Hiring a keynote speaker for your event is a valuable investment for your company. Whilst using an internal staff member might seem cheaper, their expertise and impartiality may not be up to scratch.

The Cost of Hiring a Keynote Speaker | How Much Does It Really Cost?

The Cost of Hiring a Keynote Speaker is completely different depending on their expertise, their time, their location, and what your aims are. Whilst a professional may be worth their weight in gold, there are some considerations you need to take into account before booking. Here we explain what those considerations are so that you can make the best financial decision possible.

In short, rates for our professional keynote speakers are never set. The cost of hiring a keynote speaker varies as a speaker sets their fee based on their experience and expertise, topic and industry, and client requirements.

On average, the cost of hiring a keynote speaker starts from around the £2,000 marker, but if you’re after a famous name, rates can reach up £100k and beyond.

What are the factors that determine the cost of a keynote speaker…

Specialism.

One of the most important factors to consider is the speakers’ particular specialism. It should come as no surprise that the more advanced someone is in their field, the higher their rates are likely to be. A specialist speaker on a refined topic is likely to charge more than a general speaker, but by hiring a particular expert, you get more for your money and an experience that will leave your audience members wowed.

Inspiration.

Do you want them to offer industry-specific advice? Do you want someone who stands there and talks to your audience in an after-dinner speech format, or do you want someone who engages with them, offers them workshops, and provides them with usable takeaways? By finalising what you want from the speaker, you will find it easier to pick that perfect speaker. However, it’s also important for us that we work to client’s budgets as best possible, so if you have a brief for a keynote speaker, do get in touch.

Some of our leading inspirational speakers include our Mental Health Speakers. After the release of his high-profile men’s mental health documentary ‘Our Silent Emergency’ enquiries for Roman Kemp and our other male mental health speakers, flooded in.

Reputation.

The cost of hiring a keynote speaker will be higher the more reputable the speaker is. Their expertise in a specific industry brings with it a lot of recognition and in turn, a lot of priceless experience. And so whilst they may cost more, their value for money will also be greater.

Clive Myrie is a speaker with a great reputation. Known to millions as one of the go-to reporters for breaking news – including wars, terrorist attacks, natural disasters, and politics – Clive has experience across a range of media, including presenting quiz shows, and travel documentaries, as well as writing books and specialist articles. Having a keynote speaker like Clive at your event brings gravitas and provides your audience with a once-in-a-lifetime experience.

Another great example of this is Dr Ranj Singh, one of the most popular television personalities in the UK. With a professional career as a pediatric doctor, Dr Ranj can also be seen across television shows, including This Morning offering medical support. He is also a published author, television presenter, and LGBTQ+ rights advocate. With over 570,000 social media followers, Dr Ranj is a successful influencer, and one of the most popular keynote speakers available to hire. He’s perfect to add some gravitas to any event, particularly in the medical field.

Time.

Whilst some keynote speakers will offer only a few specialist keynote talks, others offer customised speeches personalised to a particular company, audience, and event aims. This means that you’re not just booking them for their expertise and a one hour talk, but hiring them for their time in the lead up to the event also. This usually involves;

• lots of research on the speakers part, insuring that information’s relevant, making sure they have an understanding of your business and requirements,
• prehaps creating workshop activities,
• often jumping on a briefing call with client’s before the event to run through the requirements of the day.

For example, Futurists keynote speakers generally charge more because this is a topic that’s constantly adapting, so the time they invest in continuing to learn about topic is reflected within the rate. This is because their topic is constantly changing week by week, so they are forever evolving their talks as new developments arise. As such, the cost of hiring a keynote speaker in this field may be higher.

Logistics.

The cost of hiring a keynote speaker will also be impacted by the logistics of travel when it comes to quoting for your event. If local or virtual, they may be happier to work to lower rates. Plus, there’s also expenses to consider including travel, accommodation, dress and food.

Virtual Engagements.

With COVID-19, the world changed, and businesses and employees had to adapt with it, meaning more working from home and more virtual events.

In spite of the pent-up demand to ‘get back to normal’ many events such as ‘Learning Lunches’ or where there is a strong ESG sustainability theme, client’s are finding that some talks work just as well either fully online or in hybrid form.

And these can often be a great way of saving money too – without logistics and expenses to consider, clients can keep the costs of a keynote speaker low.

Virtual keynote speakers also meaning you have the enhanced opportunity to book globally recognised talent at the click of a mouse.

Of course, rates do varies – but if you’re on a tight budget, consider virtual and get in touch with us to see how a virtual keynote speaker could be the most cost effective way to secure your preferred speaker at your event.

Two of our most popular virtual speakers are:

Winston Ben Clements – A diversity, equality and inclusion consultant specialising in racism, disability awareness and unconscious bias. Winston is based in the USA but is frequently booked via us for UK virtual events.

Steve Carr – A mental health speaker and advocate, and one of only a handful of UK suicide first aiders. He uses his own experience with depression and other mental health struggles to help people of every age with their problems. Steve is based in Thailand but is available through Great British Speakers as a virtual keynote speaker.

Return on investment…

Taking all of this into account, you really want to be finding a keynote speaker who is worth their fee, who is an expert in their field, reputable and popular, and one that can provide realistic, tangible takeaways that your audience can take away and implement in their day-to-day life.

It is imperative to note that whilst hiring a professional keynote speaker can be a significant financial investment, their expertise and experience will make sure that it is one of the wisest investments you and your company have made.

Once you’ve decided on what you want out of your speaker, considered their time, logistics, expertise, and experience, and created a budget, it’s a good idea to get in contact with a public speaker bureau to help choose the perfect match.

Here at Great British Speakers, we use our years of experience to help our clients from the very start to the very end. We are available for initial help, as well as assistance with personalised shortlists taking your brief and budget into account.

It’s important to remember that all the good that comes from investing time and effort the perfect speaker will be reflected in your event.

Before making a decision…do your research…

Finding the perfect keynote speaker requires diligent research, clear communication, and expert evaluation. By finalising your brief and your expectations, and confirming a realistic budget, you can select a keynote speaker who will leave a lasting impression on your audience. Investing in this keynote speaker offers a range of benefits, including motivating your staff, providing tips and tricks, and encouraging improved productivity resulting in an increase in business success.

Get more return from your event – keynote speaker key takeaways.

Don’t let the impact of the keynote talk wither after the audience has left the room. Many speakers will deliver follow-up facilitating, coaching and mentoring, not just on the day but for some time afterwards.

Leadership, teamwork, and mental health speakers often run cohorts with colleagues to drive real lasting change.

Hire a Motivational Keynote Speaker

At Great British Speakers, we understand that finding the right keynote speaker in the right budget can be challenging. With our in-depth database and wide experience of locating the perfect speaker, we’re are here to guide you every step of the way.

To find out the cost of hiring a keynote speaker, or to book any of our motivational speakers, contact us – we are here to help you find the perfect speaker for the occasion.

Contact us at bookings@greatbritishtalent.com