Advantage | The Authority Company

What Advantage | The Authority Company does

Advantage | The Authority Company is a Charleston, South Carolina-based hybrid business book publisher and authority-building services firm founded by Adam Witty in 2005 (operating under legal entity Advantage Media Group, Inc.). The company serves CEOs, entrepreneurs, and C-suite business leaders through a multi-imprint publishing portfolio that includes Forbes Books, Entrepreneur Books, SXSW Books, Advantage Books, and Rethink Books, plus acquired brands Performance Publishing and Rethink Press (UK). Authors retain 100 percent of rights to their work and are served through a tiered service menu ranging from author-written packages to full-service ghostwriting, with the Forbes Books tier positioned as a premium white-glove offering aligned with Forbes Media's brand.

The core technology stack centers on a proprietary Authority Maturity Model — a five-stage framework (Emerging, Tactical, Operational, Strategic, Differentiated) used to assess and develop client personal brand authority — alongside the Book Magic AI app for assisted book writing, acquired via the Rethink Press deal. Distribution is anchored by a March 2026 worldwide agreement with Simon & Schuster covering 200+ countries and territories, supplemented by Amazon KDP, Lightning Source (Ingram), and Barnes & Noble channels. The business monetizes through one-time publishing service fees, professional media services (PR, podcasting, SMART Content, SMART Social, Brand Advertising), and a recurring Authority Collective subscription community offering peer networking, virtual events, and quarterly masterminds.

Commercial activity is enterprise-field-sales-led, with direct consultation requests, partnership-driven co-branded imprints (Forbes, Entrepreneur, SXSW), and an event-driven GTM motion (Authority Summits, webinars, podcast series). The company has guided more than 2,000 members since 2005 and published 162 books in 2024. It has been named to the Inc. 500/5000 list in 6 of the past 8 years.

Name

Advantage | The Authority Company

Legal name

Advantage Media Group, Inc.

Website

https://theauthoritycompany.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2005

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Advantage | The Authority Company is a hybrid business book publisher and authority-building services firm serving CEOs, entrepreneurs, and C-suite leaders through five co-branded imprints (Forbes Books, Entrepreneur Books, SXSW Books, Advantage Books, Rethink Books), professional media services, and a subscription peer community, with worldwide distribution via Simon & Schuster.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Business Book Publishing Services

NAICS

Newspaper, Periodical, Book, and Directory Publishers (5131)

SIC

Books: Publishing Or Publishing & Printing (2731), Miscellaneous Publishing (2741)

akta.pro primary industry

Author Service Marketplaces & Aggregators (Vetting, Bundled Services) (MPAJAJAB)

akta.pro secondary industries

Author Marketing, PR & Launch Services (Ads, Book Tours, Influencers) (MPAJAJAL), Rights, ISBN & Publishing Administration Services (Identifiers, Metadata, Royalties) (MPAJAJAK), Author Business Tools & Analytics (Royalty Tracking, Pricing, Keyword/Market Research) (MPAJAJAO), Author Website, Storefront & Direct-to-Reader Commerce (D2C Sales) (MPAJAJAE)

Keywords

• Hybrid book publishing
• Authority building services
• Business book publishing
• Brand development services
• Ghostwriting and editing

Headquarters

HQ city

Charleston

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Book Publishing Services: Done-for-you business book publishing services including ghostwriting, editing, design, production, and distribution. Authors retain 100% of rights to their work. Multiple service tiers from basic publishing to premium white-glove services under brands like Forbes Books.
2. Authority Media Services: Comprehensive brand building services including public relations, digital media, serialized content, podcasting, brand advertising, social media management, and website design for CEOs and business leaders.
3. Authority Collective Membership: Subscription-based community offering exclusive research, expert guidance, peer networking, virtual events, quarterly in-person mastermind sessions, and advisory services for ongoing authority development.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels7 records

Marketing channels8 records

Core offering

Advantage | The Authority Company is a hybrid business book publisher that provides done-for-you book publishing services (ghostwriting, editing, design, production, distribution) to CEOs, entrepreneurs, and business leaders across multiple imprints (Forbes Books, SXSW Books, Entrepreneur Books, Advantage Books, Rethink Books, Performance Publishing). The company also offers complementary Authority Media/Brand Building services including PR, content creation, podcasting, and brand advertising, plus the Authority Collective membership community for ongoing peer networking and advisory. Authors retain 100% of rights to their work across all imprints.

