How to Become a Forbes Contributor (and the Faster Route to a Forbes Feature)
Writing for Forbes sounds like the ultimate credibility boost. But being a contributor is a demanding writing role with strict rules, and it is rarely the quickest way to get your own business into Forbes. Here is how it really works.
How to become a Forbes contributor: the short answer
To become a Forbes contributor, build a strong record of published writing on one specialist topic, grow an audience, and pitch the Forbes editor who runs that section with a column proposal. Contributors write regularly, follow strict conflict rules and cannot promote their own company. If you mainly want your business in Forbes, earned pitching or a guaranteed feature is usually faster.
- Contributors are independent writers on a set beat
- Editors recruit them, usually by section
- Regular writing is expected, month after month
- Self-promotion is not allowed
What a Forbes contributor actually is
Forbes publishes two kinds of journalism. Staff writers are employed by Forbes and edited in the usual newsroom way. Contributors are independent experts and journalists who write regularly on a specific topic, under their own name, through the Forbes contributor network.
What contributors do
- Cover one clearly defined beat, such as fintech, retail or leadership
- Pitch and write their own stories, then publish them through Forbes’ system
- Keep up a steady flow of articles readers want to read
- Follow Forbes’ editorial and conflict-of-interest rules
What contributors cannot do
- Promote their own company, clients or investors
- Accept anything of value in exchange for coverage
- Write advertising disguised as journalism
- Publish without disclosing relevant conflicts
The key point for founders: becoming a contributor is a writing job, not a publicity tool. Your articles must be about your beat, not about you.
How to become a Forbes contributor in 2026
Forbes does not publish a fixed public checklist, and the contributor network changes over time. In late 2025, Forbes said it welcomed more than 200 new contributors that year, while also ending some contributor contracts and asking for regular, high-engagement articles. Based on how the network works today, these steps give you the best chance.
Choose a narrow, valuable beat
“Business” is too broad. “How UK fintechs win banking licences” is a beat. Pick an area where you have real expertise and where readers search for answers.
Build a public writing record
Publish bylined articles on credible sites, trade titles or your own newsletter. Editors want proof you can write clearly, regularly and accurately.
Show you have an audience
A newsletter, LinkedIn following, podcast or speaking record shows you can bring readers with you.
Find the right Forbes editor
Contributors are recruited and managed by section editors. Follow the editors who run your area and look for open calls or contributor editor roles Forbes advertises.
Pitch a column, not a single article
Send a short proposal: your beat, ten story ideas, why you, links to your best work and how often you can file.
Plan to write often
Forbes told contributors in 2025 that it expects regular contributions that engage a large audience. Be realistic about how many articles a month you can commit to.
Declare conflicts up front
If you run a company or advise clients, say so. Editors will tell you what you can and cannot cover.
Is becoming a Forbes contributor worth it for a founder?
It can be worth it if
- You love writing and can file regularly for months
- Your expertise is broader than your own company
- You want a long-term thought leadership platform
- You are happy never to write about your own business
It is probably not right if
- You mainly want press coverage of your company
- You need visibility within weeks, not months
- You have little time to research and write
- Your main goal is a link or a logo for your website
Most founders who search “how to become a Forbes contributor” really want to be featured in Forbes. Those are two very different goals, with very different routes.
Contributor, staff story, council or guaranteed feature: which route fits you?
| Route | What it means | Typical timeline | Key rule |
|---|---|---|---|
| Forbes contributor | You write regular articles under your own byline on a set beat | Months of regular writing | You must not write about your own company or clients |
| Forbes staff coverage | A Forbes journalist reports on you or your company | Depends on the story | Highest credibility, decided by editors |
| Forbes Councils | Membership communities that publish members’ expert articles | Application and vetting | Membership, clearly labelled as council content |
| Sponsored content | Brand content created with Forbes’ commercial team | Commercial agreement | Labelled as sponsored or partner content |
| Guaranteed placement | A feature agreed in advance through a PR partner | Agreed timeline | Reliable visibility, not independent reporting |
Readers, investors and journalists increasingly notice the difference between a staff story, a contributor column, a council article and sponsored content. Choose the route that matches what you want people to believe, and never present one as another.
