Getting Started on Sona Part 2: Setting Up as a Publisher

This is Part 2 of a 2-part series on getting started on Sọna.

Part 1: Setting Up as an Author|Part 2: Setting Up as a Publisher

Publisher accounts on Sọna are designed for publishing houses, imprints, and companies that publish books on behalf of multiple authors. This guide covers the publisher-specific setup steps, what makes a publisher account different from an author account, and how to manage books across multiple authors.

What Is a Publisher Account?

A publisher account lets you:

• Upload books under different author names (pen names) without each author needing their own Sọna account
• Manage multiple titles across different authors from a single dashboard
• Set up imprints: sub-brands or publishing labels under your main publisher name
• Handle earnings and payouts centrally for all titles you publish

Publisher accounts require:

• A company name (the name that appears on your books and your public publisher profile)
• A CAC registration number (Corporate Affairs Commission number, confirming your company is registered in Nigeria)

Step 1: Create Your Publisher Account

Go to the Publish section of the Sọna website and select Publisher as your account type.

You can sign up using:

• Email and password
• Sign in with Google
• Sign in with Apple

During signup, you will enter your company name and CAC registration number. If you sign up with your email, you will receive a verification email. Confirm your address before continuing.

Step 2: Your Publisher Profile

After signing up, fill in your publisher profile at Publish Dashboard > Profile. This is your public face on the platform.

• Publishing house name: the company or brand name that appears on your books and your profile page
• About your publishing house: a short description of your company, what you publish, and your editorial identity. Readers and authors both look at this
• Website: one link (your website, Instagram, TikTok, etc.), required

Your profile is always editable from Publish Dashboard > Profile.

Step 3: Payout Setup

Set up your bank account details at Publish Dashboard > Payout. All earnings from your published titles are paid to this account.

For Nigerian accounts, you will enter your bank account number and account holder name. The account holder's name should match your company name or an authorised signatory on record.

Payouts are held until your KYC is complete.

Step 4: KYC Verification

Publisher accounts go through the same KYC (Know Your Customer) process as author accounts, with one addition: you may be asked to provide company documentation such as your CAC certificate or a letter of incorporation.

The Sọna team verifies your details manually. You will receive an email when your verification is approved, or if anything further is needed.

KYC Statuses:

• Pending: Under review by the Sọna team
• Approved: Verified: full publishing and payout access enabled
• Rejected: An issue was found: check your email for details

Managing Imprints

Imprints are publishing labels or sub-brands under your main publisher account. For example, Cassava Republic and Narrative Landscape are different brands, each with its own editorial identity, its own reader audience, and its own feel, even if they share the same parent company. Sọna supports this out of the box.

Manage your imprints at Publish Dashboard > Pen Names (publishers see their imprints here). Each imprint gets its own logo, bio, genre focus, social links, and public profile page. When uploading a book, you choose which imprint to publish it under. The imprint name appears on the book page alongside the author credit.

See the full guide: How to Manage Imprints on Sọna.

Uploading Books as a Publisher

The upload process is the same as for authors: an 8-step wizard covering your manuscript, cover, metadata, pricing, and settings.

The key difference is the author name field: as a publisher, you will enter the author's name (or pen name) for each book. This name appears on the book page and in your catalogue. You are responsible for making sure the credited author name is accurate and authorised.

Book Claims

If an author on Sọna sets a pen name that matches the credited author of a book in your catalogue, a book claim is created and sent to you for review. Claims appear in Publish Dashboard > Book Claims.

You can confirm or dispute each claim. If you dispute, the author is notified and can resubmit with a corrected name or escalate to the Sọna team for independent review.

See the full guide: How Book Claims Work on Sọna.

What Happens After Setup

Here is the full publisher journey from signup to first payout:

1. Create your publisher account: company name, CAC number
2. Fill in your profile: company bio, logo, website
3. Set up payout details: bank account
4. Complete KYC: company documentation if requested
5. Upload your first book: 8-step upload wizard, with author name credited
6. Book is reviewed: the Sọna team reviews within 1 to 5 business days
7. Book goes live: visible to readers
8. Sales come in: earnings appear in your dashboard
9. Payout: transferred to your company bank account on your chosen schedule

Tips for Publishers

• Complete your profile before uploading. A professional publisher profile with a logo and bio makes your catalogue look credible to readers browsing by publisher.
• Start KYC early. The sooner your documentation is submitted, the sooner you can receive payouts. Do not wait until your first book is live.
• Keep author names consistent. If an author publishes under a pen name, use that pen name consistently across all their titles. Inconsistent attribution confuses readers and can complicate book claims.
• Use imprints if your catalogue covers distinct genres. It makes your catalogue easier to navigate for readers who follow a particular imprint.

Ready to get started? Go to readsona.com/publish to create your publisher account.

Also in This Series

• Part 1: Setting Up as an Author
• Part 2: Setting Up as a Publisher

Related Guides

• How to Manage Imprints on Sọna: full guide to setting up and managing your publishing labels
• How Book Claims Work on Sọna: what happens when an author claims credit for a book in your catalogue
• Your Sọna Publish Dashboard: A Complete Guide: overview of every section in the dashboard