Searching for A Publishing Company

I've said this before and I will say this again. Always research before you sign on with someone. I've heard many tales of people who were sorry they signed with certain publishing companies. I started out research as well.

Originally, I had sent out a few queries to places that didn't require an agent, need to see a market for my book or wouldn't take talking animals (yes, some refuse). I got accepted by three companies right away. I can't tell you how excited I was. I then thought maybe I should be checking things out more and I was correct to do so. I found a lot of these companies had complaints or were listed as scams. Now I will not mention names but I will tell you that one company was said to make money from the authors who had to buy the books at a high price. The others, they were in it for the money and results weren't always good. One apparently didn't pay it's authors their royalties, many had unsatisfied customers and the list went on and on. It was then that I began looking into print-on-demand services and found one I liked.

It doesn't matter where you go or who you go through, look them up, research (keywords after their names: scam, complaints, etc.) because signing up with them could be the biggest mistake of your life. The same goes for traditional publishers. It doesn't matter who you go through, look into EVERYTHING! Even if there name doesn't show a scam, doesn't mean they are good. Be careful and do your homework.

What kind of things should you look at:

1. Are they legit? - Do they have a business website, contact name and number?
2. Are there any bad remarks about them out there (keep in mind that there are some companies out there who will try to hide it. I know of one who sues at any bad mention of their name)?
3. How much will it cost you to buy books? How many do you have to buy?
4. How much will you have to sell them for (look online and see what other books that size go for and remember that big places like those who make "Berenstein Bears" etc. can afford to charge cheaper so exclude those).
5. How many other books do they have out?
6. What do they offer?
7. Do you still own the rights?
8. Is there a contract and if yes, is it for you?
9. If a person went through the company, did they bring their next book there?
10. Are the prices to publish the same as others? Do they offer the same?

Never sign up with a company right away. Look into a few. BE CAREFUL! You could be giving away your dream!