How Much Does It Cost to Hire a Ghostwriter?

We all come up with some great ideas that we look to execute, but constraints by time and schedule it is not achieved.

So, does it mean we should stop? No, there are valuable solutions to everything. Coming up with an idea for a book is amazing, however it requires skills to write. With less time and weak skills, you do not have to stop. Instead, look for ghostwriters for hire. A ghostwriter’s help can turn the tables, and provide you with irreplaceable benefits and services. However, to obtain their services one has to plan a very well budgeting strategy.

In this context, let’s look into how much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter?

You may know, a ghostwriter costs from $3,500 to $350,000, but depending on the length, and requirements of the project. But that answer is not going to help, and let’s look into a detailed discussion of why and how the cost is decided.

The Basic Fee of Ghostwriting Services

The cost for a ghostwriter depends on a number of factors, when combined they make up the cost. Some basic factors are involved like time, length, and involvement in research. So, the ghostwriter may ask, or charge depending on what you are asking them to do.

You can find affordable ghostwriting services at different online services. The ghostwriters help throughout in having a defined book writing experience. If you are looking for a white paper report it may cost around $250 to $2000, but may go above and beyond. Having said that these costs are just on average, here is how ghostwriters structure a cost,

Price per word
Hourly rate
Rate per project
Flat rate

How Does the Cost of Ghostwriting Work?

It is important to understand how the cost of ghostwriting works, they use multiple types of methods, strategies, schedules, methods, and some confidential methods. Get yourself familiarized with some significant methods that are involved if you seek to hire a ghostwriter.

Whenever you hire ghostwriting services, always remember the key to a successful journey is open communication. Be aware of all the terms and conditions of the NDA, and especially with the deadlines.

Let’s see how ghostwriters make up the cost of their work.

Price Per Word

In this type of method, each writer has a pre-decided cost of words. This is more popular in shorter types of content, such as guest posts, blog articles, and more. Authors have to be careful when choosing a ghostwriter who charges per word. The cost also depends on the experience of the writer, an experienced writer may start with charges from $5. Moreover, subject-matter writers and technical writers charge higher.

The Cost: $.05 to $3.

Price Per Hour

Some ghostwriters prefer to charge based on the hours invested, so charge a cost per hour. It could be unfavorable as it is difficult to decide how many hours the ghostwriter is going to work. However, this works for an ongoing project where the client is unsure about the exact requirements. This method is good when you have to conduct meetings during working hours, without looking to pay extra for it.

The Cost: $50 – $250 per hour.

Cost Per Project

This is the most common method used by ghostwriters, it also includes the delivery milestones where they charge a portion of the fee for delivery. This works for people who have lengthy, and complex projects. The price may go up, and change if you add other services like editing, research, and revisions.

In this case, there are copywriters that write different kinds of content such as business and marketing. So, they charge more than the general copy content writers.

The Cost: $25,000 – $100,000.

Flat Rate Scale

Some clients like to pay on a flat rate scale, and some ghostwriters also demand it. The client pays a specific rate for a certain number of words or pages. This is suitable for people who are looking for long-term content. Flat rate pricing usually is for entry-level writers and they usually charge $50 to $75 to $250 for 100 words.

The Cost: $65 – $80.

Should I Pay the Ghostwriter?

If you hire a ghostwriter for self-publication, then you are payable to them. It also depends if you are hiring a traditional publication.

A Breakdown of Ghostwriting Services

Here is a breakdown of cost based on the average cost range by ghostwriters.

How much does it cost to hire a ghostwriter

Other Factors That Make Up the Cost

in the course of ghostwriters for hire, it was earlier mentioned how different factors are involved in ghostwriting apart from length, time, meals, delivery fee, or logistics, there are other integral factors too. These are added up to the cost of ghostwriters.

Legal Costs

While hiring a ghostwriter remember there are legal bindings too, and they come up with a price. You have to come up with a properly structured agreement, timelines for delivery, revision, agreement, and payment schedule, along with NDA, and basic contract. You can hire a lawyer or join an online platform that has flexible laws for drafting the agreement.

The Strength of Research

Research goes a long way in ghostwriting, and accounts for a big factor in ghostwriting. Many elements are included in the research such as original reporting, sources, timeline of the book, interviews, and others. The cost may go up, depending on the length of research, and the level of elements.

Writer’s Stature

Another factor that builds up the cost is the writer’s stature and their degree of experience in their work. Experienced writers are more expensive and it is mainly due to their expertise in their work. So, if you have a lengthy, and important project. Also, always expect nonfiction, and fiction writers to be higher than others.

Editing Costs

Editing is another additional, and intricate task in ghostwriting, it also asks for more than an ordinary fee because of the complexity of the job. If you have a manuscript there may be potential or any other complex structure mistakes. So, therefore editing highly influences the cost of hiring a ghostwriter.

Tips to Budget a Ghostwriting Project

So, have you planned everything? If not, there are some tips that can help you make it through.

Think of the budget, and see what you can afford under it. Keep in mind that the cost will go up and down. For an average budget keep it around $30,000. Check the list of ghostwriters there are on the list, and see which one suits you.

Keep a close check on the agreement, and ask any kind of query before. At times, it may be worth hiring a lawyer. Always ask for the deadlines beforehand.