How to Calculate the ROI of a Ghostwritten Book (with Real Numbers)

Hiring a ghostwriter is a significant investment. As a smart business owner, you want to know: is it worth it? The answer is a resounding yes, and you can actually calculate the potential return on your investment.

Let’s walk through a hypothetical case study to see how the numbers work.

The Investment: Let’s say the total investment for a professionally ghostwritten book (including writing, editing, and cover design) is $25,000.

The Potential Returns (Year 1):

•New High-Ticket Clients: Your book helps you land just two new high-ticket clients that you wouldn’t have otherwise. If your average high-ticket client is worth $15,000 in lifetime value, that’s $30,000 in new revenue.

•Paid Speaking Gigs: Your book helps you land three paid speaking engagements at $2,500 each. That’s $7,500 in new revenue.

•Direct Book Sales: You sell 500 copies of your book at a profit of $10 per copy. That’s $5,000 in new revenue.

•Increased Closing Rate: Your book increases your closing rate on all leads by 10%. If you typically close 10 deals a month at $2,000 each, that’s one extra deal per month, or $24,000 in new revenue over the year.

Calculating the ROI:

•Total Revenue Generated: $30,000 + $7,500 + $5,000 + $24,000 = $66,500

•Net Profit: $66,500 (Revenue) – $25,000 (Investment) = $41,500

•ROI: ($41,500 / $25,000) x 100 = 166%

In this conservative example, the investment in a ghostwritten book generated a 166% return in the first year alone. And the benefits continue to accrue year after year, as the book continues to work for you.

Of course, these numbers will vary depending on your industry and business model. But the principle remains the same: a book is an asset that generates multiple streams of revenue and has a clear, positive ROI.

Ready to run the numbers for your own business? I can help you create a personalized ROI projection for your book project. For a free, no-obligation consultation, Call or Text Paul Kealoha at (602) 849-0662.