How to Acquire an ISBN

1). To obtain an ISBN number in the United States, navigate to the Identifier Services website, which is the ISBN department of R.R. Bowker LLC.
2). Click the "Register" icon at the top-right of the page to create an account. Provide the information requested such as name, address and email address. You will also be asked for a company name. If you are an individual writer, you can simply use your own name if you don't have a company name. Once you register, you can return to the site whenever desired to check prior purchases and purchase additional ISBNs.
3). Choose the ISBN package you want to purchase. R.R. Bowker offers a single ISBN for $125.00 and blocks of ISBNs ranging from ten numbers for $250 to a thousand numbers for $1000 as of September 2010. These fees are intended to cover the cost of administering the ISBN registration process. Bowker also offers various services such as marketing and search optimization.
4). Pay for the package you selected. All major credit cards are accepted. Once your payment is processed, your ISBN number will be issued. It can be printed on your publication by anyone you authorize to do so.