Balboa Press
Thinking about publishing with Balboa Press? Here’s an independent, sourced look at whether it’s a legitimate vanity press or one to avoid — measured against the IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria, the ALLi Watchdog, and Writer Beware, and last checked on 2026-06-09.
Key findings
- Not recommended — meets 1 of the 11 IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria.
- ALLi rates it Watchdog Advisory; Writer Beware lists it.
- Author pays: $1,699–$17,699 (five tiers: Accelerator $1,699, Seeker $2,599, Embracer $6,299, Master $11,499, Phoenix $17,699).
- Author keeps their rights.
- Distribution: online retailers only.
- Watch for: part of a known bad network.
Our assessment
Balboa Press is a paid author-services imprint of Hay House, fully operated by Author Solutions (ASI) — a relationship the company buries in fine print rather than disclosing prominently, which Writer Beware flagged as deliberate concealment. Author Solutions has received a Watchdog Advisory from the Alliance of Independent Authors (ALLi), and ALLi's public analysis concludes the network "makes money from its Authors, not for them" by selling packages that "do not actually sell any books." In March 2025 Author Solutions was acquired by Center Street Ventures from The Najafi Companies; the functional Hay House partnership for Balboa Press appears unchanged.
Packages range from $1,699 to $17,699 (confirmed on Balboa's own website), plus ongoing fees for post-publication corrections. Royalties for third-party channel sales are 10% of retail — confirmed directly from Balboa's FAQ — well below what free platforms (Amazon KDP, IngramSpark) provide at up to 70%.
Authors formally retain rights under a non-exclusive contract. Distribution is print-on-demand to online retailers only; while bookstores can order via POD channels, there is no guaranteed brick-and-mortar shelf placement or wholesale/library buy-in.
Consumer review aggregators show severe dissatisfaction: 1.2/5 on ComplaintsBoard (24 complaints, 96% unresolved) and 1.1/5 on PissedConsumer. Trustpilot shows an overall rating of approximately 1.8/5 (rated "Poor") across hundreds of reviews.
Author Solutions LLC holds 145+ BBB complaints in three years despite an A+ accreditation, which reflects ASI's practice of responding to complaints rather than resolving them. The Balboa Press name functions primarily as a Hay House brand halo rather than any substantive publishing partnership.
This is Glass Elevator’s assessment based on the sources listed below. Facts are attributed; opinions are the watchdogs’ own.
IBPA hybrid criteria
- Defines a clear mission & vision
- Vets submissions (is selective)
- Commits to truth & transparency
- Provides a negotiable, clear contract
- Publishes under its own imprint & ISBNs
- Publishes to industry standards
- Ensures editorial & design quality
- Manages a range of rights
- Provides real distribution
- Demonstrates respectable sales
- Pays higher-than-standard royalties
Watchdog ratings
- ALLi Watchdog
- Watchdog Advisory · source
- Writer Beware
- Listed · source
- BBB
- A+ (Author Solutions LLC — 145+ complaints in 3 years, 1.38/5 customer review average; BBB A+ reflects complaint-response rate, not resolution quality)
Writer Beware (Victoria Strauss) flagged Balboa Press in 2013, specifically citing concealment of the Author Solutions (ASI) connection, aggressive upsell tactics, documented quality failures, and poor service quality. ASI is described as "notorious for high-pressure sales tactics."
Observable red flags
- Charges authors to publish
- Money required upfront
- Part of a known bad network
- Aggressive upsells
- Vague or hidden pricing
- No real trade distribution
Terms
- Typical cost
- $1,699–$17,699 (five tiers: Accelerator $1,699, Seeker $2,599, Embracer $6,299, Master $11,499, Phoenix $17,699)
- Royalty to author
- 10% of retail price for third-party channel sales (e.g., Amazon); 25% of retail for sales through the Balboa Press bookstore; 50% of digital net for e-books. Royalties paid quarterly only when balance exceeds $75. An optional Author Advantage Royalty Program (additional fee, undisclosed cost) raises retail-channel royalties to 15%.
- Author keeps rights
- Yes
- Distribution
- Online retailers only
- What you get
- ISBN, cover design, formatting, e-book conversion, print-on-demand distribution to Amazon and major online retailers (no guaranteed brick-and-mortar trade placement — bookstores may order via POD but are not contractually obligated to stock), Library of Congress Control Number, and optional marketing upsells. Higher tiers add hardcover copies, author website, and promotional materials.
- Website
- www.balboapress.com
Balboa Press: frequently asked questions
Is Balboa Press a legitimate hybrid publisher or a vanity press?
Glass Elevator's assessment is "Not recommended." Watchdog advisories, serious red flags, or membership in a known bad network. We do not recommend it. It meets 1 of the 11 IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria, and ALLi rates it Watchdog Advisory, and Writer Beware lists it.
How much does Balboa Press cost?
$1,699–$17,699 (five tiers: Accelerator $1,699, Seeker $2,599, Embracer $6,299, Master $11,499, Phoenix $17,699) Always get the full, itemized price in writing before you commit.
What royalties does Balboa Press pay authors?
10% of retail price for third-party channel sales (e.g., Amazon); 25% of retail for sales through the Balboa Press bookstore; 50% of digital net for e-books. Royalties paid quarterly only when balance exceeds $75. An optional Author Advantage Royalty Program (additional fee, undisclosed cost) raises retail-channel royalties to 15%.
Does Balboa Press take your rights?
No — authors retain their rights. Still read the contract's rights and termination clauses before signing.
Is Balboa Press on Writer Beware or ALLi's watchdog list?
Writer Beware lists Balboa Press. ALLi has issued a Watchdog Advisory for it. See the sources on this page for the listings, and research independently before paying anything.
Should I publish with Balboa Press?
That's your call, but here's the basis: Watchdog advisories, serious red flags, or membership in a known bad network. We do not recommend it. Compare it against the IBPA checklist and watchdog ratings above, get every term in writing, and remember that traditional trade publishers pay authors rather than charging them.
Sources
- Writer Beware: Balboa Press / Author Solutions warning (2013) (writerbeware.blog)
- ALLi Self-Publishing Advice: Latest on Author Solutions (Watchdog) (selfpublishingadvice.org)
- SelfPublishing.com: Balboa Press Review (2024, 2/5 stars) (selfpublishing.com)
- Balboa Press Packages & Pricing (official site) (balboapress.com)
- Balboa Press FAQ: Royalty percentages confirmed (official site) (balboapress.com)
- WritersWeekly: Scathing Complaints about Balboa Press (writersweekly.com)
- WritersWeekly: More Complaints about Author Solutions (names Balboa Press) (writersweekly.com)
- BBB Business Profile: Author Solutions LLC (bbb.org)
- ComplaintsBoard: Balboa Press (1.2/5, 24 complaints) (complaintsboard.com)
- PissedConsumer: Balboa Press (1.1/5) (pissedconsumer.com)
- Wikipedia: Author Solutions — ownership history and imprints (en.wikipedia.org)
- PR Newswire: Author Solutions acquired by Center Street Ventures (March 2025) (prnewswire.com)
- Trustpilot: Balboa Press reviews (rated Poor, ~1.8/5) (trustpilot.com)