Top 6 Best Book Publishing Companies | 2017 Ranking | List of Top Book Publishing Companies

2017 RANKING & REVIEWS
TOP RANKING BOOK PUBLISHING COMPANIES

2017 Review & Ranking: Best Book Publishing Companies

When it comes to publishing a book, what matters is finding a top book publishing company with a solid reputation, dedicated values, and trustworthy practices.

Book publishing companies represent important partnerships and links between the writer, the story, and the audience.

In today’s market, the book publishing industry is becoming increasingly more diverse.

Award Emblem: Top 6 Best Book Publishing Companies

From nationally acclaimed textbook publishing companies to small, local publishing houses and digital book publishing companies, there are plenty of options to consider when publishing books.

This certainly makes it difficult to wade through the ever-growing list of book publishing companies. Our review will take a close look at book publishing companies to find the top book publishing companies.

Each of these companies on our list of book publishing companies has set the standard for quality, efficiency, value, and reputation in the book publishing industry.

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AdvisoryHQ’s List of the Top 6 Best Book Publishing Companies

List is sorted alphabetically (click any of the publishing company names below to go directly to the detailed review section for that book publishing company):

• CreateSpace
• Hachette Book Group
• HarperCollins
• Macmillan Publishers
• Penguin Random House
• Simon and Schuster

Top 6 Best Book Publishing Companies | Brief Comparison & Ranking

Publishing a Book in 2017: The State of the Book Publishing Industry

There’s no doubt that the process of publishing books has gone through immense changes within the past few decades.

When it comes to finding the best book publishing house, understanding the current state of the book publishing industry is important.

Before publishing a book through one of the top book publishing companies, each of the following elements should be given due consideration.

Online Presence

For authors who are publishing a book, establishing a solid online presence is a key factor in their success.

Before publishing books through a top book publishing company, an author should have a website that is mobile-friendly, accessible, and optimized for online searches.

Industry analyst Mike Shatzkin says that “the biggest failure of traditional publishers to date is the lack of programmic help for authors in building their digital footprint.”

Thus, to ensure success, the best book publishing company will support their authors in crafting their own dynamic and useful online presence.

Photo courtesy of: Pixabay

Targeting Your Audience

If you’re an author who is interested in publishing a book with one of the best book publishing companies, knowing who your audience is and how to market to them is crucial.

Arguably, this type of marketing should be supported by book publishing companies, but taking initiative and doing this on your own as soon as possible will only increase the benefits.

Successfully publishing books means identifying your target audience, and in today’s world, that comes through online presence and interaction.

Ebooks

The presence of ebooks has certainly changed our collective notion of what a book should look like, what it should feel like, and how it should be read.

Some of the top book publishing companies also publish online, and for good reason. The presence of this “non-traditional” market is estimated at a total of 263 million units.

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AdvisoryHQ’s Selection Methodology

What methodology does AdvisoryHQ use in selecting and finalizing the credit cards, financial products, firms, services, and products that are ranked on its various top-rated lists?

Please click here “AdvisoryHQ’s Ranking Methodologies” for a detailed review of AdvisoryHQ’s selection methodologies for ranking top-rated credit cards, financial accounts, firms, products, and services.

Detailed Review – Top Ranking Best Book Publishing Companies

Below, please find a detailed review of each book publishing company on our list of top book publishing companies. We have highlighted some of the factors that allowed these book publishing companies to score so highly in our selection ranking.

CreateSpace Review

As the prevalence of independent publishing and ebooks increases, self-publishing through CreateSpace is rising in popularity.

Rather than occupy a physical space in the book publishing industry, this type of book publishing company occupies a completely different arena.

A division of Amazon, CreateSpace allows authors to access tools, printing, ebook distribution, and marketing strategies to take charge of publishing their own books.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Book Publishing Companies

A few unique features of CreateSpace that led to its ranking on our list of book publishing companies are discussed below.

Author Empowerment

Self-publishing through CreateSpace enables authors to take initiative and handle the publishing process themselves rather than wait for book publishing companies to act.

Although self-publishing certainly requires a lot of effort and dedication, CreateSpace strives to enable authors as much as possible, providing plenty of resources to get them going.

This includes tools for creating covers, finding images, and affordable services for design, editing, and marketing.

Free Distribution

One of the biggest reasons why CreateSpace is listed among the top book publishing companies is because it offers direct value for authors and readers.

Books can be made available through Amazon, Kindle, and a wealth of other distribution options.

These options are free through CreateSpace, making this one of the best book publishing companies for authors who are interested in self-publishing.

Higher Royalties

Ultimately, publishing books is a business, one which should profit both the author and the company itself.

