Francke Buch
- Company typePrivate
- Founded1918
- HeadquartersMarburg, Germany
- Headcount11–50
- GTM typeB2C
- OfferingServices
What Francke Buch does
Francke-Buch GmbH is a German Christian publishing house and bookstore operator headquartered in Marburg, Germany. Founded in 1918 and named after the 17th/18th-century evangelical theologian August Hermann Francke, the company offers a catalogue of over 500 titles spanning novels, biographies, gift books, devotionals, theology, self-help guides, and children's/youth literature, all centred on Christian themes. Products are distributed in physical book, e-book, audiobook (Hörbücher), and calendar formats. The company and its 16 wholly-owned bookstores belong to the Deutscher Gemeinschafts-Diakonieverband (DGD), a German nonprofit foundation, making Francke-Buch a mission-driven, faith-aligned publisher rather than a commercially-driven entity.
The business operates through a multi-channel distribution model: direct-to-consumer e-commerce at francke-buch.de, 16 physical bookstore locations across Germany (including Dresden, Marburg, Mannheim, and others), regional sales representatives covering all German federal states, and international distribution partnerships with CBZ Christliche Bücherzentrale in Austria and Fontis AG in Switzerland. Pricing follows standard book retail conventions with one-time per-title purchase (€9.95–€17.95 typical range), free shipping in Germany over €25, and standard payment methods (PayPal, SEPA direct debit, invoice). Marketing combines monthly email newsletters, Instagram/Facebook/YouTube presence, seasonal catalogues, and a media partnership with ERF Medien for audiobook radio broadcasts.
Technology infrastructure is modest and commodity-based: a third-party warehouse management system (KIS), PayPal and SEPA payment processing, the rapidmail newsletter platform, Google Analytics 4 with Klaro! consent management, and GDPR/TDDDG-compliant data handling. No proprietary AI/ML capabilities, app, or API platform are disclosed. The company has 11–50 employees and is led by Managing Director Dr. Klaus Meiß, with Anne-Ruth Meiß as Publishing Director; the broader team includes editorial (Lektorat), production (Herstellung), graphics, sales/distribution, and marketing/press functions.
Francke Buch firmographics
Firmographics- Name
- Francke Buch
- Legal name
- Francke-Buch GmbH
- Website
- https://francke-buch.de
- Company type
- Private
- Founded year
- 1918
- Operating status
- Operating
- Headcount range
- 11–50 employees
- Ownership category
- akta.pro rank
Francke Buch industry classification
Industry- Product category
- Religious Publishing
- NAICS
- Book Publishers (513130), Book Retailers and News Dealers (4592)
- SIC
- Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)
- akta.pro primary industry
- General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction) (MPAJAAAA)
- akta.pro secondary industries
- Religious & Spiritual Books Retail (CRALAAAE), Religious Children’s Publishing (Faith-Based Kids & YA) (MPAJAHAJ), Genre & Category Publishing (Romance, Mystery/Thriller, Sci‑Fi/Fantasy, etc.) (MPAJAAAB)
Keywords
Where Francke Buch is headquartered
LocationHeadquarters
- HQ city
- Marburg
- HQ country
- Germany
- HQ region
- Europe
Offices1 record
Markets served
Francke Buch business model
Business model- GTM type
- B2C
- Offering type
- Services
- Cost components
- Personnel, Operations, Supply Chain, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Infrastructure
Revenue model
- Book Sales (Physical): Sale of physical books including novels, biographies, children's books, gift books, theology books, and guidebooks. Physical books are sold through e-commerce and 16 physical bookstores.
- e-Books and Digital Content: Digital versions of books sold as downloads. No shipping costs for digital products.
- Audiobooks (Hörbücher): Sale of audiobooks in categories including fiction, biographies, non-fiction, and children's books.
- Calendars: Sale of pocket calendars, wall calendars, and standing calendars.
