Authors should consider the length of the contract and the rights granted to the publisher. Publication rights usually revert to an author once a book goes out of print. A problem with on-demand printing is that a book published on-demand never goes out of print in the traditional sense. A publisher may go out of business, however, leaving the writer and his book in limbo. Therefore, a clause must be implemented dealing specifically with this issue defining the length of the contract and what happens in the event the publisher goes out of business.
The book contract should have a section that deals with the design of the book including such aspects as the cover design, interior, size and file format. In some cases, the writer will have little or no input on what the book looks like. In other cases, the writer may be responsible for the entire book design and layout.
POD books carry a higher cover price than trade books released by traditional publishers. A high cover price can affect sales. POD books also cannot be returned for credit like regular trade books. Because of this, and due to the higher price, many brick and mortar bookstores will not sell these books. When choosing an on-demand publisher, writers should consider whether the publisher sets the price of the book or grants the writer the option of setting the price.
A difference exists between a publisher that uses a POD printing service, such as Lightning Source, and a POD publisher offering self-publishing services to writers. The former chooses the writer's book, assigns an editor and invests time and money in its publication. The writer does not pay anything for the book's publication. With a POD publisher, the writer pays for certain services. Uploading and storing the book file typically requires a fee. The publisher may also charge for editing and distribution packages as well as for the ISBN (International Standard Book Number) --- usually at an inflated price. Writers should also look hard at the percentage of the author discount.