Top 10 Book Publishers

The global book publishing ecosystem consists of a few major players, and each with a different way of managing royalties, indexing, processing fees and rights. The following is a brief summary of the top ten book publishers in the world:

Pearson Education:

A British owned education publishing and assessment services company that provides educational materials and services. They usually pay authors royalties of 10%-15% on net sales. The publisher ensures books are indexed in Google Scholar and often in Scopus or Web of Science for academic works, with costs generally borne by the publisher. Authors typically give Pearson exclusive distribution and reproduction rights of their work. Pearson primarily operates on a paywalled model, with limited open-access options for educational content.

Penguin Random House:

This publishing company operates worldwide and was formed by the merger of the Penguin Group and Random House. Penguin Random House, one of the world’s largest publishers, offers royalties between 10% to 15% on hardcover books, making it an attractive choice for authors. However, paperback rates are lower at 7.5%. Books published by them are indexed in Google Scholar, while inclusion in Scopus and Web of Science depends on academic content relevance. Authors normally grant exclusive rights to publish, while holding back some subsidiary rights. The publisher operates under a paywalled model, offering limited open-access opportunities.

Hachette Livre:

A French publishing corporation, Hachette Livres is made up of many imprints. They provide royalties of 10 percent on hardcovers and 7.5% on paperbacks. The publisher ensures indexing in Google Scholar, while Scopus and Web of Science indexing depends on the content’s academic value. Copyright is usually assigned to publishers with exclusive rights to publish, while other rights negotiated.

HarperCollins:

This American book publisher pays royalties of approximately 10% to 15% on hardcovers and 7.5% on paperbacks. The publisher usually bears the cost of indexing. Books published under HarperCollins are indexed in Google Scholar, but they are rarely included in Scopus or Web of Science unless under specific academic imprints. Authors grant exclusive rights to publish.

Macmillan Publishers:

A British-based company, Macmillan standard royalties range from 10% to 15% for hardcover editions and 7.5% for paperbacks. Books published under Macmillan are commonly indexed in Google Scholar, while indexing in Scopus and Web of Science depends on content relevance. Authors typically assign exclusive rights for both publication and distribution.

Scholastic Corporation:

Mostly known for its children's books, the publisher pays royalties, averaging 10% for hardcover editions and 7.5 percent for paperbacks. They usually do not require indexing. Processing charges are controlled internally. It is standard for authors to grant exclusive rights for publication. Scholastic follows a paywalled model, with very limited open-access content.

Simon and Schuster:

This American publisher affords royalties of 10% to 15% for hardcover sales and 7.5% for paperback sales. Generally, the publisher bears indexing costs. Books published by Simon and Schuster are indexed in Google Scholar, while Scopus and Web of Science indexing depends on content relevance. Authors gain access to a cost-effective option by eliminating direct costs associated with processing charges, as they are managed in-house. Authors usually grant exclusive publishing rights. The publisher operates under a paywalled model, though some open-access collaborations exist.

McGraw-Hill Education:

The company specializes in educational content and offers royalties of 10% to 15% of net sales. Their books are indexed in Google Scholar, with some works included in Scopus or Web of Science. McGraw-Hill follows a mostly paywalled approach, with some open-access educational resources available. Processing charges are normally borne by the company.

Springer Nature:

Springer Nature offers royalties typically of 10% to 15% for hardcover editions and 7.5% for paperbacks. Books published under Springer Nature are extensively indexed in Google Scholar, Scopus, and Web of Science. Authors grant exclusive rights for publication, with negotiations possible for other rights. Springer Nature offers both paywalled and open-access publishing, with authors being given open-access options under Springer Open.

Cengage:

Cengage, an American educational content provider, typically pays royalties ranging from 10% to 15% of net sales. Books published under Cengage are indexed in Google Scholar, while some educational books are included in Scopus or Web of Science. Authors grant exclusive rights for their publication and distribution. The publisher primarily follows a paywalled model, though some open-access textbooks are available under specific agreements.

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