TL;DR
Tellwell Publishing is a Canadian assisted self-publishing company that charges $1,749 to $11,499 to design, edit, and distribute your finished book. It's legitimate and well reviewed, but its terms default to keeping 15% of your net royalties, it keeps your production files, and refunds shrink fast. It suits finished manuscripts, not authors who need writing or marketing help.
You finished your manuscript. Now you're comparing publishing companies, and every website promises the same things: professional design, global distribution, and 100% of your royalties.
The problem is that the sales page and the contract don't always say the same thing. Pick the wrong company and you can lose thousands of dollars, a slice of every sale, or access to the files you paid for.
We read Tellwell's current price list and its full terms and conditions, then reviewed recent author feedback. Here's what Tellwell really costs, what the contract says, and how it compares to working with selfpublishing.com, where we've helped authors publish over 7,000 books.
What is Tellwell Publishing?
Tellwell Publishing is an assisted self-publishing company in Victoria, British Columbia. You pay for design, editing, distribution, and marketing packages, and you keep your copyright.
Tellwell Talent Inc. was founded in 2015 by CEO Tim Lindsay. It sells in local currency to authors in the US, Canada, the UK, Australia, and Europe, and runs an international talent center in Cebu, Philippines, alongside its North American team.
Tellwell describes itself as an "assisted self-publisher." That's accurate. It isn't a traditional publisher, because you pay for every service, and it isn't a DIY platform like Amazon KDP, because a project manager handles production for you.
How many books it has published depends on which page you read. Tellwell's About page cites both 4,000 and 6,000+ books, and its Trustpilot profile says 4,000.
Is Tellwell Publishing legit, or a vanity press?
Tellwell is legit. It publishes its prices, lets authors keep copyright, and rates 4.6 on Trustpilot. The real risks sit in its royalty and file terms.
A predatory vanity press typically hides its prices, claims rights to your book, pressures you into endless upsells, and sells you copies of your own book at inflated prices.
Tellwell does better than that on most counts: its full USD price list is public, and its terms confirm you own your manuscript, cover, and interior once paid.
But "not a scam" is a low bar for a company charging up to $11,499 for a standard package. Tellwell still makes money from authors first and book sales second, and a few of its default terms favor Tellwell over you. We cover each one below.
How Tellwell works
You pay for a package, submit a finished manuscript, and a project manager moves it through editing, design, and distribution in Tellwell's portal.
- Consultation and quote. A publishing consultant recommends a package and add-ons.
- Payment. You pay upfront or on a payment plan ($20 to $40 admin fee).
- Manuscript submission. You upload a finished draft to Tellwell's portal, called Octavo.
- Production. Editing (if purchased), then cover and interior design with 2 rounds of minor revisions each.
- Distribution. Tellwell sets your paperback up with Ingram, which lists it with 45,000+ retailers.
- Royalties. Tellwell collects royalties from each channel and pays you quarterly.
Notice what's missing: writing support. Tellwell's core packages assume the book is done. Book coaching is a separate purchase.
Tellwell Publishing packages and pricing in 2026
Tellwell's core packages cost $1,749 (Standard), $2,999 (Professional), $5,499 (All-Inclusive), and $11,499 (Traditional) in USD, effective September 1, 2025.
| Package | Price (USD) | What it adds |
| Standard | $1,749 | Cover, interior layout, paperback distribution, editor's feedback report, project manager |
| Professional | $2,999 | Adds hardcover and ebook formats, a marketing consultation and strategy, book backgrounder |
| All-Inclusive | $5,499 | Adds a substantive edit (1 content round, 1 copy round) and an author website |
| Traditional | $11,499 | Adds 3 editing rounds, website, and marketing outreach |
Children's packages run $1,749 to $7,999. Premium nonfiction packages run from $10,500 (Advantage) to $79,500 (Pinnacle, with ghostwriting).
Watch the name: the "Traditional" package isn't traditional publishing. In traditional publishing, the publisher pays you. Here you pay $11,499 for a traditional level of service.
