Editing Small press (section)

== Not to be confused with ==
Small presses should not be confused with [[self-publishing press]]es (sometimes called "[[vanity press]]es"). Self-publishing or subsidy presses usually require payment by authors, or a minimum purchase of copies. By comparison, small presses make their profits by selling books to consumers, rather than selling services to authors or selling a small number of copies to the author's friends.

Small presses should not be confused with [[Printer (publishing)|printers]]. Small presses are traditional publishers, which means that they engage in a book selection process, along with editing, marketing and distribution. Small presses also enter into a contract with the author, often paying royalties for being allowed to sell the book. Publishers own the copies they have printed, but usually do not own the copyright to the book itself. In contrast, printers merely print a book, and sometimes offer limited distribution if they are a [[print on demand|POD]] printing press. Printers have a very low selectivity. They will accept nearly anyone who can pay the cost of printing. They rarely offer editing or marketing. Printers do not own the copies that are printed, and they do not pay royalties.

[[Book-packaging|Book packagers]] combine aspects of small presses and printers, but they are technically neither small presses nor printers.