Self-Publishing in Canada: Costs, Free ISBNs and Royalties
Self-publishing a book in Canada costs nothing to register: ISBNs are free from Library and Archives Canada. The real cost is the edit, the cover and the formatting. Columbia Publication publishes Canadian authors' books from C$2,099, with your ISBNs registered in your name and 100% of your royalties kept by you.
- Packages from C$2,099
- Free Canadian ISBNs in your name
- 100% of royalties stay yours
- Written quote before you pay
Free consultation. A publishing specialist replies within one business day.
How Much Does It Cost to Self-Publish a Book in Canada?
The registration side is free in Canada. Your money goes on quality: a professional edit, a cover that holds its own on Amazon.ca, and interior formatting that works in print and on Kindle.
| Item | Typical Canadian cost | Notes |
|---|---|---|
| ISBN (Library and Archives Canada) | Free | For authors physically located in Canada. One per format. |
| Listing on Amazon KDP | Free | Your account stays in your name. |
| Editing, cover and formatting | From C$2,099 with us | Depends on length and how much editing the book needs. |
| Legal deposit | One copy if fewer than 100 are printed | Sent to Library and Archives Canada. |
Sources: Library and Archives Canada, About ISBNs; Legal Deposit of Publications Regulations. Accessed 19 October 2026.
Why Canadian Authors Publish With Columbia Publication
You own everything
Your ISBNs and your Amazon KDP account are in your name. You keep all rights to your book and 100% of your royalties.
A finish that sells
Professional cover design and interior formatting, with two revision rounds on every deliverable.
Sold where Canadians buy books
Hardcover, paperback and eBook, distributed to Amazon, Kobo, Apple Books and Barnes and Noble.
A clear quote, in dollars you use
Before you pay, we go through your written quote with you: every deliverable, what each one includes, and your delivery date. The price you approve is the price you pay.
Publishing Packages for Canadian Authors, in Canadian Dollars
The same packages our US authors buy, set in Canadian dollars so you can compare like for like. Every package includes two revision rounds per deliverable and no share of your royalties. We register your free Canadian ISBNs in your name.
Cover design, interior formatting, hardcover, paperback and eBook, ISBNs in your name and distribution to Amazon, Barnes and Noble, Apple Books and Kobo.
Everything in Global Publish, plus full proofreading and a dedicated project manager.
Full copyedit, Amazon keyword and category work, author website and a press release.
Full editorial review at all three levels, 15 printed author copies and the 3-Day Bestseller Launch Campaign.
Our premium imprint for executives and professionals, with a dedicated senior editor and a full PR and media strategy.
Prices are starting points in Canadian dollars. Your written quote confirms the exact amount before you commit. Full package details.
How It Works: From Manuscript to Amazon.ca
- Free consultation. Share your manuscript, the formats you want and what you want the book to do for you.
- Written quote in Canadian dollars. We go through it with you line by line, including your delivery date.
- Editing, cover and formatting. Two revision rounds on every deliverable.
- Launch. Your free ISBNs are registered in your name and the book goes live on Amazon.ca, Kobo, Apple Books and Barnes and Noble.
Are ISBNs Free in Canada?
Yes. Library and Archives Canada issues ISBNs free of charge for printed books, ebooks and audiobooks. A self-publishing author qualifies when physically located in Canada. You create a publisher profile with Library and Archives Canada and request an ISBN for each format: paperback, hardcover and eBook each need their own.
Amazon KDP will also give you a free paperback ISBN, but that number only works on Amazon and lists the book as independently published. Because Canadian ISBNs cost nothing, there is little reason not to own your own, and we register them for you. Authors who publish only in French apply through BAnQ instead.
What Royalty Does Amazon.ca Pay?
KDP pays a 70% royalty on Amazon.ca ebooks priced between C$2.99 and C$12.99, and 35% outside that band. Price inside it unless you have a reason not to.
Every package also publishes your ebook to Kobo and Apple Books, not to Amazon alone.
Source: KDP eBook list price requirements, accessed 19 October 2026.
Legal Deposit With Library and Archives Canada
Canadian publishers are required by law to deposit copies of their publications with Library and Archives Canada, and when you self-publish, the publisher is you. For a book with fewer than 100 printed copies, one copy is required. Ebooks are deposited through Library and Archives Canada's digital deposit service.
Sources: Library and Archives Canada, Legal deposit; Legal Deposit of Publications Regulations. Accessed 19 October 2026.
Working With Us From Canada
Your specialist is reachable by email, phone and WhatsApp, and replies within one business day.
Publishing in French as well as English? See our translation service. Authors in the UK and Australia can see self-publishing in the UK and self-publishing in Australia.
Frequently Asked Questions
How much does it cost to self-publish a book in Canada?
The registration side costs nothing: ISBNs are free in Canada through Library and Archives Canada, and listing on Amazon KDP is free. Editing, cover design and formatting are where the budget goes. Columbia Publication's packages for Canadian authors start from C$2,099.
Are ISBNs free in Canada?
Yes. Library and Archives Canada issues free ISBNs for printed books, ebooks and audiobooks to eligible publishers. A self-publishing author qualifies when physically located in Canada. You need one ISBN per format.
What royalty does Amazon.ca pay on ebooks?
70% on ebooks priced between C$2.99 and C$12.99, and 35% outside that band. Columbia Publication takes no share of your royalties.
Do I have to send copies to Library and Archives Canada?
Yes. Canadian publishers are required by law to deposit copies of their publications with Library and Archives Canada. When fewer than 100 copies are printed, one copy is required. When you self-publish, the publisher is you.
Do I keep the rights and royalties to my book?
Yes. Your ISBNs and your Amazon KDP account are in your name, you keep all rights to your book, and you keep 100% of your royalties.
Can you publish my book in French as well as English?
Yes, through our translation service. Authors who publish only in French get their ISBNs through BAnQ in Quebec instead of Library and Archives Canada.
Are prices shown in Canadian dollars?
Yes. Prices on this page are in Canadian dollars. Before you pay, we go through your written quote with you, and the price you approve is the price you pay.
Written by Gia K.. Facts on ISBNs, royalties and legal deposit come from the sources linked in each section, accessed 19 October 2026. Rules and prices change, so check the source before you rely on them.