Pricing tiers
| Model | Billing | Price |
|---|---|---|
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Free shipping threshold |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | International shipping rates |
| Other | Pay-as-you-go | Digital products |
| One time/ perpetual license | Pay-as-you-go | Standard book pricing |
Go-to-market motion1 record
Distribution channels4 records
Marketing channels6 records
Francke Buch product offering
Product offeringCore offering
Francke-Buch GmbH is a German Christian publishing house that publishes and sells more than 500 titles of novels, biographies, gift books, devotionals, theology, guides, and children's/youth literature. Products are sold in physical book, e-book, and audiobook formats, plus calendars, through an online shop and 16 physical bookstores across Germany.
Product overview
Francke-Buch GmbH operates as a Christian publishing house and bookstore chain offering a portfolio of physical printed books, e-books, audiobooks, and calendars. The company's core offering comprises over 500 book titles spanning novels, biographies, devotionals, theological works, self-help guides, gift books, and children's/youth literature, all centered on Christian themes and values. Products are distributed through 16 physical bookstore locations across Germany and an integrated online e-commerce platform. The company traces its origins to 1918 and is named after August Hermann Francke (1663-1727), with its publishing house and bookstores belonging to the Deutsche Gemeinschafts-Diakonieverband (DGD).
Differentiator
Problem solved
Functional benefit
Products and services
- Physical Books (Bücher) Physical printed Christian books across categories including novels (Romane), Faithful New Adult, biographies, The Five Languages of Love, gift books, devotionals, spiritual life, theology, non-fiction, guides, youth books, children's books, seasonal Christmas titles, and bargain titles. Available from a catalog of more than 500 titles.
- e-Books Digital Christian book editions offered across most categories including novels, biographies, devotionals, theology, self-help, and children's books. Delivered as downloads via email link with no shipping costs.
- Audiobooks (Hörbücher) Christian audiobook products in categories including fiction/belletristik, biography, non-fiction/sachbuch, and children's books. Distributed as CDs or as download products.
- Calendars (Kalender) Calendar products including pocket calendars (Taschenkalender), wall calendars (Wandkalender), and standing/display calendars (Aufstellkalender).
- Francke-Buch Bookstore Chain (Francke-Buchhandlungen) Retail chain of 16 physical Christian bookstores across Germany, operating under the ALPHA Buchhandlung and Francke-Buchhandlung brands. Locations include Dresden, Auerbach, Chemnitz, Marburg, Frankenberg, Gießen, Elbingerode/Harz, Velbert, Siegen, Mannheim, Holzgerlingen, Bad Liebenzell, Lörrach, Puschendorf, Lauf, and Gunzenhausen.
- Francke-Buch Online Shop E-commerce platform for purchasing books, e-books, audiobooks, and calendars, with customer accounts, order tracking, multiple payment methods (PayPal, SEPA direct debit, invoice), and digital content download delivery.
Companies that use Francke Buch
Customer profileSegments2 records
Ideal customer profiles2 records
Francke Buch technology and API
TechnologyTechnology focussed No
API detail
- Has API
- No
- API docs
- API detail
Core technology
AI maturity
App detail
Integration5 records
Francke Buch partnerships and signals
Strategic signalPartnerships
Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and moderate.
- DGD (Deutscher Gemeinschafts-Diakonieverband)coreFrancke-Buch GmbH and its 16 bookstores belong to the DGD (German Community Diaconal Association). The publishing company is an integral part of this larger Christian organization.
- CBZ Christliche BücherzentralecoreDistribution partner for Austria. Contact: Stefan Schmadlak, Dr. Schauer-Straße 26, A-4600 Wels. Phone: 0043 (7242) 65745.
- Fontis AGcoreDistribution partner for Switzerland. Contact: Steinentorstraße 23, CH-4010 Basel. Phone: (061) 2956001.
- ERF MedienmoderateChristian media partner that broadcasts Francke-Buch audiobook readings on 'ERF Lesezeichen' radio program. Featured Maya Knodel's FNA novel 'Unless you try' in 4 episodes.
Scale indicators3 records
Recent moves6 records
Expansion highlights5 records
Francke Buch competitors and assessment
Company assessmentEmerging players
- Crossway: US-based evangelical publisher (English titles incl. ESV Bible) demonstrating international Christian publishing scale; relevant comparable for catalog strategy and multi-format expansion trajectory, although geographically and linguistically distinct.
