Tracking, Pricing, Keyword/Market Research) (MPAJAJAO), Cover Design, Illustration & Book Interior Design Services (MPAJAJAH), Self-Publishing & Author Platforms (BPAMAJAF)

Keywords

• Self-publishing services
• Book publishing packages
• Print-on-demand publishing
• Editorial and design services
• Author book distribution

Headquarters

HQ city

Bloomington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure, Others

Revenue model

1. Publishing Packages and Services: Authors pay for publishing packages that combine editing, design, and marketing tools. Packages range from basic to comprehensive, with additional services available à la carte including copyediting, author website setup, and marketing campaigns.
2. Book Sales Revenue: Authors receive royalties from book sales through the iUniverse bookstore and major retail channels including Amazon. Print and digital formats are available.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

iUniverse sells tiered self-publishing packages that bundle editorial evaluation, copyediting, interior and cover design, marketing tools (author websites, internet marketing), and print-on-demand book production for individual authors. Books are distributed globally through the iUniverse online bookstore and major retailers such as Amazon in print and digital formats, with authors retaining royalties from sales.

Product overview

iUniverse is a self-publishing platform operating as a single integrated system rather than a modular architecture. The core offering consists of Publishing Packages that combine editing, design, marketing, print-on-demand printing, and global distribution services. Additional products include the Editor's Choice Recognition Program for quality titles, BookStub promotional code system for e-book downloads, and a Referral Program offering $100 rewards. Authors access the platform through the Author Center dashboard to manage their publishing workflow, orders, and royalties.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Editor’s Choice Recognition Program: A recognition program that highlights editorial quality to agents, booksellers and media for exemplary books published through iUniverse.
• Rising Star Recognition Program

Products and services

• Publishing Packages Tiered self-publishing packages that combine editorial services, cover and interior design, marketing tools, print-on-demand production, and global distribution into a single offering for individual authors seeking to publish a professionally produced book.
• Editorial Services Standalone professional editing services including copyediting, editorial evaluation, and full editorial support designed to strengthen and improve a manuscript before publication.
• Marketing Services Book marketing services for authors, including author website setup and internet marketing tools, available as part of publishing packages or purchased separately.

Quantifiable outcome

• Over 60,000 authors have achieved their publishing goals through iUniverse

Named customers5 records

Segments1 record

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

One partnership is on record.

• Berrett-Koehler PublishingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerPartnership where Berrett-Koehler acquired Terry Hawkins' book 'Why Wait to Be Great?' from iUniverse for traditional publishing republication in Spring 2013. This partnership demonstrates iUniverse serving as a springboard to traditional publishing for quality titles.

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Direct peers

• Lulu: Lulu is a direct competitor offering self-publishing services including print-on-demand, editorial, design, and global distribution to aspiring authors. Operates a similar bundled-package business model targeting the same individual author segment as iUniverse.
• BookBaby: BookBaby provides self-publishing packages combining editing, design, formatting, print-on-demand, and distribution services to independent authors. It competes head-to-head with iUniverse in the paid-package self-publishing segment.
• Draft2Digital: Draft2Digital is an ebook and print-on-demand distribution aggregator offering automated formatting, distribution to major retailers, and author services. Competes with iUniverse's distribution and value-added service layer with a modern SaaS-first experience.
• Westbow Press: Westbow Press is a sister imprint under Author Solutions, LLC, offering the same self-publishing package model to faith-based authors. Operates from the same parent platform as iUniverse with nearly identical services and pricing structure.
• Xlibris: Xlibris is another Author Solutions imprint offering self-publishing packages with editorial, design, marketing, and print-on-demand services to aspiring authors. Directly comparable as a sister imprint under the same Author Solutions umbrella.
• Balboa Press: Balboa Press is a Hay House-affiliated self-publishing imprint operating under the Author Solutions umbrella. Provides comparable publishing packages, editorial services, and print-on-demand distribution for mind-body-spirit authors.
• Archway Publishing: Archway Publishing is the Simon & Schuster-affiliated self-publishing imprint offering editorial, design, marketing, and distribution packages. Directly comparable to iUniverse as a publisher-affiliated paid-package self-publishing service.

Broad incumbents

• IngramSpark: IngramSpark is the print-on-demand and distribution arm of Ingram Content Group, providing self-publishing infrastructure at scale to authors and small publishers. It is a broad incumbent in the same space but focuses on distribution infrastructure rather than full-service author packages.
• Amazon KDP: Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is the dominant free self-publishing platform, offering zero-cost upload, e-book and print-on-demand distribution, and up to 70% royalties. It is the primary competitive incumbent shaping pricing expectations for the entire self-publishing market including iUniverse.

Emerging players

• Reedsy: Reedsy is a marketplace connecting authors to vetted freelance editors, designers, and marketers, plus Reedsy Discovery for book promotion. Represents the emerging SaaS-first, marketplace-based model challenging iUniverse's integrated-service approach.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/iUniverse
• Facebookfacebook.com/iUniverseSelfPublishing
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/iuniverse

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds2 records

Investors1 record

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about iUniverse