In my nearly 20 years as a ghostwriter, I’ve shared one truth with every client: writing a business book might be the smartest investment an entrepreneur can make. Now, there’s data to prove it.
A landmark study of over 300 business authors revealed the truth about ROI. Nearly two-thirds earned back more than they spent. But direct book sales weren’t the real moneymaker – the profits came from new business opportunities. Authors who invested under $10,000 generated six-figure returns through speaking gigs, consulting contracts, and workshop bookings.
Let’s see exactly how these entrepreneurs made their books pay off.
Where the Real Money Comes From
The study revealed three major revenue streams beyond book sales:
- Speaking engagements (median revenue: $30,000)
- Consulting opportunities (median revenue: $50,000)
- Workshops (median revenue: $40,000)
Authors with PR teams earned median profits of $55,500. Those with comprehensive revenue plans exceeded $96,000. And ghostwritten books proved four times more profitable than others.
Beyond the Balance Sheet
More than 90% of authors reported significant non-financial benefits from their business books. The most meaningful results included:
- Increased credibility with prospects and clients (68%)
- Enhanced personal brand value (61%)
- More podcast interview requests (59%)
- Growing social media following (55%)
An overwhelming 89% of authors would do it all again, backing up what the revenue numbers already showed.
What Makes a Profitable Book?
The median book generated $18,200 in revenue—but the path to profitability varied significantly. The data pointed to four key factors:
- Investment Strategy: The median author spent $7,000, with hybrid-published authors investing more ($23,000) and seeing nearly double the typical revenue.
- Marketing Impact: Email campaigns and Amazon reviews delivered the most robust results. LinkedIn outperformed other social platforms, while X (formerly Twitter) showed minimal impact.
- Publishing Choice: Traditional publishing achieved the highest median sales (4,600 copies), followed by hybrid (1,600) and self-publishing (700). Yet, all three paths showed that positive ROI was possible.
The Investment Reality Check
The findings should encourage bootstrapped entrepreneurs. While some authors invested six figures, the study proved you don’t need deep pockets to succeed. Self-published authors spent a median of just $2,550—and 60% achieved positive ROI.
Even more compelling: every dollar invested returned $1.24 in revenue—proving that strategic investments pay off regardless of scale.
Success depends on strategy, not spending. The data shows the most effective tactics were targeted email campaigns, Amazon reviews, and LinkedIn engagement. Successful authors leveraged their existing strengths—market knowledge, customer insight, and real-world experience—to turn their expertise into profitable books.
Ready to turn your expertise into a business book? Start your free DIYBook trial today. Our business book program starts at $349 and includes a 7-day trial to explore our platform.
Source: “A Comprehensive Study of Business Book ROI” (2024) by Amplify Publishing Group, Gotham Ghostwriters, Smith Publicity, and Thought Leadership Leverage. Complete study available at AuthorROI.com.
Barbara Basbanes Richter founded DIYBook, an affordable and easy-to-use book writing program. She also founded In Ink Ghostwriting, a full-service ghostwriting firm helping politicians, pundits, scientists, CEOs, professional athletes, and others get their stories into print.
Under her own byline, Barbara’s writing has appeared in The Wall Street Journal, The New York Daily News, The Vineyard Gazette, Humanities, The Sewanee Review, Fine Books & Collections, Literary Features Syndicate, High Country News, Ravishly.com, Westchester Magazine, and other outlets.
Barbara is a fluent French speaker, and her translation from French to English of Mademoiselle de Malepeire was called a “clever, inspiring gem.”