Product overview

Advantage | The Authority Company operates as a hybrid publishing and authority-building services platform with a multi-imprint publishing portfolio and complementary media services. The core offering includes five publishing imprints (Forbes Books, SXSW Books, Entrepreneur Books, Advantage Books, and Rethink Books) plus acquired Performance Publishing, all supported by Authority Publishing services for ghostwriting, editing, design, promotion, and distribution. Alongside publishing, the platform offers Authority Media/Brand Building services (PR, content creation, podcasting, advertising) and the Authority Collective community platform for peer networking and education. The company also provides proprietary frameworks including the Authority Maturity Model for thought leadership assessment and Executive Brand Strategy services. Authors retain 100% of rights to their work across all imprints.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Forbes Books: Premier business book publishing imprint for visionaries in their industry with highest tier white glove service, aligned with Forbes Media brand.
• Entrepreneur Books
• SXSW Books
• Advantage Books
• Performance Publishing
• Rethink Books
• Rethink Press
• Authority Media
• Authority Collective

Products and services

• Forbes Books Premium publishing imprint for business leaders who are visionaries in their industry with a best-in-business reputation. Offers highest tier white-glove service with access to Forbes Media branding and visibility package, positioning authors as thought leaders.
• SXSW Books Publishing imprint in partnership with SXSW for visionaries and innovators. Offers unique promotional opportunities across SXSW's network while supporting innovative ideas that move industries forward.
• Entrepreneur Books Publishing imprint backed by Entrepreneur Media's legacy, empowering entrepreneurs to elevate their authority. Supports editorial, publishing, and media experts to help authors craft and accelerate their message to reach ideal audiences.
• Advantage Books Flagship publishing brand offering high-quality writing, editing, publishing, and distribution with customized promotion and media services. Surrounds authors with advisors and experts to create compelling books that open new business doors.
• Rethink Books US imprint for business authors publishing a book as their business card. Prioritizes streamlined publishing experience with foundational assets for successful launch, designed for authors focused on establishing authority rather than maximizing book sales.
• Performance Publishing Acquired publishing imprint offering guided publishing model with collaborative approach and author-first focus, helping aspiring authors turn ideas into high-quality books through collaborative guidance from idea to launch.
• Authority Publishing Publishing arm providing entrepreneurs, CEOs, and business leaders with alternative to traditional nonfiction publishing, allowing greater creative control and rights retention. Includes ghostwriting, editing, design, promotion, and distribution services.
• Authority Brand Building Customizable brand building services to help business leaders grow visibility and reach. Services include brand strategy, ad campaigns, content creation, PR, podcasting, and more. Delivered through Advantage Media brand leveraging thought leadership to build trust and credibility.
• Authority Collective Community platform combining company-driven education and advisory services with CEO, entrepreneur, and C-suite peer-to-peer networking. Offers exclusive virtual events, quarterly in-person masterminds, 1:1 advisory sessions, resource library, and white papers.

Quantifiable outcome

• Authors achieve 8x ROI in first year after publishing
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers17 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed Yes

