I think this is the right forum!

I have myself a list of indie publishers and I am looking for them to do the marketing, publishing, and audience growth for my project because it is reaching near completion.

I have a few questions:

Do/can the publishers handle the copy protection and licensing at the end or should I work on that too?

Do/can the publishers build the website?

Does all purchased copy protection and licensing software require that the client have internet access?

How much can be expected to be earned for a 2d game that is great (I know you haven't seen it, but maybe some sort of breakdown.)

What do publishers charge and how is that brokendown?

When you try to get a job you can use a headhunter. When you try to be an actor you use an agent. Is there anything like this when you try to sell a game?

Well those are my questions so thank you,

Joshuae

I think this is the right forum!

It isn't. Production/management is about projects. You're not talking about a project. You're beyond that
now. You're talking about getting published, which is Business.

Does all purchased copy protection and licensing software require that the client have internet access?

Short answer, no. E.g CD keys don't always need online validation but then means that they can easily be shared. The usual advice is to use what ever the publishing platform you are on gives you (e.g. Steam) or don't bother. Pirates will always find a way around copy protection and chances are you will annoy you legit customers by implementing a system that gets in their way.

(Side note: I think all Humble Bundles' games are DRM free)

How much can be expected to be earned for a 2d game that is great (I know you haven't seen it, but maybe some sort of breakdown.)

Impossible to answer. Depends on the platform and how well it spreads (e.g. marketing). Can be next to nothing or millions. Some breakdowns of other games below:

Here's a post from Trainyard: http://struct.ca/2010/the-story-so-far/

Crossy Road makes $10m in 90 days: http://www.cultofmac.com/314240/crossy-road-developers-made-10-million-90-days/

Breakdown for Monument Valley: http://blog.monumentvalleygame.com/blog/2015/1/15/monument-valley-in-numbers

Dark Room breakdown: https://www.reddit.com/r/startups/comments/4f74dv/quit_my_full_time_corporate_job_built_an_ios_game/

Cook Serve Delicious: http://www.gamasutra.com/blogs/DavidGalindo/20140109/208337/How_much_do_indie_PC_devs_make_anyways_Part_V.php

Shovel Knight: http://yachtclubgames.com/2014/08/sales-one-month/

Beat Hazard: http://www.coldbeamgames.com/blog/november-26th-2012

Hopefully there is something there that will help.