How to Sell Ebooks on Your Own Website and Keep 100% of Your Profits
Let’s imagine that you’ve poured your heart into writing an ebook, and now it’s time to sell it. Usually, marketplaces like Amazon may seem like the obvious path, as they offer huge visibility and reach. But there’s a downside here, and that’s the fact that they also swallow a large share of your profits and keep you from building real connections with your readers.
The good news? You don’t have to play by their rules. Instead, you can learn how to sell ebooks on your own website. This will give you full control over both your income and your audience. To help you do that, we’ll walk you through all the steps, from choosing the right format to setting up secure payments.
Key Benefits of Selling Ebooks on Your Own Website
Before diving into the ‘how’ of things, we first need to establish the ‘why’. What could you gain from selling your ebook on your own website instead of using one of the many alternative sales channels that exist? Well, quite a few things actually, and we have listed them below.
1. Higher Profit Margins
The biggest benefit that comes to mind is the difference in revenue. If you choose to sell your ebook using publishing platforms like Amazon, Apple Books, Kobo, or other aggregators, you can lose up to 30%-40% of your listed price in commission fees. That means for a $10 ebook, you’d only take home about $6–$7.
Selling directly through your website shifts the balance in your favor. Instead of giving away a large cut, you only need to cover minimal payment processing fees (charged by gateways like Stripe or PayPal) and possibly a fixed subscription for your hosting or delivery service (such as Kotobee Cloud hosting). Using the same $10 ebook example, your earnings stay much closer to the full amount.
Here’s what that looks like for a $10 ebook:
| Marketplace (e.g., Amazon) | Your Own Website | |
| Sale Price | $10.00 | $10.00 |
| Platform Commission (30%) | – $3.00 | — |
| Payment Processing Fee | — | – $0.59* |
| Your Earnings Per Sale | $7.00 | $9.41 |
| Profit Increase per Sale | — | +$2.41 (34% more!) |
* Based on average payment processor fees (≈ 2.9% + $0.30 per transaction with gateways like Stripe or PayPal; fees may vary by provider).
That’s over $2.40 more in your pocket on every single sale.
Why does this difference matter so much?
- To earn $700, for example, you would need to sell 100 books on a marketplace.
- To earn the same $700 on your own site, you only need to sell about 75 books.
You end up earning the same amount of money with 25% fewer sales. Once your sales cover your fixed hosting service subscription fee, nearly every dollar from any following sale will be pure profit.
2. Complete Creative and Brand Control
Selling through a marketplace means playing by their rules. They decide the formatting guidelines you have to follow, the sales page template you must use, and even the kinds of interactivity your ebook can include. It keeps everything consistent for them, but it boxes you in.
On your own website? The world’s your oyster! Want to add quizzes for your readers? Go ahead. Want to include audio narration? Absolutely. Even want to embed an interactive 3D model of the human brain? We can point you to where to get the model.
In short, you’re free to shape the entire experience. From formatting and interactivity to the sales page copy, design, buying process, and reading experience, you decide how it all comes together.
3. Audience Ownership
On a marketplace, your readers are their customers. You get a sale, sure, but you also don’t have information about the buyer. Who are they? What did they like? Will they ever hear from you again? Probably not, unless they actively pursue your information on their own time.
Selling on your own site changes things. Every sale can come with an email address and a chance to form a real connection. You can personally thank your reader for purchasing the ebook, ask what they’d like to read next, or offer them first dibs on your new writing project. This turns things from a mere transaction to a conversation with a lifelong fan. That list of email addresses you’ve gathered from readers? That will prove to be a valuable business asset.
4. Flexibility in Pricing and Promotions
On a big marketplace, even a simple flash sale can be complicated. You’re bound by their discount rules, approval processes, and strict timelines, and sometimes you’re left waiting to see if your promotion even goes live.
On your own website, however, you’re the boss. You can set the price to whatever you feel suits your book or your business needs. It can take you just 48 seconds to launch a 48-hour sale. Want to create a secret discount code just for your email subscribers? Do it at 2 AM in your pajamas. There are no rules, no wait times, and no one taking a cut of your promotional discount.
