Last reviewed by Robert Prime, 12 October 2026. Prices and rules checked that day on the Nielsen ISBN Store, Amazon’s ISBN and imprint help page, gov.uk’s business name rules and the trade mark fees page.
Quick Answer: A publishing imprint is the publisher name tied to your ISBNs. To have one in the UK: pick a name that follows the sole-trader naming rules, check nobody else uses it, buy your own ISBNs from Nielsen under that name (£93 for one, £174 for ten, including VAT, on 12 October 2026), and enter exactly the same name in KDP. You don’t need a limited company. With Amazon’s free ISBN your paperback will say “Independently published” whatever you type.
Table of Contents
- What an imprint is (and isn’t)
- Do you need one?
- Step 1: choose a name you’re allowed to use
- Step 2: buy ISBNs in the imprint’s name
- Step 3: set it up on KDP
- Step 4: put it on the book
- Should you trade mark it?
- What it costs
- Frequently asked questions
What an imprint is (and isn’t)
Amazon’s definition: “An imprint is the name of the publisher associated with your book’s ISBN. If you buy your own ISBN, you can list your own publishing imprint (such as your business or brand name). If you use a free ISBN from KDP, the imprint will appear as ‘Independently published.’” (KDP help).
It is not a company. It is not a legal registration. It is a name, attached to ISBNs, that readers, shops and libraries see as your publisher. You can run it as a sole trader, a partnership or a limited company.
Do you need one?
| You want to… | Free KDP ISBN | Your own ISBN + imprint |
|---|---|---|
| Publish a paperback on Amazon only | Works | Works |
| Show your own publisher name | No: “Independently published” | Yes |
| Use the same ISBN on IngramSpark or with a printer | No: “Free ISBNs from us can only be used on KDP” | Yes |
| Look like a small press to shops and libraries | Harder | Easier (see getting into UK bookshops) |
Your own ISBNs and imprint are worth it if you’ll publish more than one book, go wide, or want bookshops and libraries to take you seriously. For one Amazon-only paperback, the free ISBN is fine. Our ISBN guide goes deeper.
Step 1: choose a name you’re allowed to use
gov.uk says a sole trader can “trade under your own name, or you can choose another name for your business”, but the name must not:
- “include ’limited’, ‘Ltd’, ’limited liability partnership’, ‘LLP’, ‘public limited company’ or ‘plc’”;
- “be offensive”;
- “be too similar to another company’s trademarked name” (gov.uk).
Some words need permission first. Companies House says if a business name includes a sensitive word without approval, “you are committing an offence”. The list includes words such as “Association”, “British” and “Institute” (Annex A). A name such as “British Romance Press” would need approval first.
There is no register to join: “Business names are not registered under the Companies Act 2006” (Companies House).
Before you commit, check:
- Amazon and Google, for books already published under the name.
- The Companies House name availability checker.
- The UK trade mark register, if you plan to build a brand on it.
- Whether the matching domain name is free (see author domain names).
Using your pen name as your imprint is allowed, but a separate name looks more like a publisher. See pen names.
Step 2: buy ISBNs in the imprint’s name
Nielsen runs the UK and Ireland ISBN agency. Its prices on 12 October 2026, which it says are “inclusive of UK Standard Rate Value Added Tax” (Nielsen ISBN Store):
| Pack | Price |
|---|---|
| 1 ISBN | £93.00 |
| 10 ISBNs | £174.00 |
| 100 ISBNs | £387.00 |
| 1,000 ISBNs | £994.00 |
Each format needs its own ISBN, so one book in paperback, hardback and ebook can use three. Nielsen says “unused ISBNs remain valid indefinitely”.
When you register, enter your imprint as the publisher name. Two things Nielsen is clear about:
- Registering the name “does not guarantee that the name is unique and does not in itself confer the applicant with exclusive right to use that name”.
- You can’t pass ISBNs on: “all products identified by ISBNs from your batch will be considered as being published by you” (Important Notes for Publishers). Don’t share a block with a friend.
Step 3: set it up on KDP
On the paperback content page, choose to use your own ISBN and enter the ISBN and imprint. Amazon’s rule: “you must enter the same details (i.e. book title, author name, publisher) in KDP that you used to register the ISBN”, and “If there’s a mismatch, you won’t be able to publish” (KDP help). Copy the imprint name from your Nielsen record, letter for letter.
Decide before you publish: Amazon lists Imprint and ISBN choice among the paperback details that are locked after publishing (KDP: update book details). Changing later means a new edition.
For ebooks an ISBN is optional, and KDP lets you put “your name or the name of your publishing company” in the publisher field (metadata guidelines). Use the same imprint name for consistency.
Step 4: put it on the book
The imprint goes on the copyright page and usually the title page, and optionally as a small logo on the spine:
Published by [Imprint Name], [Town], United Kingdom
[imprint website]
Copyright © [Year] [Your legal name or pen name]
ISBN [paperback ISBN] (paperback)
ISBN [ebook ISBN] (ebook)Our copyright page template has the full page, and the title page templates show where the imprint line sits. If you invoice anyone, gov.uk says “you must include your name and business name (if you have one) on official paperwork”.
Should you trade mark it?
Registering with Nielsen gives you no exclusive right to the name. A UK trade mark does protect a brand, for 10 years, in the UK and the Isle of Man only (gov.uk). Fees on 12 October 2026: “It costs £205 to register a single trade mark in one class. It costs £60 for each additional class” (gov.uk fees).
Most one-author imprints never trade mark the name. It becomes worth considering if you publish other authors or build a series brand you’d hate to lose.
What it costs
| Item | Cost on 12 Oct 2026 | Needed? |
|---|---|---|
| Choosing a name | £0 | Yes |
| 10 ISBNs from Nielsen | £174 | Yes, to show the imprint |
| Domain name | Varies | Recommended |
| Logo | £0 if you make it | Optional |
| UK trade mark, one class | £205 | Optional |
| Limited company | Not needed | Optional (see sole trader vs limited company) |
Frequently asked questions
Do I need a limited company to have an imprint?
No. A sole trader can trade under a business name, within the gov.uk naming rules.
Can I use my own imprint with a free KDP ISBN?
Amazon’s help says that with a free KDP ISBN “the imprint will appear as ‘Independently published.’” To show your imprint, buy your own ISBNs.
Can I change my imprint name after publishing?
Not on the same paperback: Amazon locks the imprint and ISBN choice once it is published. You would publish a new edition.
Does Nielsen reserve my imprint name?
No. Nielsen says registering a publishing name does not make it unique or give you an exclusive right to it.
Can several of my pen names share one imprint?
Yes. The imprint is the publisher; the author name is separate on each book.
Final thoughts
An imprint is a name, ten ISBNs and some consistency. Set it up before your first paperback, because Amazon won’t let you add it afterwards.
When you have the name and ISBNs, the free copyright page generator writes the copyright page with your imprint in it.
Related guides
- ISBNs in the UK: free KDP ISBN or your own?
- Copyright page template UK
- Pen names for self-published authors
- UK self-publishing legal and tax hub
— Robert publishing.co.uk
