Balboa Press is the paid self-publishing division of Hay House, operated by Author Solutions. You pay $1,699 to $17,699 for a US publishing package, Balboa designs and lists your book, and you earn 10% of the retail price on most print sales.
It suits you if you write in the mind-body-spirit space, want a finished printed book without learning any software, and see the fee as the cost of a keepsake or a speaking tool. If you want the book to earn back its cost, publishing it yourself costs a fraction of the price and pays several times the royalty.
In this Balboa Press review, you’ll learn:
- What every US, UK and Australian package costs, checked on November 2, 2026
- How the Hay House connection really works, and what the contract says
- What Balboa Press reviews and complaints on Trustpilot and the BBB show
- Where Balboa Press genuinely beats us, and who should walk away
Here is the full assessment.
What Balboa Press Actually Is
Balboa Press — a print-on-demand self-publishing service that sells design, production, distribution and marketing packages to authors who pay up front, branded as “a division of Hay House.”
Hay House launched it in 2010 with Author Solutions running the operation. Writer Beware covered the launch of the division in 2010, when packages ran from $999 to $7,999.
The contract tells you who you actually deal with. The current Balboa Press author agreement names Get Publishing! LLC, “a subsidiary of Author Solutions, LLC doing business as Balboa Press,” in Bloomington, Indiana.
That is the same company behind AuthorHouse, Xlibris and iUniverse. Our Xlibris review covers the March 2025 sale of Author Solutions to Center Street Ventures. Hay House itself now belongs to Penguin Random House, which announced the acquisition in December 2023.
How Does the Hay House Connection Work?
The Hay House connection is a discovery opportunity, not a publishing deal. Balboa says Hay House monitors its titles for authors to add to the Hay House list. Publishing with Balboa does not make you a Hay House author, and Hay House pays nothing for your book.
The nonfiction package comparison lists “Opportunity for Discovery by Hay House” on every package. Placement in the Hay House online catalog starts at Beacon ($4,299).
Balboa’s own site names two authors Hay House later picked up: Shawn Leonard, whose book was retitled Spirit Talker, and Mark Crowley with Lead from the Heart. We found no published figure for how many of Balboa’s titles Hay House has acquired, so treat it as a rare outcome rather than a likely one.
What Do Balboa Press Packages Cost?
Balboa Press packages cost $1,699 to $17,699 for nonfiction and $2,599 to $8,999 for fiction in the US. Every nonfiction package includes cover design, interior formatting, an ISBN, an ebook, a softcover and worldwide distribution. Prices exclude tax.
These figures come from the Balboa Press nonfiction comparison page, checked on November 2, 2026.
| Accelerator | Seeker | Beacon | Embracer | Master | Phoenix | |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Price (US) | $1,699 | $2,599 | $4,299 | $6,299 | $11,499 | $17,699 |
| Ebook, softcover, cover, ISBN | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Hardcover | No | Add-on | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Free softcover copies | 0 | 10 | 15 | 20 | 25 | 40 |
| Free hardcover copies | 0 | 0 | 3 | 5 | 10 | 15 |
| Image insertions | 20 | 20 | 35 | 50 | 75 | Unlimited |
| Library of Congress number | No | Included | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| US copyright registration | No | No | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Editorial assessment | No | Add-on | Add-on | Included | Included | Included |
| Bookstore returns program | No | Add-on | 12 months | 12 months | 24 months | 36 months |
| Hay House catalog placement | No | No | Included | Included | Included | Included |
| Marketing credit | $200 | $200 | $300 | $500 | $500 | $500 |
Accelerator is the new speed option, promising publication in as little as two weeks. It strips out free copies, the author website and the Library of Congress number.
Fiction packages run Storyteller at $2,599, Scribe at $3,999, Novelist at $6,499 and Saga at $8,999, per the Balboa Press packages page. Every fiction tier includes Set Your Own Price; on the nonfiction side it starts at Beacon.
