Tablo

Tablo is a self-publishing platform that provides tools for authors to create, print, publish, and distribute their books globally. The company was founded in Melbourne, Australia, in early 2013 by Ash Davies, who was 19 at the time. The inspiration for Tablo came from Davies' own frustrating experience while trying to publish his book on photography. He envisioned a simpler process, similar to publishing a blog on WordPress, and subsequently dropped out of university to establish the company.

The initial concept was accepted into the AngelCube startup accelerator in Melbourne, which provided $20,000 in seed capital. By late 2013, after launching its online application, Tablo secured an additional $400,000 in funding from Australian and American angel investors. Originally, the platform focused on allowing authors to create and self-publish eBooks to major online stores. A significant milestone occurred in July 2014 when Tablo relaunched as a social community for writers and readers. The service offering expanded in April 2018 to include paperback publishing and a significantly larger distribution network through a print-on-demand model.

Tablo operates on a subscription-based business model, which is a departure from the commission-based structure common in the industry. Authors pay an annual or monthly fee to use the platform, which includes services like typesetting, cover design templates, ISBN assignment, and global distribution. The company offers several pricing tiers, with some plans taking a small commission on sales while others allow authors to keep 100% of the net royalties after retailer and printing costs are deducted. This model provides a predictable revenue stream for the company and transparent terms for authors. The platform serves independent authors, from first-time writers to established names like New York Times bestseller Claire Messud, across more than 150 countries.

The core service is an all-in-one, browser-based platform where authors can write, format, and design their books for publication in eBook, paperback, and hardcover formats. A key feature is its extensive distribution network, which reaches approximately 40,000 retailers and 30,000 libraries worldwide, including major players like Amazon, Barnes & Noble, and Apple Books. The print-on-demand service ensures that physical copies are printed and shipped globally as they are sold, eliminating the need for authors to manage inventory. The platform also provides authors with analytics to track sales and on-demand royalty withdrawals.

Keywords: self-publishing platform, book distribution, print-on-demand, author services, independent authors, eBook publishing, paperback publishing, book creation tools, Ash Davies, global book distribution, author royalties, publishing subscription, literary imprint, writing community, book formatting, cover design, ISBN assignment, Tablo Tales, author analytics, book sales tracking