Gatekeeper Press
Thinking about publishing with Gatekeeper Press? Here’s an independent, sourced look at whether it’s a legitimate self-publishing service 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
- Proceed with caution — meets 3 of the 11 IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria.
- Author pays: Individual services from $250 (e.g., cover design elements, metadata); packages: Signature Package $3,500 (listed from $4,000), Children's Book Package $3,500, Poetry/Novella Package $4,000 (listed from $5,250); editing add-ons $25–$55 per 1,000 words; Gatekeeper+ membership available at discounted rates.
- Author keeps their rights.
- Distribution: trade distribution.
Our assessment
Gatekeeper Press is a US-based self-publishing service co-founded in 2015 by Rob Price and Tony Chellini, headquartered in Tampa, FL. Authors pay upfront for professional production services — packages currently ranging from approximately $3,500 (Signature, Children's Book) to $4,000 (Poetry/Novella, after listed discounts from higher prices), plus à la carte add-ons — in exchange for which the company makes no claim on royalties or rights.
Authors retain 100% ownership, 100% of royalties, and full creative control, as stated explicitly on the company website. Distribution is through major online retail platforms (Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play) and through Ingram Content Group, which serves physical bookstores and libraries; this distribution profile is closer to trade-accessible than strictly online-only, though guaranteed physical shelf placement is not claimed.
The BBB lists the company at A+ accredited since December 2023, with only 3 complaints filed in the past 3 years — a small volume, though the documented complaints include: (1) unilateral introduction of $1.05 ACH fees on royalty deposits without contractual authorization, and (2) conditioning refund settlements on authors signing NDAs that required removal of negative reviews. The NDA-as-settlement tactic, documented in BBB complaint records, is a material concern.
Trustpilot shows a 3.7/5 score based on only 6 reviews as of early 2026 — too thin a sample to be reliable. The one published independent review (Indie Author Magazine) is sponsored content and carries limited probative weight.
Regarding ALLi: Gatekeeper Press is not listed in any ALLi Watchdog Advisory, Caution, Recommended, or Approved Partner tier. The company's own page implicitly suggests an ALLi endorsement by contrasting itself favorably against ALLi-flagged publishers, but independent verification found no ALLi rating assigned to Gatekeeper Press.
The company is an IBPA member but explicitly identifies as a self-publishing service rather than a hybrid publisher and does not meet most IBPA hybrid criteria. Authors considering four-figure upfront fees should carefully review contract terms regarding fee changes, royalty payment mechanics, and any settlement or NDA provisions.
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
- Not rated · source
- Writer Beware
- Not listed
- BBB
- A+
No listing found on Writer Beware (SFWA) or related watchdog resources as of June 2026.
Observable red flags
- Charges authors to publish
- Aggressive upsells
Terms
- Typical cost
- Individual services from $250 (e.g., cover design elements, metadata); packages: Signature Package $3,500 (listed from $4,000), Children's Book Package $3,500, Poetry/Novella Package $4,000 (listed from $5,250); editing add-ons $25–$55 per 1,000 words; Gatekeeper+ membership available at discounted rates
- Royalty to author
- 100% of net royalties; company earns revenue from upfront service fees only
- Author keeps rights
- Yes
- Distribution
- Trade distribution
- What you get
- Cover design, formatting (paperback, hardcover, eBook), optional editing/proofreading, free ISBNs and barcodes, Library of Congress registration, worldwide distribution via Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Apple Books, Kobo, Google Play, Ingram Content Group (which serves bookstores and libraries), IndieBound, Bookshop.org, OverDrive, Scribd, and others; author copies; dedicated Author Manager; optional marketing services. Authors retain 100% rights and royalties.
- Website
- gatekeeperpress.com
Gatekeeper Press: frequently asked questions
Is Gatekeeper Press a legitimate hybrid publisher or a vanity press?
Glass Elevator's assessment is "Proceed with caution." Mixed signals — meets some criteria but not all, or has notable terms to weigh. Do your due diligence. It meets 3 of the 11 IBPA Hybrid Publisher Criteria.
How much does Gatekeeper Press cost?
Individual services from $250 (e.g., cover design elements, metadata); packages: Signature Package $3,500 (listed from $4,000), Children's Book Package $3,500, Poetry/Novella Package $4,000 (listed from $5,250); editing add-ons $25–$55 per 1,000 words; Gatekeeper+ membership available at discounted rates Always get the full, itemized price in writing before you commit.
What royalties does Gatekeeper Press pay authors?
100% of net royalties; company earns revenue from upfront service fees only
Does Gatekeeper Press take your rights?
No — authors retain their rights. Still read the contract's rights and termination clauses before signing.
Should I publish with Gatekeeper Press?
That's your call, but here's the basis: Mixed signals — meets some criteria but not all, or has notable terms to weigh. Do your due diligence. 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
- Gatekeeper Press – Official Site (Homepage) (gatekeeperpress.com)
- Gatekeeper Press – Pricing Page (gatekeeperpress.com)
- Gatekeeper Press – Distribution/Retailers Page (gatekeeperpress.com)
- Gatekeeper Press – Self-Publishing Companies to Avoid (implicit ALLi claim examined) (gatekeeperpress.com)
- Publishers Weekly – Self-Pub Startup Gatekeeper Offering 100% Royalty (2015) (publishersweekly.com)
- BBB Business Profile – Gatekeeper Press LLC (A+, accredited 2023) (bbb.org)
- BBB Complaints – Gatekeeper Press LLC (3 complaints; ACH fee and NDA settlement patterns documented) (bbb.org)
- Trustpilot – Gatekeeper Press (3.7/5, 6 reviews — very thin sample) (trustpilot.com)
- ALLi Self-Publishing Services Reviews and Ratings Index (Gatekeeper Press listed but not rated) (selfpublishingadvice.org)
- ALLi Best and Worst Self-Publishing Services (Gatekeeper Press absent from all rated tiers) (selfpublishingadvice.org)
- ALLi Watchdog Desk (Gatekeeper Press absent) (allianceindependentauthors.org)
- Indie Author Magazine – Gatekeeper Press Review (sponsored content) (indieauthormagazine.com)
- IBPA – Gatekeeper Press member page (ibpa-online.org)
- Rob Price – Founder & CEO – Gatekeeper Press (LinkedIn) (linkedin.com)
- Interview With Gatekeeper Press Co-Founders Rob Price & Tony Chellini (2019) (sobookingcool.com)