When it comes to profits for authors, CreateSpace goes above and beyond to ensure that authors receive the highest possible royalties.

Authors set their own list price, and although CreateSpace does take a percentage, they provide detailed breakdowns of how royalties are taken and received.

This adds transparency to the process, setting CreateSpace apart as one of the top-rated book publishing companies.

Hachette Book Group Review

A dynamic force among book publishing companies, the Hachette Book Group is a division of the third largest trade and educational publisher in the world.

Their parent company, Hachette Livre, is a global publishing company based in France. 

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Book Publishing Companies

A few unique features of Hachette Book Group that led to its ranking on our list of top book publishing companies are discussed below.

High Publication Success

HBG publishes a high number of books each year, demonstrating a keen dedication to remaining a best book publishing house. Each year, HBG publishes:

• Over 900 adult books
• 50-100 digital titles
• Over 250 young adult books
• 400 audiobook titles

Additionally, HBG published 183 books in 2015 that made it to the New York Times bestsellers list. Thirty-four of these titles reached the number one spot.

Photo courtesy of: Hachette Book Group

Custom Third-Party Services

The best book publishing companies will use their resources to provide client services. This means that they can be contracted to provide integral support throughout the publishing process for small, medium, or large book publishing companies.

Some of the services that HBG provides are:

• Distribution & fulfillment
• Customer service
• Sales solicitation
• Billing & collection
• Ebook & audio distribution
• Reporting

Hachette Client Services is built to help smaller publishers fulfill their quotas, goals, and various book publishing needs. These services make HBG one of the best book publishing companies in service today.

Imprint Network

An imprint is a line of books that cater to a specific audience, theme, or point of view.

It lets larger book publishing companies create individual brand identities, and the best book publishing companies use imprints to grow their brand and their readership.

HGB has seven main imprints, with separate branches stemming from each separate imprint.

A few examples include:

• Grand Central Publishing: All popular genres
• Orbit: Science Fiction & Fantasy
• Hachette Audio: Audiobooks from authors, comedians, and famous personalities
• Little, Brown and Company: Fiction and nonfiction 

Recently, HGB acquired Perseus Book Group, a best book publishing company that strives to help independent publishers achieve their goals.

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HarperCollins Review

It’s impossible to create a list of best book publishing companies without discussing HarperCollins.

This best book publishing company boasts nearly two centuries of history, which includes locations in 18 countries and over 120 imprints across the globe.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Book Publishing Companies

Listed below are the factors which led to the inclusion of HarperCollins on our list of best book publishing companies.

Literary Legacy

HarperCollins is the second-largest book publisher in the world — and with such a rich literary history, it’s easy to see why.

This best book publishing house is home to such noted authors as Mark Twain, the Brontë sisters, Charles Dickens, H.G. Wells, C.S. Lewis, and J.R.R. Tolkien, among others.

With roots in the early 19^th century, HarperCollins continues to have an integral part in shaping our modern literary legacy, making it one of the most valued book publishing companies.

Competitive Internship Program

As one of the top book publishing companies, HarperCollins is committed to providing guidance and education to a growing generation of aspiring publishers.

They offer three 10-week paid internships each year in the summer, fall, and spring.

Internships through HarperCollins offer valuable experience and knowledge in various publishing areas, including marketing, editorial, sales, design, publicity, and management.

Strong Company Culture

Part of what makes HarperCollins a best book publishing house comes from more than their publishing success;—they have a deep and strong company culture that sets the bar for other book publishing companies.

Their company culture includes these core components:

• Corporate Responsibility: Inspiring future generations through promoting literacy, supporting authors, and helping the local community
• Diversity & Inclusion: Speaking to diverse audiences through publications and employment to engage unique perspectives and thought
• HarperGreen: Environmental initiative to reduce impact on the environment
• Innovation: Adapting to and excelling at changes in the book publishing industry

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Macmillan Publishers Review

Macmillan Publishers is one of the biggest book publishing companies in the United States and across the globe.

This top book publishing company has imprints in Germany, South Africa, the United Kingdom, Australia, and more.

While they publish an array of different genres, they are also recognized as being one of the best textbook publishing companies.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Book Publishing Companies

Listed below are the factors which led to the inclusion of Macmillan Publishers on our list of best book publishing companies.

Academic Publishing

Chances are that you recognize Macmillan Publishers from textbooks that you read in high school or college.

With over 40 different categories and nearly 5,000 textbooks to choose from, Macmillan Publishers is one of the most popular textbook publishing companies.

With a strong commitment to creating educational texts, Macmillan Publishers is one of the best textbook publishing companies across the globe.

Support for Teachers

Not only does Macmillan Publishing supply educational texts, but they also provide support for the teachers who will be implementing them.