The add-ons that raise your real cost
Most authors pay well above the package price. Editing, ebook channels, Amazon KDP setup, and marketing are billed separately on the lower packages.
| Add-on | Price (USD) | Why it matters |
| Copy edit | 2.1 cents per word | $1,260 for a 60,000-word book |
| Substantive edit | 4.1 cents per word | $2,460 for a 60,000-word book |
| Post-layout proofread | 1.4 cents per word | $840 for a 60,000-word book |
| Ebook distribution | $225 per channel | Kindle, Kobo, and Smashwords are each billed separately on Standard |
| Enhanced Amazon (KDP) paperback | $225 | Without it, your Amazon paperback flows through Ingram |
| Managed Distribution 100 | $450 | The upgrade to 100% of net royalties (see below) |
| Book coaching | $1,799 (6 sessions) or $2,999 (12) | The only way to get writing help |
| Marketing packages | $1,100 to $2,999 | A $450 marketing strategy is required first |
| Revision rounds | $65 to $140 each | After your 2 included rounds |
| Packaged InDesign files | $675 | Needed if you ever want to edit your book elsewhere |
A realistic example
Here's what a first-time nonfiction author with a 60,000-word draft might pay to get coaching, a professional edit, and launch marketing through Tellwell:
Professional package: $2,999
Substantive edit (60,000 words): $2,460
Book coaching, 6 sessions: $1,799
Managed Distribution 100: $450
Online marketing package: $1,799
Total: $9,507, before hardcover changes, extra revisions, or proofreading
That's more than triple the Professional sticker price. Calculated from Tellwell's published US rates; your quote may differ based on what your package includes.
What Tellwell’s “100% net royalties” really means
Tellwell's terms make an 85% royalty model the default. You get 100% of net royalties only under Managed Distribution 100, priced at $450.
Tellwell's package pages say every package includes 100% net royalties. Its terms and conditions tell a more complicated story:
- Managed Distribution 85 is the default. The terms state it applies unless another model is selected. Under it, Tellwell keeps 15% of your net royalties.
- The difference is real money. Tellwell's own example: on an $8.00 Kindle sale paying $5.60, you receive $4.76 under the 85 model or $5.60 under the 100 model.
- "Net" means after deductions. Bank fees, currency exchange, market access fees, channel fees, and return costs come out first.
- You're paid quarterly. Payments go out once each quarter and only once you pass a minimum threshold. You have 6 months to dispute a royalty report.
- Author copies earn nothing. The terms state you earn no royalties on books you buy directly from Tellwell.
Our advice: before you pay, get the words "Managed Distribution 100" written on your invoice. If it isn't there, the contract defaults to 85%.
Why Ingram-first distribution matters on Amazon
Every Tellwell print package distributes your paperback through Ingram. Amazon then buys it at a wholesale discount, and Amazon.ca may only list it through third-party sellers, according to Tellwell's own distribution FAQ. Publishing the paperback directly through KDP costs an extra $225.
When you publish through KDP yourself, you control your listing, pricing, and royalty report in real time. Read our IngramSpark guide to see how the two channels differ.
Tellwell contract fine print most authors miss
Tellwell keeps your production files, limits refunds once work starts, expires services after 2 years, and sends disputes to arbitration in British Columbia.
1. Tellwell owns your production files
You own your cover and interior design. But the terms state Tellwell keeps ownership of production files, including InDesign files, print-ready PDFs, and ebook files, unless your package names them. Print-ready files cost $225 and packaged InDesign files cost $675.
2. Refunds shrink fast
Fees are non-refundable except under a sliding schedule. Once you submit a manuscript or work begins, refunds are at Tellwell's discretion and capped at 50% of services not yet started within 30 days, 35% within 90 days, and 10% within 180 days. After 180 days, there's no refund.
3. Your services expire after 2 years
Unused services expire 2 years after purchase. Extensions cost $89 to $225.
4. Distribution support starts costing money
Premium distribution support is free for year 1, free for year 2 if you complete a feedback survey, and billed annually after that.
