Wheatmark
Wheatmark is a Tucson-based hybrid book publishing services company that helps independent authors edit, design, produce, and distribute print, ebook, and audiobooks through major retailers, serving thousands of authors since 2000 via custom proposals and its Authors Academy community.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded2000
- HeadquartersTucson, United States
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Wheatmark does
Wheatmark is a privately held, Tucson, Arizona-based hybrid book publishing services company founded in 1999/2000 by Sam Henrie. The company serves independent authors — primarily nonfiction professionals (business leaders, educators, lawyers, medical professionals) and fiction writers — who want trade-quality publishing without traditional publishing gatekeeping. Wheatmark combines digital printing technology and internet-based distribution with a team of experienced publishing professionals to deliver editing, design, layout, production, and distribution across print (paperback, hardcover), ebook (Kindle, Nook, Apple, Google Play, Kobo), and audiobook (Audible, Amazon, iTunes) formats through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and thousands of other channels.
The core product portfolio is built around Book Publishing Services, with supporting offerings including a Project Assessment questionnaire, a Manuscript Assessment service (3-5 week editorial turnaround), the Authors Academy training program, and weekly Friday Office Hours. Distribution is enabled by print-on-demand infrastructure that eliminates inventory requirements. Technology is largely operational (digital printing, standard retailer APIs) rather than proprietary or differentiated; the company's competitive emphasis is on human-led consulting and post-publish author education.
Wheatmark's business model is professional services plus licensing royalties: authors pay custom-priced publishing fees (no public package pricing) and receive ongoing royalties on book sales, retaining rights to their work. Go-to-market is dual-motion: a sales-led, individualized consulting approach using phone consultations and Project Assessments, combined with a community-led model via Authors Academy membership and weekly webinars that drive referrals. The majority of new business is generated through referrals and repeat authors publishing multiple titles, and the company is bootstrapped with no external institutional funding.
Wheatmark firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Wheatmark
- Legal name
- Wheatmark, Inc.
- Website
- https://wheatmark.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 2000
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Short description
- Wheatmark is a Tucson-based hybrid book publishing services company that helps independent authors edit, design, produce, and distribute print, ebook, and audiobooks through major retailers, serving thousands of authors since 2000 via custom proposals and its Authors Academy community.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Where Wheatmark is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Tucson
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
Wheatmark business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Publishing Services Fees: Authors pay for professional publishing services including editing, design, layout, and distribution. Wheatmark publishes books based on custom publishing proposals designed to meet the specific needs of each project.
- Royalties: Wheatmark offers royalty rates to authors who publish under their imprint. Authors retain rights to their work and receive royalties on sales through major retailers and platforms.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Multi-year contract | Custom publishing proposals - no set package pricing |
Go-to-market motion2 records
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels5 records
Wheatmark product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Wheatmark provides hybrid book publishing services for independent authors, including writing guidance, editing, design, layout, printing, and distribution of paperbacks, hardcovers, ebooks, and audiobooks through major retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Each author engagement begins with a Project Assessment, after which Wheatmark builds a custom publishing proposal rather than offering fixed package pricing, and authors retain rights to their work while receiving royalties on sales.
Product overview
Wheatmark offers a comprehensive hybrid publishing service portfolio centered on book publishing. The core offering is Book Publishing Services, which encompasses writing assistance, editing, design, printing, and distribution across print (paperback, hardcover) and digital formats (ebook, audiobook). Authors begin with Project Assessment to discuss their manuscript, followed by Manuscript Assessment for professional evaluation. The Authors Academy provides training resources for marketing, while Friday Office Hours offers ongoing author support. Distribution spans major retailers (Amazon, Barnes and Noble), ebook platforms (Kindle, Nook, Apple, Google Play, Kobo), and audiobook channels (Audible, Amazon, iTunes). The Author's Guide serves as a free educational resource for prospective authors.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Authors Academy: A training resource provided to Wheatmark authors, offering practical videos on book marketing, author platform building, social media, publicity, and other publishing-related topics.
