Start an Indie Publishing Company Easily in 2026!

What is it really like owning an independent publishing companyIn this episode of Time We Discuss, host Dan sits down with Susie Schaefer to explore what it is actually like running an independent publishing company. From helping authors publish their first book to guiding experienced writers through complex industry decisions, Susie shares what happens behind the scenes of indie publishing and why understanding how the industry works is critical for success.Susie launched her publishing company in 2019 after decades of experience in human resources, media, and hospitality. What started as a career transition quickly became a thriving business, even during the COVID pandemic. In this conversation, she explains how transferable skills, strong systems, and relationship building play a major role in building a sustainable publishing business.You will hear why publishing still matters in a digital world, how independent publishing gives more people the opportunity to share their stories, and why preserving personal and historical narratives is so important. Susie also breaks down common mistakes new authors make, including why simply uploading a manuscript to Amazon often leads to disappointment.This episode is especially valuable for aspiring authors, entrepreneurs, and anyone curious about careers in publishing. Whether you want to publish your own book, start a publishing company, or understand how books really make it into bookstores and libraries, this conversation offers practical insight and real world experience.In this episode, we discussWhat an independent publishing company actually doesHow Susie transitioned into publishing later in her careerCommon pitfalls new authors face when publishing a bookWhy industry knowledge matters more than everHow networking and referrals drive long term successWho publishing is and is not a good career fit for=================================================================Timestamp:0:00 - Intro0:52 - Why create a publishing company?2:11 - Creating a company during COVID3:23 - Get noticed easily online4:46 - Useful skills for starting an indie publishing company6:05 - Revisiting, why publishing?7:52 - Typical day in a publishing company9:01 - Pitfalls to avoid for self published authors10:28 - Time needed to publish11:15 - On publishing other people's books12:14 - Getting clients and authors13:19 - Effective advertising14:01 - Least favorite part of the day15:24 - Importance of hiring a business coach16:21 - This job isn't for you if17:48 - Pain points for starting a publishing company19:46 - Networking groups specifically in this industry22:15 - Reacting to sudden changes in the industry23:41 - Talent has the floor24:27 - Outro=================================================================Guest Information:Susie SchaeferFinish the Book Publishing WebsiteFinish the Damn Book PodcastAlso Mentioned Directly or Indirectly in This Episode:Become a Virtual Assistant in 2024 - Complete Guide!A Day in the Life of a Behavior Specialist Coach | Business CoachingBecoming a Mentor with Doug LawrenceSmall Business Process Improvement Consultant (Marty Dunn)Being a Real Exorcist (Laura Van Tyne)=================================================================Time We Discuss Links:Official Website: Time We Discuss WebsiteOriginal Music: Original Music furnished by Dan SwiftYouTube: Time We Discuss on YouTubeSpotify: Time We Discuss on SpotifyApple Podcasts: Time We Discuss on Apple PodcastsMore Podcast Platforms: Time We Discuss Podcast on Other PlatformsTwitter/X: Time We Discuss on Twitter/XBluesky: Time We Discuss on BlueskyInstagram: Time We Discuss on InstagramThreads: Time We Discuss on Threads