William B. Eerdmans
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., founded in 1911 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an independent religious and academic book publisher producing over 2,800 titles in theology, biblical studies, and children's literature for scholars, clergy, and general Christian readers via print and e-book.
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1911
- HeadquartersGrand Rapids, United States
- Headcount101–250
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingHardware or Manufacturing
What William B. Eerdmans does
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., founded in 1911 and headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is a privately held specialty book publisher operating under the legal name Eerdmans Publishing Co. The company publishes scholarly and general-interest religious content—biblical studies, theology, religious ethics, church history, and pastoral ministry resources—alongside a children's literature imprint (Eerdmans Books for Young Readers, EBYR). Its portfolio spans over 2,872 titles and includes established scholarly series such as the New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT), the Pillar New Testament Commentary, the Emory University Studies in Law and Religion (EUSLR), the Consider series for young readers, and the Stories from Latin America series. The company serves four horizontal customer segments: academic and scholarly markets (universities, divinity schools, seminaries), church and ministry professionals, general Christian readers, and children and families.
Eerdmans generates revenue primarily through one-time book sales (print and e-book) priced from $14.99 for children's picture books to $99.99 for premium hardcover academic titles, with USD and GBP pricing published on product pages. The website and direct-to-consumer storefront run on the Supadu publishing and e-commerce platform, which provides catalog browsing, search, and checkout functionality. Distribution extends across multiple channels: direct e-commerce via Eerdmans.com, Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org for independent bookstore support, and academic/library platforms including EBSCO, ProQuest, RedShelf, VitalSource, and Perlego for e-book distribution to institutional buyers.
The business model is a traditional publisher's model with marketing executed through the Eerdword Blog, email newsletters, seasonal catalogs, book clubs, and social media. The company maintains editorial independence across evangelical, mainline, and progressive theological traditions, and has accumulated industry recognition including NYT/NYPL Best Illustrated Children's Books, Christianity Today Book Awards, and multiple starred reviews from Publishers Weekly, Kirkus, School Library Journal, and Booklist. No parent company, subsidiaries, public ownership, funding rounds, M&A activity, or disclosed financials are present in the available data; the company appears independently and likely family-owned given its founder's name in the corporate title.
William B. Eerdmans firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- William B. Eerdmans
- Legal name
- Eerdmans Publishing Co
- Website
- https://www.eerdmans.com
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1911
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 101–250 employees
- Short description
- William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co., founded in 1911 in Grand Rapids, Michigan, is an independent religious and academic book publisher producing over 2,800 titles in theology, biblical studies, and children's literature for scholars, clergy, and general Christian readers via print and e-book.
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
William B. Eerdmans industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious and Academic Book Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (51313)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons) (MPAJAHAL)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides) (MPAJAHAC), Religious Children’s Publishing (Faith-Based Kids & YA) (MPAJAHAJ), Sermon, Homiletics & Ministry Resource Publishing (Preaching Aids, Pastoral Resources) (MPAJAHAD)
Keywords
Where William B. Eerdmans is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Grand Rapids
- HQ country
- United States
- HQ region
- North America
Offices1 record
Markets served
William B. Eerdmans business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Hardware or Manufacturing
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D
Revenue model
- Book Sales (Print and E-book): Direct sales through eerdmans.com, as well as distribution through major retail channels including Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org. The company publishes both adult religious/academic titles and children's books under the Eerdmans Books for Young Readers imprint.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Hardcover Academic/Religious Titles |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Children's Picture Books |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | E-book Versions |
Distribution channels5 records
Marketing channels6 records
William B. Eerdmans product offering
Product offeringCore offering
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. is an independent book publisher producing peer-reviewed scholarly and religious titles in theology, biblical studies, religious ethics, and church history, alongside children's religious literature under the Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (EBYR) imprint. The portfolio of 2,872+ titles is sold directly through eerdmans.com and distributed via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and academic e-book platforms such as EBSCO, ProQuest, RedShelf, Perlego, and VitalSource. Long-running scholarly commentary series include Pillar (New Testament) and NICOT (Old Testament), with companion series in law and religion and Latin American children's stories.
Product overview
Eerdmans Publishing Co is a religious and academic book publisher offering a portfolio of theological, biblical, and ethical scholarship. The core publishing business encompasses adult religious titles, academic commentaries, and children's literature through multiple imprints including Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (EBYR) for youth titles, Pillar for theological commentaries, and the New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT) series for scholarly works. The company also distributes e-book versions through major academic platforms including EBSCO, ProQuest, RedShelf, Perlego, and VitalSource, alongside retail channels such as Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Bookshop.org. The publishing house produces both hardcover and paperback physical formats alongside digital editions.
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Brands
- Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (EBYR): Children's and young adult books imprint of Eerdmans Publishing
- Pillar
- NICOT
Products and services
- Eerdmans Publishing (adult religious and academic titles) Core line of adult hardcover and paperback titles in theology, biblical studies, religious ethics, and Christian thought, sold to scholars, clergy, and general readers.
- Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (EBYR) Children's and young adult imprint publishing picture books and illustrated works with themes of faith, diversity, friendship, and nature for families, parents, and educators.
- New International Commentary on the Old Testament (NICOT) Long-running scholarly Old Testament commentary series combining evangelical biblical scholarship with detailed textual analysis, used in seminaries and academic institutions.
