If you have ever searched for the “average” cost of a ghostwriter, you have probably noticed a frustrating pattern. One website says you can get a full book written for a few hundred dollars. Another suggests you should budget the price of a luxury car. Both are technically possible, but neither answer is helpful unless you understand what is actually being purchased.
A good way to approach this topic is to treat ghostwriting like any other skilled professional service. You are not paying for typing. You are paying for judgment, clarity, storytelling craft, research discipline, and the ability to sound like you. When you hire an author ghostwriter, you are investing in someone who can turn scattered ideas, voice notes, and half-formed chapters into a manuscript that reads smoothly from the first page to the last.
This blog breaks down what most authors pay, why the numbers vary so widely, and how to decide what makes sense for your book and your goals.
“Average Cost” Is Tricky, Because Ghostwriting Is Not One Product
The word “ghostwriting” covers a wide range of work. Some projects are closer to polishing and organizing existing content. Others start from a blank page and require deep interviews, extensive research, and multiple rounds of revision.
That is why asking for one average number can be misleading. A more practical question is: “What will my specific book require, and what do writers typically charge for that level of work?”
Still, authors need starting points, so here are realistic ranges.
Typical Price Ranges Authors Actually See
Ghostwriters price projects in a few common ways: per word, per page, per hour, or as a flat project fee. The numbers below are broad, but they reflect what authors commonly encounter in the market.
1) Entry-Level Or Newer Freelancers
These writers may be building a portfolio, transitioning into ghostwriting, or taking simpler projects.
- Per word: roughly $0.05 to $0.12
- Full book (50,000 to 70,000 words): roughly $2,500 to $8,500
This range can work for some authors, especially if the author already has a strong outline, clear chapters, and minimal research requirements. The risk is inconsistency. The writing may be uneven, the voice may not match yours, or the project may require more rewriting later.
2) Established Professional Ghostwriters
This is where many serious nonfiction projects and polished memoirs fall. These writers typically have a dependable process and stronger editing instincts.
- Per word: roughly $0.12 to $0.30
- Full book (50,000 to 70,000 words): roughly $9,000 to $21,000
In this range, you are often paying for a stronger structure, cleaner writing, more reliable deadlines, and a better ability to “sound like you” rather than “sound like a writer.”
3) High-Demand Specialists and Premium Teams
These projects often involve business leaders, complex subject matter, brand-sensitive storytelling, or heavy research. Some writers in this tier also bring substantial publishing experience.
- Per word: $0.30 and up
- Full book: $25,000 to $75,000+, sometimes higher
At this level, the service usually includes deeper interviews, more developmental work, and a more hands-on strategy. The manuscript may be shaped with market positioning in mind, not just readability.
These ranges are not about status. They are about workload, risk, and skill.
What drives the cost up or down?
You will see two authors pay very different amounts for projects with the same word count. That is because ghostwriting costs are heavily influenced by what the book demands behind the scenes.
The Biggest Cost Factors
How much raw material you already have
If you have a well-organized outline, chapter notes, and clear examples, your writer can move faster and produce stronger drafts sooner. If you have only a concept and a few ideas, the writer must do more shaping work.
Research load
A personal memoir based primarily on lived experience is different from a business book that cites studies, frameworks, and industry trends. Research takes time, and time shows up in price.
Your timeline and availability
Ghostwriting depends on collaboration. If you can meet regularly, answer questions quickly, and review drafts on schedule, the project stays efficient. If feedback is delayed for weeks or interviews keep getting rescheduled, many writers will adjust pricing to reflect the stop-start reality.
Depth of voice capture
Some authors want a simple, clear manuscript. Others want the book to read exactly like their speaking voice, with specific rhythms and personal style. That level of voice matching requires more interviews, more revision, and more attention.
Revision expectations
A reputable ghostwriting agreement will specify how many rounds of revision are included. More revision means more hours and a higher fee.
Genre and narrative complexity
Fiction and memoir can be especially demanding because plot, pacing, tension, and scene work require more craft than straightforward informational writing. Not every ghostwriter can do both well.
A Useful Way to Estimate Your Own Budget
If you want a quick way to forecast cost without guessing, start with three questions:
- How long will the book be? (Most nonfiction books land around 50,000 to 70,000 words.)
- How much structure and research will it need? (Light, moderate, or heavy.)
- How “voice perfect” do you want it? (Good and professional, or extremely close to how you speak.)
Then place yourself into a tier:
- Light structure, low research, flexible voice: entry-level to mid-tier
- Moderate structure, some research, strong voice match: established professional tier
- Heavy research, complex story, premium voice polish: high-demand specialist tier
This approach won’t give an exact number, but it will keep you in the right neighborhood.
