The Business Author Advantage

Stack of six books with title of the book on the front cover. The visible titles are "TED Talks" by Chris Anderson, "50 Business Classics", "The 80/20 Principle" by Richard Koch, "Flourish" by Martin Seligman, "Leading from Purpose", and "Coaching for Performance". A seventh book titled "Black Box Thinking" by Matthew Syed stands upright beside the stack.

A structured pathway for thought-leaders to secure a first-time book deal with a major publisher — and use it to grow their business — from an ex-Big Four Strategist.

“I was writing my book with a knot in my stomach. I didn’t want to self-publish, but I had no real chance of getting a publisher interested in me, since I didn’t have many followers and hadn’t published anything yet.

Then I met Ben, and he helped me understand what I did have. Now my book is being published by Hachette.
That’s how powerful working with Ben is!”

- Bruna De Palo, Author of The Brain Instruction Manual for Leaders (May 2026)

Is this for you?


This is for you if:

  • You run an expert business or are an in-demand speaker

  • You are passionate about sharing knowledge or elevating an important topic

  • Clients keep saying “You should write a book.”

  • You believe the right book would be a smart investment for your business

  • You’re unclear on what prestige publishers look for, or whether it’s for you

It’s not for you if you’re just looking to “tick the author box” or write a book with no link to your commercial work.

Who We Are

  • My career spans publishing, bookselling, senior leadership and business coaching.

    I have:

    • Worked in-house with the leading commercial publishers, helping to develop and launch bestselling business books - ones you have definitely heard of.

    • An extensive network of commissioning editors, agents and specialists.

    • Held senior positions in a leadership consultancy, heading initiatives on IP and brand.

    • Trained extensively in business coaching, working with senior people on performance and mindset.

    That mix means I can stand in the space between:

    • Your ambition as an author

    • The realities of your business

    • The commercial logic of major publishers

    My job is to guide you through the journey — straightforward, commercially minded and committed to a book that serves both your readers and your bigger game.

  • The Business Author Advantage is a hands-on partnership with a small number of authors each year — not a group course or author factory.

    A typical engagement includes:

    • Strategy and positioning sessions

    • Deep-dive conversations to clarify your idea, your business model and the role of the book.

    • Co-development of your concept and proposal

    • Collaborative work on the core idea, hook, structure and proposal so it meets both your standards and the market’s.

    • A warm introduction and behind-the-scenes advisory as you talk to publishers

    If, after an initial conversation, it’s clear that a major-publisher project isn’t yet well-timed, you’ll get an honest view of the what’s needed — and how to get there.

  • By the end of our work together, you’ll have:

    • A commercially credible book concept

    • Distinct market positioning

    • A publisher-ready proposal and warm introduction

    • Clear choices on publishing routes and deals

    • Access to a trusted ecosystem of specialists (co-writers, publicists, designers etc)

    In short: a book project that makes business sense and a far stronger starting position with serious publishers.

Register your interest

Author story:
Relaunching a classic

A woman with shoulder-length brown hair, wearing a blue sweater, holding a book titled 'Coaching for Performance,' standing in a bright room with large windows.

“Ben was part of the team at Performance Consultants International during the development of the 6th edition of Coaching for Performance. In that role, I saw firsthand his

deep understanding of publishing from multiple perspectives — author ambition, publisher priorities, and the strategic space between them.

Ben brings rare fluency in both the creative and commercial sides of book publishing.

He understands what it takes to position ideas clearly, engage the right collaborators, and navigate the complexities of contracts, design, publicity, and international editions. His publishing industry contacts and insight into how ideas gain traction make him a valuable resource for business authors and aspiring thought leaders looking to bring their work to market effectively.”

Tiffany Gaskell
CEO, Performance Consultants International
Co-Author, Coaching for Performance 6th edition

Register your interest

Publisher feedback

“Ben is a world-class publisher who is always innovating and focused on finding solutions. It has been incredible to see the work he does with authors to develop business models and find creative ways to grow platforms.”

Iain Campbell
Publishing Director,
Hachette UK

“Whether coaching authors on how to put their books at the centre of their business, optimising traditional and developing new paths to market, or leveraging his extensive knowledge of the global book trade, Ben is someone who gets things done.”

Alison Hankey
Former Editorial Director, Nicholas Brealey Publishing

“A well-crafted business book can pay for itself many times over through indirect revenue. Higher speaking fees, new client leads and expanded media opportunities often dwarf book-sale profits.”

- Entrepreneur

Need help with the following?

  • Building your platform

  • Analysing trends and network intelligence

  • Book writing & structure

  • Publicity that your clients and peers will notice

We have carefully selected partners to bridge the gap.

Ready to explore your book idea?

If you’re a consultant, coach, speaker or business leader with a message — and a sense that it’s time to turn that into a book with a major publisher — the next step is a conversation.

Register your interest

Prefer to start with an email? Contact ben@slightadvantage.co.uk