Direct peers
- Brunnen Verlag: Giessen-based German Christian publisher offering fiction, devotionals and Christian living titles through retail and distribution networks, making it the closest German-market analogue to Francke-Buch.
- Gerth Medien: German Christian publisher and music/media producer with overlapping fiction, audiobook and devotional offerings and similar retailer-driven go-to-market in Germany.
- St. Benno-Verlag: Catholic-focused German publisher based in Leipzig/Dresden area; competes for shelf space and shelf-share in the German Christian bookstore channel alongside Francke-Buch.
- SCM Verlagsgruppe: One of Germany's largest Christian publishing groups (including Gerth Medien and Hänssler) operating book, music and media programs across evangelical audiences, directly overlapping Francke-Buch's fiction, music and audiobook catalog.
- Calwer Verlag: Evangelical German publisher with theological, educational and devotional titles serving Protestant audiences, with a similar faith-based positioning to Francke-Buch's theology and devotional range.
- Gütersloher Verlagshaus: German religious publisher offering theology, spirituality and church-oriented nonfiction, overlapping Francke-Buch's theology and geistliches Leben categories.
- Fontis AG: Swiss-based Christian publishing partner that already distributes Francke-Buch titles in Switzerland; directly comparable evangelical publisher-bookseller with German-language Christian fiction and children's titles.
- CBZ Christliche Bücherzentrale: Austrian Christian book wholesaler and distribution partner that distributes Francke-Buch titles in Austria, comparable as a Germany/Austria Christian book distribution channel peer.
Broad incumbents
- Herder Verlag: Large German publishing house with significant Catholic theology and Christian living programs; broader portfolio but directly overlaps Francke-Buch in theology and Christian nonfiction.
Market position
Strengths5 records
Weaknesses5 records
Competitive moat4 records
Key risks6 records
Key highlights7 records
Customer concentration
Francke Buch social profiles
Digital presenceFrancke Buch compliance and trust
Trust signalCompliance4 records
Francke Buch financial estimates
Financial estimateRevenue estimate
Valuation estimate
Francke Buch leadership team
Management profileNumber of profiles
Profiles11 records
Francke Buch subsidiaries and ownership
Company hierarchySubsidiaries1 record
Francke Buch funding detail
Funding detailFunding overview
Funding rounds
Investors
Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →
Francke Buch 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 Francke Buch
What does Francke Buch do?
Francke-Buch GmbH is a German Christian publishing house that publishes and sells more than 500 titles of novels, biographies, gift books, devotionals, theology, guides, and children's/youth literature. Products are sold in physical book, e-book, and audiobook formats, plus calendars, through an online shop and 16 physical bookstores across Germany.
Is Francke Buch a public or private company?
Francke Buch is a private company. It is classified as nonprofit foundation owned and is currently operating.
When was Francke Buch founded?
Francke Buch was founded in 1918. It employs 11 to 50 people.
Where is Francke Buch based?
Francke Buch is headquartered in Marburg, Germany, in the Europe region.
How does Francke Buch make money?
Four revenue lines are on record. Book Sales (Physical) is the primary driver. The others are e-Books and Digital Content, audiobooks (Hörbücher) and calendars.
Who are Francke Buch's main competitors?
Crossway is listed as an emerging player. Direct peers are Brunnen Verlag, Gerth Medien, St. Benno-Verlag, SCM Verlagsgruppe, Calwer Verlag, Gütersloher Verlagshaus, Fontis AG and CBZ Christliche Bücherzentrale. Herder Verlag is listed as a broad incumbent.
Does Francke Buch have an API?
No public API is recorded for Francke Buch.
What industry is Francke Buch in?
Francke Buch's product category is Religious Publishing. Its primary akta.pro industry code is MPAJAAAA, General Trade Publishing (Adult Fiction & Nonfiction), with a secondary code of CRALAAAE, Religious & Spiritual Books Retail. Its NAICS code is 513130 and its SIC code is 2731.