An Indie Author's Guide to Raab & Co. Vs. Bookbaby
If you are a business owner, indie author, or marketing agency—and you’ve found yourself here—you're probably trying to decide which self-publishing company is the best one for your needs. We know there's a ton of choices out there and sifting through the noise can be overwhelming. It’s our goal at Raab & Co. to clarify the noise so you can enjoy the publishing journey you deserve.
This will be the first of a multi-article series where we'll do our best to make side-by-side comparisons with other top self publishing companies.
This comparison looks at Raab & Co. vs. Bookbaby.
Sure, we've got a slight bias, but so do the people our teammates have worked with—big names like Oprah, Garth Brooks, Al Gore, and many others. Let's walk through some of the key details about each company's offerings so that you can decide if our A-list service or a mass-market mill is the way to go for your next project.
What is Bookbaby?
Bookbaby is a mass-market self publishing company that boasts a long list of author services. Some might say too long a list! If you go to their homepage, you'll get an onslaught of information that even baffles us as self-publishing experts. They certainly have a huge organization, a global distribution network, and many offerings but they also claim to offer personalized attention. You simply can’t have both—their “personalized attention” involves mostly selecting from pres-set menus of options and templates. That’s not the type of self-publishing company your book deserves.
A new feature they talk about is the Bookbaby bookshop. They'll tell you that they don't take a commission and you get more royalties. But here's where we raise an eyebrow: Bookbaby states that you keep 100% of your net ebook sales. Net? Well, the word "net" indicates there are a bunch of fees involved that are taken out of your sales. Authors always take home 100% net sales because net sales are identical to takehome pay.
If you want to work with a comapny that you have to be worried about the fine print, Bookbaby is for you... The last thing you need as a first-time author is to get put through the wringer at a self publishing company that's simply way too big to provide you with meaningful service. You get what you pay for with a publishing company that believes in plug-and-play.
What is Raab & Co?
Raab & Co. is a boutique self publishing company with enterprise-level capabilities. You'll benefit from personalized attention with global potential. Our founder, Josh Raab, worked at one of the largest publishing houses in the United States (Random House) and knows what it takes to produce a quality product. As such, he went on to create a small literary press that ran successfully for five years and he has been responsible for several Amazon KDP bestsellers and one New York Times bestseller.
Why is all that experience important? Because it makes Raab & Co. a publishing company that puts world-class quality right in your pocket.
When you work with us, it will feel like you've got your very own book publishing company working for you, because, actually, that is how our collaborative process works.
When you call Raab & Co., you won't be met with a customer service rep that's too busy entering your information into a CRM. Your publishing specialist will be right there with you to listen, brainstorm, and dream.
There's no mystery or bullying with our self publishing process. We can't say the same for the other places.
Big Publishing Company Benefits. Personalized Service
Raab & Co. vs. Bookbaby? I think you can tell which way we lean. If you have some quick side projects you want to see in print for fun, Bookbaby is the way to go. But if you’re serious about your story and your potential as a storyteller and a thought leader, you can trust us to deliver.
All your self publishing needs are met right here under one roof. We handle everything including ghostwriting, proofreading, editing, book cover design, book formatting, print books, print on demand, ebooks, hardcovers, softcovers, book distribution, and more. We'll work hard to identify your goals and make sure you're set for platforms like Apple Books, Kindle Direct Publishing, Kobo, and countless other digital or brick-and-mortar book retailers.
So what's your pick— Raab & Co. vs. Bookbaby? If you’re still unsure, book a 45-minute jam session with our founder and we’ll see what’s possible together.
Your business, speaking career, book signing events, and stories are worth it. That's why Raab & Co. exists. Book your call here and let us show you the difference.
