You can license a famous name. Or you can earn the credibility yourself.
Forbes Books, now operating as The Authority Company, sells a publishing package tied to the Forbes brand. Scribe builds books that carry your name and earn their standing on the strength of the work. Here is how the two approaches differ, so you can choose what fits your goals.
15 minutes · A real person · No sales pressureWho this page is for
Forbes Books vs. Scribe Media, side by side
You have probably seen a Forbes Books proposal, or you are about to. This is the side-by-side we walk through with authors who ask us about it.
| What matters | Forbes Books | Scribe Media |
|---|---|---|
| What you are buying | A publishing package plus the right to be associated with the Forbes name, under a license that limits the number of titles per year. | A book written in your voice by a senior Scribe, professionally published, with full launch support. The credibility comes from the book itself. |
| Investment | Authors have reported quotes from about $100,000 to $240,000. Ask what the license premium is and what it buys. | Flat fees: $29,000 Publishing, $56,000 Professional, $135,000 Elite. Agreed up front. No licensing premium, no upsells. |
| Ownership and royalties | Ask which rights and royalties you keep, in writing. | You own 100% of the IP, the rights, and the royalties. Scribe takes nothing on sales. |
| Who writes | Assigned writers and editors. Ask how many people will touch your manuscript and what happens if one leaves. | You are matched with a senior Scribe and keep them for the whole project, supported by an Executive Editor and a Publishing Manager. |
| The Forbes connection | Content lives at forbes.com/authorsvoice under a paid program. It is not Forbes editorial coverage and is not distributed through Forbes newsroom channels. | Real media comes from a good book and a real launch: podcast PR, Amazon positioning, speaking, and the audience you already have. |
| Who it fits | Authors who specifically want the Forbes association and are comfortable paying for it. | Leaders who want a book that stands on its own, at a price agreed before day one. |
Details about Forbes Books come from their public materials and from what authors have told us during consults. Confirm anything that matters to you with them directly. Scribe pricing is our current flat-fee schedule.
Hear from Scribe authors
Real authors. Real results. In their own words, recorded on Author Hour, Scribe's podcast.
Will Leach
$400,000 in revenue within six months of launch.
Doug Brackmann
Tripled his income. Grew his practice.
Why authors choose Scribe
Three things authors tell us made the difference over Forbes Books
Credibility you earn does not expire
A licensed logo on a cover is recognizable to the people you most want to impress: board chairs, conference bookers, and sophisticated clients. A book that is genuinely good speaks for itself in every room, for decades.
One team, start to finish
You choose your Scribe from a shortlist and keep them. Your Executive Editor and Publishing Manager stay with you too. Continuity is how a book ends up sounding like you.
A price you can plan around
Every Scribe tier is a flat fee, stated on our pricing page. There is no premium for a brand license and nothing added later.
When Forbes Books might be the better fit
If the single most important outcome for you is the Forbes association on the cover, and the price is comfortable, they are the only place to get it. We would rather tell you that than win a client who wanted something we do not sell.
Real results from real authors
Every project is custom. Every result below is documented on our site.
Michael Mogill
$5 million in new business
With Scribe's help, Michael wrote a book that brought him $5 million in new business.
Will Leach
$400,000 in revenue in 6 months
Will's book Marketing to Mindstates generated $400,000 in revenue within six months of launch.
Doug Brackmann
Tripled his income
Doug used his book to grow his business, triple his income and help top performers learn to perform better.
How working with Scribe works
Strategy call
A focused conversation about your book idea, your audience, and your goals. We tell you honestly whether Scribe is the right fit.
Get matched
We pair you with a professional Scribe who captures your voice. We put nothing in your book that did not come from you.
Talk, we write
You get on the phone and talk about what you already know, then give feedback. We handle 300+ hours of writing.
Publish and launch
Editing, cover design, Amazon, audiobook, and launch support. You own 100% of the book, the rights, and the royalties.
Pricing
Transparent pricing. No royalty share.
Every tier is a fixed price, agreed before we start. Monthly payment plans are available.
Scribe Publishing
$29,000
For authors with a finished manuscript who want professional editing, design, audiobook, and full distribution.
- Editing, design, layout, and cover
- Audiobook production
- Global distribution
- 100% author ownership
Scribe Professional
$56,000
Our most chosen tier. You do not write a word. A senior Scribe captures your voice through structured interviews.
- Roadmapping and North Star sessions
- About 50 hours of your time in total
- Voice checks before drafting
- Full publishing and launch support
- 100% author ownership
Scribe Elite
$135,000
White-glove, prestige-tier service for legacy-defining books, with our most tenured Scribes.
- Double the interview time of Professional
- Optional in-person collaboration
- Research integration
- Award and review submissions
- Dedicated marketing budget
The questions people ask when they are comparing
Join 1,600+ published authors
From first-time authors to NYT bestsellers. CEOs, doctors, athletes, entrepreneurs. Every project is custom.
