Writing in your Heart discussion

Place for us to discuss the pros and cons of having your own ISBN versus having one assigned. Also, here's where we can discuss how to go about getting them.

ISBNs cost money and can be purchased through Bowker online. If you go through KDP or Createspace then they are happy to assign you one of their ISBNs. Keep in mind that they will be listed as the publisher. I was told that was a bad idea so I used my own. I got ten ISBNs for around $250.

Question for you, why would it be bad if they were listed as the publisher?

Hayley wrote: "Question for you, why would it be bad if they were listed as the publisher?"

Good question. KDP or CreateSpace or any of the others are considered author service companies. If they provide the ISBN then they permanently become the publisher of record and if the author wants to switch to another author service company then they are going to have issues.
Also, books with author service companies listed as publisher are sometimes taken less seriously. This is all information according to Guy Kawasaki and Shawn Welch in their book APE: Author, Publisher, Entrepreneur. How to Publish a Book. I highly recommend it for anyone thinking of publishing.