Build a reader list, not just a book launch.

Build a Reader List, Not Just a Book Launch

Every book buyer becomes a reader you can email for your next release. Fund your print run, prove demand, and build an audience that grows with every title.

  • Fund Printing Without Financial Risk
  • Own Your Reader Relationships
  • Higher Margins Than Amazon or Kickstarter
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$8,500
Avg Campaign
400+
Book Pre-orders Avg
73%
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Special edition books and limited edition books are where independent authors make real money—but Amazon takes 40-60% and never shares buyer emails. Kickstarter charges 8-10% and owns the backer relationship. With book pre-order campaigns on your own Shopify store, you fund your print run, prove market demand, and build a reader list that compounds with every title you release. Signed copies, sprayed edges, exclusive covers—your store lets you sell what platforms can't.

Why Authors & Publishers Choose Fundpop

Benefits of running campaigns on your own store

1

Fund Printing Without Financial Risk

Print runs have minimums—typically 100-500 copies. A pre-order campaign tells you exactly how many to print before spending a dollar. No unsold boxes in your garage, no gambling on demand.

2

Own Your Reader Relationships

Amazon never tells you who bought your book. On your store, every reader joins your email list. When your next book launches, you have a built-in audience ready to buy.

3

Higher Margins Than Amazon or Kickstarter

Amazon keeps 40-60% of your book price. Kickstarter takes 8-10% plus payment fees. Selling direct on Shopify, you keep 70-85% after printing and shipping—2-3x more per book.

4

Offer What Platforms Can't

Signed copies, numbered editions, custom covers, bundled merch—your store lets you create premium tiers that platforms make difficult. Superfans pay premium prices for exclusivity.

Features for Authors & Publishers

Everything you need to run successful campaigns on your own store

Book Pre-orders

Sell paperback, hardcover, and ebook before publication with delivery dates

Special Editions

Offer signed copies, numbered first editions, and exclusive cover variants

Bundle Deals

Combine books with bookmarks, art prints, character cards, or full series sets

Stretch Goals

Unlock audiobook production, interior illustrations, or bonus chapters as funding grows

Digital Delivery

Automatically send ebook files after purchase via Shopify digital delivery apps

Reader Updates

Keep backers informed on writing progress, cover reveals, and production timeline

Common Authors & Publishers Campaign Types

Popular ways creators in your industry use Fundpop

1

Limited Edition Book Campaign

Create a limited edition book with exclusive features: numbered copies, foil stamping, sprayed edges, signed bookplates. Pre-sell 200-500 copies at $45-75 each. Superfans pay premium prices for collectible editions they can't get on Amazon.

2

Special Edition Hardcover

Your paperback and ebook are selling. Now create a special edition book for collectors—sprayed edges, ribbon bookmark, exclusive cover art, bonus chapter. Price at $55-85 and watch your margins soar.

3

Book Pre-order for New Release

First book? Use a book pre-order campaign to prove demand before investing $3,000-5,000 in printing. A 200-copy goal shows publishers and yourself that readers want your work. Hit the goal, print with confidence.

4

Series Box Set

Your trilogy is complete. Bundle all three books in a premium slipcase with bonus content: character art, deleted scenes, author notes. Readers who own the ebooks will buy the physical collector's set.

How to Launch Your Authors & Publishers Campaign

1

Set Up Your Author Store

Create a simple Shopify store. This becomes your permanent direct sales channel for every book you publish.

Pro Tip

Keep it clean: author bio, book pages, and shop. Start with a free theme—design matters less than launching.

2

Create Your Book Campaign

Add your book as a product with variants (paperback, hardcover, signed). Set a funding goal based on your minimum print run cost.

Pro Tip

A 250-copy paperback run costs roughly $1,500-2,500. Price at $15-18 per book to hit your goal at 150-200 sales.

3

Launch to Your Readers

Your email list is everything. Newsletter subscribers convert 10x better than social followers. Start with your warmest audience.

Pro Tip

Offer a 48-hour early-bird price exclusively to your email list. Creates urgency and rewards loyal readers.

4

Fulfill and Deliver

Campaign ends, you place your print order, then ship to readers. Use Shopify's fulfillment tools or a service like Lulu or BookVault.

Pro Tip

Order 10-15% extra copies for damaged books, late backers, and future sales. The per-unit cost drops significantly.

Creator Success

“I'm using the Fundpop Crowdfunding app to collect preorders for this special edition and allow readers to reserve a copy without paying until we reach a specific sales goal. Running an actual Kickstarter campaign requires more resources than I have available at the moment, but I wanted to gauge interest in the special edition and get a good idea of how many books to order before committing to actually ordering them.”
Leslye Penelope

Leslye Penelope

Award-Winning Fantasy Author, Heartspell Media

Authors & Publishers Crowdfunding FAQ

Special edition books sell when they offer something readers can't get elsewhere: signed copies, numbered editions, sprayed edges, exclusive cover art, bonus content. Price 3-5x higher than standard editions. Your most engaged readers will pay $55-85 for a collectible they treasure.

Set up your book as a Shopify product with Fundpop. Set a funding goal based on your print run minimum (usually $3,000-5,000). Launch to your email list. When you hit the goal, place your print order with exact quantities. No inventory risk.

Same crowdfunding concept, but you keep 8-10% more (no Kickstarter fees) and you own all backer emails. When your next book launches, you email readers directly instead of hoping the algorithm surfaces your campaign.

Yes. Add the ebook as a product variant or separate listing. Use a digital delivery app like Sky Pilot or Digital Downloads to automatically send the file after purchase. Many authors offer ebook-only tiers at $5-10.

Start building now. A newsletter plus consistent presence on BookTok, Bookstagram, or writing communities compounds fast. Even 200-300 engaged subscribers can fund a debut print run. Quality of engagement beats follower count.

Most authors use IngramSpark or a local printer for bulk runs, then ship themselves or use a fulfillment warehouse. For smaller orders or stragglers, print-on-demand services like Lulu or BookVault handle individual fulfillment. Many do a hybrid approach.

$3,000-15,000 depending on format and quantity. A 200-copy paperback run needs roughly $3,000-4,000. A 500-copy illustrated hardcover might need $10,000-15,000. Factor in shipping supplies and padding for fees. Start conservative—you can always exceed your goal.

Related Resources

Pre-order Campaign Guide

Complete guide to running successful pre-order campaigns on your store

Learn more →

Kickstarter Alternative

Why creators are choosing to crowdfund on their own Shopify stores

Learn more →

Crowdfunding for Musicians

Similar strategies for album pre-orders and limited vinyl campaigns

Learn more →

Ready to Launch Your Authors & Publishers Campaign?

Join 500+ creators who run crowdfunding on their own Shopify stores. ~3.5% total fees, full customer ownership.

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500+
Creators
500+
Live Campaigns
73%
Repeat Campaigners