“Thanks to Bookshop, there is no reason to buy books on Amazon anymore.” — Inside Hook

Customers lineup to buy Bookshop.org books from a cellphone that dispenses books like a vending machine

Bookshop.org works to connect readers with independent booksellers all over the world.
We believe local bookstores are essential community hubs that foster culture, curiosity, and a love of reading, and we're committed to helping them thrive.

Every purchase on the site financially supports independent bookstores. Our platform gives independent bookstores tools to compete online and financial support to help them maintain their presence in local communities.

Since 2020, we've raised more than $34 million for independent bookstores.

How It Works
(and how your purchases help bookstores)

A small independent bookstore

Pick A Store

Visit our find a local bookstore page and select the bookstore you'd like to support. If you don't choose a store, you'll contribute to our profit sharing pool that helps all our stores.

A bile of colorful books

Buy a Book

Your order will be filled directly by our distributor, and the full profit from your purchase will be sent to bookstore you selected.

A cardboard box with the Bookshop.org logo

Check the Mail

You'll receive a confirmation and tracking number when your order is placed, and our in-house customer service team will be standing by if you have issues or returns.

A Bouncing ball with the bookshop.org logo

Help Bookstores

We donate profits directly to bookstores—both the funds from direct purchases and our profit pool that's split between our 2,000+ stores.

“This funding came at the most perfect time when I prayed I would have rent for next month and payroll and purchases. Your team will never, ever, know how much booksellers like me appreciate your business.”

VaLinda Miller

Turning Page Bookshop
Goose Creek, SC

“These funds mean more than money. It means community to me. And for that, I will be forever grateful.”

Fawn Fernandes

Curious Capybara Bookshop
Hendersonville, TN

“Bookshop has absolutely transformed our business, and I am just so continually grateful for your service and, ultimately, support. Thank you so much for your vision and your commitment to us indies.”

Lexi Walter Wright

High Five Books
Northampton, MA

Our Mission
(and where our profits go)

Bookshop.org's Profit disctribution, showing the overwhelming percentage of profit that goes to Indie bookstores

Our mission is simple: To help local, independent bookstores thrive in the age of ecommerce.

Certified as a B Corp, Bookshop.org puts this mission and the public good above financial interests, giving over 80% of our profit margin to independent bookstores. In 2022, B-Labs announced we were "best for the world": in the top 5% of all B-Corps.

It is written in our governance documents that we will never sell the company to Amazon or any major U.S. retailer.

As a Climate Neutral company, we are committed to operating sustainably.

Certified B-Corp Logo

B Corp Certification is a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials.

More Information on B Corps
Climate Neutral Certified Logo
Trustpilot widget, showing Bookshop.org has 4.9 stars out of 5, and 13,000+ reviews
Winnner, Fast Company's 2021 World Changing Ideas Award badge

Bookshop.org has the highest customer service rating of any online bookstore in the world on Trustpilot.

A colorful bookstore with the bookshop logo sits on a bookshelf alongside colorful books

Our History

Bookshop.org began as an idea to help support bookstores and their communities as more and more people are buying their books online. We saw an opportunity to create an alternative to Amazon for socially-conscious online shoppers. Amazon sells over 60% of all books in the US and is growing. That shift threatens the future of bookstores and will hurt readers, authors, and publishers who rely on a diverse, healthy ecosystem for books. We had a better idea — give readers the convenience of online shopping while supporting independent bookstores at the same time.

We launched in January of 2020, with just 88 bookstore partners and a team of four passionate book people.

As the COVID-19 pandemic surged, our growing platform helped our community of independent booksellers survive shutdowns. That spring, traffic to Bookshop.org hit 1 million users in a single day. By the end of 2020 we had grown to over 1,000 bookstores and distributed over ten million dollars in profits. Bookshop.org has since expanded internationally, launching in the UK and Spain.

78% of our customers said they regularly bought books from Amazon before they made the switch.

“The rapid rise of Bookshop.org during the shutdown has been hailed as a boon for independent stores.“

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F.A.Q.

Can I partner or advertise with Bookshop.org?
Does Bookshop.org ship to Canada or internationally?
How do I report a problem with the website or my order?
What do I do if I've received a damaged, incorrect, or otherwise defective order?
How do I return an order if I receive a book that I don't want?
Will Bookshop.org sell audiobooks and or ebooks?
How does Bookshop.org work with independent bookstores?
How does Bookshop.org promote local bookstores?
How do I set up an affiliate account?
Do affiliates have to disclose this websites, newsletters or social media posts?
If I'm an affiliate, how are the sales of my books handled?
How do affiliates get paid for the books they sell?
What does Bookshop.org's packaging look like?
How much money does Bookshop.org keep? How do authors get paid?
Who owns Bookshop.org?
FAQ for Bookstores:
What kind of reporting can I receive, and how frequently?
Why does Bookshop.org discount books?
A customer wants a title not in inventory. Can I get it on my storefront?
Does Bookshop.org share customer info with affiliates?
How does Bookshop.org target online customers?
Can Bookshop.org take the place of my store's website?
Do I need to provide my bank details?
How do I list our store's books on Bookshop.org?
Does Bookshop.org allow for in-store pickup?
If my question isn't answered here?

“Consider [Bookshop.org] the Rebel Alliance standing up to the Amazon Empire.”

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