Moving from KDP to IngramSpark: The “Portable” ISBN Advantage

Amazon KDP is a fantastic place to start your self-publishing journey. It’s easy, free, and gets your book in front of millions of readers.

But eventually, most successful authors want more. You want your book on the shelves of local bookstores. You want to see it in Barnes & Noble. You want libraries to stock it. To make that happen, you need to expand beyond Amazon and use a distributor like IngramSpark.

This is the moment many authors hit a wall. They realize the "Free ISBN" they got from Amazon is actually a pair of handcuffs.

Here is why owning your own "Portable" ISBN is the key to going wide.

---

The "Free ISBN" Trap

When you publish on KDP and select "Get a free KDP ISBN," you are accepting a trade-off. You save money upfront, but you give up control.

That free ISBN lists "Independently Published" as the publisher of record. More importantly, that number belongs to Amazon. You cannot take it with you. If you try to set up your book on IngramSpark using that same ISBN, their system will reject it because the number is already "locked" to Amazon's platform.

To get on IngramSpark, you would have to publish a completely new version of your book with a new ISBN, effectively splitting your sales rank and confusing your readers.

The Solution: The "Portable" ISBN

When you purchase your own ISBN (from UPCS.com, for example), you are the owner of that number. It is platform agnostic.

This portability allows you to use a powerful strategy often called "The Hybrid Setup."

How the Hybrid Setup Works:

• Step 1: Buy a single ISBN (or a pack).
• Step 2: Set up your book on Amazon KDP using that ISBN. This ensures you keep 100% of your Amazon royalties.
• Step 3: Set up the exact same book on IngramSpark using the exact same ISBN.

Because you own the ISBN, both platforms recognize it. They act as two different printers for the same product.

Why This Matters for Your Sales

By using your own portable ISBN across both platforms, you get the best of both worlds:

1. Amazon Availability: When a customer buys on Amazon, KDP prints and ships it (highest profit for you).
2. Bookstore Availability: When a bookstore or library orders your book, IngramSpark prints and ships it to them (widest reach for you).

Pro Tip: To make this work, the title, author name, and format (e.g., 6x9 paperback) must match exactly on both platforms. The ISBN is the link that ties them together.

What if I Already Used a Free ISBN?

If you already published with a free KDP ISBN but now want to expand to IngramSpark, you have to make a choice. You cannot move the old number.

Your only option is to "republish" a new edition of your book with a new, purchased ISBN. You will then have to unpublish the old KDP version. While this takes a little work, it is often worth it to gain access to the 40,000+ retailers and libraries that Ingram connects to.

Don't Limit Your Book's Future

If you haven't published yet, don't lock yourself in. Buying your ISBN upfront gives you the freedom to sell your book anywhere, on any platform, now and in the future.