Ask five companies “how long?” and you will hear whatever closes the sale. Here is the honest range.
If files are already retail-ready
DIY upload to KDP can be days (plus Amazon’s review). Wide/POD setup adds more if you are new to the dashboard. The clock is account review and your proofing, not design.
If you still need production
Editing + cover + interior + proofs is measured in weeks. AuthorShelf’s typical window for a ready manuscript with timely approvals is about 6–8 weeks. That is not a guarantee. It slips when:
- Title Setup is incomplete
- The draft still needs structural work
- Cover revisions loop without decisions
- eProof comments arrive in batches weeks apart
The portal exists so you can see which phase you are in instead of guessing from email subject lines. See the six-phase process.
Rush jobs
A launch date is a constraint, not a magic wand. We would rather tell you a date is unrealistic than ship an unproofed interior. Ask on a readiness call if you have a hard event date.