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Section 2.<br />
SELF-PUBLISHING SERVICES<br />
4.2.1. Analysis<br />
Self-publishing service is an online service that allows indie authors to publish their own<br />
books either on hardcopy and or ebook format to be sold through their own stores and other<br />
distribution channels. As mentioned in chapter two, there are two kinds of software for authors to<br />
distribute their ebooks: the device developer’s store software and the agent software.<br />
All developer’s stores such as Kindle and iBookstore are US based, so for non-US residents<br />
to submit to the stores directly requires them to obtain a US Tax ID such as an EIN from IRS and<br />
waiting for 2 weeks to get it registered inside the database. After which, the author is required to fill<br />
up the W-8BEN form to declare that he is an alien and not residing in US to have the 30% withheld<br />
tax released if he is from a country with tax treaty with US. Unfortunately, Singapore has a limited<br />
tax treaty with US so the withheld tax will not be returned even when the W-8BEN form is<br />
submitted.<br />
The advantage of using an agent is that they are generally friendlier with non-US authors by<br />
offering payment via Paypal instead of a check, which may get lost in the mail and subjected to<br />
processing fees by the local bank. Agents usually have deals with more than one distribution channel<br />
in the case of eBooks, so authors do not have to submit to each store by themselves and could<br />
compile all earnings into one place. Of course, agents take a cut of the profits so it may be more<br />
worthwhile to sell direct to the developer’s stores if the author is expecting a large amount of sales<br />
generating from there. Agents usually have their own conversion tool so the author can submit a<br />
Word doc or PDF file and have the book converted for distribution on multiple devices.<br />
Due to the enormity of the market for eBooks, many old and new agents had been trying to<br />
improve their services, such as offering new conversion formats, new distribution channels or even<br />
offer paid services to edit your work and design your cover. Due to such complexities, a detailed<br />
analysis will have to be conducted to decide the best self-publishing service/s for Evacomics to use<br />
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