Christian Faith Publishing (CFP) is a paid publishing services company in Meadville, Pennsylvania. You pay it to edit, design, print and distribute your book. Its own 2026 price list runs from $4,085 to $8,081. It is a real company that delivers books, but it is not a traditional publisher, and the complaints about royalty reporting are worth reading before you sign.
In this review, you’ll learn:
- What Christian Faith Publishing actually charges, from its own published price list
- How its royalty and cost-recoupment terms have been reported
- What the BBB record, Trustpilot, Google reviews and writer forums actually say
- Who should buy a CFP package, and who should keep their money
Here is the assessment, with every figure linked to where we found it.
What Christian Faith Publishing actually is
Christian Faith Publishing is an author-paid publishing services company. It produces and distributes faith-based books in exchange for an upfront package fee. It does not pay advances, and it does not select books on commercial merit the way a traditional Christian publisher does.
According to its Better Business Bureau profile, the business started in December 2014 and has been BBB-accredited since February 2016. Its website lists five services: editing, design, print and ebook, marketing and distribution, and screenplay adaptation.
The model matters more than the branding. The watchdog Writer Beware describes CFP as a vanity publisher whose service is “little different” from assisted self-publishing packages. If you want the distinction spelled out, our guide to hybrid publishers vs. vanity presses covers the warning signs.
The plain version: you are the customer. CFP earns its main revenue from your package fee, not from selling your book.
What Christian Faith Publishing does well
CFP does several things genuinely well, and a fair review has to say so.
It produces real, distributed books. Writer Beware, which is no friend of author-paid publishers, wrote that “CFP seems to deliver what its clients pay for.” Your book gets an ISBN, a cover, an interior layout, print and ebook editions, and retail distribution. A 2022 review on SelfPublishing.com says distribution runs through Ingram.
It is genuinely done-for-you. You hand over a finished manuscript and a team handles copyediting, design, formatting and uploads. If you are 70, have never used a computer for more than email, and want your testimony in print, that has real value.
It speaks your language. CFP markets to Christian authors specifically. Its staff understand devotionals, testimonies, Bible studies and ministry books. Some authors value that shared faith more than they value saving money.
It answers complaints in public. CFP responds to complaints on its BBB profile, and SelfPublishing.com noted that the company engages with complaints rather than ignoring them. Its Google reviews averaged 4.4 stars from 538 reviews, according to Self-Publishing School’s January 2026 review.
It offers extras few competitors sell. CFP’s site lists an audiobook add-on and a book-to-screenplay service. If you dream of your story on film, very few small publishers even pretend to help.
What Christian Faith Publishing does not do well
This is the section that should shape your decision.
It is expensive for what you get. Every core service CFP sells, from ISBN to distribution, is available directly. Amazon KDP and IngramSpark cost little or nothing to publish through. A freelance editor and cover designer typically cost far less than a $4,085 package. Our breakdown of what it costs to self-publish a book shows the DIY math.
Royalty reporting draws repeated complaints. A March 2024 roundup on WritersWeekly quotes several BBB complaints about late or missing royalty payments. In one, a CFP representative apologized and cited “archaic reporting systems.” WritersWeekly discloses that it competes directly with CFP, so weigh its commentary accordingly, but the complaints it quotes come from the BBB site.
Author copies can cost more than expected. The same roundup quotes an author who says 600 copies cost almost $8,000 against a quote of $2,550. That is one complaint, not a pattern we could verify, but it shows why you should get author-copy pricing in writing.
The marketing is thin. Press releases, author web pages and video trailers rarely sell books on their own. Writer Beware called packages like these “junk marketing.” Trustpilot reviewers repeatedly describe little or no promotion and few sales.
Editing quality is inconsistent. Several Trustpilot reviewers say edits introduced errors or formatting problems that they then paid to correct. Missed timelines and slow communication are the other recurring themes there.
How the pricing compares
Christian Faith Publishing costs $4,085 to $8,081 for its three packages, according to a price post on CFP’s own blog dated October 2026. Deposits start at $595, with the balance paid in installments.
| Package | Price (CFP, Oct 2026) | Deposit from | What it adds |
|---|---|---|---|
| Purely Publishing | $4,085 | $595 | Editing, cover and interior design, print and ebook, ISBN, distribution, press release, author webpage |
| Launch Package | $5,681 | $795 | Podcast interview, Amazon listing optimization, extra copies, narrated video trailer |
| Launch+ Package | $8,081 | $1,095 | Custom author website, bookmarks, social media campaign, video interview |
| Audiobook add-on | Not published | — | Narrator selection, production, upload |
For years, CFP published no prices at all. Writer Beware’s 2017 alert documented quotes of $3,500 to $5,000 up front, or plans like $495 down plus $295 a month for ten months. The new public price list is a real improvement in transparency.
The total cost is higher than the package price. Author copies, corrections and any audiobook are extra. Count those before you compare.
How do Christian Faith Publishing royalties work?
Christian Faith Publishing royalties have been reported as a recoupment model. Writer Beware quoted CFP’s FAQ at the time saying authors recover their investment from sales “before we are entitled to any royalty compensation whatsoever.” SelfPublishing.com reports that after you recoup, CFP takes $0.50 per copy sold.
CFP’s current website does not publish a royalty percentage. Its royalties article says you “retain the rights to your work.” Before signing, ask for the full contract and check the royalty rate, the reporting schedule and the reversion and cancellation terms.
Recouping $4,085 is harder than it sounds. In a comment on her alert, Victoria Strauss of Writer Beware wrote that most authors with publishers like CFP “never do.” Our guide to book royalties explains the per-copy math.
What real users say about Christian Faith Publishing
User feedback splits sharply by platform, and the split itself tells you something.
