This guide will walk through what is in our CG Sports Publishing Agreement, why it is there, and what it means for you as an author.
This guide is a helpful summary and is not a substitute for the contract itself. If anything here differs from your signed agreement, the signed agreement controls. You are always welcome to have your own attorney review it.
The Big Picture
What kind of publisher is CG Sports Publishing? We are a hybrid publisher focused on athletes, coaches and sports voices. You pay a one-time production fee, we handle the professional work of turning your manuscript into a finished book, and you keep ownership of your work.
Who owns the copyright to my book? You do. The contract states that all rights to the material in your book are owned solely by you, and you are named as the copyright owner on the copyright page. Any rights not expressly granted to us are reserved by you. You are responsible for applying for the copyright.
Do I keep creative control? You have meaningful say. You approve or disapprove the title, you are reasonably consulted on cover design, and you can review and alter any edits so the final manuscript is reasonably and substantially acceptable to you. We make the final call on production details such as typesetting, paper, binding, imprint and pricing, and we agree on the retail price with you so the book can compete in its market.
What You Get
What format will my book be published in? A paperback with a full-color cover, a black and white interior, an ISBN and barcode. The trim size is set based on your page count. A Kindle ebook conversion is available as an optional add-on.
How long does my book need to be? The minimum is 24 pages. If you want text printed on the spine, you will need at least 124 pages.
What are the final deliverables? You receive professional layout of the interior and cover, a full professional proofread, physical paperback proof copies, and 50 paperback copies of your finished book. Your book is also released for sale and distribution through Ingram and Amazon, with the ebook released on Amazon.
Where will my name and our name appear? Your name appears on the copyright page as the copyright owner. CG Sports Publishing is recognized on at least the copyright page and back cover, including our company name, logo, website, phone number and email. Contributing editors, authors, layout designers and proofreaders may also be credited on the copyright page. We may also use your name and likeness to market your book and related products and services.
How the Process Works
When does my project start, and how long does it take? Work begins once the contract is signed and dated and your first payment is received. Proofreading and publishing then take place over several months. Timing depends heavily on printer schedules and lead times, which are outside our control. Expedited shipping may be available at an additional cost.
What are the steps? Step one is review and approvals. We deliver a physical paperback proof, and you and our team implement edits from your proof review. Once you approve a print-ready PDF, we upload it to the printer and order a final proof. Step two is what we call the Homestretch. We hold a marketing consultation covering your launch plan, your author responsibilities and your email list. Then we print your order, set a hard launch date, and release the book for sale.
What do I need to provide? A delivery address and payment of the invoice for any final book order beyond the 50 included copies.
Can books be shipped to my event? Yes. Book orders can be drop-shipped to event locations that you or your management team specify.
Pricing and Payment
What does it cost? The production fee is $6,000. That covers the end-to-end publishing process and every service included in your agreement, from layout and proofreading through printing, distribution and your 50 author copies. It is paid in two parts: 50% ($3,000) due at signing and 50% ($3,000) due 90 days later.
Are there any other costs? Only if you choose them. Additional author copies, expedited shipping, the optional ebook conversion, and our Author Website Add-On are the main extras. Tax and shipping are added at the time of any book order.
What is the Author Website Add-On? For an additional $2,000, we build your author website. It includes personal branding, a way for readers to buy paid copies and autographed copies directly from you, and public speaking bookings if that is something you want to pursue. Authors tell us it is one of the highest-return parts of the process, because it turns your book into an ongoing platform for sales and opportunities.
What is the total investment? The production fee is $6,000, and the Author Website Add-On is $2,000, so doing both is a total investment of $8,000. The add-on is optional.
Royalties and Earnings
How do I get paid on book sales? You earn a 20% royalty on the cover price of every paperback sold and 25% on every ebook sold, unless your agreement specifies otherwise. Royalties are paid on retail, wholesale and direct sales, in print or electronic format, and are paid out when we receive the funds.
What about wholesale sales? We may offer wholesale discounts to retailers, typically 35% to 60% off, negotiated by us with each retailer. On those discounted wholesale sales you earn a 15% royalty on the purchase price.
Is there a minimum payout? If your royalty balance is under $25, we may hold it until it reaches $25 or more. You will also need to complete a W-9 form before your first royalty payment is sent.
Who reports the sales? We do. CG Sports Publishing is responsible for reporting all online sales of your book.