5. Leaving isn't instant
Distribution runs a minimum of 2 years. If you terminate, retailer agreements may keep your book listed longer than your contract.
6. Disputes go to arbitration in Canada
The terms route disputes to arbitration in Victoria, BC, under British Columbia law, and waive class actions. Tellwell can also end the agreement at any time, for any reason, with written notice.
7. Tellwell owns your feedback
Any review, survey response, or comment you submit about Tellwell becomes Tellwell's property to use without compensation or attribution.
What authors say about Tellwell in 2026
Tellwell holds a 4.6 out of 5 TrustScore on Trustpilot from 232 reviews. Authors praise its project managers. Complaints center on handoffs, errors, and post-launch support.
That rating is strong, and it's fair to say so. On Trustpilot, 86% of reviews are 5 stars and 6% are 1 star. Two context points: Trustpilot notes that Tellwell actively invites customers to review, and Tellwell replies to every negative review.
What happy authors say
- Patient, responsive project managers who explain each step
- Helpful instructional videos in the author portal
- A structured process that gets first-time authors across the finish line
What frustrated authors say
- Sales-to-production gaps. One 2026 memoir author said items promised in sales weren't honored in production. Tellwell's reply acknowledged the change "didn't carry through" to the production team.
- Metadata and quality errors. The same author reported a stranger listed as co-author on Indigo for nearly 2 months, and a darkened cover on Amazon.
- Refund denials. A UK author was refused a refund after print delays. Tellwell said the package services had been completed.
- The "now what?" gap. Even a positive 2026 reviewer asked for more support in the first year after launch, including promotion, events, and awards guidance.
That last point is the pattern that matters most. Tellwell is built to produce a book. It's not built to help you sell one.
Tellwell Publishing pros and cons
Tellwell's strengths are transparent pricing and hands-on project management. Its weaknesses are default royalty terms, file ownership, add-on costs, and limited post-launch support.
Pros
- Full price list published online
- You keep copyright and creative control
- Dedicated project manager
- Strong Trustpilot rating (4.6/5)
- Children's book and illustration packages
- Local pricing in 5 regions
- Optional bookstore returns program
Cons
- 85% royalty model is the default in the terms
- Tellwell keeps production files unless purchased
- Editing, ebooks, and KDP setup cost extra on lower tiers
- Refunds capped and shrinking once work starts
- No writing coaching without extra fees
- Marketing sold à la carte, with little post-launch support
- Quarterly royalty payments with a minimum threshold
- Disputes settled by arbitration in Canada
Tellwell vs selfpublishing.com: which is right for you?
Tellwell and selfpublishing.com only partly overlap. Tellwell produces finished manuscripts. selfpublishing.com coaches you from idea to launch, handles publishing, and teaches you to market your book.
We're not a direct substitute for Tellwell, and we won't pretend to be. If you have a polished manuscript and only need a cover, interior, and distribution, Tellwell costs less than our programs.
But most authors who call us aren't in that spot. They have a book in their head, a half-finished draft, or a published book that isn't selling. That's the job we're built for.
| Factor | Tellwell Publishing | selfpublishing.com |
| Business model | Production services for a finished manuscript | Coaching and education plus done-for-you publishing |
| Where you start | Finished draft | Blank page, draft, or published book |
| Writing support | Sold separately ($1,799 to $2,999) | 1:1 coaching with a published author, plus courses and group training |
| Live support | Project manager | Daily live office hours, 5 days a week, plus an author community |
| Royalties | 85% of net by default; 100% with Managed Distribution 100 | You're the publisher and keep 100% of your royalties |
| Launch and marketing | À la carte packages, $1,100 to $2,999 | Bestseller launch support included, with more done-for-you marketing in higher tiers |
| Entry price | $1,749 | $9,000 (Become a Bestseller, payment plans available) |
| Best for | Finished manuscripts, children's books, bookstore-focused authors | Authors who want to write, publish, and sell a book that grows their impact or business |
Why authors choose selfpublishing.com instead
- You get a coach, not just a project manager. A project manager moves files. A coach helps you write a better book and makes sure you finish it.
