Publish in your format.
Create Kindle eBooks, paperbacks, or hardcovers through one publishing platform.
A clearer path to independent publishing
Your book.
On Amazon.
On your terms.
Explore Amazon KDP with personal guidance for book migration, account setup, and self-publishing. Get help with the steps between your manuscript and your own publishing account.
KDP is free to use. Our optional support helps you make sense of the steps.
THE NEXT CHAPTER IS YOURSIndependent doesn’t have
to mean doing it alone.
to mean doing it alone.
Your own publishing accountVisibility into your salesGuidance when you need it
Why authors explore Amazon KDP
A direct route from your manuscript
to your readers.
Kindle Direct Publishing is Amazon’s self-publishing platform.
You bring the book. You stay involved in the publishing decisions.
See the numbers.
Access KDP reports for your account and understand how your titles are performing.
Manage your next move.
Set your book’s details and list price within KDP’s rules, and make updates as your plans evolve.
There’s no fee to create a KDP account or upload a book. Amazon’s royalty rules and applicable costs still apply. Professional editing, design, and other optional help are separate choices.
Your book, with more clarity
You’ve written the story.
Now understand
your options.
Perhaps your book is already with a publishing company. Perhaps you’re preparing your first manuscript. Either way, knowing how the process works helps you make a more confident decision.
Start with the questions that matter: Who can access the account? How are royalties paid? What will it cost to make a change?
Compare your publishing options ↓Understand your options
Amazon KDP vs. vanity presses
& self-publishing companies.
The important difference is who controls the process—and what you’re paying for.
Compare each arrangement below. On smaller screens, swipe across the table.
| What to consider | Amazon KDP directlyThe self-service platform | Paid self-publishing servicesHelp with selected work | Vanity press modelAuthor-funded publishing |
|---|---|---|---|
| Upfront cost | No KDP account or upload fee. | Pay for agreed services or a package. | An author-funded publishing package; examine charges and add-ons. |
| Account access | You manage your own KDP account. | May use your account or the provider’s. Confirm access. | Often managed through the company. Ask who controls the account. |
| Royalty payments | Amazon pays you under KDP’s royalty terms. | Direct or through the provider, depending on the setup. | Payments and deductions depend on the publishing agreement. |
| Rights & leaving | You must hold publishing rights. Optional KDP Select adds eBook exclusivity. | Check rights, file ownership, and exit terms. | Examine the rights licence, cancellation terms, and file release. |
| Help with the work | You handle preparation, uploads, and decisions; KDP provides help resources. | Pay for specified tasks, guidance, or management. | Services are bundled; verify deliverables and ongoing obligations. |
Look at the agreement, not just the label. Some service providers also use KDP. These terms are used inconsistently, and providers differ. Paying for professional help does not automatically make a service a vanity press. Confirm costs, account access, rights, and exit terms before deciding.
Further reading: Amazon’s KDP overview · Print royalty calculations · ALLi’s guide to publishing models
Where does Royalty Pilots fit?
We offer optional, paid help using your own KDP account. You choose the support you need; we don’t take a share of your royalties.
Before you take the next step
Clear answers.
No guesswork.
You deserve to know what the platform offers and what our assistance involves.
Is Amazon KDP really free?
Yes. There is no KDP account or upload fee. Print production costs are deducted when Amazon calculates print royalties; other costs can apply to optional purchases or services. Our professional assistance is a separate, optional expense.
If KDP is free, what am I paying Royalty Pilots for?
Your fee covers the people, time, and coordination involved in helping your book move to your own Amazon KDP account. Depending on your project, that can include contacting your previous publisher, requesting delisting and available files, preparing your manuscript and cover, organizing book details, and guiding account setup and submission.
We agree on the scope and price before work begins, so you understand what we will handle. You get practical help with the follow-ups and technical steps, while keeping control of your publishing account. Amazon KDP itself is free to use, and Royalty Pilots does not take a share of your royalties.
Can I do it myself?
Absolutely. You can work directly through KDP and use Amazon’s help resources. Royalty Pilots is here if you prefer personal guidance or help with the practical steps.
Do you take a share of my royalties?
No. Royalty Pilots does not take a percentage of your royalties. Amazon calculates and pays KDP royalties under its own terms. Our fee is for the agreed assistance.
Your book. Your next step.
Ready to explore publishing
on your own terms?
Tell us where you are. We’ll help you understand the way forward.