How to Sell Your Ebook on Your Own Website
Okay, so now that you know the benefits, it’s time to reap them by taking action. This is where Kotobee Cloud can be of great help. Think of it as your own secure, ebook delivery system. So instead of selling a downloadable file that can be copied or pirated, you’re selling controlled access to a Web App version of your ebook.
Let’s now head into the viable options on how to sell your ebook on your website.
Sell Directly From Your Website
This is most likely the simplest method. Inside Kotobee Author, after you prepare your manuscript, convert it to a cloud ebook before exporting it as a web app to embed on your website. From there, head to the Cloud Ebooks tab, set a price for your cloud ebook, and connect your Stripe or PayPal account. Finally, upload the web app to your website, but make sure that your website provider supports web apps (HTML5) first.
Visitors can purchase your ebook right there on your website through a secure payment window. As soon as the payment goes through, Kotobee automatically grants the buyer access to your ebook.
Sell through Your WordPress Website
If you build your website on WordPress, you get access to the most powerful and extensive integration options. The free Kotobee WordPress Plugin easily connects your site to your Kotobee Cloud account. After that, you can either sell it directly on your website (as mentioned in the previous section) or you can use one of the WordPress storefront themes with one of the following e-commerce plugins to handle your ebook sales:
- WooCommerce: This is one of the most popular e-commerce plugins that can turn your site into a full-featured store. You can list your ebook as a product just like you would for any item, then link it to a Kotobee Cloud ebook in the product settings. When a purchase is made, access is granted automatically.
- Memberful: As a more specialized tool, Memberful is designed to sell memberships and subscriptions. It integrates seamlessly with WordPress and Kotobee. Instead of a one-time product, you link a Memberful plan to your Kotobee Cloud ebook (or even a full library), making it easy to sell memberships for your ebook(s).
Sell Through Your Shopify Store
What if you already have a Shopify store that’s doing well? Simply include your ebooks there too, alongside your existing products. Using the Kotobee-Shopify Integration Plugin, your store stays in control of payments and product listings, while Kotobee handles access.
Here’s how it works: when a customer buys your ebook on Shopify, the integration automatically creates a user account and grants them access to your cloud ebook or library. That means you don’t need to manually send files or track purchases; Shopify manages the sales, and Kotobee delivers the ebook securely.
For example, if you’re an author selling print editions or merchandise through Shopify, you can offer your digital ebook alongside them. Readers complete checkouts as usual, and while Shopify processes the order, Kotobee instantly unlocks the ebook for the buyer, so that means no extra work on your part.
Sell Using the Integration API
If you have a custom-built website or use a niche payment system, Kotobee’s Integration API lets developers create a custom link between your system and your Cloud Ebooks or Libraries. This is ideal for advanced users who want to automate access after payment or membership approval.
This option is ideal for advanced setups. For example, universities connecting ebooks to their learning portals, publishers tying ebook access to subscription plans, or companies that already run their own checkout flow and want Kotobee to handle only the access side.
Sell Using the Manual Option
For situations where buyers pay you outside the supported gateways, you can manage access manually. For example, if someone pays via bank transfer, Venmo, or even cash, you can add their email address directly to your Cloud Ebook’s access list inside Kotobee Author. It isn’t automated, but it ensures every paying customer still gets secure access to your ebook.