- Marketing is part of the plan, not an upsell. A story we hear often on strategy calls: an author paid for production, the book looked great, and almost nobody bought it. Every program includes launch support, with more done-for-you marketing in higher tiers.
- Your royalties are yours. There's no default split to catch on your invoice.
- Proof at scale. We've helped authors publish over 7,000 books, and our author reviews show what those launches looked like.
Choose Tellwell if your manuscript is finished and edited, you want someone to handle production, and sales aren't your main goal. It's also a reasonable pick for an illustrated children's book or a family memoir.
Choose selfpublishing.com if you want your book to sell, build authority, or grow your business, and you want expert guidance from the first chapter through launch.
Not sure which path fits your book?
Talk with a selfpublishing.com book strategist. We'll look at where your book is today, what you want it to do for you, and which path fits your goals.
Other Tellwell alternatives
- Publish it yourself. Use Amazon KDP and IngramSpark and hire freelance editors and designers. This is the cheapest route with full control, but you manage everything.
- Other assisted publishers. See our Palmetto Publishing review and our list of top self-publishing companies.
- Hybrid publishing.
Questions to ask Tellwell before you sign
Before paying Tellwell, confirm your royalty model, file ownership, Amazon setup, and total quote in writing. Each one changes what you'll earn and control.
- Does my invoice say Managed Distribution 100?
- Which production files do I receive, and in which formats?
- Is my paperback set up on Amazon KDP or only through Ingram?
- Which ebook channels are included, and which cost $225 each?
- What's my all-in quote, including editing for my exact word count?
- What does distribution support cost after year 2?
- What marketing is included, and what happens after launch day?
- What's my refund amount if I cancel after submitting my manuscript?
Tellwell Publishing review: our final verdict
Tellwell is a legitimate, well-reviewed production service. But its default royalty terms, file ownership, and add-on costs mean the sticker price rarely matches reality.
We rate Tellwell a 3.5 out of 5 stars. The service quality most authors describe is real. The fine print is also real, and it tilts toward Tellwell in ways the sales pages don't advertise.
If your book is finished and you only need production, Tellwell is a reasonable option, as long as you confirm the checklist above in writing. If you want help writing, launching, and selling your book, you need more than a production company.
Frequently asked questions about Tellwell Publishing
Is Tellwell Publishing legit?
Yes. Tellwell is a real Canadian company founded in 2015 with a public price list and a 4.6 out of 5 Trustpilot rating. Read its terms before signing, since the default royalty model keeps 15% of your net royalties and Tellwell retains your production files.
How much does it cost to publish with Tellwell?
Tellwell's US packages cost $1,749, $2,999, $5,499, or $11,499. Editing, ebook channels, Amazon KDP setup, and marketing often cost extra. A 60,000-word nonfiction book with editing, coaching, and marketing can pass $9,500.
Is Tellwell a vanity press?
Tellwell is an assisted self-publishing company, not a predatory vanity press. You pay for services and keep your copyright. Like any pay-to-publish company, it earns its money from authors rather than book sales.
Does Tellwell take a cut of my royalties?
By default, yes. Tellwell's terms make Managed Distribution 85 the default, which keeps 15% of your net royalties. Managed Distribution 100, sold for $450 on its price list, pays you 100% of net royalties.
Do I own my book files with Tellwell?
You own your manuscript, cover design, and interior layout once paid. Tellwell keeps ownership of production files like InDesign files, print-ready PDFs, and ebook files unless your package includes them.
Is Tellwell's Traditional package traditional publishing?
No. The $11,499 Traditional package is a paid service named for its level of support. In traditional publishing, the publisher pays the author an advance.
Does Tellwell publish books on Amazon?
Yes. Paperbacks reach Amazon through Ingram by default. Setting up your paperback directly on Amazon KDP costs $225, and Kindle ebook distribution costs $225 on packages that don't include it.
