What Are the Big 5 Publishers and What Are the Keys to Getting a Big 5 Publishing Deal?
There are many ways to publish a book.
But for many authors, the gold standard, the Ferrari of publishing, if you will, is to land a “Big 5 Publishing Deal.” The mere thought of a Ferrari is exhilarating, isn’t it?🤩
Publishing a book with a Big 5 publisher remains a status symbol and an aspirational goal for many authors of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books alike.
What is the “Big 5,” in basic book publishing terms, and how do you get a publishing deal with them?
I talk a lot about this in my work as a book publishing coach for authors.
The Big 5 Definition / Who are the Big 5 in the USA?
The term “Big 5” is the publishing industry insider term for the largest book publishers in the US.
The logo of HarperCollins, a publisher known for its imprints Amistad, Ecco, Harper Business, Dey Street Books, Thomas Nelson, Harlequin books, and more.
In the USA, the Big 5 is a term used to refer to the five largest and most prestigious publishing companies. The Big 5 consists of Hachette Book Group, HarperCollins Publishers, Macmillan Publishers, Penguin Random House, and Simon & Schuster.
These publishers—some of them foreign-owned—acquire books written mostly by Americans for Americans—(I’m making reference to Daymond John’s Fubu slogan here; he has published several books with Big 5 publishers)—and are acquired, edited, and published in America. They are part of larger (often international) media conglomerates.
Getting a traditional publishing contract starts with finding the right publisher.
See your options and find out what they’re looking for.
Get the most up-to-date list of book publishing companies for nonfiction authors in the US—
With or without an agent, find your match.
Understanding the organization of each of the Big 5 is a difficult task, one that gets more difficult given the frequent changes in the organizational structure.
Each member of the Big 5 is subdivided in ways that are confusing as all get-out. And the landscape seems to be constantly evolving.
In simple terms, each unit (itself part of a larger corporation) is divided into publishers (publishing groups) and imprints.
These may be legacy brands, independent presses acquired over the years, or new entities created to fill a niche or need or to reward an outstanding editor.
Random House Tower in New York City, US headquarters of Penguin-Random House
(Check for yourself, as the information below can change at any time.)
Hachette Book Group, owned by Hachette Livre, a French subsidiary of Lagardère, publishes such imprints as Basic Books (which is within the Perseus Books Group).
HarperCollins, owned by News Corp, publishes such imprints as Amistad, Ecco, and anything with “Harper” in the name.
Penguin/Random House, owned by the German company Bertelsmann, publishes such imprints as Alfred A. Knopf, Doubleday, and Vintage within the Knopf Doubleday Publishing Group; Penguin, Putnam, and Viking Press within the Penguin Publishing Group; Ballantine Books, Bantam Books, and Random House within the Random House Publishing Group; and Crown Publishing Group and its imprints.
Macmillan, owned by the German company Holtzbrinck Publishing Group, publishes such imprints as St. Martin’s Press within St. Martin’s Publishing Group.
Simon & Schuster, sold by Paramount to private equity firm KKR (who also owns library digital borrowing app OverDrive), publishes such imprints as Atria, Scribner, and Simon & Schuster.
Getting published is no easy task!
So learn for yourself the secrets that successful authors use to write a query and book proposal for a traditional publisher—big 5, trade press, or university press, get a publishing contract, and navigate the publishing process with ease and confidence.
Take The Step-by-Step Traditional Publishing Course today!
How to Get a Big 5 Publishing Contract
What you need: an agent, a query, a proposal, a manuscript (or at least some of it), patience, a large following or indicator of future sales, a clue.
With very few exceptions, getting a publishing deal with a Big 5 imprint requires an author (through a literary agent) to submit a query and, if invited, a formal proposal and/or manuscript.
I help authors write and edit nonfiction proposals—it’s one of the things I do as a book publishing coach—and as a successfully traditionally published author myself with a book that resides in 1,000+ libraries, I know that having a really sharp proposal is very important. Publishing is very competitive!
