Format Dilemma

I have a book that will be self published. I have already have gone through the decision process, limited audience means no trade publisher wants it but there is a viable audience for self publishing. My current decision is the format. From market analysis, the readership would be looking at two distinct formats. First is the ebook, likely Kindle. There is a natural audience for this book that would use electronic readers. But there is a second audience, since this is an instructional non-fiction book, that would be looking for a printed version that can open flat for easy following of the instructions and process. This lends itself quite well to comb binding, something I have self-published in the ancient past by having a a print shop print colored covers on thicker stock and then running the inner pages off on a laser, binding it myself.

My dilemma here is that the various ebook and self-publishing options don't seem to have the ability to print both the electronic version and a comb binding version. I can get those options from separate services, but there isn't an easy one-stop place for printing and sales.

I am currently looking at offering the ebook version through Kindle, at a relatively low price point of $2.95 to $4.95, but a comb bound edition would need to sell for $19.95 plus postage to make it financially viable. And I wouldn't be able to offer both through Amazon as separate versions of the same book (as far as I can tell). I would likely end up selling a Kindle version and then the comb bound version through my own web site, with far less traffic and publicity available. So, I'm looking for opinions or options I may have missed.

Thoughts?

Thanks,

Jeff

Old Hack said:

I've worked on books which were published as a collection of cards inside a cover or sleeve, a bit like an envelope file.

Click to expand...

That's an idea I have never thought of. I've been looking for something that lays flat, so this definitely fits the bill, thanks.

Jeff