FAQ
Your questions,
answered.
Thinking about writing a book? Then you have questions about process, cost, fit, and what you're actually paying for. No worries. We have answers.
01 · Understanding Ghostwriting
What ghostwriting is — and isn't.
What does a business book ghostwriter do?
A business book ghostwriter turns your expertise into a finished manuscript in your voice through interviews, research, structure, and professional writing. You bring the ideas, stories, and experience; we bring the craft and editorial judgment that make a book worth reading. You own the work completely, and your name goes on the cover.
Isn't hiring a ghostwriter cheating, and will anyone know?
No. Ghostwriting is an established, accepted practice. Some estimates say 70 percent of nonfiction books are ghostwritten. We suspect that's low. No one expects you to renovate your own kitchen, design your own logo, or cut your own hair, yet somehow the world thinks you should write your own book. If you want your book to read as if a professional wrote it, hire a professional. Whether anyone ever knows is entirely your call: confidentiality is absolute.
Will the book sound like me?
Yes. That's the most important part of the job. Working from recorded interviews, your written materials, and the way you actually talk, we write a manuscript that sounds like you on your best day. Ghosts are invisible. Your voice shines through.
Do you use AI to write books?
No. Every book we deliver is researched, interviewed, and written by a professional human writer. We may use technology for transcription and organization, but the thinking, the structure, and the prose — the things you're paying for — are human craft. Your ideas stay private. Nothing you share with us is fed into public AI tools.
Will you help me fix a manuscript that I wrote with AI?
Yes. We understand how hard it is to write, and we admire those who give it a go using technology. Not everyone can afford to hire a ghostwriter to write their first draft, and many others get great reward from the process of writing with an AI helper. That being said, taking the AI out of a manuscript is a big job. It requires interviews to capture your voice, and it takes a sentence-by-sentence edit. Give us a call and we can talk your "humanization" project through.
Why write a business book at all?
Because a book works for your business before you sell a single copy. A book:
- gives instant credibility;
- works as a lead magnet;
- establishes you as the thought leader in your field;
- brings in speaking engagements and PR;
- forces you to think about your business and yourself more deeply;
- can change your readers' lives — turning them into your biggest fans.
But friends don't let friends write their own books. First, because they'll talk about it endlessly and never get it done. And second, because it won't be of the quality needed to make the impression it has to make.
02 · Process & Timeline
How the work actually gets done.
How does the ghostwriting process work?
Every project is different, but most move through four stages: an introductory conversation, book strategy, manuscript development, and publication.
- We discuss your project. We begin with a complimentary introductory call to learn about your book, your goals, and the kind of support you need. We explain the process, answer your questions, and determine whether we are the right fit.
- We build the book’s strategy. Before beginning a full manuscript engagement, we define the book’s central idea, audience, positioning, title and subtitle, chapter structure, publishing direction, and practical path to completion. This focused first phase gives the book a strong foundation and allows us to experience working together before either side makes a larger commitment.
- We develop the manuscript. We work through the book chapter by chapter, drawing on interviews, existing materials, research, and your feedback. You review each section as it takes shape, and we revise until the manuscript is complete, cohesive, and ready for publication.
- We help bring the book to readers. Depending on your goals, we can help position the manuscript for traditional publishers, guide you through the hybrid-publishing process, or manage the editorial, design, production, and distribution steps involved in independent publishing.
How long does it take to write a business book?
Typically six to nine months from strategy session to finished manuscript. The pace depends on the book's length and complexity and on how quickly you can review chapters. When there's a hard deadline, it can move faster. We once delivered a physician's book in under three months, in time for her speaking tour.
How long should a business book be?
Most business books run 15,000 to 45,000 words — long enough to develop your ideas fully, short enough that busy readers actually finish. (Finished books get recommended; abandoned ones don't.) Some categories run longer, and we'll set the right target in your book plan.
How much of my time will this take?
Plan on one to two hours a week, most of it conversation. Show up for the interviews, read what we write, and tell us the truth about it. We handle the rest. We shape the pace around your calendar, not the other way around.
03 · Cost & Pricing
What this is going to cost.
How much does business book ghostwriting cost?
Full-length business book ghostwriting engagements generally start at $45,000, while shorter, tightly scoped books begin at $20,000. The final fee depends on the book’s length, the research and interviews required, and how much material you already have such as existing blogs, talks, and webinars.
Flexible payment plans are available. And if these numbers are outside your budget, tell us. We have other ways to lower ghostwriting costs because we believe everyone should be able to work with a professional to get their book done.
What is the Book Blueprint Intensive, and what does it cost?
Most new book projects begin with our $1,200 Book Blueprint Intensive. Through a focused strategy session, follow-up conversation, and written plan, we define your book’s central idea, audience, positioning, title and subtitle, chapter structure, publishing direction, and practical path to completion. The result is a clear, professionally developed framework you can use to write the book yourself, engage another writer, or continue working with us. If you move forward with a larger engagement, the full $1,200 is credited toward the project.
More questions?
The fastest way to answer them is a free, private, and pressure-free conversation. If we're not the right fit for your book, we'll say so and help you find someone who is.
Request a Consultation