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Journal Planning Website & Publishing Setup RQL Onboarding

Start a scholarly journal with structured technical and editorial support

RQL Journal Start-Up combines journal planning, policy and workflow preparation, journal workspace onboarding, public publishing infrastructure, training and launch-readiness support.

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RQL provides infrastructure, technical assistance and AI-assisted, human-supervised support. Editorial authority and scholarly decisions remain with the journal.

RQL Journal Start-Up

Two levels of launch support

Choose structured RQL onboarding or a more complete journal website, publishing and discoverability setup.

Essential foundation

Journal Start-Up Essentials

$590 one-time
  • 12 months Journal Starter
  • Journal identity and scope consultation
  • RQL Journal ID and workspace onboarding
  • Editorial workflow configuration
  • Core policies and author guidance
  • Basic branding and public journal setup
  • Call for Papers setup
  • Basic author-payment configuration
  • Website / connector readiness assessment
  • Administrator/editor orientation
  • Launch-readiness review
Purchase Start-Up Essentials
Complete launch

Journal Start-Up Complete

$1,490 one-time
  • 12 months Journal Professional / Institutional
  • Everything in Start-Up Essentials
  • Full branded standalone journal website
  • WordPress or OJS setup where appropriate
  • One supported WordPress or OJS Publication Connector setup where technically qualified
  • Enhanced branding, cover and templates
  • Volume and issue structure setup
  • DOI / Crossref readiness
  • JATS and scholarly metadata readiness
  • ISSN application preparation assistance
  • DOAJ-readiness preparation
  • Google Ads / AdSense readiness guidance
  • Initial historical publication import allowance
  • Payment-platform configuration assistance
  • Extended administrator/editor training
  • Full launch quality-assurance review
Purchase Start-Up Complete

AI-assisted preparation

Technology assists the work — people remain responsible

AI

Journal planning

AI can assist with title alternatives, aims, scope, disciplines, workflow planning and initial document preparation.

PO

Policies & guidance

Prepare structured first drafts of author, editorial, ethics and peer-review policies for human review and approval.

MD

Metadata readiness

Support publication metadata, Crossref, JATS, discoverability and migration preparation.

DR

Directory readiness

Assess structural readiness for services such as DOAJ while leaving external approval with the relevant organization.

External services and costs

Clear separation between RQL services and third parties

Third-party costs are separate. RQL package prices cover the RQL platform access and RQL-delivered setup, technical, advisory and onboarding services specifically listed in the selected package. Charges imposed by external providers are not included unless expressly stated. These may include domain registration or renewal, third-party hosting, premium themes or plugins, payment-provider or transaction fees, Crossref membership and DOI registration fees, advertising spend, and charges from external registries, vendors or institutions. Where an external cost is required, RQL will identify it before the customer authorizes the related service or purchase.
External approvals and registrations are not guaranteed. RQL may assist with preparation and technical readiness for services such as ISSN, Crossref/DOI registration, DOAJ, Google advertising and other third-party platforms, but approval, registration, inclusion and continued eligibility remain under the authority and policies of the relevant external provider.

Continuing support

Need RQL to help after launch?

Managed Journal Support provides task-based operational and publication assistance without changing the journal's underlying subscription plan.

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