Outskirts Press
Thinking about publishing with Outskirts 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
- Proceed with caution — meets 3 of the 11 IBPA hybrid-publisher criteria.
- ALLi rates it Caution.
- Author pays: $999–$1,995 for black-and-white publishing packages (Economy through Ultimate); full-color packages run $1,999–$9,000+. Optional add-ons (editing, cover design, marketing) can push total author spend well above the base package price..
- Author keeps their rights.
- Distribution: trade distribution.
Our assessment
Outskirts Press is a Colorado-based author-pays self-publishing service founded in 2002 by Brent Sampson. Black-and-white publishing packages start at $999 (Economy) and run to $1,995 (Ultimate), with full-color options reaching $9,000 or more; total author spend frequently climbs higher when optional editing, marketing, and design add-ons are purchased.
Writer Beware (Victoria Strauss) documented the company's "Book Your Trip to Hollywood" upsell suite — totaling approximately $15,238 — as exploitative of authors' Hollywood aspirations, noting undisclosed screenwriter credentials and a likely-zero return on investment. This was a service-level critique, not a company-level advisory.
The Alliance of Independent Authors assigns a "Caution" rating (referenced by WritersWeekly); Outskirts Press does not appear in the current ALLi services ratings table at selfpublishingadvice.org. The BBB accredits the company at A+ (since 2004) with 5 complaints on file in the current 3-year reporting period.
Trustpilot shows a 3.8/5 ("Great") aggregate, though from only 5 reviews — a very thin sample. The company's "100% royalties" claim is misleading: it refers to 100% of net profit after trade discounts and production costs, which independent reviewers note may be inflated.
Authors retain copyright under a non-exclusive arrangement. Distribution runs through Ingram and Baker & Taylor to 60,000+ retail outlets, qualifying as trade distribution.
The company does not vet submissions and pricing transparency is limited, with full package costs requiring direct consultation.
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
- Caution
- Writer Beware
- Not listed · source
- BBB
- A+
Writer Beware (Victoria Strauss) documented Outskirts Press's "Book Your Trip to Hollywood" upsell suite — totaling approximately $15,238 for a screenplay adaptation service — as exploitative, noting that the screenwriter's credentials were undisclosed and results were unlikely even if performed by skilled professionals. This was a service-level advisory, not a company-level blanket warning. A separate Writer Beware article from 2010 discusses fake industry awards in general but does not specifically attribute fake awards to Outskirts Press.
Observable red flags
- Charges authors to publish
- Aggressive upsells
- Vague or hidden pricing
Terms
- Typical cost
- $999–$1,995 for black-and-white publishing packages (Economy through Ultimate); full-color packages run $1,999–$9,000+. Optional add-ons (editing, cover design, marketing) can push total author spend well above the base package price.
- Royalty to author
- Claims "100% royalties" but this means 100% of net profit (retail price minus trade discount minus production cost). Production costs are set by Outskirts Press and independent reviewers note these may be inflated, reducing effective author earnings below what the "100%" label implies.
- Author keeps rights
- Yes
- Distribution
- Trade distribution
- What you get
- Cover design (template-based on lower tiers, custom on upper tiers), interior formatting, ISBN, print-on-demand distribution via Ingram and Baker & Taylor with listings at Amazon, Barnes & Noble, Books-a-Million, and 60,000+ retailers worldwide; eBook and audiobook options; optional marketing and editing upsells.
- Website
- outskirtspress.com
Outskirts Press: frequently asked questions
Is Outskirts 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, and ALLi rates it Caution.
How much does Outskirts Press cost?
$999–$1,995 for black-and-white publishing packages (Economy through Ultimate); full-color packages run $1,999–$9,000+. Optional add-ons (editing, cover design, marketing) can push total author spend well above the base package price. Always get the full, itemized price in writing before you commit.
What royalties does Outskirts Press pay authors?
Claims "100% royalties" but this means 100% of net profit (retail price minus trade discount minus production cost). Production costs are set by Outskirts Press and independent reviewers note these may be inflated, reducing effective author earnings below what the "100%" label implies.
Does Outskirts Press take your rights?
No — authors retain their rights. Still read the contract's rights and termination clauses before signing.
Should I publish with Outskirts 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
- Outskirts Press official site — publishing packages (outskirtspress.com)
- Outskirts Press official site — distribution (outskirtspress.com)
- Outskirts Press official site — rights and royalties claim (outskirtspress.com)
- ALLi Watchdog Desk overview (allianceindependentauthors.org)
- Writer Beware: Money-Wasting Opportunities (Outskirts Hollywood upsell) (writerbeware.blog)
- WritersWeekly: Complaints about Outskirts Press (references ALLi Caution rating and historical BBB complaints) (writersweekly.com)
- BBB Profile: Outskirts Press Inc. (bbb.org)
- Trustpilot: Outskirts Press (rated 3.8/5, 5 reviews) (trustpilot.com)
- SelfPublishing.com Outskirts Press Review (selfpublishing.com)
- JJ Hebert Outskirts Press Review (notes inflated production costs, misleading royalty claim) (jjhebertonline.com)