Why do Indie Authors Publish to Both IngramSpark and KDP?

In the golden age of self-publishing, authors have the tools to launch their books into orbit without the distributing infrastructure of a traditional publisher behind them. To truly maximize visibility and sales, most indie authors use both KDP (Kindle Direct Publishing) and IngramSpark—two very different ecosystems with complementary strengths. Here’s exactly why this dual-distribution approach matters—and how to do it effectively.

KDP: The Amazon Juggernaut

Amazon accounts for roughly 50–70% of all US book sales, making KDP an unavoidable powerhouse.

Strengths of KDP:

✅ Automatic Amazon listing: Your paperback and Kindle editions are immediately available in the world’s largest bookstore.

✅ Fast updates: You can upload revised interiors or covers and see changes live within 72 hours.

✅ No setup fees: You pay nothing upfront to create your book.

✅ Attractive royalties:

• eBooks: 70% royalty (minus delivery fees) if priced between $2.99–$9.99.
• Paperbacks: ~60% of list price minus printing cost. (Your book must be priced over $9.99 or you recieve a 50% rate).

✅ Print-on-demand: No inventory risk. Each copy is printed when ordered.

Limitations:

❌ Bookstores dislike Amazon: Many independent retailers refuse to stock Amazon-sourced books.

❌ Limited discounting and no returns: You can’t make your KDP paperback returnable, and the default discount is too low for most retailers.

❌ Less professional perception: Listing your book only on Amazon can feel “less legitimate” in the eyes of some librarians and booksellers.

IngramSpark: The Gateway to Bookstores & Libraries

IngramSpark is the indie author portal of Ingram Content Group, the world’s largest book distributor. If KDP is the colony on Mars, IngramSpark is your base on Phobos—essential for expanding your reach.

Strengths of IngramSpark:

✅ Global distribution to:

• Indie bookstores
• Barnes & Noble
• Libraries and academic institutions
• Non-Amazon online retailers

✅ Customizable discount & returnability:

• You can set a wholesale discount (usually 40–55%).
• You can mark your book as returnable, which increases the odds bookstores will take a chance on stocking it.

✅ Higher quality print options:

• Hardcovers with dust jackets
• Premium color interiors
• Different trim sizes and papers

Limitations:

❌ Setup fees:

• $49 per print title (unless you use promo codes).
• $25 per ebook (though many authors skip IngramSpark for ebooks).

❌ Fees for file updates:

• $25 each time you upload a revised interior or cover.

❌ Slower processing:

Updates and distribution changes can take several days or weeks.

Recommended Wholesale Discount & Return Settings

If you’re targeting bookstores:

• Discount: 53–55% (the industry standard)

Anything less than 40% is usually ignored by retailers.

• Returnability: Yes—Returnable (Deliver to Publisher/Destroy)
• Return to publisher means you pay shipping costs for returned copies.
• Destroy means the book is pulped, and you are charged the wholesale cost but not the return shipping.
• Most authors choose Returnable—Destroy to avoid surprise freight bills.

If you are not actively courting bookstores and just want IngramSpark for library/catalog distribution:

• Discount: 35–40%
• Returnability: No

Why Use Both Platforms?

Combining KDP and IngramSpark is the best of both worlds:

✅ Amazon sales at optimal royalty rates (KDP): Avoid paying Ingram’s extra printing fee for Amazon orders.

✅ Bookstores, libraries, and non-Amazon retailers (IngramSpark): Your book is discoverable everywhere else.

✅ Professional perception: Your ISBN and distribution look indistinguishable from a traditionally published title.

This dual-distribution strategy is known as “publishing wide” within the indie author community.

In the ever-expanding universe of indie publishing, no single platform can carry your book to every corner of the marketplace. KDP is your rocket—powerful, streamlined, and perfectly engineered for the gravitational pull of Amazon’s global storefront. IngramSpark is your orbital station—quietly extending your reach into bookstores, libraries, and institutions that Amazon alone can’t touch.

By embracing both, you claim the widest possible territory for your work—optimizing royalties on Amazon while achieving the credibility and discoverability that only Ingram’s vast distribution network can provide. Yes, it takes more planning. Yes, it costs a little more. But in the golden age of self-publishing, combining these platforms is the most reliable path to professional presentation, robust sales, and a book that feels every bit as legitimate as any released by a traditional press.

Plant your flag on both worlds. Your readers—and your future royalties—will thank you.