| Method | Best For | How It Works | Technical Level | Automation |
| Any website | Any platform (Squarespace, Webflow, Wix, custom HTML). Beginners who want a simple, no-fuss setup. | Paste a code snippet into your site. Customers click it to open a secure payment window. Kotobee then grants access automatically. | Beginner | Fully Automatic |
| WooCommerce (WordPress) | WordPress users who want a full online store with shopping carts, coupons, and detailed reports. | Use the Kotobee WordPress Plugin to list your ebook as a product. After purchase, the plugin grants access automatically. | Intermediate | Fully Automatic |
| Memberful (WordPress) | WordPress users selling subscriptions or memberships (e.g., a series or ongoing content). | Customers subscribe to a Memberful plan linked to your Cloud Ebook or Library. Access is granted automatically. | Intermediate | Fully Automatic |
| Shopify Integration | Store owners who already sell with Shopify and want to add ebooks. | Manage your ebook as a Shopify product. The Kotobee–Shopify integration grants buyers access to your Cloud Ebook or Library. | Intermediate | Fully Automatic |
| Integration API | Custom-built websites or unique payment systems needing a tailored solution. | A developer uses Kotobee’s Integration API to connect your checkout system with your Cloud Ebooks or Libraries. | Advanced | Fully Automatic |
| Manual Option | Payments outside supported gateways (e.g., bank transfer, Venmo, cash). | You process payment yourself, then add the customer’s email to your Cloud Ebook’s access list inside Kotobee Author. | Beginner | Manual |
How to Set Up Secure Payments
Now that you’ve decided on your sales method, the next logical question is: how does the money actually get to you? Well, Kotobee Cloud integrates directly with some of the world’s most trusted payment gateways that handle the entire financial transaction securely, so you don’t have to worry about anything.
Supported Payment Gateways
Setting up payments is a one-time process in Kotobee Author, through the Cloud Ebooks tab so you can accept credit cards and digital payments from customers globally. Here’s a breakdown of your options:
1. Stripe: Stripe is great for processing online payments. It allows you to accept all major credit and debit cards (Visa, Mastercard, American Express, etc.) directly. It also supports embedded checkout flows so buyers can pay without leaving your site, which helps maintain a smooth, professional experience.
2. PayPal: Almost everyone has a PayPal account. Integrating it allows customers to pay using their PayPal balance or their linked cards. The immense trust and recognition of the PayPal brand can reassure first-time buyers on your site.
3. Moyasar: This is a well-known payment gateway that focuses on making business transactions easier in the Middle East. It supports both international credit cards and local payment methods like Mada, Apple Pay, and STC Pay. So, if your target audience is primarily in regions like Saudi Arabia or the UAE, Moyasar can offer better local payment options and higher approval rates.
How Payment Integration Works
Linking any of these payment methods is a straightforward process. Here’s all you need to do:
- Create a merchant account with your chosen payment gateway, whether Stripe, PayPal, or Moyasar.
- Receive your unique API keys provided by the chosen gateway.
- Enter these keys into the payment settings for your Cloud Ebook inside Kotobee Author.
- That’s it! Your payment gateway processes payments on your behalf and deposits funds directly into your account.
Important Note: Prepare Your Ebook for Sale
Before you start selling your ebooks, however, you need a book that is worth selling. Here’s how to prepare it with Kotobee Author:
- Polish your content: The first thing to do is ensure your manuscript is polished and provides real value to your readers. No matter your industry, the information should be accurate and easy to understand.
- Add interactivity: Try to go beyond simple text by including interactive elements. Use Kotobee Author to embed videos, audio narration, quizzes, and interactive images to create a modern, engaging experience. For step-by-step instructions, see our complete guide on how to create an interactive ebook.
- Protect your ebook: Configure your DRM settings before you export your ebook. This allows you to limit the number of device activations and adds a powerful layer of protection against piracy.
- Choose your distribution method: Export your ebook as a web app. To manage access and sales options, convert it into a Kotobee Cloud ebook and choose one of the options mentioned above to host and sell it on your website.
Note: If you don’t have a website but still want to sell your ebook through other channels (such as social media), you can host it on Kotobee’s servers, then subscribe to Kotobee Cloud to allow access management and sales.
Conclusion
Selling your ebook through your own website puts you in control of your profits, your readers, and your author brand. Instead of handing over earnings and data to a marketplace, you’re building a direct connection with your audience while keeping more of what you’ve worked for. And with Kotobee, you can turn your website into a professional storefront and start selling on your own terms.
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