What Does Ghostwriting Cost? Investment Guide for Charlotte Business Leaders
You’ve been thinking about writing a book for years. Maybe longer than you want to admit. You have the expertise, the stories, and the lessons learned from being in business. What you don’t have is time to write it yourself. The question is then, what does ghostwriting cost?
I’m going to be direct with you. Ghostwriting isn’t cheap, and it shouldn’t be. When you hire a ghostwriter, you’re investing in a professional who will spend months capturing your voice, organizing your ideas, and creating a manuscript that represents your brand and expertise. This article breaks down what you can expect to pay and why the investment makes sense for Charlotte business leaders ready to establish authority through a published book.
Key Takeaways
- Ghostwriting pricing starts at $8,000 for a complete manuscript, including formatting for Amazon and a referral to a trusted publisher.
- Three factors affect cost: book length, timeline, and research complexity. Longer timelines with extensive research cost more than straightforward business books with tight deadlines.
- This is a professional service investment comparable to legal counsel, financial planning, or executive coaching. You’re paying for expertise, not just words on a page.
What Is Book Ghostwriting?
Book ghostwriting means a professional writer drafts your book while you focus on running your business. You bring the expertise and stories. I bring the writing skills, structure, and process to turn your knowledge into a published book.
Your name goes on the cover. Your message reaches your audience. The ghostwriter remains invisible.
I specialize in ghostwriting nonfiction books, business memoirs, and personal-business combined memoirs for Charlotte professionals. Whether you’re writing a straight business book about your expertise, a memoir about your entrepreneurial journey, or a book that weaves personal stories with professional lessons, the ghostwriting process adapts to your project.
When you work with a ghostwriter, you’re not just paying someone to type. You’re hiring someone who knows how to interview effectively, organize complex information, maintain voice consistency across chapters, and create a manuscript that serves your business goals. Book ghostwriting services require specific skills that take years to develop.
Ghostwriting Costs: What to Expect
My ghostwriting packages start at $8,000 for a complete business book manuscript. This includes the drafting process, manuscript formatting for Amazon, and a referral to my Amazon publisher with email introduction.
The pricing reflects several factors that affect project scope.
Factors That Affect Ghostwriting Cost
Book Length
A 30,000-word business book takes less time to write than a 60,000-word comprehensive guide. Most business books fall between 40,000 and 60,000 words. Longer manuscripts require more interviews, more research, and more writing time.
Timeline Requirements
Need your book finished in three months? That costs more than a six-month timeline. Rushed projects require blocking larger chunks of time and potentially turning down other work to meet your deadline.
Research Complexity
A book based primarily on your experience and existing content requires less research than one that needs industry data, competitor analysis, or extensive fact checking. Research adds time to the project, which affects cost.
Existing Content
Your book might already be partially written. Blog posts, presentations, and client testimonials all contain material we can expand and organize. Projects that start with substantial existing content often move faster than those starting from scratch.
What You Get for Your Investment
When you hire me as your ghostwriter, the $8,000 starting investment includes:
Structured Interviews
We’ll have regular conversations in which I ask questions that elicit your stories, expertise, and unique perspective. These interviews become the foundation of your book, whether you’re writing a nonfiction guide, business memoir, or combined personal-professional narrative.
Complete Manuscript Development
I’ll write your entire manuscript from our conversations and any existing content you provide. The book will sound like you, not like a generic business book written by someone who doesn’t understand your industry.
Chapter-by-Chapter Reviews
You’ll review drafts as I complete them. This gives you opportunities to provide feedback, request changes, and ensure the manuscript represents exactly what you want to say.
Publisher Referral
I’ll connect you with my Amazon publisher and provide an email introduction. This saves you time researching publishers and gives you a trusted contact who understands the Amazon publishing process.
What’s NOT Included in Ghostwriting Pricing
The $8,000 starting price covers manuscript creation and Amazon formatting. Several services fall outside this scope:
Developmental Editing
After ghostwriting is complete, you’ll want a developmental editor to review the manuscript for structure, flow, and content organization. This is separate from ghostwriting and typically costs $2,000-5,000 depending on manuscript length.
Copy Editing and Proofreading
Copy editors catch grammar, punctuation, and consistency errors. Proofreaders do final checks before publication. These services cost $1,000-3,000 combined.
Cover Design
Professional book cover design ranges from $500-3,000. Your cover is the first thing potential readers see. Investing in professional design makes sense.
Marketing and Promotion
Book marketing, launch strategy, and promotional support are separate services. Many Charlotte business leaders work with marketing professionals to maximize their book’s impact.
The Ghostwriting Process: How Your Investment Gets Used
Understanding where your money goes helps clarify the value of ghostwriting services.
Month 1-2: Discovery and Planning
We have initial conversations about your book concept, target audience, and message. I research your industry, review existing content, and create a detailed outline. This planning phase ensures we’re aligned before drafting begins.
Month 3-5: Writing and Review
I will write your manuscript chapter by chapter. You review each section and provide feedback. I incorporate your changes and keep writing. This iterative process ensures the final manuscript represents your vision.
Month 6: Final Revisions and Formatting
I make final revisions based on your feedback, format the manuscript for Amazon, and prepare it for the next stage (editing). Your book is ready for professional editing services.
