Australian Self Publishing Group

What Australian Self Publishing Group does

Australian Self Publishing Group Pty Ltd (ASPG) is a private cooperative self-publishing service provider headquartered in Canberra, ACT, Australia, founded around 2005-2008. The company serves individual authors, entrepreneurs, and niche publishers seeking to bypass traditional publishing gatekeepers, offering end-to-end book production services including cover design, interior layout, ISBN acquisition, print-on-demand arrangement, and promotional support. ASPG differentiates itself from vanity publishers by granting authors 100% copyright ownership and delivering all production files, fonts, and high-resolution assets.

The company's core technology is a services-and-distribution platform rather than a software product; its value is operational curation of a partner network spanning 32,000+ companies, 360 retail channels, and 230,100+ library access points through integrations with Amazon, Google Play, Apple Books, IngramSpark, Booktopia Publisher Services, OverDrive, EBSCO, Hoopla, Follett, and others. ASPG supplements this with international book fair representation (Frankfurt, Beijing, Taipei, London), the Inspiring Author TV multimedia platform, and an own-brand Inspiring Bookshop e-commerce storefront. The company is a member of the Australian Publishers Association and the Independent Book Publishers Association.

Revenue is generated through quote-based publishing and promotion fees paid by authors on a project basis, plus transaction-related print-on-demand arrangements. The company is privately held with 11-50 employees and no disclosed external funding, venture capital backing, or acquisition activity. The customer base is a long tail of individual SMB authors across fiction, non-fiction, children's books, and poetry, with no concentration in any single segment or geography.

Name

Australian Self Publishing Group

Legal name

Australian Self Publishing Group Pty Ltd

Website

https://australianselfpublishinggroup.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2008

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Australian Self Publishing Group is a private cooperative self-publishing services firm in Canberra, Australia, that helps individual authors produce, distribute, and promote books internationally through a partner network spanning 32,000+ companies, 360 retail channels, and 230,100+ libraries.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Self-Publishing Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Self-Publishing Distribution Aggregators (Wide E-book/Audiobook/Print) (MPAJAJAC), Cover Design, Illustration & Book Interior Design Services (MPAJAJAH), Editorial & Production Services (Copyediting, Proofreading, Formatting, Typesetting) (MPAJAJAG), Author Marketing, PR & Launch Services (Ads, Book Tours, Influencers) (MPAJAJAL)

Keywords

• Self publishing services
• Book publishing
• Print on demand
• Book distribution
• Book marketing

Headquarters

HQ city

Canberra

HQ country

Australia

HQ region

Oceania

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Publishing Services Fees: Authors pay for publishing and promotional services including book production, ISBN acquisition, cover design, interior layout, printing arrangements, and marketing support. Authors retain 100% copyright ownership and all high-resolution files.
2. Print-on-Demand Services: Arranges affordable printing through distribution partners including IngramSpark, Createspace, Lulu.com, and Booktopia Publisher Services. Authors can print books at competitive rates through these partnerships.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels10 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

Australian Self Publishing Group is a cooperative self-publishing service provider that assists individual authors in publishing, printing, marketing, and distributing books internationally. Authors retain 100% copyright ownership and gain access to a partner network of more than 32,000 companies and over 232,500 ebook platforms, libraries, and university bookstores worldwide. The company offers quote-based publishing packages, promotional support, international book fair representation, and print-on-demand services through distribution partners such as IngramSpark, Amazon, Google Play, and Booktopia.

Product overview

Australian Self Publishing Group operates as a cooperative self-publishing service that helps authors produce and distribute books internationally. The core offering is self-publishing services with full copyright retention, supported by Publishing & Promotion Packages (including Children's packages), Promotional Videos, the Amazon Best Seller Program, PR Book Promotion, and International Book Fair Representation. Distribution is handled through a vast partner network providing access to over 232,500 ebook platforms, libraries, and bookstores worldwide via Amazon, Google Play, iTunes, OverDrive, and other channels. The company also offers Print-on-Demand services through Ingram Spark, Createspace, and Lulu.com. Services are priced through a Quote Request system.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Self-Publishing Services

Quantifiable outcome

• Authors can access 232,500+ ebook-selling platforms, libraries, and university bookstores worldwide
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers9 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

23 partnerships are on record, tiered core and major.

