POLICIES

SoldByAuthor.com Policies & Legal Disclosures
Effective Date: May 7, 2025

Sales Tax & Payment Processing Disclosure

SoldByAuthor.com (“we,” “our,” or “us”) acts as the official seller of record for all book sales made through our platform. We process payments securely through Stripe and handle the collection and remittance of sales tax where applicable under state and federal law.

A small per-transaction processing fee (typically 3–4%) is applied at checkout and paid by the buyer. This fee covers standard credit card processing costs incurred by our platform.

Authors receive 100% of the book’s listed price (before tax and buyer-paid processing fees). Authors do not need to create a Stripe account to receive sales proceeds; payouts are distributed directly by SoldByAuthor.com on a scheduled basis (see “Author Payouts” below).

We handle tax compliance and fee transparency so authors can focus on creating and promoting their work.

Privacy Policy

SoldByAuthor.com is committed to protecting your privacy. This Privacy Policy explains how we collect, use, and safeguard your information.

1. Information We Collect

  • Personal information (name, email, payment details) when you make a purchase or sign up

  • Author information (bio, photo, book details) submitted for publication

  • Non-personal data (browser type, IP address, usage analytics)

2. How We Use Your Information

  • To deliver purchased content and manage your account

  • To communicate with you about orders, updates, and promotions

  • To improve platform functionality and customer experience

3. Who We Share Information With

  • Payment processors (e.g., Stripe)

  • Website hosting and embedded content delivery providers

  • Analytics and marketing tools (e.g., Facebook Pixel)

4. Security
We use encryption protocols and access controls to protect your data. However, no method is 100% secure.

5. Cookies
We use cookies to improve site performance and analytics. You may disable cookies in your browser settings.

6. Your Rights
You may request to access, update, or delete your personal data by contacting us at: support@soldbyauthor.com

7. Policy Updates
We may update this Privacy Policy at any time. Updates will be posted on this page.

8. Contact
Questions? Email us at: support@soldbyauthor.com

Terms of Service

Welcome to SoldByAuthor.com (“Platform,” “we,” “us,” or “our”), a service designed to help independent authors sell their books directly to readers. By using our platform, you (“User,” “Author,” or “Reader”) agree to these Terms of Service (“Terms”).

If you do not agree to these Terms, do not use our services.

1. Eligibility
You must be at least 18 years old and legally able to enter binding contracts to use SoldByAuthor.com.

2. Account Registration
Certain features require creating an account. You agree to provide accurate information and maintain account security.

3. Membership & Payments

  • Authors must enroll in a paid membership plan, which may include a free trial

  • Membership fees are charged via Stripe and renew automatically unless canceled

  • Membership fees are non-refundable once charged

4. Author Responsibilities
By publishing on SoldByAuthor.com, authors agree to:

  • Only upload content they own or have rights to distribute

  • Accurately represent their work

  • Set honest pricing

  • Deliver a positive reader experience

We reserve the right to remove content that violates these Terms or harms platform integrity.

5. Book Sales & Payouts

  • SoldByAuthor.com acts as the seller of record for all book sales

  • Payments are processed securely through Stripe

  • Authors receive 100% of the book’s listed price (before tax and buyer-paid processing fees)

  • SoldByAuthor.com distributes payouts to authors on a scheduled basis

  • Authors are responsible for reporting their earnings to tax authorities

6. Content Ownership & License
Authors retain full ownership of their work. By publishing, you grant SoldByAuthor.com a limited, non-exclusive license to display, promote, and deliver your content.

7. Prohibited Conduct
You may not:

  • Upload illegal, infringing, or obscene material

  • Misrepresent your identity or work

  • Access others’ accounts or data without permission

  • Disrupt platform security or operations

8. Refund Policy
All book sales are final. Membership fees are non-refundable unless required by law.

9. Termination
We may suspend or terminate accounts violating these Terms or abusing the platform.

10. Ad-Supported Content (Optional)
Authors may choose to enable ads within their flipbooks to offset membership fees. All ads must comply with platform guidelines.

11. Member Referral Program
Authors may earn referral credits for bringing new Author Members to the platform. Referral program terms may change over time; current program details are published on our site.

12. Agent Access Area (Planned Feature)
We may offer a secure portal for literary agents and publishers to preview author content. Participation is optional.

13. Disclaimers & Limitation of Liability
SoldByAuthor.com is provided “as-is.” We do not guarantee uninterrupted service or results. We disclaim liability to the fullest extent permitted by law.

14. Governing Law
These Terms are governed by U.S. law, specifically the State of South Carolina.

15. Modifications
We may update these Terms or Policies at any time. Continued use of the platform constitutes acceptance.

Author Payout Policy

SoldByAuthor.com distributes author sales proceeds directly to authors via approved payout methods (PayPal, Zelle, ACH). Payouts are processed on a scheduled basis (monthly or as otherwise posted on our site).

Authors receive 100% of their book’s listed price (before tax and buyer-paid platform processing fees). Stripe’s standard processing fees and applicable taxes are accounted for at checkout and do not reduce author payout amounts.

Authors are responsible for reporting their earnings and fulfilling any tax obligations under applicable laws.

Payment Processing Fees & Price Transparency

A small platform processing fee (typically 3–4%) is applied to each buyer transaction at checkout. This fee is transparently displayed to buyers and covers credit card processing costs incurred by SoldByAuthor.com.

Authors are not charged any platform fees or payment processing costs deducted from their listed book price; they retain 100% of their set price.