Compare responsibilities, not just royalty rates
The practical choice is between two operating models. Self-publishing retains more control and direct margin, while a publisher may take responsibility for funding, production, sales channels, fulfillment, or localization. The contract and capabilities matter more than a headline percentage.
How to apply it
List who pays for development, art, tooling, inventory, freight, returns, marketing, and customer service. A direct-sales margin can look strong until warehouse labor, payment fees, and unsold stock are included; a royalty can be meaningful only after its royalty base and recoupment terms are clear.
Questions and decisions
Ask a prospective publisher how net receipts are defined, what rights and territories are requested, how statements are delivered, and what happens to stock or rights after the term. Have qualified legal advice review any agreement.
Next step
Use the linked tools with your project’s documented inputs, retain the source or quote date beside the scenario, and update the decision when the specification changes.