Do I Need an ISBN to Sell My Book With Bookvault?

You don't always need a registered ISBN to print or sell a book through Bookvault.

Whether you need one depends on where you want your book to be sold.

When do I need an ISBN?

You'll need a published and registered ISBN if you want Bookvault to distribute your book through its retail network, including retailers such as:

• Amazon
• Gardners
• Alibris

Your ISBN must also be published and registered with the appropriate ISBN registry, such as Nielsen or Bowker.

When don't I need an ISBN?

You don't need a published ISBN if you only want to sell your book:

• Through your own website
• Through The Great British Bookshop

In these situations, you can use a Dummy ISBN generated by Bookvault instead.

What is a Bookvault Dummy ISBN?

A Dummy ISBN gives your title a 13-digit identifier within Bookvault when you don't have a registered ISBN.

When adding your title, select Generate a Dummy ISBN instead of entering your own ISBN. The Dummy ISBN is used as a reference within the Bookvault system and isn't added to the printed book.

What if I want to distribute my book to retailers later?

If you want your book available through Bookvault's wider retail distribution network, you'll need an ISBN that has been properly published and registered.

For more information about ISBNs, see:

What Is an ISBN?

If you're creating different formats of the same book, you may also need separate ISBNs:

Do I Need a New ISBN if I Want a Different Format?