Find contact information for a publisher whose books you want to buy by doing an online search or finding a phone number in one of its books. Many publishers include advertisements for other books on the last pages of certain titles. The ads often give information about how to order.
Call or email the publisher and tell it you want to set up an account. Some companies provide an online form for setting up an account; others may mail an application to you or take your contact information over the phone. Once you have provided the information it requests, you will receive a customer number that you should have handy any time you order books or contact the publisher with questions about your account.
Request a catalog from the publisher, or find its product list online. Choose the titles you are interested in buying and note the title, author and company ordering number, if applicable.
Call the publisher's order line, or use its online form to place your order.
If you are a retailer interested in buying books at wholesale prices directly from a publisher, mention this when you call to open an account. You may have to order a certain volume to receive wholesale pricing. The publisher probably will also ask you to provide a state resale certificate.