Vendors
Keep track of the people and services you work with. Store contact information, track spending, and maintain a reliable network of service providers.
What are Vendors?
Vendors are the people and companies you pay to help with your author business — editors, cover designers, formatters, advertising services, and more. Keeping a vendor list helps you:
- Remember who you have worked with
- Store contact information in one place
- Track how much you have spent with each vendor
- Build a reliable team over time
Adding a Vendor
- Go to Dashboard → Finance → Vendors
- Click + New Vendor
- Enter the vendor's name
- Add optional details (see fields below)
- Click Create
Vendor Fields
| Field | Description |
|---|---|
| Name | Company or person's name (required) |
| Logo | Upload or link to their logo image |
| URL Template | Their website or link pattern for your books |
| Display Order | Sort order for lists and dropdowns |
| Status | Active or Inactive |
Tip
Use the URL Template field for retailers to store their product URL pattern. For example, Amazon's pattern might be https://amazon.com/dp/followed by your ASIN.
Types of Vendors
Common vendor categories for authors:
Creative Services
- Developmental editors
- Copy editors
- Proofreaders
- Cover designers
- Illustrators
- Interior formatters
Production Services
- Audiobook narrators
- Audio producers
- Print-on-demand services (IngramSpark, BookVault)
- ISBN providers
Marketing Services
- Advertising platforms (Facebook, Amazon)
- Promotional services (BookBub, Freebooksy)
- Virtual assistants
- Newsletter swap services
Retail Platforms
- Amazon KDP
- Apple Books
- Kobo
- Barnes & Noble
- Google Play Books
- Draft2Digital
Tracking Spending
When you record an expense in Finance, you can link it to a vendor. This lets you:
- See total spending per vendor
- Compare costs across similar service providers
- Track which vendors you use most often
- Identify your biggest expenses
Retailer Links
For retail vendors (Amazon, Apple, etc.), you can create retailer links that connect to your book variations. This stores:
- Direct purchase URLs for each book format
- Retailer-specific pricing
- Affiliate information (if applicable)
These links can be displayed on your author website or used in marketing materials.
Best Practices
- Add vendors as you use them — Update your list after each project
- Keep contact info current — Update emails and websites when they change
- Note quality — Add notes about your experience for future reference
- Link all expenses — Always connect financial transactions to vendors
- Review annually — Check which vendors you have not used recently
Building Your Team
Over time, you will build a reliable network of service providers. Your vendor list becomes a valuable business asset — a curated team you can count on for each new book.