How to get featured in Forbes without becoming a contributor
If your real goal is coverage of your company or your story, focus on what Forbes journalists and contributors need: news, data and expert voices for stories they are already writing.
- Have a genuine news hook: funding, growth figures, a first-of-its-kind product
- Share original data that helps a journalist’s story
- Offer yourself as an expert source on your topic
- Pitch contributors whose beat matches your story, not random writers
- Keep pitches short, factual and free of sales language
- Never offer a writer anything in return for coverage
- Apply for recognised lists and awards that Forbes reports on
- Combine earned pitches with a planned, guaranteed placement
Read our detailed guides to how Forbes contributors work and whether you can buy a Forbes article, and whether Forbes Council membership is worth it.
Red flags when someone offers you Forbes coverage
A contributor who sells coverage breaks Forbes’ rules. The article can be removed and your name linked to it.
Ask exactly where it will appear, how it will be labelled and what it will look like.
Some offers use look-alike domains or regional editions you have never heard of.
Any legitimate placement comes with clear terms, timelines and what happens if it does not go live.
Want your business in Forbes? Start with the right route
United Press has helped founders and companies get featured since 2001. We will tell you honestly whether earned coverage, a contributor relationship or a guaranteed feature fits your goal, and we never present one as another.
Guaranteed Forbes coverage
A feature agreed in writing before you commit, live within 14 days of approval or a 100% refund. See guaranteed Forbes coverage.
Forbes PR strategy
Story angles, data and expert positioning for Forbes journalists. See our Forbes PR agency service.
Thought leadership
Bylined articles and expert commentary across respected titles. See thought leadership PR.
Wider coverage
Business Insider, Entrepreneur, Yahoo Finance and more, planned around your news.
Becoming a Forbes contributor: frequently asked questions
How do you become a Forbes contributor?
Build a record of published writing on one specialist topic, grow an audience, then pitch the Forbes editor responsible for that section with a column proposal, story ideas and samples. Forbes recruits contributors through its editors and does not publish a fixed public checklist.
Can anyone apply to write for Forbes?
Anyone can pitch, but few are accepted. Editors look for genuine expertise, strong writing, a clear beat and the ability to publish regularly. Opportunities and contributor editor roles appear from time to time, so follow the editors in your field.
Can a Forbes contributor write about their own company?
No. Contributors must not promote their own businesses, clients or investors, and must disclose conflicts of interest. If you want coverage of your company, earned media or a guaranteed feature is the right route.
How many articles do Forbes contributors write?
Forbes expects regular contributions. In late 2025 it told contributors it wanted at least a couple of high-engagement articles a month, and it ended some contracts where output or audience did not meet its goals.
Is being a Forbes contributor the same as being featured in Forbes?
No. A contributor writes articles about their beat. Being featured means a Forbes journalist or contributor writes about you. Readers, investors and journalists see these as very different things.
What is the difference between a Forbes contributor and Forbes Councils?
Contributors are writers in Forbes’ editorial network. Forbes Councils are membership communities whose members can publish expert articles on a dedicated part of the site. Council content is clearly labelled as such.
How long does it take to become a Forbes contributor?
There is no fixed timeline. Most successful contributors take months or years to build a writing record and audience before an editor takes them on, then go through a review and onboarding process.
What is the fastest way to get my business into Forbes?
Pitch a real news story or original data to the right Forbes journalist or contributor, or plan a guaranteed feature through a PR partner. United Press arranges guaranteed Forbes coverage, live within 14 days of approval or a 100% refund.
Your expertise deserves the right stage.
Whether you choose to write for Forbes or be written about in it, the goal is the same: to be known for what you do best. Pick the route that fits who you are and where you want to go.