What You Are Paying For, Beyond the Writing Itself
A strong ghostwriter is part editor, part strategist, part interviewer. Their work usually includes things you do not see in the final manuscript, such as:
- Building an outline that keeps the reader moving
- Deciding what to cut, what to expand, and what to move
- Catching logic gaps and unsupported claims
- Managing tone so the book stays consistent
- Keeping chapters balanced so the pacing feels natural
- Turning “expert knowledge” into reader-friendly writing
That is why two writers can charge different rates for the same word count. The invisible work is where the quality often lives.
If You Want the Book Done Right, Use A Complete Publishing Partner
A common mistake authors make is treating ghostwriting as a one-off purchase, then scrambling later for editing, formatting, cover design, and publishing help. That is where time and money get wasted, and where many projects stall.
If your goal is to self-publish professionally, contact Fleck Publisher. We support authors from concept to completion, including writing, editing, formatting, cover design, publishing setup, and marketing guidance. That means your manuscript is not created in isolation. It is built to become a finished book that you can confidently release.
How Ghostwriters Typically Charge: Four Common Models
Pricing structure matters almost as much as total cost. Here are the models you will see most often.
1) Flat Project Fee
This is common for full books. The fee is usually split into milestones, such as:
- Deposit to begin
- Payment after the outline
- Payment after the first half draft
- Payment after final draft
This model is straightforward and helps both sides plan.
2) Per-Word Pricing
Per-word pricing can work well for authors who already know the target word count. The benefit is clarity. The risk is that some writers may prioritize length over structure, so a strong scope and outline still matter.
3) Hourly Pricing
Hourly is more common for coaching-style engagements, partial rewrites, or projects where the scope may change. Authors should ask for an estimate and a clear cap, so the budget does not drift.
4) Monthly Retainer
Some authors prefer a steady monthly payment while the writer produces consistent chapters. This model works best when the author is available for regular interviews and timely feedback.
What Counts as a “Fair” Rate, and What Should Raise Concerns?
Not every low quote is a scam, and not every high quote is a guarantee. Still, there are patterns worth noticing.
Signs the quote may be too low for the work promised
- The writer claims they can produce a full book extremely fast with minimal input
- There is no clear interview process or outline stage
- There is no contract, no revision policy, and no confidentiality language
- The writer avoids sharing samples in a similar genre
These issues often show up later as disorganized drafts, mismatched voice, or endless revisions.
Signs the quote may be fair and professional
- The process is clear: discovery, outline, interviews, drafting, revisions
- Deliverables and timelines are written down
- You know what is included, and what is not
- The writer asks smart questions about your goals and audience
- You see relevant samples, not just generic writing
If you are evaluating an author ghostwriter, process clarity is one of the best indicators of quality.
Ways To Keep Costs Reasonable Without Sacrificing Quality
Authors sometimes assume they must choose between a great book and a manageable budget. In reality, there are practical ways to control costs.
Here are a few tactics that often help:
- Prepare strong material upfront. Even a rough chapter-by-chapter outline reduces hours.
- Batch interviews. Doing longer sessions less often can be more efficient.
- Be fast with feedback. Delays increase time and can lead to rework.
- Define the audience early. A clear reader target reduces unnecessary rewrites.
- Agree on revision rounds. Too many open-ended revisions can quietly inflate cost.
A collaborative author can save money simply by being organized and responsive.
What To Expect If You Want A Serious, Publish-Ready Manuscript
If your book is intended to represent your business, your expertise, or your legacy, it should not read like a rushed document. A publish-ready manuscript typically requires:
- A strong opening that earns reader trust quickly
- Consistent tone across chapters
- Clear chapter flow, without repetition
- Stories or examples that feel specific, not generic
- A conclusion that ties the message together cleanly
This is where the right ghostwriter, and the right publishing partner, matter most.
Wrapping it up!
So, what is the average cost of a ghostwriter?
The honest answer is that “average” depends on what your book needs, how much groundwork you have already done, and how polished you want the final manuscript to be. In most real-world cases, authors who want professional results should expect to invest somewhere in the mid-tier range, with higher costs for complex books or premium support.
The smartest next step is not hunting for the cheapest quote. It is defining the scope and choosing a process you can trust. When you work with an author ghostwriter who understands your voice and goals, the writing becomes easier, the timeline becomes more predictable, and the final book feels like it truly belongs to you.
If you want a full-service path from writing to publishing, Fleck Publisher can guide you through the entire journey and help you produce a book you are proud to put your name on. And if you are weighing options right now, speaking with a team that handles both writing and publishing can give you a clearer budget and a smoother plan.