How much does a ghostwriter cost? I’ll be honest. It’s pricey!
I’ll be perfectly honest. Ghostwriting is expensive. But I can also honestly say, it’s worth it.
When you hire a ghostwriter, you’re delegating a task you don’t enjoy, you aren’t good at (because you’re good at your real job!) or simply don’t have time for. And you’re delegating it to an expert – a person whose whole job is writing.
This is where the big benefit lies – because your ghostwriter should be able to complete your project faster and achieve a higher quality, than you otherwise might be able to on your own. After all, this is their area of expertise!
Even better, the best ghostwriters are able to combine your intellectual property with their skillset to create a fantastic book (or HBR article or blog or speech) and write it in a way that both sounds and feels like you and your brand. And they’ll provide a product that you will ultimately feel fantastic about using to market yourself and/or your business.
Great… now you’re convinced that you need a ghostwriter… but what about the costs? Many of my clients have admitted they thought about engaging a ghostwriter for a long time before they finally took the leap. And the main thing that stopped them was uncertainty about how much a ghostwriter costs.
So, how much does a ghostwriter cost?
How much does a ghostwriter cost?
If you’ve searched ‘how much does a ghostwriter cost’, there’s can be a huge variance in quotes, but for good reason. The final cost of a ghostwriter will depend on many factors, from the writer’s skill to the scope of the project.
What are standard Australian copywriting rates?
According to The Clever Copywriting School, here are the current averages for freelance copywriting in Australia, on an hourly basis.
| Level | Approx. years experience | Hourly rate (in Australian dollars) | Day rate (in Australian dollars) |
| Junior | 0-2 years | $70-$100/hour | $450-$630/day |
| Mid | 2-4 years | $100-$150/hour | $700-$900/day |
| Senior | 4+ years | $150-$190/hour | $900-$1500/day |
According to the Media, Entertainment & Arts Alliance (MEAA), typical day rates for freelance writers are:
| Per day | $1036.00 |
| Per half day | $690.00 (2/3 day rate) |
| Per hour | $259.00 |
How much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter to write a book?
Typically ghostwriting a book takes a lot more time, effort and skill. Hiring the right ghostwriter is essential… and expensive.
Reedsy provides the following breakdown of the typical costs of ghostwriters for books for the different genres and lengths in US dollars.
In Australian dollars, this price increases.
Factors that affect how much does a ghostwriter cost
Why is ghostwriting so pricey? In short, because it’s a highly skilled service that requires time.
Education and experience
Good ghostwriters are educated and experienced. They’ve been trained in the skills of writing and editing – this means a university degree and beyond. I have three degrees – English Lit, Political Science and Law, and all have helped me become a better thinker, researcher and writer.
But this training needs to be backed up by experience. I have written nearly 25 books and edited many more. I’ve also written thousands (and I do mean thousands) or blogs and articles, and been published in Harvard Business Review, New York Times, The Sydney Morning Herald, Forbes and many more.
When you hire a ghostwriter you’re paying for that education and experience. Sure, you’ll always be able to find a cheaper ghostwriter – but is it worth it? As with most services, the cheapest rate doesn’t usually bring the best result.
A talented ghostwriter will be experienced at drawing your wisdom and ideas out of your head and onto the page. Probably even better than you could do yourself. They’ll also have a knack for capturing your tone of voice and style.
An experienced ghostwriter will charge more than someone starting out in the industry. But they’ll also be able to produce work at a faster rate than an inexperienced ghostwriter. (And likely a better end result!) Comparing rates between ghostwriters of different abilities is like apples and oranges.
You’ll have to weigh up the quality and experience of the ghostwriter with the fees they charge. Ask to see previous work samples to help you decide if their rate is worth it.
I recommend you opt for the best quality you can reasonably afford.
The type of project
How much a ghostwriter costs will also depend on the type of project, e.g., book, article or speech. If you’re needing a ghostwriter for a book, the cost will differ depending on genre. Non-fiction is typically more costly than fiction, as it requires research. The length of the piece plays into it as well.
Scope of the project
The longer the book or larger the project, the more expensive the final invoice. For example, a lengthy non-fiction book that requires a lot of research will cost more than a short speech transcript.
The starting point of the project will also affect cost. What stage of the project are you at now and how much will the ghostwriter need to do?
A client’s typical starting point will be an idea for a book. But little else.
The ghostwriter will then need to review documents and gather information via interviews, zoom calls and/or meetings. They’ll need to create an outline and structure for the book.
They’ll then need to use their research to draft the book. Add citations as required. Next comes the structural editing process, to ensure good flow. Following that, the book will need proofreading, though this is typically done by a third party.
Of course, each of these steps takes time. If you were to carry out all these actions yourself, how long might it take? (Keeping in mind you also have your actual job to do!)
Reviews and rewrites
You’ll need to negotiate how many times you can review the ghostwriter’s work and request changes. Both parties should be on the same page in terms of structural revisions and edits.
Remember, more reviews and rewrites will mean more of your ghostwriter’s time. And more time will likely mean more money out of your pocket.
Additional costs to keep in mind
Depending on your project, you may have additional expenses on top of the ghostwriter’s fee. These could include:
- Legal fees. You may hire a lawyer to help you draft the ghostwriting contract. This will give you better certainty around copyright and confidentiality. You may also need additional legal advice depending on the content of your project. When you work with me I have a standard ghostwriting contract that is definitely drafted to protect you and your work – but of course you will want to have this reviewed by your lawyer as well.
- Interview transcription fees. Depending on your contract, the ghostwriter may transcribe the interviews themself, or you may need to hire an external transcriber. This can be very inexpensive with apps like Rev.
- Travel costs. If the ghostwriter is required to travel for research or interviews, you will likely need to compensate them.
- Proofreading fees. It’s considered best practice to hire a proofreader to check the final draft of your book. You could also hire someone to fact-check the copy, if the content requires this.
How much do my ghostwriting services cost?
Now that we’ve explored how much does a ghostwriter cost, you might be wondering how much do I personally cost?
Hourly projects = $120-150 per hour
Business books = starting at $9000 per 45,000 word book*
Non-fiction & fiction books = starting at $10,500 per 45,000 word book
Blogs & articles = starting at $250
** Business books that come to me through the Published & Profitable program.
Need a quality ghostwriter for your next project?
If you have the topic, I have the words.
I’ve worked alongside many clients over the past 10 years to deliver quality ghostwriting services. From books to webinars, these projects have helped clients earn additional income and establish their authority within their industry.
Connect with me today and let’s get to work.
