Perfect Bound Distribution
Provided by Simon & Schuster
Perfect Bound now offers global distribution to independent publishers through Simon & Schuster!
Independent publishers of all sizes are encouraged to apply. There are no minimum catalog size or revenue requirements. You can choose to submit your entire catalog or apply on a title-by-title basis—it's entirely up to you.
Distribution Services Offered
As a Perfect Bound publisher who opts in for Simon & Schuster distribution,
you will have access to the following services:
Comprehensive Sales
Warehousing
Customer Service
Fulfillment
Billing and Collection Services
Pricing
Publishers accessing the the full suite of Perfect Bound services are eligible for S&S Distribution.
The Full Suite
Starting at just $10.00 per ISBN/month gets you
access to:
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Title Management
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Printing Marketplace
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Royalty Management
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Rights Marketplace
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Author / Agent Portal
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Sales & Inventory Tracking
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Simon & Schuster Distribution
Suite Subscription Tiers
1 ISBN: $10.00 / month
2-5 ISBNs: $5.00 per ISBN / month
6-25 ISBNs: $2.50 per ISBN / month
26-100 ISBNs: $2.00 per ISBN / month
101-500 ISBNs: $1.50 per ISBN / month
501-5,000 ISBNs: $1.00 per ISBN / month
5,001+ ISBNs: Enterprise (contact for pricing)
Associated Costs for Publishers
There are fees associated with Perfect Bound's distribution services
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Sales and Distribution Service Fee: Starts at 25% of Net Sales* for print books and physical audiobooks.
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eBook / eAudio Service Fee: Starts at 15% of Digital Sales for eBooks.
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Remainder/Hurts Service Fee: Starts at 25% of Gross Sales from remainder/hurt books.
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Inventory Service Fee: $0.02 per unit of inventory per month held by Perfect Bound in Simon & Schuster facilities.
*Net Sales is defined as gross revenue after retailer discount and minus returns.
Ready to Apply?
Application Process
Perfect Bound has begun onboarding distribution clients as of Fall 2024! Perfect Bound Publishers will begin frontlist distribution for the Fall 2025 Season, with a catalog and sales materials deadline of January 1, 2025. Publishers enrolling later will be assigned initial frontlist seasons according to the current sales timeline.
To apply, publishers must provide:
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Corporate name, location, tax number
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Link to your corporate website
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Amazon links for your top 5 titles
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A short description of your company
*Publishers will be vetted for distribution services through a short Zoom interview. We are looking to see that your press is well managed, has an active list, is producing high-quality books, and is capable of meeting Perfect Bound and Simon & Schuster publisher requirements.
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How are returns managed and processed?
Perfect Bound maintains a 25% reserve for returns, held for six months post-sale. The Publisher’s return rules govern disposition, and Perfect Bound processes returns during a six-month grace period following the termination or expiration of the agreement. -
What are the terms and conditions for the renewal of this agreement?
The agreement lasts for one (1) year and automatically renews for successive one-year terms unless either party provides written notice of intent not to renew at least six months prior to the expiration of the current term. Agreements may be made on the individual title or catalog level. -
How does Perfect Bound handle bad debt?
The Publisher is liable for its share of the credit risk for bad debts on open invoices and deductions attributable to the sale of distributed works. Actual bad debt write-offs are dedicated as specified in the Perfect Bound agreement. -
What are the Publisher's obligations regarding product manufacture and delivery?
The Publisher is responsible for delivering copies of the distributed works to Simon & Schuster's warehouse facilities in agreed quantities and dates, ensuring conformity to Simon & Schuster's Vendor Guidelines. -
How does international distribution work?
Your distributed works can be sold anywhere Simon & Schuster has rights. Simon & Schuster works with sales organizations across the world with offices in Canada, UK, Australia, and India. -
What happens upon termination of the agreement?
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Perfect Bound discontinues distribution of the distributed works.
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All unfilled orders are forwarded to the Publisher.
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The Publisher instructs Perfect Bound on the disposition of inventory.
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A final accounting is rendered nine months post-termination, with any remaining reserves for returns and coop claims managed accordingly.