To assist teachers in creating valuable lesson plans, this top book publishing company provides a recommended list of books for Common Core lessons. Each selection focuses on developing critical-thinking, problem-solving, and analytical skills.

Macmillan Publishing also offers free downloads of their teacher’s guides, covering subjects from The Iliad and Anne Frank to 9/11.

Multiple Publishing Categories

Part of what makes Macmillan Publishing one of the top book publishing companies is that they focus on publishing through a variety of categories and formats.

One of their biggest strengths comes from publishing college and academic texts, but they also focus on adult trade books, children’s books, magazines, and journals.

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Penguin Random House Review

Penguin Random House is a globally-recognized book publishing company dedicated to helping to create stories that inform, entertain, inspire, and forge universal connections.

With over 12,000 employees and 20 locations across the globe, this best book publishing house certainly has a dynamic impact on the global literary market.

Photo courtesy of: Penguin Random House

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Book Publishing Companies

Listed below are the factors that led to the inclusion of Penguin Random House on our list of best book publishing companies.

High Publication Success

Penguin Random House has an incredible range of annual publications in a variety of genres and formats. Each year, Penguin Random House publishes:

• 70,000 digital titles
• 15,000 print titles

Aside from these publication numbers, Penguin Random House has also achieved success through their imprints and their global availability.

This best book publishing house is comprised of over 250 independent imprints and has over 100,000 ebooks available across the globe.

Imprints

It would be impossible to list all the imprints connected to Penguin Random House, but there are a few that deserve recognition in our list of top book publishing companies.

As the prevalence of digital titles and audio technology increases, Penguin Random House has put a keen focus on adapting to these changes.

Eight of their imprints are within the Audio/Living Language category, providing recorded books for fiction, nonfiction, historical texts, language-learning, and more.

Wide Variety of Genres

The best book publishing companies will focus on providing as much value as possible. Penguin Random House accomplishes this through publishing across a wide variety of genres, generating mass appeal.

In total, there are 23 genres available, including Cooking, Humor, Nonfiction, Poetry, Fantasy, Travel, and Politics.

They also include sections for Best Sellers, Award Winners, New Releases, and Coming Soon.

When it comes to genres, Penguin Random House strives to cover a wide variety of topics, making them one of the top book publishing companies on our list.

Simon and Schuster Review

Founded in 1924 by Richard L. Simon and M. Lincoln Schuster, Simon and Schuster is one of the most prominent book publishing companies on our list.

On average, this book publishing company publishes 2,000 books a year and has over 18,000 ebooks available across the globe.

Key Factors That Led to Our Ranking of This as One of the Best Book Publishing Companies

Listed below are the factors that led to the inclusion of Simon and Schuster on our list of best book publishing companies.

Interactive Website

Not only is Simon and Schuster one of the top book publishing companies, but it’s likely that they will continue to be long into the future.

Part of this long-term success stems from adapting to current trends and creating an interactive website.

Online users can create a free account, which allows them to purchase their favorite books through an e-commerce platform.

Account members also get access to one free ebook, a promotion which simultaneously draws new readers in and acknowledges the importance of digital titles for book publishing companies.

Once you have an account, you can also “Become A Fan” of noted authors, generating e-mail updates on new releases, recommendations, and special offers.

Industry Services

Not only is Simon and Schuster a prominent competitor among book publishing companies, but this top book publishing company also provides a list of valuable industry services.

These industry services include:

• Higher education resources
• Desk copies for professors
• 50% discount on exam copies based on Simon and Schuster texts
• Distribution services for independent publishers

Much of the industry services offered through Simon and Schuster center around higher education, making this one of the top book publishing companies for educators and students.

Publishing Success

Not only does Simon and Schuster publish thousands of books annually, but the company also continues to enjoy success and recognition from literary critics.

In 2015, imprints from Simon and Schuster placed 249 titles on The New York Times bestsellers list. A whopping 32 of these titles made it to the number one spot.

In total, titles published through Simon and Schuster have received the following awards:

• 56 Pulitzer Prizes
• 17 National Book Awards
• 10 National Book Critics Circle Awards
• 8 Grammy Awards
• 15 Caldecott Medals
• 18 Newbery Medals

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Conclusion – Top 6 Best Book Publishing Companies

In an ever-changing market, the best book publishing companies will strive to keep up with industry changes, consumer demands, and the preservation of the written word.

Many of the top book publishing companies listed on our ranking of best book publishing companies continue to make great strides to promote literacy and preserve the inherent value of publishing books.

Whether you are considering sending a manuscript or you want to research the book publishing industry first, looking at the best book publishing companies is an excellent place to start.