Step 1 of 5

Who are you?

We need your legal name for the Author Services Agreement, plus how you'd like to appear publicly on your storefront.

Legal Identity

Legal First Name *

Required.

Legal Last Name *

Required.

Pen Name / Author Name (if different from legal name)

This is how your name will appear on your storefront and on all printed books.

Author Bio *

Please enter a short bio.

Appears on your public author storefront. You can update this anytime.

Contact Information

Primary Email *

Please enter a valid email address.

Used for account access, order notifications, and payout confirmations. Never shared publicly.

Phone Number (recommended)

For account security and urgent order issues only.

Author Website (if you have one)

Mailing Address *

Required for your Author Services Agreement.

Used only for your signed agreement. Not shared or used for shipping.

Social Media — optional, helps us verify your author identity

Instagram

Twitter / X

Facebook Page URL

TikTok

Step 2 of 5

Your publishing history

Tell us about your credentials and existing publishing relationships. This helps us confirm your eligibility and understand any existing contract considerations.

NYT Bestseller Credentials

NYT Bestseller List Appearances *

Please describe your NYT bestseller appearance(s).

Include title, list type (Fiction / Nonfiction / Advice etc.), approximate debut date, and weeks on list if known.

Total Books Published *

Career Status *

Publisher & Agent Information

Primary Publisher

Publisher Tier

Literary Agent Name (if represented)

Agent Agency

Agent / Publicist Email (optional)

Only used if we need to copy your representative on any formal correspondence.

Contract Awareness

FreeRoot.io is a technology platform — not a publisher. We do not acquire any rights to your work. However, you are responsible for ensuring your use of our platform complies with any existing publishing contracts. Please confirm the following:

I have the right to sell my books directly to consumers, either because I hold those rights outright, or because my publishing contract permits direct author sales.

I understand FreeRoot.io does not verify or take responsibility for my existing publishing contracts. If any conflict arises with my publisher, I accept sole responsibility.

I have consulted with my literary agent or attorney about using a direct sales platform, OR I understand that it is my responsibility to do so. (Checking this does not require you to have already done so.)

Step 3 of 5

Your books

Tell us about the titles you want to sell through FreeRoot.io. You can add more titles after onboarding from your author dashboard.

Book 1

Title *

Please enter the book title.

ISBN-13 (if available)

Found on the back cover barcode or copyright page.

Publication Year

Genre / Category *

Literary Fiction Commercial Fiction Nonfiction Memoir / Biography Self-Help YA / Teen Children's Romance Political Other

Formats to sell *

Paperback Hardcover eBook (PDF) Signed Copy

Signed copies require you to mail pre-signed stock to our fulfillment partner. We'll walk you through this after approval.

Your Selling Price *

You set this. We recommend $18–$28 for paperbacks.

Page Count (approx.)

Used to calculate your exact printing cost.

Short Book Description *

Please enter a brief book description.

Cover Image (high-res JPG or PNG, 300 DPI)

🖼️

Click to upload or drag and drop your cover image
JPG or PNG · Min 1400×2100px · Max 20MB

Print-Ready Interior PDF (for paperback / hardcover)

📄

Click to upload your interior PDF
PDF/X-1a preferred · Fonts embedded · Bleed marks included

Don't have a print-ready PDF? Our team can help you prepare one from your manuscript for a one-time $75 setup fee.

Step 4 of 5

Where should we send your money?

Earnings are paid out on a rolling 7-day cycle. You can change your payout method at any time from your dashboard.

Payout Method

Account Holder Name *

Routing Number *

9-digit ABA routing number from your bank.

Account Number *

Account Type *

Checking

Savings

Bank info is encrypted via Stripe Connect and never stored on FreeRoot.io servers.

PayPal Email Address *

Must be a verified PayPal Business or Premier account for amounts over $500/month.

Payable To (name on check) *

Mailing Address for Checks *

Checks are mailed monthly (not weekly). Minimum balance of $25 before a check is issued. $2.50 processing fee per check.

Tax Information

Tax ID Type *

Required to issue Form 1099 for earnings over $600/year.

Tax ID Number *

Encrypted and stored securely. Never shared beyond IRS reporting requirements.

Business Name (if filing as LLC or corporation)

I certify that the Tax ID information above is correct and that I am a U.S. person (or entity) subject to U.S. tax reporting requirements. I understand FreeRoot.io will issue a Form 1099-NEC for annual earnings over $600.

Step 5 of 5

Review & sign your agreement

Read the summary of your Author Services Agreement below. By signing, you confirm your identity and agree to the terms — including the non-disclosure of our platform methods.

Author Services Agreement — Key Terms Summary

What FreeRoot.io provides

A software-as-a-service technology platform enabling you to sell your books directly to readers. We provide the storefront, payment processing (via Stripe), print-on-demand fulfillment (via Lulu Direct), and a 7-day rolling payout system.

What you pay

A flat fee of $1.00 per book sold. No monthly fees, no setup costs, no revenue share beyond the $1.00 per-unit fee. Stripe fees and Lulu Direct print costs are passed through at exact cost with no markup.

Your rights

You retain 100% ownership of all intellectual property in your works. This agreement is entirely non-exclusive. You may sell your books through any other channel simultaneously.

Confidentiality & Non-Disclosure

Both parties agree to keep each other's confidential information private. This includes FreeRoot.io's technical architecture, API methods, and vendor relationships. You agree not to reverse engineer or replicate our platform methods. These obligations survive termination for 5 years.

Your reader data

All customer data collected through your storefront belongs to you. FreeRoot.io does not sell, rent, or use your reader data for marketing purposes.

Termination

Either party may terminate with 30 days written notice. No exit fees. Full data export provided within 14 days of request.

Governing law

This agreement is governed by applicable state law. Disputes are resolved first through mediation, then binding arbitration under AAA rules if needed.

The full Author Services Agreement will be sent to your email upon submission for your records. You may also download a copy before signing.

I have read and agree to the Author Services Agreement, including all sections on fees, rights, confidentiality, and termination.

I agree to the Non-Disclosure Agreement. I will not disclose, replicate, or reverse engineer FreeRoot.io's proprietary platform methods, technical architecture, or vendor relationships. This obligation lasts 5 years after my agreement ends.

I confirm that I have the legal right to sell my books directly to consumers through this platform, and that doing so does not violate any existing publishing contract or licensing agreement to the best of my knowledge.

I understand I am solely responsible for reporting and paying all applicable income taxes on earnings received through FreeRoot.io. I will receive a Form 1099-NEC for earnings over $600 per calendar year.

Electronic Signature

By typing your full legal name below and submitting this application, you are providing a legally binding electronic signature under the Electronic Signatures in Global and National Commerce Act (E-SIGN Act, 15 U.S.C. § 7001).

Type your full legal name to sign *

Please type your full legal name to sign.

Must match the legal name entered in Step 1.

Date of Signature *

Signing Capacity *

🌿

Application received.

Welcome to FreeRoot.io. We'll review your application within 48 hours and send next steps — including your signed agreement and storefront setup instructions — to the email you provided.

APPLICATION #FR-A-000000

A copy of your signed Author Services Agreement has been emailed to you. Keep your application number for your records.

What happens next

Our team reviews your application and credentials — usually within 48 hours.

You receive a countersigned copy of your Author Services Agreement by email.

We set up your author storefront and connect your book files to our print partner.

You review and approve a print proof before your storefront goes live.

Your storefront goes live and your first sale can happen the same day.