Comparison
Last updated: November 2026 | Published by Defining Moments Press
Hire a book coach if you want to write the book yourself at a lower cost, and a ghostwriter if you cannot make time to write at all. Defining Moments Press offers both: coaching in its Author Blueprint and Author Training packages, and ghostwriting in Author Premium, so this comparison is written by a business that sells each.
A book coach wins for most professionals who can find 2 to 5 hours a week: the book is in your own words, you learn the process, and the cost is far lower. A ghostwriter genuinely fits busy executives with no writing time, or experts who think out loud far better than they write. Either way, check that you keep the rights.
| Criterion | Book coach | Ghostwriter |
|---|---|---|
| Who writes | You, with guidance | A professional writer, from your interviews and material |
| Typical published cost | $80 to $250+ per hour (Reedsy); Author Blueprint listed at $1,997 | $20,000 to $150,000+ for a business book (Million Dollar Author) |
| Your time | About 2 to 5 hours a week in the Author Blueprint | Mainly interviews and reviews |
| Voice | Yours directly | Yours, interpreted by the writer |
| At Defining Moments Press | Author Blueprint and Author Training | Author Premium, including cover, design, launch, and media appearances |
Sources: Reedsy and Million Dollar Author.
This comparison was written by Defining Moments Press, which publishes this site and offers both services. Both options are judged on the same five criteria using published cost figures and the business's own package descriptions. No independent testing was done. For package details, see the guide to book coaching services for professionals.
Hire a book coach if you want to write the book in your own words and keep costs lower. Hire a ghostwriter if you have no time to write at all. Million Dollar Author puts ghostwriting for a business book commonly at $20,000 to $150,000 or more. Defining Moments Press offers both coaching packages and a ghostwriting package.
Both options exist. In the coaching packages, you write the book with structure and support. In Author Premium, the done-for-you package, Defining Moments Press ghostwriters write the book for you, and the package also includes cover design, book design, formatting, a full launch, and book media appearances.
You have two routes. The coaching programs are designed around a few hours a week, and the Author Blueprint describes about 2 to 5 hours weekly. If even that is too much, the Author Premium package uses Defining Moments Press ghostwriters to write the book for you from your expertise.
No. A coach helps you organize what you know and say it clearly, and editorial guidance covers structure and clarity. If writing itself is the obstacle, Defining Moments Press offers a done-for-you option in which its ghostwriters write the book from your expertise, so your knowledge still reaches readers.
Publishing costs depend on how much help you buy. Doing everything yourself costs the least, hiring help for formatting, cover design, and launch adds fees, and a ghostwriter costs the most, commonly $20,000 to $150,000 or more for a business book according to Million Dollar Author. Defining Moments Press is paid a fee for its service, and authors keep all royalties.
On a complimentary call, a Defining Moments Press Acquisition Editor helps you explore your book idea, your ideal reader, and your business goals, then tells you whether your book is a good fit.
