This is NOT a question. I answered another writer's question, but my comment appeared on the 3rd page of comments, hidden away, and I feel that this is something that new writers should know:
A short comment on a detail of --- -----'s point "they're going to risk the costs of registering for an ISBN [...]"
I contacted a "self-publishing agency" and this ISBN offer was presented as a BIG DEAL. I suppose that for inexperienced authors it seems so. Here are [some] facts:
(I'm a resident of Germany, so the amounts are German ones, but I'd guess that the general pattern holds for all countries.)
A self-publishing author is not obliged to buy an ISBN. It is, however, virtually necessary if you want to sell your book on amazon or in bookstores. In Germany, a single ISBN costs 89€. A 2nd (for your 2nd book... or a translation) will cost you 89€. A third will cost you... you're getting the picture: 89€.
A registered publishing house pays an initial "matriculation" fee of 139€. Once that hurdle is over, they can buy job lots of 1000 ISBNs for... 89€ - less than ONE CENT per title published. If we include the original (never to be paid again, even if they order 25000 ISBNs) 139€, it still works out as less than 2.5c per title.
So a "self-publishing agency" that charges you 499€ for a "special offer" that includes YOUR VERY OWN ISBN!!! is shelling out less than one cent for that detail. Of course, if you REALLY self-publish, you pay that 89€... But don’t let anybody fool you that they’re doing you this fabulous, very generous favour.
Jimmy, thank you for the advice.,