Getting an ISBN as an Indie Author (Spoiler: It Takes a While)
And I'm still waiting.
When I first started self-publishing, I didn’t think much about ISBNs. I used Amazon’s free one through KDP, uploaded my files, and that was that. Easy. Done. Published.
But then I realized something important: that the free ISBN only works on Amazon. If you want to publish your book across other platforms—like IngramSpark, or a local indie bookstore, or even your own website—you need your own ISBN.
I have spent countless hours and brain space trying to figure how ISBNs work, and now that I’m almost there, I wanted to share my experience here in case you’re a fellow writer trying to figure out the difference between a free ISBN from Kindle Direct Publishing (KDP) and one you acquire on your own and wondering how it all works.
Why I Needed My Own ISBN
First, when you use a free ISBN from Amazon, the default publisher on record is “Independently Published”. That’s fine if you're only planning to sell on Amazon or their partners—but it doesn’t look as professional, and it limits your ability to publish or distribute your book elsewhere. If you want to appear as your own publisher, or use platforms like IngramSpark for print distribution, you need an ISBN that you own.
A quick note re: eBooks, an ISBN isn't required to publish an eBook with KDP. Once your content is published on KDP, it will be assigned a 10-digit ASIN (Amazon Standard Identification Number), which is unique to the eBook, and is an identification number for the Kindle eBook on Amazon.
Buying an ISBN in the U.S.
If you’re in the U.S., ISBNs are purchased through Bowker (https://www.myidentifiers.com/). They’re not cheap. At the time of publishing this post, the costs in USD are:
1 ISBN = $125
10 ISBNs = $295
100 ISBNs = $575
1000 ISBNs = $1500
Don’t forget you will need a separate ISBN for each format of the same book—paperback, hardcover, ebook, etc. Even audio books need their own ISBN, so it’s worth it to buy more if you plan to release your book in multiple formats. Most indie authors buy a batch of 10 (or more if you’re feeling ambitious) to save in the long run.
Getting a Free ISBN in Canada
Here’s the good news: In Canada, ISBNs are free through the Library and Archives Canada (LAC). You just have to register for an account on their ISBN Canada portal. Here is the website: https://www.bac-lac.gc.ca/eng/services/isbn-canada/Pages/isbn-canada.aspx
But there’s a small catch: if you don’t want your personal name showing up as the publisher on record, you’ll need to register a publishing imprint first—and that’s where things get complicated.
Why I Registered a Sole Proprietorship First
As an author writing and publishing under a pen name, I knew I didn’t want to publish under my legal name. I wanted something more official-sounding—something that could appear on the copyright page and eventually become a recognizable little brand. The easiest way to do this in Canada is to register a Sole Proprietorship and get a Business Number from the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA).
You will need your Business Number in order to register for ISBN numbers through the Library and Archives Canada (LAC).
However, getting the Business Number took longer than I expected. I registered my business name (which is fun, but also requires checking what’s already taken), and was told a Business Number would be automatically assigned by the CRA in a “few days”.
Then I waited. And waited. And waited.
After a few weeks and a few phone calls later, I was told I already had a Business Number and that all businesses registered under my personal account, including Sole Proprietorships, would use the same Business Number.
This led to several weeks of phone calls and even some good old-fashioned mail correspondence with the CRA, and then a few more phone calls, before I finally… finally… I received my official Business Number just yesterday. Yay!
Then I Tried to Get My ISBN
Once I had my Business Number and my imprint name (which, btw, is “Tarenley Media” based on the second syllable of each of my bio kids’ names), I returned to the ISBN Canada website, filled out all the necessary details… and was promptly told:
Thank you for your application. Your account will be reviewed. Please allow up to 10 business days for approval.
So, I’m still waiting. And… that’s where I am now.
The silver lining is I now have extra time to review and polish my book, to build a social media following (on TikTok, Instagram, and Facebook—please follow me @tracywrightbooks), and pre-market the book. I am also taking the time to work on other books.
Social media is a whole other story, and I will post about it soon.
Lessons Learned (So Far)
The process takes time. Even if ISBNs are free in Canada, the red tape is very real.
If you want to publish under a custom imprint name, start by registering your sole proprietorship.
You’ll need patience—weeks of it. Plan in advance.
Once it’s done, you’ll have full ownership and control over your book’s identity, no matter where you choose to publish.
I’ll be using my ISBN to list my books with both KDP and IngramSpark, and I’ll write more about that process soon. For now, I just wanted to share this part of the indie publishing journey in case you're somewhere in the middle of it too.
And if you’re waiting for your business number or your ISBN approval? I see you. It’s frustrating to wait because I’m so close, but it’s a big step toward holding your own book in your hands. Can’t wait.
—Tracy
