ISBN: What is it and do I need one?

ISBN stands for the International Standard Book Number. It is this set of numbers that is translated into the barcode that you find on every book in a bookstore, for instance.  Using this system of what is now a 13 digit number, we can specifically identify each and every edition of a Book in Print from any other. 

Do you need one?

Yes, if you plan to have your book sold in an online or offline bookstore, or listed in the Books in Print catalog (where it can be ordered by bookstores and libraries from anywhere), or in the Digital Library (allowing it to be printed by any bookstore or publisher who has an Instabook printing capability like we do).

Profits Publishing can order an ISBN for your book if you need one. However, it is very important to understand what that means to you, the author.

IMPORTANT: When a publisher orders an ISBN for a book, it is coded for that particular publisher. If an author then wants to take that book to another publisher for printing, a new ISBN is needed.  A different ISBN number is also needed if the book is changed and a new version is released.

While we highly recommend that you apply for your own ISBN numbers, in order to keep the flexibility to self-publish through whatever avenues you wish, we do indeed agree to provide you with an ISBN number, at our expense. That ISBN number will be coded to recognize Profits Publishing as the publisher of the edition we are printing for you. And that ISBN can only be used on a title being printed by Profits Publishing.

Follow the link on our menu bar to apply for your own ISBN number through Bowkers.