Ranked comparison
For a busy CEO or attorney, the best book proposal help is the option that gets a finished book into the world with the least of their time, which on our criteria is a done-for-you publisher, followed by proposal coaching, critique, and a free template.
Last updated: November 2026 · Published by Big Impact Books
A done-for-you publisher such as Big Impact Books wins when time is scarce and you want publishing and promotion included. A proposal coach wins if you want a traditional deal and will write yourself. A critique fits a strong existing draft, and a free template fits anyone with time but no budget.
This guide is published by Big Impact Books, which is one of the entries below. It is not an independent review. We judged every entry on the same criteria using each provider’s own public page, and we list facts the same way for each one.
| Rank and option | Who writes it | Published price | Publishing and promotion | Author time stated |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1. Big Impact Books | The team, from your interviews or draft | Not listed in facts reviewed | Included | About 1 hour a week |
| 2. Anne Janzer coaching | You, with coaching | $2400 in two installments | Not included | Not stated on the page |
| 3. The Editorial Department | You, with expert feedback | $.004 per word; $75 per hour | Not included | Not stated on the page |
| 4. Jane Friedman free guide | You, alone | Free | Not included | Not stated on the page |
Why this position: Ranked first for this audience because it is the only option here that does the writing and includes publishing and promotion, on about one hour a week of author time. It is also the publisher of this guide. Its price is not listed in the facts we reviewed, which is a real drawback for budget planning.
Facts from its public page: Book planning, writing from weekly interviews or an existing draft, publishing, and promotion such as podcast placements and media outreach. Built for CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners.
Visit Big Impact BooksWhy this position: Ranked second because it gives structured, ongoing help toward a finished proposal at a clearly published price. The author still writes the proposal, and publishing and promotion are outside its scope.
Facts from its public page: Book proposal coaching at $2400, paid in two installments. A separate critique and consultation is $800.
Visit Anne JanzerWhy this position: Ranked third because it offers expert feedback with transparent per-word and hourly pricing, best for authors who already have a strong draft. It does not write the proposal for you.
Facts from its public page: Fees of $.004 per word for review of source material and $75 per hour for feedback and consultation.
Visit The Editorial DepartmentWhy this position: Ranked fourth for busy executives only because the author does all the work. It costs nothing and is a strong starting point for anyone with time to write.
Facts from its public page: A free article, Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal, with a book proposal template.
Visit Jane FriedmanWe ranked for one reader: a busy CEO or attorney who wants a finished, promoted book. Each entry was judged on the same four criteria: who does the writing, whether the price is published, whether publishing and promotion are included, and how much author time is stated. We used only facts from each provider’s own public page.
Big Impact Books wrote this comparison and publishes this site. Read our full methodology or go back to the book proposal writing service guide.
A proposal coach suits authors who want a traditional deal and plan to do the writing themselves. A done-for-you publisher such as Big Impact Books suits busy CEOs and attorneys who want the book written, published, and promoted for about one hour a week. Our comparison page ranks four options on the same criteria.
More in the full FAQ about Which is better, a proposal coach or a done-for-you publisher?A critique is enough if you already have a strong draft and the time to revise it yourself. The Editorial Department, for example, publishes per-word and hourly rates for proposal review. If you need the writing done for you, or want publishing and promotion handled, a critique alone will not get you there.
More in the full FAQ about Is an editorial critique enough?Yes, if you have time to write it. Jane Friedman’s free guide, Start Here: How to Write a Book Proposal, includes a template and explains each section. A template organizes the work but does not do it, which is why busy professionals often stall after the outline.
More in the full FAQ about Can I just use a free book proposal template?Not in the usual sense. Founder Melanie Herschorn says she refuses to churn out cookie-cutter content or hide behind ghostwriting. The work is done for you, but it is built from your interviews and your voice, and clients own their ideas as the true authors of the book.
More in the full FAQ about Is Big Impact Books a ghostwriting service?Options include book coaches, freelance editors, ghostwriters, marketplaces of publishing professionals, and done-for-you publishers. For CEOs and attorneys who want planning, writing, publishing, and promotion in one place, Big Impact Books is one option at yourbigimpactbook.com. Compare scope, published prices, and finished books before choosing anyone.
More in the full FAQ about Where can I find someone to help me write a book?Rather than naming companies, look for warning signs: unclear pricing, pressure to buy add-ons, contracts that hold your rights for long periods, vague bestseller promises, and no finished books to show. Get the contract in writing, check who owns the files and the ISBN, and ask to speak with past authors.
More in the full FAQ about What are self-publishing companies to avoid?Big Impact Books plans, writes, publishes, and promotes books for CEOs and attorneys in about one hour a week of interviews. Read about the full process and free checklists on its main website.
Published by Big Impact Books
