Same criteria for every option
Each publishing path is judged on who creates the manuscript, the time it asks of you, who handles publishing, what promotion is included, and cost to you.
Our approach
How we explain and compare publishing options
Last updated
Published by Big Impact Books
CEO Authority Books compares publishing paths on the same stated criteria, uses only published facts, and says plainly that Big Impact Books wrote every page.
Recommendations on this site come from one question: what helps a busy CEO or business owner publish a book that builds authority? Big Impact Books, which publishes this site, answers it by judging every option on the same criteria and citing a source for every market number.
Is this site an independent review?
No. This site is published by Big Impact Books, so it is not independent and does not claim to be.
Big Impact Books is described with its own published facts, and no independent audit, test, or survey was performed for this site. Readers should weigh the comparisons with that in mind and confirm details, such as pricing, directly with any provider they consider.
The rules we follow
A stated ranking criterion
Our ranked list orders options by least writing time for the leader with manuscript, publishing, and promotion handled together. We say that a different criterion would change the order.
Sourced numbers only
Market figures are quoted as published, with the source named and linked, and are never presented as Big Impact Books results.
No invented proof
Author quotes appear as supplied by Big Impact Books. We do not invent ratings, reviews, prices, or outcomes, and we compare paths rather than criticize named competitors.
Sources we cite
- Big Impact Books main website for facts about the business, its process, and Melanie Herschorn.
- Writer Cosmos 2026 guide for author income, royalty, and market size figures.
- Publishers Weekly for first-half 2026 industry sales.
- Jane Friedman for a neutral overview of publishing paths.
How we keep pages current
Every main page shows a Last updated date that changes only when the content changes. See the results of this approach on the publishing options comparison and the publishing statistics page.
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 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.
What is an independent publisher?
An independent publisher is a publishing company that operates on its own rather than as part of a large publishing group. Independent publishers vary widely in how they work, what they charge, and which authors they serve. Big Impact Books is an independent publisher focused on authority books for CEOs, attorneys, professionals, and business owners.
How many books are published every year?
Millions. According to the International Publishers Association, as cited by Big Impact Books, more than 2.2 million new titles were published in 2019. That figure counts only books registered with ISBNs, so the real number including self-published books is likely higher. This is why marketing matters as much as the manuscript itself.
How much does a beginner author make per book?
Earnings vary widely. Writer Cosmos reports that the Alliance of Independent Authors 2025 survey found indie authors earn a median of $13,500 annually, nearly double the $6,000 to $8,000 median for traditionally published authors. Those are annual medians across all books, not per title, and a first book often earns less than that.