When they publish a book or build a public platform and the invitations start arriving, most people have no idea what to charge, so they treat every request the same way.
Experienced speakers don’t. They’re weighing two things: how much they want to be in that room, and what the organization can actually pay. Those two questions produce three common situations.
1. Causes you care about with tight budgets
These are the veterans’ associations, the nonprofit fundraisers, or the community groups whose mission genuinely matters to you. Limited money but a meaningful audience.
Most speakers waive the fee here or request travel costs only. These engagements are about showing up for people you respect.
Typical fee: $0
2. Organizations you like that pay professionally
Regional business associations, industry conferences, universities, leadership summits, trade groups, etc. They value expertise, and they have a real events budget, just not an unlimited one.
Charge a professional fee without apology. For many speakers this is the sweet spot: audiences they enjoy, missions they support, and compensation that accounts for the preparation.
Typical fee: around $2,500
3. Corporate keynotes
Large banks, Fortune 500 companies, major industry conferences. These organizations are buying perspective, credibility, and a polished hour that justifies the cost of assembling 500 people in one room.
They also demand more, like deeper customization, because more is at stake if it goes badly. The fee reflects what the work requires and what the market pays for it.
Typical fee: $10,000 and up
Location changes everything
If someone flies you to Maui for a resort conference, you may quote lower than usual because part of the compensation is the trip.
If someone wants you in Utqiaġvik, Alaska, in December with three connections and an iffy forecast, the fee goes up accordingly.
Consider your travel, preparation, the disruption to everything else that week, and whatever you turned down to be there.
Making Peace with Charging
First-time speakers often feel uncomfortable taking money for this, especially when the message is personal or mission-driven.
A better question than “Should I charge?” is “What could I do with this money?”
Speaking fees fund scholarships, support veterans' organizations, or pay for a kid’s education. They also buy the freedom to keep saying yes to the groups in category 1, the ones that can’t pay anything.
The fee is fuel for whatever matters most to you.
These conversations usually start with a book. If you’re thinking about a memoir, business book, or leadership book that could open up a speaking platform, visit MemoirGhostwriting.com.
MemoirGhostwriting.com helps professionals become known leaders in their field through bestselling books—and helps families preserve life stories through beautifully crafted private memoirs. Whether the goal is to win more business, raise speaking fees, or create a lasting legacy, we handle the entire process end-to-end.
Reply to this email with any publishing or writing questions. My team and I would love to help.