- Pillar New Testament Commentary Academic New Testament commentary series intended for scholars, seminary faculty, and advanced students of biblical theology.
- Emory University Studies in Law and Religion (EUSLR) Scholarly book series examining the intersection of law and religion from legal, theological, and philosophical perspectives.
- Consider (CON) children's series Children's book series exploring faith themes through nature and creation, including Consider the Birds, Consider the Lilies, and Consider the Night Sky.
- Stories from Latin America (SLA) Children's book series featuring stories from Latin American authors and illustrators, translated into English for young readers.
- Eerdmans eBooks Digital editions of Eerdmans titles distributed through academic platforms (EBSCO, ProQuest, RedShelf, Perlego, VitalSource) and retail channels, typically priced lower than print editions.
Quantifiable outcome
- INDIES Book of the Year Award Finalist (2023) for 'Chasing the Devil at Foggy Bottom'
- +5 more outcomes
Companies that use William B. Eerdmans
Customer profileSegments4 records
Ideal customer profiles3 records
William B. Eerdmans technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration9 records
Feature1 record
William B. Eerdmans partnerships and signals
Strategic signalScale indicators1 record
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
William B. Eerdmans competitors and assessment
Company assessmentDirect peers
- InterVarsity Press (IVP Academic): IVP and IVP Academic publish evangelical and broadly Christian academic theology, biblical studies, and ministry resources directly overlapping Eerdmans' adult religious and scholarly catalog.
- Baker Academic (Baker Publishing Group): Baker Academic publishes scholarly monographs, commentaries, and reference works in biblical and theological studies, competing head-to-head with Eerdmans' NICOT, Pillar, and adult academic lines.
- Westminster John Knox Press: WJK publishes theological, biblical, and ministry titles from mainline and progressive traditions, addressing the same academic, clergy, and educated lay readership that Eerdmans serves.
- Abingdon Press: A long-standing Methodist-affiliated publisher of theological, biblical, and ministry resources, directly comparable to Eerdmans in serving pastors, seminarians, and church libraries.
- Brazos Press: Brazos Press publishes thoughtful Christian theology, biblical studies, and cultural engagement titles aimed at an intellectually engaged Christian readership similar to Eerdmans' adult general reader.
- Crossway: Crossway publishes ESV Bibles, Christian theology, biblical studies, and Christian living titles, overlapping significantly with Eerdmans' adult religious and academic catalog.
- Eerdmans Books for Young Readers direct competitors (e.g., Flyaway Books): Flyaway Books publishes faith-based and values-driven children's picture books, the closest direct competitor to Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (EBYR) in the religious children's publishing niche.
Broad incumbents
- Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian): Zondervan is a major Christian publisher spanning Bibles, academic, trade, and children's titles as part of HarperCollins; it competes with Eerdmans across most of its catalog at greater scale.
- Oxford University Press: OUP publishes large-scale academic theology and biblical studies programs that compete for the same seminary and divinity school adoptions as Eerdmans' commentary series.
- Cambridge University Press: Cambridge University Press publishes extensive theology, religious studies, and biblical scholarship; it overlaps with Eerdmans' academic and reference titles for institutional library and course adoption.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks5 records
Key highlights6 records
Customer concentration
William B. Eerdmans social profiles
Digital presenceWilliam B. Eerdmans financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
William B. Eerdmans leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
William B. Eerdmans funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
William B. Eerdmans 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 William B. Eerdmans
What does William B. Eerdmans do?
William B. Eerdmans Publishing Co. is an independent book publisher producing peer-reviewed scholarly and religious titles in theology, biblical studies, religious ethics, and church history, alongside children's religious literature under the Eerdmans Books for Young Readers (EBYR) imprint. The portfolio of 2,872+ titles is sold directly through eerdmans.com and distributed via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Bookshop.org, and academic e-book platforms such as EBSCO, ProQuest, RedShelf, Perlego, and VitalSource. Long-running scholarly commentary series include Pillar (New Testament) and NICOT (Old Testament), with companion series in law and religion and Latin American children's stories.
Is William B. Eerdmans a public or private company?
William B. Eerdmans is a private company. It is classified as family owned and is currently operating.
When was William B. Eerdmans founded?
William B. Eerdmans was founded in 1911. It employs 101 to 250 people.
Where is William B. Eerdmans based?
William B. Eerdmans is headquartered in Grand Rapids, United States, in the North America region.
How does William B. Eerdmans make money?
One revenue line is on record: book Sales (Print and E-book).
Who are William B. Eerdmans's main competitors?
Direct peers on record are InterVarsity Press (IVP Academic), Baker Academic (Baker Publishing Group), Westminster John Knox Press, Abingdon Press, Brazos Press, Crossway and Eerdmans Books for Young Readers direct competitors (e.g., Flyaway Books). Broad incumbents are Zondervan (HarperCollins Christian), Oxford University Press and Cambridge University Press.
Does William B. Eerdmans have an API?
No public API is recorded for William B. Eerdmans.
What industry is William B. Eerdmans in?
William B. Eerdmans's product category is Religious and Academic Book Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAHAL, Religious Reference & Study Tools Publishing (Commentaries, Concordances, Lexicons), with a secondary code of MPAJAHAC, Religious Education & Catechetical Publishing (Sunday School, Catechism, Study Guides). Its NAICS code is 51313 and its SIC code is 2731.