Ghostwriting Services 101: How Much Do They Cost (And Why?)
You’ve got ideas. Big ones. But between back-to-back meetings and the 37 tabs already open in your brain, there’s no time to get that magnum opus down on paper.
That’s where ghostwriting services come in.
Whether you’re building a personal brand, scaling your company’s thought leadership, or finally tackling that memoir, a great ghostwriter helps you sound brilliant, all without you having to lift a pen (or a finger).
But how much do these services cost? What are you actually paying for? And where can you actually find these amazing writers? (Hint: I built the #1 job board for them and for clients like you.)
This is a big decision, so let’s break it all down: the types of ghostwriting available, what drives the pricing, and where to find a ghostwriter who’s worth the investment.
What Do Ghostwriters Actually Do?
At a basic level, ghostwriters write on your behalf, but the good ones go far beyond filling in a blank page.
These writers will:
Interview you to extract your ideas
Match your tone and style
Structure content strategically
Deliver polished, publication-ready work
Iterate quickly and confidentially
Ghostwriting is one of the most efficient and respected ways to scale your voice across platforms. Many top founders, public figures, and creatives rely on ghostwriters to help them publish consistently, from social posts and blog content to full-length memoirs and thought leadership books.
Ghostwriting Services, by Type (and Price Range)
When you hire a ghostwriter, you’re hiring someone to think like you, write like you, and often make sense of a messy voice note or half-baked outline. That kind of synthesis takes skill, strategy, and time, and different kinds of projects require different kinds of writers.
Pricing depends heavily on the project, writer experience, and timeline, but here’s what you can expect based on the type of ghostwriting service needed:
Memoir & Book Ghostwriting
This is the most in-depth ghostwriting service, and the most expensive for a reason. You’re not just hiring a writer; you’re hiring a collaborator who can turn your lived experience or big idea into a compelling narrative.
Typical Rates: $25,000 to $100,000+
What’s included: Interviews, outlining, multiple drafts, revision rounds, and often help with publishing strategy.
Many clients choose book ghostwriting to preserve a legacy, capture lessons learned, or strengthen their personal brand through thought leadership. It’s a deeply concerted process that often includes interviews, research, outlining, and multiple rounds of revisions.
If you’re ready to go with your book project, here’s my deep dive on how to hire a ghostwriter. I also personally offer white-glove memoir ghostwriting starting in the six-figure range, designed for high-performing clients who want speed, strategy, and confidentiality.
Fiction Ghostwriting
Working on a novel, screenplay, or serialized story? Fiction ghostwriting is where creativity meets craftsmanship. It’s a partnership between vision and execution: your ideas, brought to life by someone who knows structure, pacing, and audience expectations inside and out.
Typical Rates: $7,500 to $50,000+
Deliverables vary: From detailed outlines and sample chapters to full-length manuscripts. Pricing depends on world-building, plot complexity, and word count.
Fiction clients range from IP developers expanding cinematic universes to entrepreneurs with a personal story they want told by a professional storyteller. Some hire ghostwriters to adapt real experiences into novels; others collaborate on original series designed for traditional publishing or screen adaptation.
In every case, the goal is the same: transform imagination into a finished, market-ready story that actually sells.
Blog & Content Ghostwriting
Need consistent content on your company blog or personal site? A ghostwriter can help you stay visible, relevant, and strategic, without burning out on deadlines.
Typical Rates: $150 to $1,000+ per post
Pricing depends on: Word count, industry complexity, and whether SEO research or interviews are included.
Many businesses hire content ghostwriters on retainer, particularly in competitive fields where clarity and authority matter. These writers don’t just deliver posts. They build content ecosystems that strengthen your brand voice, reinforce expertise, and drive long-term organic growth.
A strong ghostwriter ensures your company sounds unified across every platform — from blogs to newsletters to white papers — without your internal team needing to write every word themselves.
Social Media Ghostwriting
Thought leadership doesn’t happen by accident. If you want to show up on feeds consistently, and sound sharp doing it, a social media ghostwriter can help you turn scattered ideas into scroll-stopping content.
Typical Rates: $300 to $3,000/month
Packages usually include: Monthly content calendars, writing, analytics support, and occasional strategy calls.
This service is especially popular among founders, VCs, and creatives who want to grow their presence without getting trapped in the algorithmic grind. A dedicated social ghostwriter can help you share insights, build trust, and stay visible, all while freeing you from the constant cycle of drafting, posting, and refreshing analytics.
The best writers in this space don’t just imitate your tone. They understand your larger goals, evolve your messaging over time, and ensure your online presence feels both authentic and intentional.
Technical Content & White Papers
For companies in tech, healthcare, or enterprise SaaS, technical ghostwriters are translators of complexity, turning jargon into clear, persuasive stories that drive business impact.
Typical Rates: $750 to $5,000+ per asset
Projects include: White papers, case studies, internal knowledge bases, and long-form technical content.
These writers often have deep subject matter expertise or professional backgrounds in engineering, science, or product marketing. They’re skilled at interviewing technical teams, synthesizing research, and turning complex data into narratives executives and investors can act on.
If you want to scale your authority with well-researched, publication-ready assets that reflect true expertise, this is the most effective path forward.
What Drives Ghostwriting Costs?
If you’re hiring a ghostwriter for the first time, sticker shock is real. Here’s why the best ghostwriters cost what they do:
Experience level: A beginner ghostwriter might charge $50/hour. Top-tier professionals? $250–$1,000/hour.
Voice-matching skills: You’re not paying for words. You’re paying for words that sound like you.
Complexity: A casual blog post is one thing. A 60,000-word book that needs to win awards? Totally different lift.
Speed: Faster timelines = premium pricing.
Confidentiality & reputation: Many ghostwriters operate discreetly, with ironclad NDAs and decades of experience — especially those working with public figures.
Ultimately, ghostwriting is about trust. You’re handing someone your ideas. The right partner knows how to elevate them, not just type them out.
Where to Find a Great Ghostwriter (Without Guesswork)
You could post on a generic freelancer site and sift through 73 half-relevant replies. Or… you could hire from a place where elite ghostwriters already live.
That’s why I made ✍️ Make Writing Your Job, the #1 job board for hiring vetted ghostwriters. Potential clients like you can post your ghostwriting job for just $29, and in 1–2 business days, expect smart, high-quality applicants with real portfolios.
From memoirs to blog calendars to white papers, our writers cover it all, and you won’t waste time filtering through spam or vague replies. Only clear, professional responses from writers who take your voice seriously.
Don’t just fill a page. Building something that lasts. Hiring a ghostwriter is a smart strategy for scaling your voice, your brand, and your body of work, all without sacrificing time or quality.
Whether you’re investing six figures in a memoir or a few hundred dollars in content support, ghostwriting services let you show up like a pro, even if your calendar’s packed.
