Developing a sound business model is a critical concern of publishers considering openaccess distribution. Selecting the model(s) appropriate to a particular journal will depend not only on the expense hurdle that must be cleared, but also on the publisher’s mission objectives, size, business management resources, risk tolerance, tax status, and institutional or corporate affiliation.

This guide provides an overview of income models currently being used to support the open-access distribution of peer-reviewed scholarly and scientific journals.1 It is intended for any publisher that seeks to launch an open-access journal or to convert an existing journal to open-access distribution. Such publishers include independent, single-title operations, operated by a founding editor with volunteer support; society publishers of all sizes, including single- and multiple-title publishing programs; and conventional publishers, both commercial and nonprofit. It is important to remember this broad range of publisher types when reviewing the income models described here. Some of the models require management and marketing resources beyond those available to small or informal operations. Conversely, some models might prove incongruous or ineffective if applied by a large commercial publisher.