The timeline assumes a six-month project. Shorter timelines cost more because they require dedicating larger blocks of time to your project.
When Ghostwriting Makes Financial Sense
Not everyone needs ghostwriting services. Book coaching might be a better fit if you have time to write but need guidance and accountability.
Ghostwriting makes sense when:
Your Time Is Worth More Than the Investment
If you bill $200-500 per hour for your professional services, spending 200-300 hours writing your own book costs $40,000-150,000 in opportunity cost. Paying $8,000-15,000 for ghostwriting makes financial sense.
You’ve Tried Writing and Keep Abandoning It
Many Charlotte business leaders start manuscripts they never finish. If you’ve attempted writing multiple times without completion, ghostwriting removes the barrier between concept and published book.
Your Book Supports Business Development
Published books attract speaking engagements, consulting opportunities, and client inquiries. If your book generates business opportunities worth multiples of the ghostwriting investment, the math works.
You Need the Book Soon
Maybe you have a speaking engagement in six months and want your book available. Perhaps you’re launching a new service, and the book supports that launch. Ghostwriting gets you to publication faster than writing it yourself.
Questions to Ask Before Investing in Ghostwriting
When evaluating ghostwriting services in Charlotte, ask these questions:
What’s included in the quoted price?
Make sure you understand exactly what you’re paying for. Does the price include revisions? How many rounds of feedback are included? What deliverables will you receive?
What’s the timeline from start to finished manuscript?
Different ghostwriters work at different speeds. Understanding the timeline helps you plan book launch and related business activities.
How do you handle revisions and feedback?
Clarify the revision process before starting. How will you provide feedback? How quickly will the ghostwriter incorporate changes?
Can you provide references or samples?
Ask for examples of previous ghostwriting work (with client permission) or client references who can speak to the process and results.
The question isn’t whether ghostwriting costs too much. The question is whether the investment aligns with your business goals and whether a published book will generate returns that justify the cost.
For Charlotte business leaders ready to establish thought leadership, ghostwriting pricing reflects the professional expertise required to create a quality manuscript that serves your business objectives.
Ready to Discuss Your Book Investment?
If you’re a Charlotte business leader thinking about writing a book, let’s talk about whether ghostwriting makes sense for your situation.
The process begins with a conversation about your book idea, project scope, and my ghostwriting process. I’ll provide specific pricing based on your book length, timeline, and research requirements.
Some projects benefit more from book coaching services, where you write with my guidance and accountability. Others need full ghostwriting support. We’ll figure out which approach fits your budget and timeline.
Schedule your consultation or call 480.206.6452 to discuss your book project and get specific pricing for your ghostwriting investment.
Your expertise deserves to be a book. The investment in professional ghostwriting gets you from concept to published manuscript without sacrificing the time you need to run your business.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the ghostwriting cost?
Ghostwriting packages start at $8,000 for a complete business book manuscript. The final price depends on book length (30,000-60,000 words), timeline (3-6 months), and research complexity. Projects requiring extensive research or faster timelines cost more than straightforward business books with flexible deadlines.
What types of books do you ghostwrite?
I specialize in nonfiction books, business memoirs, and personal-business combined memoirs for Charlotte professionals. This includes straight business books about your expertise, memoirs about your entrepreneurial journey, and books that weave personal stories with professional lessons. The ghostwriting process adapts to your specific project type.
What’s included in the $8,000 ghostwriting investment?
The starting investment includes structured interviews to capture your expertise, complete manuscript development from concept to finished draft, chapter-by-chapter reviews with feedback incorporation, Amazon formatting for both Kindle and print versions, and a referral to a trusted Amazon publisher with email introduction.
Can I pay for ghostwriting in installments?
Yes, monthly payments are available.
How long does the ghostwriting process take?
Most business book ghostwriting projects take 6 months from start to finished manuscript. Month 1-2 focuses on discovery and planning, Month 3-5 involves writing and review, and Month 6 covers final revisions and formatting. Shorter timelines (3-4 months) are possible though they cost more because they require dedicating larger blocks of time to your project.
What services are NOT included in ghostwriting pricing?
Ghostwriting covers manuscript creation and Amazon formatting. Services that fall outside this scope include developmental editing ($2,000-5,000), copy editing and proofreading ($1,000-3,000), cover design ($500-3,000), and marketing and promotion support. These are separate investments that happen after the manuscript is complete.
Is ghostwriting worth the investment?
If you bill $200-500 per hour for your professional services, spending 200-300 hours writing your own book costs $40,000-150,000 in opportunity cost. Paying $8,000-15,000 for ghostwriting makes financial sense. The investment pays for itself if your book helps you land one additional client, speaking engagement, or consulting contract.
Do you work with prospective authors outside Charlotte?
Yes! I work with authors nationwide.
How does Charlotte ghostwriting pricing compare to national rates?
Charlotte ghostwriting pricing ($8,000-15,000 for business books) aligns with national averages for professional services. You might find cheaper ghostwriters overseas or through freelance platforms, though quality and experience vary significantly. Premium ghostwriters in major markets charge $20,000-100,000+ for comprehensive projects.
Anne McAuley Lopez is a content writer and nonfiction book coach based in Charlotte, North Carolina. She specializes in book coaching and ghostwriting for entrepreneurs, thought leaders, and nonprofit leaders who are ready to write their stories.