Products and services
- Book Publishing Services Comprehensive hybrid publishing service for independent authors covering writing guidance, editing, design, layout, printing, and distribution of paperback, hardcover, ebook, and audiobook formats through major retailers including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and thousands of other outlets, with authors retaining rights and receiving royalties.
- Project Assessment
- Manuscript Assessment
- Authors Academy Training program included with Wheatmark publishing that equips authors with practical training videos on book marketing, author websites, social media, podcast features, publicity fundamentals, and awards submissions, supported by weekly Wednesday webinar presentations.
Quantifiable outcome
- More than 2,000 titles published since 2000
- +2 more outcomes
Companies that use Wheatmark
Customer profileNamed customers8 records
Segments3 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
Wheatmark technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Feature1 record
Wheatmark partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights4 records
Wheatmark competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- AuthorHouse: AuthorHouse is one of the largest hybrid/self-publishing service providers, offering editing, design, printing, and distribution to independent authors — directly comparable to Wheatmark's core offering and target market.
- Archway Publishing: Archway Publishing is Simon & Schuster's hybrid publishing imprint, providing custom publishing services, editing, and distribution to authors — a direct competitor in the hybrid publishing services space where Wheatmark operates.
- Balboa Press: Balboa Press is Hay House's hybrid publishing division, offering publishing services, editorial support, and global distribution to authors seeking a professional alternative to traditional publishing — closely comparable to Wheatmark's model.
- BookBaby: BookBaby provides self-publishing services including editing, design, printing, ebook conversion, and distribution to major retailers — overlapping significantly with Wheatmark's service portfolio for independent authors.
- Greenleaf Book Group: Greenleaf Book Group is a hybrid publisher and book marketing agency that helps authors with publishing, distribution, and marketing — directly comparable in service mix and target author profile to Wheatmark.
- She Writes Press: She Writes Press is a hybrid publishing imprint focused on women authors, providing editorial, design, and distribution services — comparable to Wheatmark's custom-publishing approach with a different niche focus.
Emerging players
- Lulu Press: Lulu is a self-publishing platform offering print-on-demand, distribution, and author services globally — overlapping with Wheatmark's print and ebook distribution services but operating more as a technology platform.
- Tessera Press: Tessera Press is a boutique hybrid publisher offering custom publishing services to nonfiction authors — a smaller-scale peer to Wheatmark operating in a similar consulting-driven model.
Others
- IngramSpark: IngramSpark provides print-on-demand and book distribution services widely used by independent publishers and self-publishing authors — adjacent to Wheatmark as a key infrastructure provider in the same ecosystem.
Broad incumbents
- Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing: Amazon KDP is the dominant free self-publishing platform offering print and ebook publishing at no cost — competing with Wheatmark for authors but at the low-cost, DIY end of the market.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Wheatmark social profiles
Digital presenceWheatmark financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Wheatmark leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles4 records
Wheatmark funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Wheatmark M&A and investment
M&A and investmentM&A
Investments
M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Frequently asked questions about Wheatmark
What does Wheatmark do?
Wheatmark provides hybrid book publishing services for independent authors, including writing guidance, editing, design, layout, printing, and distribution of paperbacks, hardcovers, ebooks, and audiobooks through major retailers such as Amazon and Barnes & Noble. Each author engagement begins with a Project Assessment, after which Wheatmark builds a custom publishing proposal rather than offering fixed package pricing, and authors retain rights to their work while receiving royalties on sales.
Is Wheatmark a public or private company?
Wheatmark is a private company. It is classified as founder individual operated bootstrapped and is currently operating.
When was Wheatmark founded?
Wheatmark was founded in 2000. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Wheatmark based?
Wheatmark is headquartered in Tucson, United States, in the North America region.
How does Wheatmark make money?
Two revenue lines are on record. Publishing Services Fees are the primary driver. The others are royalties.
Who are Wheatmark's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are AuthorHouse, Archway Publishing, Balboa Press, BookBaby, Greenleaf Book Group and She Writes Press. Emerging players are Lulu Press and Tessera Press. IngramSpark is listed as an others. Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Wheatmark have an API?
No public API is recorded for Wheatmark.