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Nine partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Simon & SchustercoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 25 March 2026Simon & Schuster entered into a distribution agreement with Advantage | The Authority Company, the largest global hybrid business book publisher. Simon & Schuster handles worldwide sales and distribution for Advantage's core imprints starting March 25, 2026. The agreement is described as the company's biggest move yet in expanding its global footprint, providing authors with greater visibility through Simon & Schuster's distribution infrastructure covering more than 200 countries and territories. Simon & Schuster gains additional independent publisher clients to its distribution portfolio.
• Rethink BooksminorStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2026In January 2026, Advantage launched Rethink Books as the US imprint designed to serve the business author publishing a book as their business card. These authors prioritize a streamlined publishing experience over maximizing book sales or broad retail distribution. The new imprint combines Advantage's best-in-class publishing infrastructure with the streamlined, essential production capabilities proven by Performance Publishing and Rethink Press.
• Rethink PresscoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 December 2025In December 2025, Advantage acquired Rethink Press, a highly respected UK-based publisher founded in 2003 by Lucy McCarraher and Joe Gregory. With the acquisition, authors through Rethink Press gain access to Advantage's world-class strategic brand and publishing distribution partners, and benefit from Advantage's robust authority brand-building and book promotion offerings. Joe Gregory and Lucy McCarraher continue in leadership roles.
• Performance PublishingcoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 September 2025In September 2025, Advantage acquired Performance Publishing, the independent publisher founded by bestselling author Michelle Prince in 2010. Michelle grew the Performance Publishing brand into a successful publishing model through a focus on collaboratively guiding authors from idea to launch. Performance Publishing continues as an imprint serving authors seeking streamlined essential production capabilities.
• SXSW (South by Southwest)coreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2025In 2025, Advantage partnered with creative powerhouse SXSW to launch SXSW Books, the definitive publishing imprint for visionaries and innovators. SXSW Books provides unique promotional opportunities for increased visibility across SXSW's network while supporting the expanse of innovative ideas that move industries forward.
• Entrepreneur MediacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2024In 2024, Entrepreneur Media joined forces with Advantage to create Entrepreneur Books, the go-to publishing source for entrepreneurs. This imprint opened up opportunities for business owners and entrepreneurs who identified with the Entrepreneur brand and wanted to increase visibility to the audience on Entrepreneur.com.
• Forbes MediacoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 1 January 2016Forbes Media recognized Advantage's successful authority-building model and approached Advantage Media to serve as its exclusive book publishing partner in 2016. This collaboration resulted in the creation of Forbes Books, where exceptional business leaders are selected each year to share their stories and solidify their position as industry leaders. Adam Witty serves as Publisher of Forbes Books Review Magazine.
• HEROIC Public SpeakingminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAdvantage Media and HEROIC Public Speaking partnered to empower thought leaders. Partnership focused on helping business leaders amplify their messages through speaking engagements and authority building.
• Ingram Content GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorIngram Content Group (Lightning Source) provides professional distribution services for physical book distribution to bookstores, libraries, and academic institutions worldwide.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves8 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Page Two Publishers: Vancouver/Seattle hybrid publisher specializing in business, thought leadership, and personal-brand books for executives. Highly comparable to Advantage's done-for-you model with co-publishing revenue share and editorial-led publishing services.
• Greenleaf Book Group: Austin, TX-based hybrid business book publisher founded in 2003 offering ghostwriting, editorial, design, and distribution services to executives and entrepreneurs. Closest comparable to Advantage in tiered service model, retainer-based packages, and royalty split structure where authors retain rights.
• Scribe Media: Austin-based hybrid publisher (formerly Scribe) known for premium ghostwritten business books targeting entrepreneurs and executives. Operates a similar tiered package model with a strong thought-leadership go-to-market, directly competing for the same executive-author segment.
• BenBella Books / Matt Holt Books: Independent publisher with hybrid service arm Matt Holt Books offering done-for-you publishing solutions for thought leaders. Comparable to Authority Publishing's bundle of ghostwriting, editorial, design, and distribution for business leaders.
• Amplify Publishing Group: Long Island, NY hybrid publishing group offering multi-channel distribution, editorial, and marketing services for executives and thought leaders. Comparable tiered service and go-to-market within the entrepreneur-led book segment.

Others

• BookBaby: Self-publishing services platform offering editing, design, distribution, and marketing à la carte to independent authors. Comparable at the adjacent self-publishing services layer rather than at the white-glove hybrid business book level.

Emerging players

• Disruption Books: Hybrid publishing outfit focused on business, leadership, and entrepreneurship titles. Smaller and narrower than Advantage but operates a similar co-publishing model with author services bundled around book production.

Broad incumbents

• HarperCollins Leadership: Business-focused imprint of HarperCollins Publishing producing executive and leadership titles. Comparable end category (business books for leaders) but operates as a legacy trade publisher with advance-based deals rather than hybrid services.
• Penguin Random House (Portfolio): One of the world's largest trade publishers, with Portfolio imprint publishing numerous business and leadership titles. Tangentially comparable as the traditional-publishing counterweight to Advantage's hybrid business book model.
• Wiley: Major trade and professional publisher with a deep business and leadership book program (including Jossey-Bass/Wiley Business imprints). Overlaps with Advantage in the business-book category but operates at much larger scale with traditional publisher economics rather than hybrid author-retention economics.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xtwitter.com/TheAuthorityCo
• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/advantagemedia
• Facebookfacebook.com/TheAuthorityCompany
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/theauthoritycompany
• Instagraminstagram.com/theauthoritycompany

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles17 records

Subsidiaries3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A1 record

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Advantage | The Authority Company