(Learn about hiring a book proposal coach or editor here.)
Acquisitions editors do not accept unsolicited queries, proposals, or manuscripts.
An agent submits that material on the author’s behalf.
For a cut (typically 15 percent) of the author’s compensation from the publisher, the agent will help the author negotiate any deals related to their book, starting with the initial contract.
(The agent can also help negotiate such things as foreign rights and film adaptations.)
The entire process, from manuscript to publication, could take 12 or 18 months, or even more.
See my other, related article “Questions to Ask a Literary Agent before Signing a Contract.”
If you’re looking for the best advice on how to find an agent or get published, these are the books I have read, trust, and recommend to my nonfiction editing and book coaching clients.
Editors at the Big 5 may (rarely) take notice of an author (and then invite the author to have their agent be in touch), but almost never does an author somehow bypass the agent as the gatekeeper and intermediary to get a publishing deal. Expect to be ignored if you try to contact an editor directly.
If you want to pursue traditional publishing with a Big 5 deal, you’ll not only need an agent to help you. You’ll need to point to past book sales and/or a large following on social media or on an email list.
How large is large? Let’s say 10,000 is a safe bet. Having some kind of celebrity status or newsworthy name recognition is often a must. Maybe you’re a local or state-known celebrity? A former Olympian?
It also helps to have the endorsement of a prestigious celebrity, public figure, or someone respected in your space.
Pros and Cons of Publishing with a Big 5 Publisher
Disadvantages of Big 5 Publishing
Let’s look at the cons first:
Some would argue that over the years, consolidation in the publishing industry has made the “Big 5” less risk averse, less diverse in their offerings, complacent, and ever-more selective. You may not be a priority to your publisher; their resources are not allocated equally.
Advantages of a Big 5 Publishing Deal
Now the pros:
They offer authors name recognition, beautiful cover and interior design, professional editing, a consistent look and feel to their books, established sales channels, widespread distribution, easier access to libraries and major bestseller lists, and (often) an easier path to licensing other rights.
It is ever-more challenging to get a Big 5 deal, but it remains an aspirational goal and a status symbol for many authors of fiction, nonfiction, and children’s books alike.
Big 5 Alternatives for Authors
University presses are an alternative to Big 5 publishing contracts. The Association of University Presses has oodles of helpful information on how to publish with one of their member presses.
There are plenty of large publishers out there that aren’t “Big 5” but sell a lot of books and have excellent name recognition. Consider such publishers as W. W. Norton, Bloomsbury, Sourcebooks, and Wiley (of For Dummies fame), for example.
There are university presses, which are especially great for professors and research-oriented books. (Read this if you’re thinking of publishing with a university press and visit the Association of University Presses website and YouTube channel.)
There are small independent presses, which carve out niches in specific areas.
And there are many authors who prefer (and rightly so) the creative control, the quicker pace, and the higher profit potential of self-publishing.
Final Thoughts on Big 5 Publishing
If you put all your apples in the “big publisher” basket, if you have your eyes fixed on the shiny Ferrari, to mix metaphors, you may be missing out on other great ways to share your book with the world.
But if trying to score a “Big 5” deal is for you, you may find the status you crave. At least now know you know the basics to get you started!
Don’t forget to get a copy of
An up-to-date List of Nonfiction Publishers in the US
Guide to Literary Agents 30th Edition: The Most Trusted Guide to Getting Published by Robert Lee Brewer
Write the Perfect Book Proposal: 10 That Sold and Why by Jeff Herman and Deborah Levine Herman
Jeff Herman’s Guide to Book Publishers, Editors, and Literary Agents, 29th Edition: Who They Are, What They Want, How to Win Them Over by Jeff Herman. An older 28th edition of the Jeff Herman guide, published in 2018, has the same sound advice and how-to guidance, but its agent directory might be out of date.