Professional ghostwriting typically ranges from £20,000-£100,000+ depending on the complexity, timescale, and scope of the project. Some newer writers will be cheaper and faster, some are more expensive and take longer but are more experienced.  But every ghostwriter is different and will charge according to their experience and expertise.

Yes, it’s not cheap, but that’s because your book is a result of 6-12 months of collaborative work that involves interviews, writing, rewrites, and ongoing feedback. Not to mention finding ways of weaving intangible thoughts and ideas into a well-structured linear argument that people will enjoy and want to read.

Most authors find that the ROI justifies the cost when the book is positioned and marketed correctly, including speaking opportunities, media coverage, increased authority and credibility, and new business relationships.

A professionally ghostwritten business book usually takes 6-12 months from the first conversation to publication-ready manuscript. Again, ghostwriters will each have their own process. But generally, that timeline will account for:

• Phase 1: Planning stage – Clarifying your positioning, structuring the narrative, and building the strategic foundation
• Phase 2: Writing  – Collaborative writing through structured interviews and iterative drafting
• Phase 3: Refine – Polishing, final checks, and preparing for handoff

The timeline varies based on your book’s complexity, your availability for interviews and reviews, and how much source material you’re starting with.

Why it takes this long:

Expert ghostwriting isn’t just capturing what you say, this is about shaping how your ideas perform on the page and in the market. That needs time for thinking, restructuring, and refining.

Rushed creativity reveals itself through bad writing and poor storytelling. Don’t insult your readers by choosing that path.

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If you need faster support or have already started writing, consider an expert who can offer manuscript or developmental editing, or coaching. 

The type of ghostwriter you need depends on the book you want to create. If you want to write a thought leadership book, you’ll need a ghostwriter who can distil big ideas into clear, engaging insights. A memoir ghostwriter will need to be discreet, emotionally attuned to you, and be able to craft memories and personal journeys into an engaging story. 

But all excellent ghostwriters have a few things in common:

• We can listen deeply
• We have a strong sense of narrative structure
• The discipline to write with clarity, empathy, and skill

What to look for:

1. Are they real? Sounds odd, but the number of scams and fake agencies has risen dramatically in recent years. Always ask for a direction conversation by Zoom or on the phone. Any ghostwriter not willing to show you their face is highly suspicious.

2. Past experience – Ask about their training and experience and request writing samples. NDA’s may limit what they can share, so be mindful of the challenges. At the very least, they should be able to talk through their books, talk about the subject matter, how they wrote it and where it was published.

3. Ask for references and testimonials. Many experienced ghostwriters will have past clients who are happy to confirm a good working relationship, even if their names don’t appear on the ghostwriter’s website. A quick note, call, or email with a past client can offer you reassurance that the process was handled with integrity and care.

4. Chemistry – This will be a long-term collaboration. You’ll be speaking to your ghostwriter regularly, sharing personal memories, emotional moments, and ideas you’re still shaping. Make sure you feel at ease with them. That they listen to you and feel interested in your story. Do they fill you with excitement and confidence about your book?

What to watch out for:

• Discounts – No quality ghostwriter will heavily discount. A low price may reflect a lack of experience or risk to you. (The only exception is when a ghostwriter’s project has fallen through unexpectedly, or there is a personal emergency that needs funding.)
• No online presence – Ghostwriters are business owners too; a lack of an online presence for any business is suspicious.
• Overstated claims (Promises of unusually fast turnarounds for quality work, inflated bestseller claims)

Where to find ghostwriters:

• Association of Ghostwriters
• The Society of Authors
• Ghostwriting agencies like Kevin Anderson & Associates, Gotham Ghostwriters, The Ghostwriters Agency or Mangus Media.
• Personal referrals from published authors
• LinkedIn

Ready to discuss whether we’re a good fit? Book a call

Yes, if they’re good at their job. The best ghostwriters don’t just transcribe what you say. We observe how you think, how you communicate, and what makes your ideas different. We observe body language, tone and what is left unsaid. We spot patterns, we notice suble nuances and we ask questions to reveal insights you didn’t know you had.

Then we write in a way that sounds like you at your best.

Just like giving a speech. You’re still “you” but you’ve rehearsed, structured, and refined your delivery. That’s what ghostwriting does for your ideas on the page.

Yes. You own full copyright and all rights to the book

This is standard practice in professional ghostwriting. When you hire a ghostwriter, you’re purchasing both the writing service and complete ownership of the work produced.

What this means:

• Your name goes on the cover as the sole author
• You control all publishing, distribution, and licensing decisions
• You keep all royalties and revenue
• You own the intellectual property outright

This is formalised in the contract before work begins.

What about the ghostwriter’s credit?

Professional ghostwriters don’t expect credit or royalties. We’re paid for the work itself. Some clients choose to acknowledge their ghostwriter in the book’s acknowledgments section, but this is entirely optional and at your discretion.

Yes. Ghostwriting is completely legal and used widely in publishing as well as other fields such as speechwriting, songwriting, content creation, and social media.

There is no legal requirement to admit that you used a ghostwriter. When you publish under your name yo are the author.

Why is there a stigma?

Some people think that ghostwriting is cheating or inauthentic. But this means they misunderstand the collaborative nature of professional book creation and publication.

Books require specific skills that many other professionals are not trained in. Think of it like this: CEOs don’t design their own presentation slides, edit their own videos, or design their own websites. They hire experts. Ghostwriting is the same principle applied to books.

The line is drawn when authors ask ghostwriters to plagiarise work or commit academic fraud. You are hiring someone to articulate your expertise and ideas, you are not claiming someone else’s work as your own.

You need a ghostwriter if:

• You have valuable expertise, stories, or ideas, but don’t have the time to write a book yourself.
• You’ve tried writing but found it overwhelming, frustrating, or slow.
• You need a publication-ready maniscript but writing isn’t your core skill
• You want a book that competes with others in the market and elevates your position
• Your time is worth more than the hundreds of hours ot takes to write a book yourself

Not everyone needs full ghostwriting support.

If you wish to write a book yourself or need accountability, book coaches or editors may be a better fit.

Or book a call and we’ll discuss which approach makes sense for your specific situation

Editors improve your existing work. Ghostwriters create from scratch.

An editor will work with a manuscript you’ve already written and give feedback on clarity, structure, and flow. They will suggest revisions, note errors, and improve what’s already there. They don’t write new material for you.

A ghostwriter will write the book for you, or with you, depending on the nature of the agreement. They will conduct interviews to capture your ideas and create the narrative structure and position. They will write a publication-ready manuscript in your voice.

The confusion comes because there are overlapping areas. A good ghostwriter can provide editorial support throughout the ghostwriting process, and some editors do offer developmental support that feels like co-writing. But the difference is in the output: editors will refine your existing writing, whereas a ghostwriter will create it.

My services span this spectrum from ghostwriting, to planning, to manuscript development.

Not sure what you need? Book a call and we can discuss which approach works for you.