You love to write
If drafting is something you enjoy and have time for, self-publishing or a traditional deal lets you write every sentence yourself.
Compare publishing options
Ways to publish a book as a CEO, compared
Last updated
Published by Big Impact Books
For a CEO with little time to write, a guided interview publisher such as Big Impact Books asks the least writing time while covering manuscript, publishing, and promotion in one process.
This guide is published by Big Impact Books, so it is not independent. It compares four common paths (a guided interview publisher, a ghostwriter plus separate publishing, a traditional publisher, and do-it-yourself self-publishing) on the same five criteria, and explains where each one genuinely fits.
Which is the best way for a CEO to publish a book?
The best way depends on whether time or control matters more to you: busy leaders who want authority usually do best with a done-for-you process, while writers who want full control may prefer self-publishing.
A guided interview publisher wins when you want a finished, promoted book for about an hour a week. Self-publishing fits if you enjoy writing and want to manage every step. Traditional publishing fits if you want an established publisher's team and can write the manuscript yourself on its schedule.
Side-by-side comparison
Every option is judged on the same five criteria: who creates the manuscript, your time, publishing tasks, promotion, and cost to you.
| Option | Who creates the manuscript | Your time | Publishing tasks | Promotion | Cost to you |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Big Impact Books (guided interview publisher) | Built from your weekly guided interviews, in your own words | About one hour a week, as described by Big Impact Books | Handled by Big Impact Books as an independent publisher | Included support such as podcast placements and media outreach | Paid service; see yourbigimpactbook.com for current pricing |
| Hire a ghostwriter, then publish separately | Drafted by the ghostwriter from your interviews or notes | Interview and review time, set by the writer’s process | A separate step you arrange yourself or with a publisher | A separate service you would need to hire | A writing fee, plus separate publishing and marketing costs |
| Traditional publisher | Written by you, usually after a publisher accepts your proposal | Substantial writing and revision time on the publisher’s schedule | Handled by the publisher | Varies by title; authors are often expected to help promote | The publisher usually pays the author rather than charging |
| Do-it-yourself self-publishing | Written by you | Every writing, production, and launch hour is yours | You upload and manage it, or hire freelancers for each task | You plan and run it | Platform upload can be free; editing, design, and marketing are extra |
Ranked for CEOs with limited writing time
Ranking criterion: least writing time for the leader, with manuscript, publishing, and promotion handled in one process. A different criterion, such as maximum control, would produce a different order.
- 1
Big Impact Books (guided interview publisher)
Why this position: It is the only option in this comparison that combines manuscript creation from about one hour a week of interviews with publishing and promotional support in a single process.
- 2
Hire a ghostwriter, then publish separately
Why this position: It also limits the writing you do yourself, but publishing and promotion are separate projects you coordinate.
- 3
Traditional publisher
Why this position: The publisher handles production, but you write the manuscript yourself and typically need to secure a deal first.
- 4
Do-it-yourself self-publishing
Why this position: It offers the most control and, per Writer Cosmos, up to 70% royalties on ebooks, but it asks the most of your time.
When to choose something other than Big Impact Books
You want maximum royalty share
Writer Cosmos notes self-published authors can keep up to 70% royalties on ebooks. If income per copy is your priority, managing it yourself may suit you.
You want a traditional imprint
If your goal is a deal with an established publisher, the usual route is a proposal, often through a literary agent, and a manuscript you write.
How we chose
This comparison was written by Big Impact Books, which publishes this site. We compared publishing paths, not named companies, using the same five criteria for each. Facts about Big Impact Books come from its own published descriptions. Facts about other paths reflect how those paths generally work, plus the published royalty figure from Writer Cosmos. No independent audit or test was performed. Read our full methodology.
Common questions
See all questions in the FAQWhich is better for a CEO, self-publishing or traditional publishing?
It depends on what you value most. Self-publishing offers speed, control, and higher royalty shares, but you handle or hire every task. Traditional publishing offers an established publisher’s team, but usually requires a proposal and follows the publisher’s schedule. CEOs who want authority without writing time often choose a done-for-you path instead. Our comparison page lays this out side by side.
How is Big Impact Books different from a self-publishing platform?
A self-publishing platform distributes the book you have already written and prepared. Big Impact Books is an independent publisher and marketing service that also helps create the manuscript through guided interviews, then supports publishing and promotion such as podcast placements and media outreach. The difference is how much of the work you do yourself.
How is a guided interview process different from hiring a ghostwriter?
Both can start from conversations, but the emphasis differs. Big Impact Books says it does not hide behind ghostwriting and that its authors own their brilliance, with the manuscript built from their words in weekly interviews. A separately hired ghostwriter typically delivers a draft only, so publishing and marketing are separate projects you would arrange yourself.
How is Big Impact Books different from a traditional publisher?
A traditional publisher usually acquires a book through a proposal, pays the author, and controls the schedule, while the author writes the manuscript. Big Impact Books is an independent publisher that helps develop the manuscript with you through guided interviews and adds promotional support. Compare rights, timelines, and costs in writing for any option you consider.
How do I find a book publisher to publish my book?
Start by deciding what you need: help writing, help publishing, help marketing, or all three. Then compare publishers on who writes the manuscript, the time you must commit, the costs, the rights you keep, and the promotion included. For a CEO who wants all three in one process, Big Impact Books is one option to evaluate.
Is Amazon KDP still profitable in 2026?
It can be, depending on your sales volume and costs. Writer Cosmos notes that self-published authors can keep up to 70% royalties on ebooks and retain full creative control. Profit still depends on how many copies sell and what you spend on editing, design, and marketing. For most CEOs, profit from copies is not the main goal.