No package includes a full edit. The comparison page says plainly that not all packages include editing. The “editorial assessment” in Embracer and above is a review, not line editing, which Balboa sells separately.
What does Balboa Press cost in the UK and Australia?
Balboa Press UK and Australia run the same packages at local prices on the same website. You buy from the same Author Solutions operation, and the sites list UK and Australian phone numbers. Checked November 2, 2026:
| Package | UK | Australia |
|---|---|---|
| Accelerator | £1,399 | $2,499 |
| Seeker | £2,199 | $3,899 |
| Beacon | £3,299 | $6,299 |
| Embracer | £5,199 | $9,299 |
| Master | £9,599 | $16,999 |
| Phoenix | £14,799 | $26,299 |
| Storyteller (fiction) | £1,999 | $3,699 |
| Saga (fiction) | £6,699 | $12,799 |
The Australian page shows a dollar sign but does not name the currency; we assume Australian dollars. The US agreement pays royalties in US dollars to a US bank account by default. We did not find separate UK or Australian agreements online, so ask for your country’s contract and payment terms before you pay.
What Does the Balboa Press Contract Say?
The Balboa Press contract leaves you the copyright but gives Balboa an exclusive license while it runs. You remain “the sole and exclusive owner” of your manuscript. During the agreement, though, you grant Balboa an exclusive, worldwide license to print, sell and distribute the work.
That clause contradicts Balboa’s own FAQ, which calls the arrangement a “non-exclusive contract.” When marketing copy and a signed agreement disagree, the agreement governs. Read it before you rely on the FAQ.
These are the other terms worth knowing, all from the current US agreement:
- Balboa sets your price. It determines the Suggested Retail Price unless you buy, or your package includes, Set Your Own Price.
- Balboa owns the design work. The imprint name, ISBN and Balboa’s work product stay Balboa’s. Custom illustrations it creates belong to you.
- Final Approval waives later claims. Once you sign off on the proof, errors found afterwards are your cost to fix.
- Either side can end it. You can terminate at any time with written notice. Balboa keeps a non-exclusive license for a 90-day wind-down.
- You get a PDF, not open files. After termination, Balboa sends PDF files within 30 days on written request.
- Disputes go to arbitration. Claims go to binding individual arbitration unless you opt out in writing within 30 days of signing.
Can you get a refund from Balboa Press?
You can get a Balboa Press refund only early in the process. The agreement pays 100% back if you cancel within six months and before you submit your manuscript. Between 6 and 12 months, it is 100% less $150.
After you submit the manuscript but before Final Approval, the refund drops to 50% of the purchase price. After Final Approval, or 12 months after purchase, there is no refund. Installment plans carry a $75 processing fee that is never refunded.
How Do Balboa Press Royalties Work?
Balboa Press pays 10% of the Suggested Retail Price on print books sold through retailers such as Amazon, 25% on print sales through its own bookstore, and 50% of net on ebooks. Royalties are calculated quarterly and paid within 90 days of each quarter end.
Balboa may hold payments until you have earned $75. Copies you buy yourself earn no royalty, even though author copy discounts run from 10% on 1-24 softcovers to 50% on 500-999.
Here is an illustration, not a Balboa figure. On a $19.99 paperback, 10% is about $2.00 per copy sold on Amazon. At that rate:
- Accelerator ($1,699) needs about 850 retail sales to recover the fee
- Seeker ($2,599) needs about 1,300
- Beacon ($4,299) needs about 2,150
- Phoenix ($17,699) needs about 8,850
Compare that with direct publishing. On KDP, a paperback priced $9.99 or more earns 60% of list price minus printing on Amazon.com, as our KDP review explains. Our guide to how book royalties work shows typical rates by format.
What Balboa Press Does Well
Balboa Press delivers a finished, printed, listed book without asking you to touch any publishing software. For a wellness coach or spiritual teacher who will never open a KDP dashboard, that has real value.
