Starting a Ghostwriting Business
If you love to write, but hate the idea of waiting on acceptance letters, ghostwriting might be the best way to go.
A ghostwriter is someone who writes novels, books, articles and short stories for other people, while taking none of the credit.
Although your name won't be on any bylines, you can make a lucrative living working behind the scenes.
Ghostwriting is one of the easiest businesses in the world to start, especially when you consider overhead.
Your only real expenses are office equipment and website maintenance, which amounts to about $20.
00/month.
You can always purchase business cards, brochures and other materials later; to start, you only need a computer.
I started my business for less than $10.
00, and it's made me thousands of dollars over the last ten years.
I get to set my own hours, take days off whenever I want, and best of all, I get to see my family all the time.
Paying your own taxes can seem complicated at first, but once you've established a rhythm, you won't notice the change at all.
First, you'll need to decide on a name.
If you choose to go with a D.
B.
A.
, you'll need to register it with your local court house, which costs around $16.
00.
If you choose to work using only your name, however, you don't have to register it at all.
Next comes the website.
It is almost impossible to run a ghostwriting business without one, but it's easy to set up and requires little maintenance.
I use Yahoo! as my web host, and their Site Builder allows me to have full control over the design.
Their webhosting plans cost only $11.
95/month, and the setup fee is only $25.
00.
And finally, you'll need to set up a way to find clients.
Having a website is only the first step; you have to have a way to get your name into the world.
You can use free classified advertising websites - like the ones found here - or you can decide to go for paid advertising, which can really boost sales.
Make sure that you have a service contract, which states the terms of your ghostwriting business.
You can check out some of my other articles for tips on contracts, prices, customer service and more.
Just remember that customers won't come right away, and there will be dry spells.
You'll have to get used to working from home and managing your money effectively.
But once the calls and e-mails start rolling in from prospective clients, you'll wonder why you didn't start a ghostwriting business before!
A ghostwriter is someone who writes novels, books, articles and short stories for other people, while taking none of the credit.
Although your name won't be on any bylines, you can make a lucrative living working behind the scenes.
Ghostwriting is one of the easiest businesses in the world to start, especially when you consider overhead.
Your only real expenses are office equipment and website maintenance, which amounts to about $20.
00/month.
You can always purchase business cards, brochures and other materials later; to start, you only need a computer.
I started my business for less than $10.
00, and it's made me thousands of dollars over the last ten years.
I get to set my own hours, take days off whenever I want, and best of all, I get to see my family all the time.
Paying your own taxes can seem complicated at first, but once you've established a rhythm, you won't notice the change at all.
First, you'll need to decide on a name.
If you choose to go with a D.
B.
A.
, you'll need to register it with your local court house, which costs around $16.
00.
If you choose to work using only your name, however, you don't have to register it at all.
Next comes the website.
It is almost impossible to run a ghostwriting business without one, but it's easy to set up and requires little maintenance.
I use Yahoo! as my web host, and their Site Builder allows me to have full control over the design.
Their webhosting plans cost only $11.
95/month, and the setup fee is only $25.
00.
And finally, you'll need to set up a way to find clients.
Having a website is only the first step; you have to have a way to get your name into the world.
You can use free classified advertising websites - like the ones found here - or you can decide to go for paid advertising, which can really boost sales.
Make sure that you have a service contract, which states the terms of your ghostwriting business.
You can check out some of my other articles for tips on contracts, prices, customer service and more.
Just remember that customers won't come right away, and there will be dry spells.
You'll have to get used to working from home and managing your money effectively.
But once the calls and e-mails start rolling in from prospective clients, you'll wonder why you didn't start a ghostwriting business before!