• Booktopia Publisher ServicescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWholesale distribution partner for Australian and New Zealand market. Established in 2017 as a division of Booktopia. Provides state-of-the-art logistics and warehousing facilities. Access to 4 million+ customers. Ships 28,000+ units per day.
• IngramSparkcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorldwide print-on-demand distribution through Ingram's global network. Access to 565 US and 979 global bookstore and library accounts.
• Amazon (Createspace)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrint-on-demand and ebook distribution through Amazon's Createspace platform for worldwide Amazon distribution.
• OverDrivecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary distribution partner providing access to 19,038 US and 3,805 global library systems through OverDrive's digital lending platform.
• Google Play BookscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal ebook distribution across 50+ countries including US, UK, Australia, Germany, France, Japan, China, India, Brazil, and most European and Asian markets.
• Apple Books / iTunescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal ebook distribution across 50+ countries through Apple Books/iTunes platform.
• FishpondmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralia and New Zealand online retailer distribution partner.
• Lulu.commajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPrint-on-demand distribution partner for worldwide POD services.
• EBSCOcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary distribution partner providing access to 28,548 US and 8,584 global academic and public libraries through EBSCO's platform.
• HooplacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLibrary distribution partner providing access to 5,000 US and Canada public libraries through Hoopla's digital media platform.
• FollettcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorK-12 and University library distribution partner. Access to 70,000 K-12 school libraries and 1,000 university libraries globally.
• ContentoNowmajorGTM or Marketing PartnerPartner company for book promotion in China. Arranged placement of books in 10,000 Chinese libraries. Facilitated retail sales and market testing through chapter translations.
• Beijing Hua Yun-shang De International Culture ExchangemajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerChinese publisher with 10 other publishers attached. Met at Frankfurt Book Fair for potential partnerships.
• Kalem AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerEuropean literary agency based in Turkey. Met at Frankfurt Book Fair for potential book deals.
• Sandra Bruna AgencymajorStrategic or Co-development PartnerSpanish literary agent dealing with Spain, Spanish South America, Portugal, and Argentina markets. Met at Frankfurt Book Fair.
• TrajectorymajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUSA partner company for book distribution and market access in the United States.
• Co-op BookshopscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAustralian university bookstore chain distribution partner for physical book sales.
• 3M Cloud Library SystemscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCloud-based library ebook lending system providing access to 200 US and 10 global library systems.
• WaterstonesmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK bookstore chain - major high street bookseller for physical book distribution.
• BlackwellsmajorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUK bookstore chain for physical book distribution in the UK market.
• Barnes & NoblecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorUS bookstore chain for physical and ebook distribution in the American market.
• Australian Publishers AssociationcoreOthersIndustry association membership providing networking and credibility within the Australian publishing industry.
• Independent Book Publishers AssociationcoreOthersGlobal industry association membership providing networking and credibility within the independent publishing sector.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• AuthorHouse: AuthorHouse is a long-established assisted self-publishing services company (owned by Penguin Random House) offering editing, design, printing, and marketing packages. It is one of the largest global competitors in the same fee-for-service category as ASPG.
• IngramSpark: IngramSpark is Ingram Content Group's self-publishing platform offering print-on-demand and global bookstore distribution to 565+ US and 979+ global accounts. ASPG leverages IngramSpark as a distribution partner, making it both a channel and the dominant alternative authors could use directly.
• Kindle Direct Publishing: Amazon KDP enables free self-publishing of ebooks and paperbacks to Amazon's global marketplace. It is the default competitor for any self-publishing service and the platform ASPG helps authors list on, posing an existential disintermediation threat to ASPG's value proposition.
• BookBaby: BookBaby is one of the largest independent self-publishing services companies in the US, offering editing, design, printing, and distribution packages for authors — a near-perfect functional mirror of ASPG's service-plus-distribution model.
• Draft2Digital: Draft2Digital (which acquired Smashwords) is an ebook and print distribution aggregator enabling authors to publish once and distribute to 150+ stores and libraries. It competes directly with ASPG's distribution aggregator value proposition at potentially lower cost.
• Lulu: Lulu is a self-publishing platform offering print-on-demand, ebook distribution, and author services. ASPG explicitly partners with Lulu.com for POD services, making it both a partner and a direct competitor for authors evaluating self-publishing options.
• Traford Publishing: Traford Publishing is an assisted self-publishing service offering editing, design, ISBN registration, and global distribution packages. It is a direct fee-for-service competitor to ASPG with a comparable service-plus-distribution model for independent authors.

Regional players

• Allen & Unwin: Allen & Unwin is Australia's largest independent trade publisher. While traditional (not self-publishing), it represents the regional incumbent that ASPG positions itself against — helping authors bypass traditional publishers altogether.
• Booktopia: Booktopia is Australia's largest online bookstore with a Publisher Services division that provides wholesale distribution. As ASPG's core Australian distribution partner and largest local bookseller, Booktopia represents both a critical channel and a regional incumbent with overlapping services.

Emerging players

• PublishDrive: PublishDrive is an emerging self-publishing distribution platform offering ebook and audiobook distribution to 400+ stores plus analytics. It targets the same indie author market as ASPG with a more modern software-led approach, representing the next-generation competitor profile.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/australian-self-publishing-group-pty-ltd

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

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 Australian Self Publishing Group