For anyone considering self-publishing, a major consideration is the cost of printing.  To give you a sense of the process, check out the following text from an actual quote from a major book manufacturer.  (I did strip out identifying elements, but the basics remain intact.)  If nothing else you'll be surprised how inexpensive printing your own books can be... under the right circumstances.

Text from the quote is in bold; my comments are plain text. If any of the terms aren't familiar to you, check out What Real Books Are Made Of.

It is a pleasure to present our proposal for manufacturing based on the following specifications. Prices include current cost of production, both manufacturing and materials.

Note the use of the word "current."  Commodity prices change fairly rapidly, especially where paper is concerned.  And price will also be affected by seasonal demand; trade publishing tends to work on a fall and a spring cycle, and textbook production is cyclical as well.  Most quotes are good for a specific period of time; that comes later.

Quantity:    5,000; 7,500; 10,000 plus additional thousands.

When I asked for this quote my client wasn't sure about print quantity, so I asked for a range.  "Additional thousands" refers to any books over order quantity but under maximum quantity

If you aren't familiar with the concept of additional 1000s, here's a quick explanation.  You want 5,000 books.  Book manufacturers allow for production waste.  If they only produce 5,000 jackets and one is torn during the process… the order is short and they will have to go back to press, a manufacturing fate worse than death.  To allow for normal waste and also for variation in the manufacturing process, most work on a percentage over/under basis.  For example, if you want 5,000 books your contract may be for 5,000 +/- 10%.  Delivery of any quantity between 4,500 and 5,500 is considered acceptable.  If the manufacturer keeps waste down and delivers 5,400 books, great – and you’ll be charged for them.  If they experience excessive run waste and only deliver 4,700 then they don’t have to go back to press but also can only charge for 4,700 units.

You can tighten the over/under spread if you like.  For example, you could contract for 5,000 + 5% and no “unders”; that means you won’t accept anything less than 5,000.  Just understand your price per unit may go up slightly since the manufacturer will probably increase waste allowances to compensate for the risk of missing the mark.

No. of Pages:    256 pages

Unless you've gone through the design stage you won't know an exact quantity. But you can estimate: The average 6 x 9 hardcover book has anywhere from 325 to 400 words per page, depending on font size, margins, line spacing, etc. If you're not sure and you're looking for quotes, you will need to estimate, because paper and print costs make up a big chunk of the total cost of production.  You can have the quote finalized once you know your precise specs.

Preliminary:
From your furnished PDF page files with all elements included in electronic files (graphics and illustrations), we will receive text files and corresponding laser prints for general guidance, impose black only pages electronically and create press plates.  We will provide digital black and white proofs or softproofs for your approval.

For the components, you will furnish PDF files of the printing spreads with all elements included in the electronic file (graphics and illustrations).   We will impose the spreads electronically and create press plates.

We will provide a four-color pleasing color proof of the jacket for your approval.

Okay, there's a lot there.  The assumption is you will provide print-ready files based on the book printer's specs.  Once you do, the PrePress department (also called Preliminary or Prelim) will get your files ready for production, and will provide proofs for you to review.  Proofs are important; if you sign off on a proof, you signed off responsibility.  If the manufacturer prints what you signed off on... it's yours, even if it's incorrect in some way.  Proofs can be physical (on paper) or "softproofs," which are electronic files you can view.  Softproofs are just as good as physical proofs and a lot more convenient - don't be afraid to go the soft proofing route.

Presswork:
Body - We will carefully makeready and print pages in black only throughout by the web offset process.

Jacket will be printed in 4-0-0-4 colors by the sheetfed offset process.
A gloss laminate film will be applied to the outside only.

Stock - For the body pages, we will furnish basis 25 x 38 - 50 #, 400 ppi, cream-white antique at a current market price of $54.60 per hundredweight.

The Jacket will print on 80# C1S stock.

What did you learn?  Black text only (although your text can include shades of black.  Just can't include another color.)  Jackets are 4-color, one side only.  Gloss lamination will be used on the print side - you don't need it on the non-print side.  Or you could choose a UV-coating if you like; in this case that is not what I specified.  

Text paper is a 50#, 400 ppi, cream-white stock. The current market price is specified just in case commodity prices go up in the interim; no manufacturer will lock themselves in to an agreement they will lose money on if component costs go up dramatically.

The jacket will print on an 80# stock, coated on one side.  (C1S means coated, one side.)

Case Binding and Case Making:
Binding will be adhesive notch case bound with cream white endsheets, trimmed square and flush on three sides, cotton head and foot bands, and one-piece cases made of Rainbow 80# embossed kraft material over .085 non spec reg/graphic board.

Our price includes non-tarnished foil stamping on the spine (dies additional, made from supplied copy.)

Let's go in order: This manufacturer uses a notch binding style and adhesive glue.  Standard stuff.  Endsheets will be basically the same color as the paper stock.  We get headbands - and we get to choose the color, within reason.  Case material will be from the Rainbow line of materials, in an 80# weight - we'll get to choose from ten or twenty different colors.  And they'll use a fairly standard thickness of case board.  We also get stamping on the spine, but we have to provide the copy for the die and will have to pay a little extra to have the dies made, which usually runs around $150.  (Other than shipping, die costs are the only non-included costs.)

Disposition:

Final copies packed in 200# RSC single wall (or equivalent) bulk cartons and banded on non-treated pallets for shipment, F.O.B. our (location) plant.

Finished books go into cartons (my guess is, considering the size of this book, we'll get 32 books or so per carton) and are placed on pallets.  They'll load the truck for us, but we'll pay the actual cost of freight.  (F.O.B. means Freight on Board, and also means we're responsible for shipping costs.) 

Books are bulk-cartoned to minimize damage and make handling a little easier.  If we're handling our own fulfillment, we'll need to un-carton them and re-pack in mailers, etc when we ship to customers.  In other words, the manufacturer isn't individually-cartoning our books; that's our job.

Pricing:

This is a summary of costs, excluding shipping.  

Material prices are based on the current prices as of the quote date.  Changes in the actual cost of materials at the time of purchase will be reflected in the invoice.

For any special order paper used in the production of this title we will invoice you for the actual amount of paper delivered by the mill.  Any additional freight charges assessed by the mill will also be included on your invoice.

Paper, Materials and Manufacturing capacity are subject to availability at time of order.  All operations other than those stated above will be billed additional.

These are the basic terms and conditions.  Roughly speaking, material costs may vary, especially if we wait awhile between receiving the quote and finalizing the contract.  (That allows this manufacturer to avoid saying "This quote is only good for 30 days," for example.  They're not locked in to anything until we sign the contract.) 

And, if we decide to use a special-order paper or other special-order components, there won't be a "commission" per se; those costs will be pass-through.  And if the materials we choose aren't available from suppliers, it's not the manufacturer's fault.  

Pretty simple!

Oh - if you want to see a complete breakdown of terms and conditions, email me.  Two pages, single space, small font... not particularly exciting for my average visitor and definitely not worth reproducing here.