Rule #4 - Beware start-up Publishers

While every Publisher has to begin somewhere you need to know how to avoid the ones that are scams. Yes, scams. These publishers are ones that spring up and yet look great on the surface. But they are nothing but piranhas waiting for you to step into their pool and then tear you apart. These publishers have all the bells and whistles, sound amazing, have contracts and even have websites. There are a few things you should know though to be able to spot a fraud over the real deal.

Please note, these are just a few of the ways to discover if they may not be what they claim to be.

• Search their name and see if they have a business licence. The most reputable publishers out there will have one. The easiest way to tell is if they have a LLC you would most likely see attached to their legal name indicated they have a business licence. They can't put it on there if they don't have one but not all have it visible in the obvious places, so do the search to be sure.
  
• Do a web search to see if they have any legal issues. For example, are they being sued or are they behind on paying taxes or some such thing.
• Search their domain name on something like GoDaddy.com. If you can purchase their domain that means they are likely using a free version on wherever their host is. This also means they can pull up stakes damned fast if they feel the need.
• They tell you that you will need to pay for edits. This is a huge red flag, anyone that is anyone in the publishing business doesn't make their authors pay for their own edits. This is beyond low.
• They have a very generic contract that has the wrong jurisdictional information. In other words, in their contract, it shows that they are based in Florida and yet their contract would be legislated in New York. Do you smell something foul yet?
• Check with the BBB (Better Business Bureau) and see what their standing is, if they even have one.

Now, these are but a few of the instant ways to be aware you are dealing with hacks. There are many more and, really, always trust your instincts. If something doesn't feel right to you, trust that gut reaction and go with it. It's better to be wary and safe than to find out you've been fucked over by scumbags only out for a buck.

The Moderator