Are there bonuses for strong sales? Yes. At 1,000 total units sold across any format, your author purchase discount increases by 1%. At 5,000 units sold, your royalty on all retail and wholesale sales increases by 2%.
Buying Your Own Books
Can I buy copies to sell at events, talks or camps? Yes, with no minimum order. You buy directly from us at 60% off the retail price for your first 100 copies, cumulative. After 100 copies purchased, you receive 70% off on orders of 100 at a time. Tax and shipping are added to each order.
Can I resell the books I buy? Yes, at any price you choose, and you keep all of that profit. No royalty applies to your discounted purchases, and you are responsible for keeping records of your own resales.
How does ordering work? You place an order, we send an invoice with shipping, handling and tax, and once payment is received we place the order with the printer. We provide an estimated delivery date and tracking when available.
Your Responsibilities
What am I promising when I sign? You confirm that the book is your own original work, that it is not in the public domain, that you own or have permission for any words, photos or videos in it, and that it has not been previously published. You also confirm that it does not infringe on anyone's copyright or trademark, that it contains nothing obscene or libelous, that statements of fact are true and based on diligent research, and that any advice in it is safe and sound. If your book is a biography or an "as told to" story, it must be authentic and accurate.
What is the indemnity clause? If someone brings a legal claim that, if true, would mean one of your promises was broken, you agree to defend and protect us against it, including legal fees. Both sides must give prompt written notice of any claim. This is standard in publishing agreements, and it is worth reading closely with your attorney if you have questions.
Can I use AI to write my book? No. The contract prohibits using any artificial intelligence tool, including ChatGPT, in creating your manuscript. Our printing and distribution partners review manuscripts and reject submissions found to use AI. If a manuscript is rejected for this reason and not cured, the agreement is cancelled with no refund of fees already paid.
Am I expected to promote my book? Yes. Because we are the exclusive print and distribution channel for your book, you agree to make a reasonable effort to promote it publicly, whether or not it is coordinated with our own promotion. Our Homestretch marketing consultation helps you plan exactly how.
Rights and Protection
Are my rights exclusive to CG Sports Publishing? We are the exclusive print and distribution vehicle for your book. You grant us the right to publish, print, price and distribute it worldwide, and you will confirm that in writing if a distributor asks us for proof. You still own the copyright, and you may use the general ideas and concepts from your book in your day-to-day business.
What if someone infringes on my book? If an infringement claim arises, you and we may pursue it together or separately. If together, costs and any recovery are shared equally. If separately, whoever pursues it bears the costs and keeps any recovery. We are not obligated to start litigation.
Cancellation
What if I cancel while my book is still in production? Any money already paid is not refunded, and 20% of the remaining balance owed is due. We retain the right to cure. This reflects the professional work already underway on your book.
What happens if I fall behind on payments? If you fall behind by 50% of your scheduled payments, production pauses until open invoices are settled. If they are not settled and we have not agreed to extend the timeline, we will treat production as cancelled and the in-production cancellation terms apply.
Can I cancel after my book is published? Yes. You give 30 days written notice, no sooner than 90 days after your book's initial release. You must pay any open invoices for printing and delivery, and orders already in process cannot be cancelled.
What happens to unsold copies? We may continue selling our existing stock until it runs out, or you may buy the remaining stock from us at 25% off the retail cover price.
Can I take my book to another publisher? Yes. If either of us cancels continued printing and distribution, all publishing, printing, pricing and distribution rights revert to you, and we hand over all our documents related to your book electronically at no charge. If you reprint with a new publisher, you agree to keep crediting our contributions, such as co-writing, editing, illustrations, layout and design.
Can CG Sports Publishing end the relationship? We may cancel continued publishing, printing and distribution if we determine the relationship is detrimental to our brand, catalog or reputation. In that case your rights also revert to you.
The Fine Print
Which state's laws govern the agreement? California law, regardless of where the agreement is physically signed.
Is this the whole agreement? Yes. It replaces all earlier communications between you and us about your book.
Can I transfer my agreement to someone else? Not without our prior written consent. The agreement does bind your heirs and successors.
What if something outside your control delays the book? Our obligations extend by the length of any force majeure event, meaning a circumstance beyond our control that prevents us from performing.
Can I have a lawyer review it? Please do. Both parties confirm in the contract that they have had the opportunity to review it with legal counsel and are signing based on their own judgment.
Ready to Talk?
Have a question this FAQ didn't answer, or want to see the full agreement before committing? Reach out to the CG Sports Publishing team and we will walk you through it.
