Frequently Asked Questions

Alchemy Books is a publishing and fulfilment service created by authors for authors. It was founded to help international writers access the U.S. TikTok Shop, a platform normally restricted by residency and compliance barriers.

By handling fulfilment, compliance, and operations within the U.S., Alchemy Books opens a proven sales channel that allows authors to reach TikTok's 170 million readers without forming a U.S. company or managing complex logistics.

TikTok is a discovery platform disrupting the publishing landscape, creating opportunities for authors to reach new readers in ways unimaginable only a few years ago.

It has become the most influential platform for book discovery, turning unknown titles into bestsellers and helping readers connect directly with authors. Alchemy Books was created to make that opportunity accessible to international authors.

Founding Members receive 80 percent profit share, 20 percent more than a typical Amazon royalty, because we're building something new together. Our success will show that international authors have a place on TikTok, and every Founding Member shares directly in the growth they help create.

Founding Members also keep their terms permanently, even after the program scales. Founding Members share in success that lasts a lifetime.

Founding Members receive 80 percent of net profits from every sale. For other membership levels, the percentage varies according to plan.

All fulfilment costs (printing, storage, and shipping) are billed at cost, with no mark-ups. The Alchemy Books Profit Calculator lets you model different retail prices, commission rates, and print costs to see your potential earnings before you commit to inventory.

Payments are made monthly in arrears once TikTok releases sales funds, which generally occurs 15-30 days after purchase.

We encourage authors to open a Wise account, as payments to Wise accounts are faster and cheaper than traditional international bank transfers.

We've built our pricing to remove barriers, not create them.

Monthly Plan ($29/month + $99 setup): Perfect if you're testing the waters.
Annual Plan: Best value for authors with one or two proven titles.
Annual Pro: Built for larger catalogues and multiple pen names.

Founding Members pay $397 once for 80% profit share for life. All plans include the same transparent pricing and fulfillment at cost.

Full details on the Pricing page.

TikTok enforces compliance through post-listing review, not pre-approval. This means you might only discover a policy issue after your book goes live.

We provide guidance and checklists in the Resources section to help you identify common risk areas based on what we've learned. We'll review your manuscript against printer specifications during setup. But compliance with TikTok's content policies remains your responsibility.

Before committing to a print run, review TikTok's current product guidelines carefully. TikTok reserves the right to remove listings at any time. Your print investment is at risk if a book is later found non-compliant.

We help you navigate the rules. You own the final compliance decisions.

Most books launch within 4-5 weeks from application approval.

Here's the typical timeline: account setup and manuscript review for printer specifications (1 week), proof copy printing and approval (1-2 weeks), your first print run and shop listing creation (2-3 weeks). Once live, TikTok may review your listing at any time. Compliance is ongoing, not pre-approved.

When your book is live, it's available for open collaborations. Any TikTok creator can choose to promote it. You decide the commission rate creators earn, generally between 10 and 20 percent, though some authors offer higher rates during a launch to gain traction.

Founding and Annual Members can also access a premium outreach service where our virtual assistants contact targeted creators on your behalf.

Providing creators with a free copy of your book is considered best practice. You can set how many copies are available and the criteria for eligibility. Authors are also encouraged to prepare a Creator Pack with key talking points and visuals to help guide promotional videos.

No. The goal isn't for every author to act as a TikTok creator, but recording a few personal videos can help show your passion and strengthen your connection with readers.

You don't need polished production. Authenticity matters most on TikTok. You can record simple clips showing your book cover, flicking through the pages, or narrating key points without appearing on screen.

If you create videos, you can send them to Alchemy Books for branding and upload support, which helps strengthen overall shop awareness.

Yes. Authors can include small inserts such as bookmarks, thank-you cards, or short notes with their books to create a more personal connection with readers. These small touches can inspire reviews, encourage repeat purchases, and help your book stand out.

Alchemy Books can arrange the printing and fulfilment of inserts at cost, ensuring a professional finish without unnecessary expense. Many authors use this opportunity to build their brand by adding a QR code that links to a free bonus chapter, downloadable guide, or newsletter sign-up. It is an excellent way to grow your email list and stay connected with readers beyond the sale.

Keep your inserts lightweight and flat to avoid additional postage costs and maintain smooth fulfilment.

Yes. Your Amazon sales remain entirely separate. In fact, TikTok often increases your Amazon sales through what's known as "spillover." When a reader discovers your book on TikTok but prefers to buy on Amazon, that sale helps lower your Best Seller Rank, increases visibility, and can trigger Amazon's algorithm to promote your book further.

Although these additional sales are driven by TikTok exposure, they cannot be tracked directly and therefore aren't part of the profit share. You keep 100 percent of the royalties from these spillover sales.

Yes, absolutely. Amazon and TikTok are separate sales channels, but they often fuel each other in powerful ways.

When your book gains attention on TikTok, some readers naturally head to Amazon to buy it there. These additional "spillover sales" lower your Best Seller Rank, boost visibility, and can trigger Amazon's algorithm to promote your book more widely, all without extra ad spend.

You can keep running your Amazon ads exactly as before, using TikTok to drive discovery and Amazon to capture additional sales. Together, they create a feedback loop that builds momentum across both platforms.

You can even model potential spillover sales in the Alchemy Books Profit Calculator to see how cross-platform visibility can amplify your results.

You can apply, but we strongly recommend building some Amazon traction first. Reviews and sales history give TikTok creators confidence that readers already connect with your book, making them more likely to promote it.

If you're launching a new title and want to test TikTok early, start with the Monthly Plan to minimize initial costs. As your sales grow, you can upgrade to the Annual Plan for better savings and benefits.

TikTok rewards books with proven appeal. A few months building your Amazon foundation first often leads to stronger TikTok results.

You're out the printing cost. That's the risk. If your book already sells on Amazon, you've proven readers want it. TikTok amplifies that existing demand, it doesn't create it from scratch.

Use the Profit Calculator to model conservative scenarios and understand your downside risk. Remember that TikTok exposure also drives Amazon spillover sales, which aren't part of the profit share but add to your overall returns.

Monthly members can cancel anytime. Annual members can cancel after their 12-month term.

Your print inventory is yours. If you want to take possession of your remaining stock, we'll arrange pickup at cost. You don't lose your books.

When your inventory sells out, you have two options: reprint and restock, or pause temporarily.

If you reprint, momentum continues. If you need time before reprinting, your book simply pauses on TikTok until new inventory arrives. You don't lose your position or your terms.

In some cases, Alchemy Books may choose to finance a reprint to keep a promising title active. This is entirely our decision and depends on factors such as sales history, reader demand, and long-term potential. Each case is reviewed individually and considered on its merits.

If Alchemy Books funds a reprint, the profit share is temporarily adjusted to 50 percent for all membership levels. Once those books sell through, you can fund your own new print run and your original profit share and terms are fully restored.

This approach protects strong titles from losing traction and ensures that short-term cash flow doesn't stand in the way of long-term success.