The publishing

What The publishing does

The Publishing is a privately held, Denmark-based self-publishing services company founded in 2020, headquartered in Copenhagen with a regional office in Dubai serving the MENA GCC market. The company provides an end-to-end stack for authors wanting to independently publish in print and digital formats, including manuscript editing, cover design, illustration, print book production, ebook conversion, worldwide distribution, and downstream marketing services such as social media setup, author websites, press releases, and royalty program management. Its core technology is a print-on-demand production engine that enables single-copy book manufacturing with no minimum edition size, paired with an EPUB conversion platform that auto-adapts ebooks to any screen.

The business operates a direct-to-consumer e-commerce model at thepublishing.io, where authors can purchase bundled self-publishing packages (Intermediate €1,900, Advanced €4,000, Expert €16,000) or buy individual services a la carte (editing, design, distribution, marketing, audiobook, video book, book exhibition, data entry) at unit prices ranging from €130 to €14,000. A small subscription element exists through 1-3 year royalty program and social media setup contracts, but the revenue model is predominantly one-time transactional.

The company targets a horizontal customer base: individual self-publishing authors and young student writers as primary segments, with independent publishers as a secondary B2B segment. No enterprise logos, institutional investors, or parent company are disclosed, and the source data indicates a bootstrapped or founder-owned ownership structure. There are no disclosed AI/ML capabilities, no patents or certifications, and no disclosed management team.

Name

The publishing

Legal name

The Publishing

Website

https://thepublishing.io

Company type

Private

Founded year

2020

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

The Publishing is a Denmark-based self-publishing services company offering print-on-demand book production, editing, design, worldwide distribution, and marketing packages to individual authors and small independent publishers globally, with a regional Dubai office for the MENA GCC market.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Self-Publishing Services

NAICS

Book Publishers (51313), Books Printing (323117), All Other Publishers (513199)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Book Printing (2732), Services-Mailing, Reproduction, Commercial Art & Photography (7330)

akta.pro primary industry

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

akta.pro secondary industries

Editorial & Production Services (Copyediting, Proofreading, Formatting, Typesetting) (MPAJAJAG), Cover Design, Illustration & Book Interior Design Services (MPAJAJAH), Author Marketing, PR & Launch Services (Ads, Book Tours, Influencers) (MPAJAJAL), Rights, ISBN & Publishing Administration Services (Identifiers, Metadata, Royalties) (MPAJAJAK)

Keywords

• Self-publishing services
• Book publishing packages
• Print on demand
• Ebook distribution
• Book cover design

Headquarters

HQ city

Hellerup

HQ country

Denmark

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Publishing Packages: All-inclusive self-publishing packages sold as one-time purchases at various tier levels (Basic, Intermediate, Advanced, Expert) ranging from €1,500 to €16,000
2. Individual Services: A la carte services including editing, copyediting, proofreading, data entry, book cover design, illustrations, print book production, ebook distribution, book distribution, social media setup, author website creation, audiobook production, video book creation, and book exhibition services. Each priced individually with one-time fees
3. Royalty Program: Subscription-based royalty management service priced €1,600-2,800 for 1-3 years, providing ongoing royalty program management for authors

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

The Publishing is a self-publishing services company that helps individual authors and small publishers produce, design, edit, and distribute print books, ebooks, audiobooks, and video books globally. It offers tiered all-inclusive publishing packages (Basic from €1,500, Intermediate from €4,000, Advanced/Expert from €16,000) as well as à la carte services such as editing, cover design, illustrations, distribution, marketing, and royalty management. The platform leverages print-on-demand technology to produce books from a single copy without inventory risk and distributes titles through a worldwide online and physical bookstore network.

