Ghostwriting faq
How much does ghostwriting cost?
It depends entirely on the length and complexity of your book. For a short, intimate book intended to build your brand or convey just a few key concepts, prices start at around $10,000; for a full-length book to rival your competitors', prices start at $30,000. Some factors aside from length that will influence your quote include the amount of research involved, the technicality of the material, and whether you need add-ons such as an index.
Can I offer you a share of royalties/profits instead of upfront payment?
I'm afraid not. Because of the sheer volume of work that goes into writing a book, and because there’s never any guarantee of how much money a book will ultimately make in sales, I can’t accept a percentage in place of payment (and no respectable ghostwriter will). However, this means that you won't have to share any of your profits with me. There will be no surprise bills from me after our work together is finished.
How can I tell if a ghostwriter is worth the investment for me?
This is a great question, and there are two easy approaches to answering it.
What are the standard lengths of business books?
It varies depending on your goal.
It depends entirely on the length and complexity of your book. For a short, intimate book intended to build your brand or convey just a few key concepts, prices start at around $10,000; for a full-length book to rival your competitors', prices start at $30,000. Some factors aside from length that will influence your quote include the amount of research involved, the technicality of the material, and whether you need add-ons such as an index.
Can I offer you a share of royalties/profits instead of upfront payment?
I'm afraid not. Because of the sheer volume of work that goes into writing a book, and because there’s never any guarantee of how much money a book will ultimately make in sales, I can’t accept a percentage in place of payment (and no respectable ghostwriter will). However, this means that you won't have to share any of your profits with me. There will be no surprise bills from me after our work together is finished.
How can I tell if a ghostwriter is worth the investment for me?
This is a great question, and there are two easy approaches to answering it.
- How much is your time worth? Writing a quality full-length manuscript and preparing it for publication takes about 1,000 hours over a nine-month period. At your hourly rate, how much would those 1,000 hours cost you? When you do the math, you might find that your time is worth far more than the cost of outsourcing those hours.
- How many new clients would a book bring you — and how many new clients would you need in order to break even? Maybe you’re relatively early in your career and having a book on the shelves would set you apart in a crowded market, bringing you to the attention of potential clients who might otherwise never hear of you. Or maybe you only need a handful of new clients — or even just one! — for the investment to have been worthwhile. Have a look at the math and see whether a ghostwriter makes sense for you.
What are the standard lengths of business books?
It varies depending on your goal.
- A fairly traditional full-length book to bring your ideas to a wide audience or establish you as an expert will average around 200–250 pages (60,000–80,000 words)
- A short, intimate, personal book to use as a calling card or a brand-building tool will average around 90–130 pages (30,000–40,000 words)