Do I need an ISBN?

At first glance, it may be tempting to cut the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) from your budget. One ISBN can set you back £89.00, and it’s not needed for any up front sales, direct website sales, or distribution to crowdfunding backers.

However if you want to sell your book in bookshops, Amazon, or other online distributors, libraries, or comic book stores, you’re going to need an ISBN. A unique number is required for every version of your printed material, whether hardcover, softcover, or an updated edition.

Please note that the original buyer is always the owner, meaning a resold ISBN will never be published under your name.

At the end of the day, it all depends on your plans. But if you think you’d like to distribute your product through online stores or in bookshops and newsagents, an ISBN is definitely worth the investment.

Please note, we do not sell ISBNs.

Once you’ve secured an ISBN, you’ll need to create a barcode for it. You can generate a free barcode online.

The barcode can go anywhere on your book, so remember to include it in your cover artwork when you submit your print files. Please ensure that your barcode image is 300dpi so that it will be clear enough to scan.