The prices and contract are public. Every package price and the full author agreement are online, so you can compare and read the terms before any sales call.
The niche branding fits its authors. Balboa specializes in self-help, spirituality and holistic health, and the Hay House name carries weight with readers in that world.
You can leave at any time. There is no multi-year lock-in. Written notice ends the agreement, with a 90-day wind-down.
The ebook royalty is fair. Fifty percent of net on ebooks and 100% of net on audio are reasonable. The 10% print rate is the problem.
What Balboa Press Does Not Do Well
The core problem is price against return. A $2,599 Seeker package buys services you can assemble yourself for a few hundred dollars, and the 10% print royalty makes the fee very hard to earn back.
It costs more than sister imprint Xlibris. The cheapest full package with free copies, Seeker, costs $2,599. The entry plan at sister imprint Xlibris is $999.
You do not control your price by default. On Seeker, and it appears on Accelerator, Balboa sets the retail price. A high price can stall sales of a first book.
Editing is not included. For self-help books, where clarity sells, you pay extra for any real edit.
The Hay House promise is oversold. “Opportunity for Discovery” appears on every tier, but Balboa publishes no acquisition rate. It is a hope, not a service.
The upsells are persistent. Pressure to buy add-ons is the most repeated complaint on Trustpilot.
International payouts add friction. Default royalty payment goes to a US bank account in US dollars, which matters for UK and Australian authors.
What Do Balboa Press Reviews and Complaints Say?
Balboa Press reviews split by platform. The parent company’s BBB grade is strong, while Trustpilot is poor. Checked on November 2, 2026:
| Source | What it shows |
|---|---|
| Trustpilot | 2.6 TrustScore from 575 reviews, 39 in the last 12 months |
| Trustpilot star split | 43% five-star, 19% four-star, 8% three-star, 7% two-star, 23% one-star |
| BBB, Author Solutions profile | A+ rating, accredited since 2010, 70 complaints in 3 years across all imprints |
| Balboa Press on the BBB | Listed as an alternate name under Author Solutions, with no standalone page |
Balboa Press reviews on Trustpilot. The positive reviews praise caring staff, often by name, plus good design and a smooth process. Balboa replies to most negative reviews.
Balboa Press reviews complaints. The negative reviews cluster around pressure to buy add-ons, poor communication and unclear timelines, typos and print problems, low royalties with little sales visibility, and refund or financing disputes. Author-advocate site WritersWeekly, which runs a competing service, has also published author complaints about unreported sales and delayed royalties.
What the BBB grade means. An A+ mostly reflects complaint handling and time in business, so read the complaint text rather than the letter.
Balboa Press UK reviews and Australia reviews. We found no separate review base for either site. A handful of Trustpilot reviewers are located in the UK or Australia, and their themes match the US reviews.
If you are weighing any paid publisher, our list of vanity press warning signs and our guide to hybrid publishers versus vanity presses explain what author advocates look for.
Where Balboa Press Beats Chapter
We make Chapter, and Balboa Press does several things we do not do at all. If these are what you need, Balboa offers something Chapter cannot.
Balboa prints and ships physical books. Seeker includes 10 free softcovers and Phoenix includes 40 softcovers plus 15 hardcovers. Chapter produces a manuscript, not printed copies.
Balboa handles distribution. It lists your book with Amazon and other retailers, and its returns program lets bookstores order copies. With Chapter, you upload the finished book yourself.
Balboa does the production for you. A designer builds the cover and interior, and higher tiers add copyright registration and a press release. Chapter writes the book; it does not lay out a print-ready file.
Balboa carries mind-body-spirit branding. “A division of Hay House” means something to readers of spirituality and wellness. Chapter offers no imprint, no catalog and no discovery path to a traditional publisher.
Balboa gives you a person to call. You get a publishing consultant. That hand-holding matters if technology makes you anxious.