Christian Faith Publishing BBB reviews and complaints. CFP holds an A+ BBB rating. As of October 27, 2026, its profile showed 46 complaints in the last three years, 13 of them in the last 12 months, alongside 331 customer reviews. BBB ratings reward a company for responding to complaints, so an A+ and a steady complaint flow can coexist.
Trustpilot. CFP scores 2.2 out of 5 from just 12 reviews, and Trustpilot notes the company has never invited customers to review. That is too small a sample to judge the company, but the themes match the BBB complaints: communication, timelines, editing and royalties.
Google reviews. Self-Publishing School reported a 4.4-star average from 538 Google reviews in January 2026. Positive reviews tend to praise individual staff members and the finished book.
Christian Faith Publishing reviews on Reddit. We could not find a substantive Reddit thread from an author who published with CFP. The closest community discussion is a 2025 thread on ChristianWriters.com. No member there reported publishing with CFP; members called it a vanity press and pointed the asker toward self-publishing instead.
The fair summary: CFP produces finished books that many authors are happy with. A meaningful minority report problems with royalties, copies and editing that cost them money and trust.
Is Christian Faith Publishing legit?
Yes, Christian Faith Publishing is a legitimate company. It is a registered, BBB-accredited business that has operated since 2014 and delivers printed, distributed books. Legit is not the same as good value, though. It is an author-paid service, and most authors will spend more than their books earn back.
Where Christian Faith Publishing beats Chapter
Chapter is our product, so here is where CFP is the better choice.
- CFP publishes your book. Chapter does not. Chapter writes the book with you. You still upload it to KDP or IngramSpark yourself. CFP handles ISBN, printing and retail distribution end to end.
- CFP has human editors and designers. Chapter’s drafts are AI-generated with your guidance. If you want a person to copyedit your finished manuscript and design your cover, CFP sells that and Chapter does not.
- CFP suits an author who already has a manuscript. If your book is written, Chapter’s core job is already done. A finished manuscript needs editing and publishing, not drafting.
- CFP offers audiobook and screenplay services. Chapter offers neither.
- CFP is faith-specific. Its whole identity is Christian publishing. Chapter serves every genre.
- CFP lets you talk to a person on the phone through the whole process. Chapter is software you use yourself, and it has no free tier or trial.
If your manuscript is finished and you never want to touch a publishing dashboard, CFP gives you something Chapter cannot.
Who should buy Christian Faith Publishing
- You have a complete, polished manuscript and no interest in learning how publishing works
- You value faith-aligned staff enough to pay a premium for it
- You can spend $4,085 or more without expecting to earn it back, for example a legacy book for family or a church
- You want a single company handling editing, design, ISBN and distribution
Who should not buy Christian Faith Publishing
- You hope the book will make a profit. The economics work against you.
- You thought CFP was a traditional publisher. Traditional Christian publishers pay you; they never charge you.
- You are willing to spend a weekend learning how to self-publish a book. KDP and a freelance editor will cost a fraction of a CFP package.
- You have not written the book yet. A $4,085 package does nothing until the manuscript exists.
- You need reliable, transparent sales reporting. That is the most repeated complaint in the record.
The alternative we built
Our Pick — Chapter
Most Christian authors who reach out to companies like CFP are not stuck on publishing. They are stuck on writing: the devotional that never gets past chapter two, or the testimony still in a notebook. Chapter solves that part. You guide it through your message, your stories and your structure, and it writes the complete book with you.
Best for: Authors who have a message, a ministry or a story, but not a finished manuscript Pricing: $97 one time, 2 books included (fiction or nonfiction), 30-day money-back guarantee Why we built it: Writing the book is where most authors stall, and it should not cost thousands of dollars to get past it
Chapter has helped 10,000+ authors write their books and has been featured in USA Today and The New York Times. You keep 100% of your rights, and there is no subscription.
Here is the honest math. Chapter at $97, then publishing yourself through KDP or Draft2Digital, costs a fraction of CFP’s cheapest package. If you want human editing on top, a freelance editor still leaves you well under $4,085. If you are writing a devotional, our guide on how to write a devotional book walks through structure first.
If your book is still in your head rather than on the page, Chapter for nonfiction and Chapter for fiction write the complete book with you for $97 one time, with 2 books included and a 30-day money-back guarantee.
FAQ
Is Christian Faith Publishing a vanity press?
Is Christian Faith Publishing a vanity press? By the standard definition, yes. Writer Beware classifies CFP as a vanity publisher because authors pay upfront for publishing, from $4,085 under its 2026 price list. It delivers real books, but its revenue comes from author fees rather than book sales.
How much does Christian Faith Publishing cost?
Christian Faith Publishing costs $4,085 to $8,081 for its three packages, according to CFP’s October 2026 price post. Deposits start at $595, with the balance paid in installments. Author copies, corrections and the audiobook add-on cost extra, so your total will be higher.
Does Christian Faith Publishing pay royalties?
Christian Faith Publishing pays royalties, but reports describe a recoupment model. Authors first earn back their investment from sales, and SelfPublishing.com reports CFP then takes $0.50 per copy. Several BBB complaints describe late or missing royalty payments, so get the reporting schedule in writing.
What is Christian Faith Publishing’s BBB rating?
Christian Faith Publishing has an A+ BBB rating and has been BBB-accredited since February 2016. As of October 2026, its profile listed 46 complaints in the past three years. The A+ reflects that the company responds to complaints; it does not mean no complaints exist.
Is there a cheaper alternative to Christian Faith Publishing?
Yes, self-publishing is far cheaper than Christian Faith Publishing. Publishing through Amazon KDP costs nothing upfront, and a freelance editor and cover designer usually cost well under a CFP package. If you need the book written first, Chapter costs $97 one time for two books.
