Write a business plan. The business plan is the foundation of your business; write it yourself or hire a professional to assist you. It should include a summary of what you want from this business, a description of the business, a marketing plan (logo, ads, brochures, web, social networking), an analysis of the competition, a design and development plan, your plan to structure everyday operations and management (a good time to check legal requirements for running your business) and financial forecasts (how you plan to finance your endeavor, what it will take to keep it running).
Register your business. You can obtain information at the office of your Secretary of State. To register, you need your chosen business structure–sole proprietorship, partnership, Limited Liability Company (LLC) or Limited Liability Partnership (LLP). You also need the name of your company. As a children’s publisher, select something fun and catchy and easy to remember. Also make sure the name is not already registered.
Select software programs. You need software that supports day-to-day operations – finance, email, calendar and website. You also need software for book layout. Most writers draft their manuscripts in Word, so operate in Microsoft Office. In addition, you need access to a graphics program or software package. Adobe Creative Suite is the industry standard.
Purchase an International Standard Book Number (ISBN) block. The ISBN number is a barcode number that signifies the publisher and print version. They are sold in blocks of 10, 100 and 1000. To select the right block for your needs, estimate the number of books you plan to publish in the next five years–including reprints. Looking ahead helps you minimize cost, while maintaining the publisher prefix.
Find a printer. When you first start out, find a company that prints small runs. Perhaps the easiest way to go about this is by joining a professional organization, such as Small Publishers Association of North America (SPAN). Such associations provide production and distribution resources; benefits may also include discounts.
Find a distributor. Once the books are printed, they are delivered either to you, the publisher, or to the distributor. You share the profits with a distributor, but the distributor also shares the logistical load. A distributor not only fills orders, it gets your books into more libraries and stores–and the greater your presence, the greater chance of a sale.