If your self-help book is finished and edited, and you only want it printed and listed under a recognized wellness brand, Chapter is the wrong tool and these differences are decisive.
Who Should Use Balboa Press
Balboa Press fits a narrow group of authors:
- You have a finished, edited manuscript in self-help, spirituality or wellness, and no wish to learn KDP
- You want a book to support seminars, coaching or speaking, and back-of-room sales matter more than royalties
- You value the Hay House association and accept that discovery is unlikely
- You have read the full author agreement, including the refund schedule and arbitration clause
If your book is still taking shape, our guide on how to write a self-help book covers structure first.
Who Should Not Use Balboa Press
Walk away if any of these describe you:
- You want the book to earn money. A 10% print royalty sets a recoup bar most first books never clear.
- You are buying it for a Hay House deal. Nothing in the contract gives you one.
- You want to control your price on a budget package. Seeker leaves it to Balboa.
- Your manuscript is not finished. Submitting early cuts your refund to 50%.
- You are on a tight budget. Self-publishing for free on KDP puts the same book on Amazon for nothing.
Comparing paid services? Our AuthorHouse review and AuthorHouse legitimacy check cover the sister imprint, and our best self-publishing platforms roundup covers cheaper options. Our breakdown of the cost to self-publish a book shows realistic DIY budgets.
The Alternative We Built
Balboa Press solves the problem after the book is written. Many coaches and teachers who price out Balboa packages are stuck one step earlier: the manuscript is not done.
Our Pick — Chapter
Chapter is AI book writing software that takes you from an idea to a complete, structured manuscript in your voice. More than 10,000 authors have used it, and it has been featured in USA Today and the New York Times. You keep 100% of the rights, then publish wherever you choose, including free on Amazon KDP.
Best for: Coaches, healers and teachers who have the expertise but not the finished manuscript Pricing: $97 one time, 2 books included (fiction or nonfiction), 30-day money-back guarantee Why we built it: A publishing package is worthless without a finished book, and writing it is where most authors stall.
Chapter has honest limits. There is no free tier or trial, it does not print, design or distribute your book, and you still review and edit what it drafts. Our Chapter review covers what it does and does not do.
The total cost is the difference. Chapter plus free publishing on KDP costs $97, against $1,699 for the cheapest Balboa package. You set your own price, see every sale and keep the full KDP royalty, with no exclusive license to anyone.
If your self-help book or novel is still unwritten, Chapter for nonfiction and Chapter for fiction write the complete manuscript for $97 one time, with no subscription and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
FAQ
How much does Balboa Press cost?
Balboa Press costs $1,699 to $17,699 for its six US nonfiction packages, from Accelerator to Phoenix, and $2,599 to $8,999 for its four fiction packages. Prices exclude tax. Editing, extra marketing and hardcover on Seeker are add-ons sold separately on top of the package.
Is Balboa Press part of Hay House?
Balboa Press is branded as a division of Hay House, but Author Solutions runs it, and your contract is with an Author Solutions subsidiary. Hay House says it monitors Balboa titles for new authors, but publishing with Balboa does not make you a Hay House author or guarantee any review.
What royalty does Balboa Press pay?
Balboa Press pays a 10% print royalty on retail sales through partners such as Amazon, based on the Suggested Retail Price. It pays 25% on its own bookstore sales and 50% of net on ebooks, calculated quarterly and paid within 90 days of each quarter end.
Is Balboa Press a vanity press?
Balboa Press is a paid self-publishing service, which author advocates such as Writer Beware class with vanity publishing because you pay all costs up front. It is a real company that delivers real books, but it earns its revenue from author fees, not from book sales.
Does Balboa Press operate in the UK and Australia?
Yes, Balboa Press UK and Australia sell the same packages on the same website at local prices: £1,399 to £14,799 in the UK and $2,499 to $26,299 on the Australian site. Royalties under the US agreement are paid in US dollars, so check your country’s terms.
