Step Seven - A Self-fulfilling Procedure

- Soliciting and receiving orders

- Warehousing books

- Packing

- Shipping

- Handling returns

- Restocking titles

Believe it or not, many small publishers perform all these duties from a space as small as a garage. For some of us it's the dining room.

A MAJOR DISADVANTAGE TO "SELF" FULFILLMENT DUTIES

One of the disadvantages of the self-publisher performing all these duties is that they are time consuming. This can lead to inefficient processing and slow response. Before signing up to handle all these responsibilities, explore the other possibilities of having an outside source perform this requirement. We'll cover the topic of fulfillment services in an upcoming article.

FULFILLMENT RECORDKEEPING

Another important aspect of distribution and fulfillment is handling the accounting for all the transactions. If you are computer literate and somewhat comfortable with recordkeeping, these functions can easily be handled in-house. If you are not familiar with recordkeeping but want to be, reference the book Organize Your Books in 6 Easy Steps. This book is dedicated to helping the small and home-based business owner organize, collate and prepare their business records. Many of you will be glad to know that the foundation of this book is organization, not accounting!

Fortunately, you don't have to do all this work by hand. Using a fulfillment software program can and will make your life easier. Your task will be to determine which software is most appropriate for your needs. Stay tuned for next month's article on choosing a fulfillment software program that's right for you.

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