Product overview

The Publishing is a self-publishing platform offering print and digital book publishing services globally. The core offering consists of Print Book Publishing and Ebook Publishing, supplemented by all-inclusive Self-Publishing Packages (Intermediate, Advanced, Expert tiers). Additional services include Editing Services (book editing, copyediting, proofreading), Content Evaluation, Book Cover Design, Illustrations (with four complexity levels), Book Distribution and Ebook Distribution, Social Media Marketing, Author Website creation, Marketing Services, Audio Book production, Video Book trailers, Book Exhibition participation, Royalty Program management, and Data Entry. Authors can purchase individual services or opt for bundled packages, with the platform handling everything from manuscript preparation through global distribution.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Print Book Publishing Physical book printing and publishing service offering various paper types, cover options (paperback, hardcover with matte, gloss, or digital cloth finishes), and multiple trim sizes for both black-and-white and color printing, designed for authors who want to produce physical books.
• Ebook Publishing Digital book publishing service that converts manuscripts to EPUB format and distributes to a wide variety of online stores, with professional cover design options, for authors targeting digital readers.
• Self-Publishing Packages All-inclusive self-publishing packages available in Intermediate (€1,900), Advanced (€4,000), and Expert (€16,000) tiers, bundling editing, design, ISBN registration, book copies, distribution, marketing, and royalty services for authors wanting a turnkey solution.
• Editing Services Comprehensive editing services including book editing (€0.032 per word), copyediting (€0.013 per word), and proofreading (€0.032 per word) to polish manuscripts for publication.
• Content Evaluation In-house editorial assessment of manuscripts for marketability and readiness for distribution, priced at €0.032 per word, aimed at authors seeking professional feedback before publication.
• Book Cover Design Professional book cover design service with multiple pricing tiers (€250–€1,000) based on complexity, featuring original cover art from professional graphic designers.
• Illustrations Professional book illustration service with four complexity levels (€250–€14,000): Level 1 (flat colors), Level 2 (shadows/highlights), Level 3 (3D effect), and Level 4 (3D render), with 1–20 illustrations available.
• Book Distribution Worldwide online book distribution service to various online retailers and bookstores, priced at €200 per title, for authors wanting to reach a global audience.
• Ebook Distribution Digital ebook distribution to online stores, priced at €130 per title, for authors targeting digital readers worldwide.
• Social Media Marketing Social media account setup and marketing services covering Instagram, Facebook, Twitter, and TikTok, with options for 30-day and 90-day campaigns (€500–€5,500) to help authors build reader communities.
• Author Website Custom author website creation service with Basic or Advance packages (€500–€1,500) to establish author credibility and centralize the author's online presence, book information, and event details.
• Marketing Services Book promotion strategy services including press releases, traditional and new media outreach, reviewer connections, and blogger engagement, for authors seeking broader media visibility.
• Audio Book Audio book production service converting books to audio format for €2,500 per book (up to 10,000 words), expanding reach to visually challenged audiences and commuters.
• Video Book Book video trailer production service showing viewers a glimpse of the book's plot, priced at €2,800 per minute.
• Book Exhibition Book exhibition participation service for events, priced at €1,500–€5,000 per event, for authors seeking physical exposure at book fairs and exhibitions.
• Royalty Program Royalty management program for 1–3 years (€1,600–€2,800) handling royalty collection and distribution for authors.
• Data Entry Data entry service for book content at €6 per page, supporting manuscript preparation and formatting workflows.

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• BookBaby: Self-publishing services company offering editing, design, printing, ebook conversion, and distribution packages for indie authors. Directly comparable service bundle and target customer to The Publishing's tiered packages.
• IngramSpark: Ingram's self-publishing platform providing print-on-demand, global bookstore distribution, and ISBN services. Directly comparable to The Publishing's print and distribution offerings for independent authors and small publishers.
• Reedsy: Marketplace connecting self-publishing authors with vetted editors, designers, and marketers, plus a free publishing tool. Highly comparable as a one-stop concierge-style solution for indie authors competing for the same service-driven workflow.
• Lulu: Self-publishing platform offering print-on-demand, ebook distribution, and editorial/design services with global retail distribution. Closely aligned with The Publishing's end-to-end service model and target author customer.
• Draft2Digital: Ebook aggregator and distribution platform that distributes self-published titles to major retailers and library platforms. Overlaps with The Publishing's ebook distribution service and global distribution value proposition.
• Smashwords: Ebook publishing and distribution platform serving indie authors with retail and library distribution. Comparable to The Publishing's ebook publishing and distribution services.
• Amazon Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP): Amazon's free self-publishing platform for print and ebook, offering global distribution through Amazon's storefront. The single most dominant competitor in the same product category, serving the same indie author base as The Publishing.
• Blurb: Self-publishing platform specializing in print-on-demand books, including photo books, trade books, and magazines, with global distribution. Overlaps with The Publishing's print book and distribution capabilities.

Broad incumbents

• Penguin Random House: One of the world's largest traditional trade publishers offering full publishing, design, distribution, and marketing services. Represents the traditional publishing incumbent whose rejection of manuscripts drives many authors toward self-publishing platforms like The Publishing.

Others

• Bowker (ISBN services): Official ISBN agency and bibliographic services provider. The Publishing bundles ISBN registration and royalty administration into its packages, making Bowker a relevant ecosystem participant and adjacent service.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights5 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/thepublishingaps
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/the-publishing

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 The publishing