One connected system for titles, schedules, author contracts, print orders, stock, sales and royalties.
Manage a publishing house in one system. Each title carries its formats, schedule, author contract and print history. Stock, trade orders, returns and subscriptions all attach to the title. Royalty statements come from the contract terms and the sales actually recorded, with no separate workbook.
- Imprints, formats, royalty tiers and production stages set as your house works
- Catalogue, contracts and opening stock migrated
- Edits to royalty rules and statement layouts handled by GullySystem staff when asked
GullySystem configures this system for book and periodical publishers. Editors, production staff, sales teams, rights managers and finance work from it. Each title carries its schedule, contract, print orders, stock, sales, returns and royalties, so statements and reprint decisions come from one record.
What goes wrong before the software.
How the work flows through it, step by step.
- 1
Acquisition
A title is added with its author, format plan and contract terms. Advance and royalty rates are entered from the signed agreement.
- 2
Editorial schedule
Dates are set for delivery, editing, design, proofs and files. Owners see their tasks and late items are flagged.
- 3
Production and print
A print order goes to the chosen printer with quantity and price. Delivery is received at the warehouse against the order.
- 4
Sales and fulfilment
Distributors, shops and direct customers order. Invoices are raised and stock is reduced as copies ship.
- 5
Returns and reserves
Returned copies are logged and credit notes are matched to invoices. Reserves against returns are set from the rules the house uses.
- 6
Statements and payment
Royalty statements are worked out per author and title from net sales, then approved and paid, with unearned advances shown.
What is inside.
Every module can be switched on, left out or changed to match how your team already works.
The business modules it is built from.
Each one is also available on its own, or inside a system built for you.
- Product Management
Every title and format has a single catalogue record with identifiers, price and status, which sales, production and finance all read.
- Project Timelines with Gantt Charts
The stages from delivery to files are laid out on a calendar for each title, so a late proof shows its effect on print dates.
- Contract Management
Advances, rates, option clauses and delivery dates are held with the signed agreement, ready to apply when a statement is run.
- Commission and Incentives
Author earnings are calculated from net sales under tiered rates, with advances set against what has been earned so far.
- Purchase Order Management
A print order records the spec, quantity and agreed price with the printer, and stays open until the delivery is received.
- Stock Tracking and Alerts
Copies are counted by title and location as they arrive and ship, and a reprint alert fires when stock falls below its set level.
- Sales Returns and Credit Notes
Returned copies are matched to the invoice they came from, credited to the distributor, and put back in stock or written off.
- Subscription Billing
Each subscriber has a term and a cycle, renewal invoices go out on schedule, and lapsed accounts appear for follow-up.
How we would put it in.
Setup, data migration, integrations and anything built on top.
Tools it connects to.
Each connection is scoped for your own account, one data flow at a time.
One system, each person sees their part.
For commissioning and managing editors
See each title’s schedule, who holds the next task and which manuscripts, proofs and files are overdue.
For production
See print orders, printer dates, deliveries due and titles that need a reprint decision.
For sales and distribution
See stock available by title, open trade orders, invoices raised and returns awaiting credit.
For rights and contracts
See author terms, option dates and licences by territory, and which rights are still open to sell.
For finance and directors
See net sales, royalties payable, unearned advances and the cost of each title against its income.
The numbers the owner asks for.
- Titles by stage and schedule status
- Net sales by title, format and channel
- Royalties earned and payable by author
- Unearned advances by contract
- Stock on hand against reprint levels
- Returns by distributor and title
- Subscribers due for renewal this month
Who this is built for.
- Book publishers with several imprints
- Independent presses with a growing list
- Academic and educational publishers
- Magazine and journal publishers with subscribers
- Children’s and illustrated book houses that print abroad
- Digital-first publishers that also sell print editions
When it is not the right choice.
- A press with a handful of titles and no distributor can manage a catalogue sheet and a simple royalty workbook.
- A commercial printer that makes books for others will find the printing press product closer to job costing and press scheduling.
Adapted to your business before it goes live.
You are not handed a login and left to it. The product is set up around your records, your people and the tools you already use.
Works alongside
- Barcode scanners and label printers
- Distributor order files
- Online store
- Payment gateway
- Accounting software export
Questions owners ask before a demo.
Is it for books or for periodicals?
Both. Book titles follow editions and print runs, and periodicals add issues, subscribers and advertising. The scope names which parts your house needs.
Can royalties differ by format and territory?
Yes. Each contract holds its own rates by format, territory and sales band, and statements apply the right one to each line of sales.
How does it help decide a reprint?
Stock on hand, copies on order, forward trade orders and recent returns show together for a title, with an alert at the reprint level you set.
Does it deal with distributor returns?
Yes. Returned copies are logged, matched to the original invoice and credited, and the title’s net sales and royalty reserve update.
Can authors see their own statements?
A statement can go out on paper or as an email. A login for authors can be added, and the scope is agreed with your editorial and finance teams.
Does it track translation and other licences?
Yes. Rights are recorded by title, language and territory with the licensee, fee and expiry, so open rights are easy to find.
Can our current catalogue and contracts be loaded?
Yes. Titles, contributors, contract terms and opening stock are imported, and an editor and the royalty clerk check a sample before launch.
What happens to our data if we move away?
The catalogue, contracts and sales records belong to your house. The quotation spells out, ahead of any build, how that material is returned to you.
How is it priced?
The figure follows title count, users, warehouses and the parts of the system you switch on. A demonstration using your own catalogue precedes a written quotation.
Wondering what it costs? Six questions give you a written scope and the buckets any quote should separate.
Businesses that use this.
See Publisher Management Software with your own data.
Tell us how you run things today. We’ll show you the parts that matter to you and say plainly what would need changing.
- No obligation
- A reply within one business day
- Your details stay private
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Seven short steps that tell us what you need. An engineer reads them before getting in touch.
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