Starting Your Own Publishing Company: A How-To Guide
Discover how to start your own publishing company, manage authors, and create a business that supports your publishing goals.
When to be you, when to be your company
Published on June 15, 2026 by Randall Wood
An LLC only protects you if you treat it as a separate entity. Knowing when to sign as yourself versus your company, what goes through the business account versus your personal account, and where your royalties land determines whether that protection holds up when it matters.
Full Guide: When to be you, when to be your company
Wills, Trusts, and Probate
Published on June 15, 2026 by Randall Wood
Theodor Geisel made $19 million for his estate in 2019 — nearly 30 years after his death. Michael Jackson made $60 million. The answer is copyright. This guide covers how to make sure your heirs benefit from yours, not the courts and attorneys.
Full Guide: Wills, Trusts, and Probate
Lawsuits
Published on June 15, 2026 by Randall Wood
They happen. Whether you're on the giving or receiving end, it helps to know how lawsuits actually work — the protocol for being served, why ignoring a complaint guarantees you lose, the new AI-era lawsuit categories every author should know, and how to protect your own copyright when someone steals your work.
Full Guide: Lawsuits
Beneficial Ownership Information
Published on June 15, 2026 by Randall Wood
BOI reporting rules changed dramatically in 2025. This guide explains what Beneficial Ownership Information reporting originally required, how FinCEN’s March 26, 2025 interim final rule exempted domestic US companies, and what that means for indie authors operating US-formed publishing LLCs.
Full Guide: Beneficial Ownership Information
Insurance Concerns for Indie Authors
Published on June 15, 2026 by Randall Wood
An LLC can protect personal assets, but it does not pay legal bills, replace lost equipment, cover cyberattacks, or protect against business interruption. This guide explains the types of insurance indie authors should consider, including general liability, professional liability, media liability, cyber liability, property coverage, workers’ compensation, and business interruption insurance.
Full Guide: Insurance Concerns for Indie Authors
Paying yourself through your LLC
Published on June 15, 2026 by Randall Wood
Authors with an LLC taxed as an S-Corp must pay themselves differently than authors operating under default LLC taxation. This guide explains reasonable salary, owner distributions, payroll taxes, estimated taxes, corporate veil protection, and when an S-Corp election may make financial sense for a growing publishing business.
Full Guide: Paying yourself through your LLC
Employees vs. Independent Contractors
Published on June 15, 2026 by Randall Wood
Hiring help is part of growing an author business, but the IRS cares whether that person is an employee or an independent contractor. This guide explains how indie authors should think about worker classification, contractor payments, 1099-NEC forms, W-9s, payroll obligations, and misclassification risks.
Full Guide: Employees vs. Independent Contractors
Bookkeeping for Your Publishing LLC
Published on June 15, 2026 by Randall Wood
Bookkeeping is what turns an indie author LLC from a pile of royalty deposits and expenses into a real business record. This guide explains how authors can track income, categorize expenses, set up a Chart of Accounts, run monthly bookkeeping, read a profit and loss statement, and use ScribeCount alongside bookkeeping software.
Full Guide: Bookkeeping for Your Publishing LLC
Film, TV, and Streaming Rights: When Hollywood Calls
Published on June 15, 2026 by Randall Wood
It happens more than most authors expect — a producer finds your book, a streaming executive reads it on a flight, someone wants to adapt it. This guide covers the business mechanics: option agreements, purchase prices, who signs for your LLC, which rights to grant, and the professional help you need before signing anything.
Full Guide: Film, TV, and Streaming Rights: When Hollywood CallsReady to Take Control of Your Author Career?
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