Ghostwriting prices are all over the map. Published guides quote anything from a few cents to a few dollars per word, and from a few thousand to well over a hundred thousand dollars for a whole book. Both ends can be real, because the person doing the work, the length, the research and the subject all change the price. This guide explains how ghostwriters charge, what the typical ranges look like, what is usually not included, and how to compare quotes. Our own ghostwriting service starts from $1,999, and the final price is confirmed in your quote before any work begins.
The short answer
There is no single price. Public guides from ghostwriting firms and publishing sites put book ghostwriting anywhere between roughly $0.10 and $3.00 per word, with experienced book ghostwriters often quoted at around $0.40 to $1.50 per word. Whole-book totals are commonly quoted from about $10,000 into six figures, and business or celebrity books sit at the top of that range.
Most of those sources are vendors with an interest in their own rates, so treat every figure as a rough guide and ask for a written quote based on your own book.
How ghostwriters charge
| Pricing model | How it works | Watch out for |
|---|---|---|
| Flat project fee | One agreed price for a defined book, often paid in milestones. | Make sure length, number of revisions and deadlines are written down. |
| Per word | The price grows with the length of the manuscript. | Ask what happens if the final book comes out longer or shorter. |
| Hourly | You pay for the time spent, mostly used for editing or small jobs. | Ask for an estimate and a cap so the cost cannot run away. |
| Retainer or package | A monthly fee or a bundle that includes outlining, interviews and drafting. | Check exactly which deliverables are in the package. |
For a full book, a flat project fee paid in milestones is the most common arrangement, because it protects both sides.
A simple way to estimate the price
A typical non-fiction book runs between 40,000 and 60,000 words, and a novel often runs longer. Multiply the length by the per-word rate to see how widely the total can move. These are illustrations of the arithmetic, not quotes:
| Book length | At $0.20 per word | At $0.50 per word | At $1.00 per word |
|---|---|---|---|
| 30,000 words | $6,000 | $15,000 | $30,000 |
| 50,000 words | $10,000 | $25,000 | $50,000 |
| 70,000 words | $14,000 | $35,000 | $70,000 |
The range exists because a rate reflects experience, research and how much of the thinking the ghostwriter does for you.
What changes the price
- Length of the manuscript
- Genre and subject: technical, medical, financial or business books take more research than a simple how-to
- Your source material: a detailed outline, recordings and notes are quicker to work from than a one-line idea
- Interviews and research: more calls and more fact-checking mean more time
- Number of revision rounds and how quickly feedback comes back
- Writer experience and credits
- Deadline: a rush job can cost more
- Confidentiality and credit terms, for example whether the ghostwriter is credited or fully anonymous
What is usually not included
A ghostwriting quote normally covers the writing only. Plan separately for:
- Professional editing and proofreading
- A book cover, which sells the book before anyone reads a word
- Interior formatting for print and eBook
- ISBNs, copyright registration and publishing-platform fees
- Audiobook narration, which is a separate production cost
- Marketing and advertising after launch
A realistic total budget is the writing fee plus these items. We cover several of them under one roof: see our book cover design and book formatting services.
What a good ghostwriting quote should state
- The target length and the format of the deliverable
- The process: outline approval, drafting in stages, feedback points
- How many revision rounds are included and what extra rounds cost
- The payment schedule and what each payment unlocks
- The timeline, including what you need to supply and by when
- Who owns the finished manuscript and how credit is handled
- Confidentiality terms
Warning signs when comparing ghostwriters
- A price far below every other quote with no explanation of the difference
- No sample of previous work, or samples that do not match your genre
- No written agreement on ownership and credit
- A promise to deliver a bestseller or guaranteed sales; nobody can honestly promise that
- Payment in full before an outline or any sample chapter
- Text that reads as generic or machine-written and does not sound like you
Cheaper alternatives to a full ghostwriter
- Developmental editing or coaching: you write, an expert shapes the manuscript
- Co-writing: you supply the first draft and a writer rewrites it in your voice
- Ghostwriting a part of the book, such as a few chapters, to get unstuck
- Transcribing and editing your own recordings, which keeps your voice intact
How Maxima Solution prices ghostwriting
Our ghostwriting service starts from $1,999. Length, research needed and subject matter affect the final price, which is confirmed in your quote before you pay. The work follows an outline you approve first, then chapter-by-chapter delivery with your feedback, managed through your client portal. Ownership and credit terms are set out in your agreement before work begins.
Want a price for your own book? Tell us about your project and we will tell you whether we are the right fit before you pay anything.
Frequently asked questions
Is ghostwriting worth the money?
It can be, when the book is a business asset such as a credential for a consultant or founder, or when you have a story but not the time or writing skill to finish it. It is harder to justify if you expect the book itself to repay the fee quickly, because most books do not.
Do ghostwriters get credit?
Often not. Many ghostwriting agreements keep the writer anonymous, and some give an "as told to" or acknowledgment credit. It is a term you agree before work starts.
Who owns the book?
In a typical agreement the client owns the manuscript and the writer has no claim on it, but this must be written into the contract. Never rely on a verbal agreement.
How long does it take to ghostwrite a book?
It depends on the length, how much material you provide and how quickly you give feedback. A realistic timeline should be part of your quote.
Can I just use AI instead?
AI tools can help with outlines and notes, but a book needs a consistent voice, accurate facts and real experience, which is exactly what a ghostwriter adds. Cheap AI-written books are also easy for readers and reviewers to spot.
Does ghostwriting include editing and a cover?
Usually not. The writing fee covers the manuscript. Editing, cover design and formatting are separate, which is why it helps to budget for the whole publishing process.