Small Press
A new press with sales under $500K needs two types of software;
1) Accounting Software
A business is required to maintain records of all revenues and expenses. Accounting software does this. There are several low cost options available for publishers - QuickBooks, Microsoft Accounting and Peachtree are some of the options available. Each of these solutions is suitable for a book publisher with sales of $0 to $1 million dollars.
We recommend QuickBooks for small presses based in the United States. Why? First, it has an 85%+ marketshare. Second, it has the largest selection of how-to books on Amazon. Third, its simple to use and fourth, most accountants are familiar with it or recommend it to their smaller company clients. QuickBooks offers optional modules & services for payroll, integrated credit card processing and an ecommerce store. QuickBooks Premier supports backorders.
Peachtree offers a more powerful general ledger than Quick Books; however, their market share is quite small when compared to Quick Books and fewer CPA’s are familiar with this software.
2. Publishing Software
Publishing software does what many software packages can’t do. It will track sales (and backorders), calculate royalties and track title information. Once your sales exceed $300,000 or ten titles you really need this type of software.
There are four book publishing software solutions that we recommend to small book publishers. Publishers can download free trial versions of each program from their websites.
1. AnyBook Book Publishing Software
AnyBook is a lowcost shareware solution used by over 300 publishers priced at about $90 for the single user Professional Series Level 1 edition to $750 for the Networked enabled Professional Series Level VI edition.
The Professional Series is the result of years of research and development and is made up of the premier versions of AnyBook. This is state of the art business software, The Professional Series consists of six editions: Level I, II, III, IV, V and VI. Each higher level provides more options and a larger range of features. Professional Series programs are designed specifically for newer operating systems. All new development and enhancements occur with the Professional Series.
All AnyBook versions are compatible. You can move from Level I to Level II, or Level II to Level III. The program will automatically convert data files to the new version. AnyBook’s built in compatibility provides you with the assurance that as your company grows, AnyBook can grow with you. You can upgrade from one version to another and not lose valuable customer data that you’ve built up over the years.”
What can AnyBook do?
Here is a sample of some features included in its Professional Level V edition
1. To begin with, it is completely barcode compatible. You can scan books directly into an invoice without doing any typing. Barcodes can be added to invoices, giving them a sharp, professional look. When you need to locate an invoice for payment processing or for other purposes, it’s just a matter of scanning the barcode and AnyBook displays the invoice.
2. A new multi-package feature enables you to print packing slips for orders that require more than one package. It will also keep track of weights, shipping charges and tracking numbers for each package. Level V has a feature which will do one final check of package contents before sending out a shipment.
3. AnyBook can work side-by-side with e-commerce software. In particular, shopping cart data can be moved into the program.
4. The program comes with Real Time inventory processing providing up-to-the-second information on inventory.
5. Level V has new royalty features including the ability to produce HTML reports which you can attach to an email. It will also move royalty data into Excel or other spreadsheet program.
6. It includes a full-featured proforma invoicing system which, like the built-in purchase order system, is nearly as large as the core program.
7. Topping off an already impressive list is a separate and independent program called the Rover Module which comes with the networked version of AnyBook. Versatile and portable, it can be used for sales which are generated from off-site locations (i.e. conferences), or it can also be used to divide a business into separate divisions or maintain separate accounts.
2. Dashbook Book Publishing Software
Dashbook is an affordable solution; priced at $249 per user, that handles sales, royalties, and inventory management.
Easy Royalties is an affordable royalty software solution for small publishers. It is designed to handle complex royalty contracts and can be expanded to handle subsidiary rights sales (i.e. translation rights) with an optional module. What sets it apart from other solutions is the ease with which it can import authors, titles, and sales. Prices range from $500 (for 50 titles) to $10,000 for an unlimited number of titles.
4. Publisher’s Assistant Book Publihsing Software
A powerful low cost solution used by almost 200 small book publishers. Prices range from $500 for a single user version to $2500 dollars for a multi-user version.
“Publishers’ Assistant is business management software that was designed specifically for the publishing industry. That means that you’ll be dealing with software and people who understand the business of publishing. We’ve been offering solutions to publishers since 1989. If you have a question about how to handle a business situation, help — real help — is just a phone call away.
While you enter your invoices, Publishers’ Assistant takes care of logging any and all liabilities that are associated with that sale — including royalty fees, consignment costs, and commissions. Royalty and consignment contracts can get complicated. PubAssist handles them, and you’ll know what you owe your authors and suppliers at any time.
Paying your authors, suppliers, and sales representatives is as simple as running a report. If you have several liability accounts, the Lyric and Epic editions of PubAssist can automatically pay off all your accounts with a single transaction! You can spend your time dealing with exceptions — rather than the grind of entering each and every payment.
When you are dealing with major book distributors and retailers, life can get complicated in a hurry. For example, distributors frequently demand 120 days to pay, yet take credit for returns immediately, and sometimes withhold funds as a further hedge against returns. PubAssist gives you the tools to stay in control!You’ll know how much inventory your distributor or retailer has, as well as exactly what they owe you at all times.
With the additional new capabilities of Couplet you’ll be able to manage your title data in one place. That means that you can eliminate the duplicate efforts needed to keep your web site and your trading partners (Amazon, Barnes & Nobles, Borders, Ingram, Baker & Taylor) up to date.
Publishers’ Assistant will also help you to stay on top of your marketing efforts. You’ll know who your reviewers are. You can track which books you’ve sent them and when. You’ll be able to track which marketing efforts are paying off the most.
With features like an open-ended reporting environment, support for the ONIX International Standard, a date-sensitive inventory system, industry-specific liability accounting, and interfaces to popular tools like Quickbooks and UPS Online WorldShip, Publishers’ Assistant provides you with a complete arsenal to meet the challenges of today’s publishing industry.”
