A wide range of Speaking Fees.

There are many different types of speakers; some a Popular (Celebrities), some hold a Position (CEO), and others are Professionals (their business is speaking). So you can already imagine there is a wide range of possible speaking fees; from Pro Bono (free) to €250,000+. So I have outlined below a list of six levels that will allow you to easily choose the best Keynote Speaker for your event.

€0: Pro Bono Speaker
While it is possible to get a Speaker to speak for free, it is unlikely to have this work for an internal management event. If a speaker is willing to speak for free, in most cases, they are doing it to get more experience. This means more risk for you and therefore is not the best option to follow when looking for a Professional Speaker.

€1,000 to €3,500: Starter Speaker
Within this starting range are Speakers who have some experience however they are still improving their craft and building their reputation. My advice is not to book these as a Keynote Speaker but instead plan them into breakout sessions. They usually have only one topic they can speak about and a limited ability to speak holistically.

€3,500 to €7,500: Intermediate Speaker
Within this intermediate range are Speakers who have gained experience however they are still not Thought Leaders. They may have previous Keynote experience at smaller organisations and can hold audience attention as they share valuable content. They usually have a few topics they can speak on and therefore have more ability to speak holistically.

To reduce risk start with a budget of at least €7,500.

€7,500 to €15,000: Experienced Speaker
This should be your starting budget for a Keynote Speaker to make your internal management event work. These Speakers have extensive experience and have a solid reputation to reduce risk. They have rich content and are breaking into the Thought Leadership space so they can easily speak holistically and, most importantly, relate it to your organisation.

€15,000 to €35,000: Master Speaker
These Speakers are masters of their craft. They are true Professionals and always adapt their content to your organisation. They naturally speak holistically and offer ‘practical wisdom’. As Thought Leaders, they push boundaries, challenge assumptions, and anticipate the future. With extensive experience, these speakers are your preferred choice.

€35,000 & upwards: Celebrity or Master Speaker Plus
For this budget, you are either getting a celebrity or a Master Speaker who is offering more services than just one speech. Celebrities are either industry celebrities or popular figures. They have fame to attract attention however be aware that they may not always have content to back this up. The danger here is that often they are not part of the event, but rather the event is about them.

The second option here is a Master Speaker who is offering more services than just one speech. It is common in multi-day events to book a Master Speaker for a number of activities including workshops, leadership conversations, and meet & greet sessions. Master Speakers are always willing to engage fully when they attend an internal management event.

I regularly offer a Keynote Speech to the whole organisation, a more focused workshop for a specific department or team, and board-level conversation. This creates a more holistic experience as insights are gained as the content is adapted to each level of the organisation. For more insights see our article: Five tips to Align your Vision & Strategy.

So, How much does a Keynote Speech (at my corporate event) cost?

The answer is ‘it depends’. It depends on your event and who you are hiring (Popular, Position, or Professional). However, to reduce risk and optimise the success of your event start with a budget of at least €7,500.

For more details on the range of Keynote Speaking fees so you can find the right budget for your internal management event and reduce the risk of hiring the wrong speaker, download the Guide on how much does a Keynote Speaker cost below.