Phase 1 · Before You Contact Speakers
How Much Does a Keynote Speaker Cost?
For a professional speaker appearing in person, start with a keynote budget of at least $15,000. That is a planning starting point, not a price for every speaker. Even a published fee range needs context: a speaker listed at $20,000–$30,000 may charge the higher amount for a different program, and travel may still be separate. A virtual presentation can sometimes cost less.
What changes the speaking fee?
First, make sure you are pricing the presentation you actually want. A keynote commonly runs approximately 45 to 60 minutes, though the length varies. If you want the speaker to give multiple presentations, stay substantially longer or take part in a multiday event, the fee can increase. A workshop, highly interactive performance or other added service may have its own price, as may a different program from the same speaker.
Those details matter more than where your budget falls within a published range. If you are considering a keynote plus a Q&A or another appearance, describe the whole request when you ask for a quote. Q&A, Photo Ops and Additional Appearance Requests covers how those requests may affect the arrangement.
Is travel included?
Once you know the speaking fee, find out how travel is covered. Flights, hotel accommodations, meals and ground transportation may be part of the quoted amount or handled separately. Where the speaker travels from can affect the cost, too.
Travel can be handled through a fixed buyout, client-booked arrangements or reimbursement of actual expenses. A fixed buyout covers the speaker's complete travel responsibility for an agreed amount, without additional speaker travel charges. If the client books travel, the client handles the agreed bookings. Speaker Travel: Fixed Buyouts vs. Client-Booked Arrangements goes into the responsibilities under each structure.
Published fees that include all travel are comparatively rare unless travel has deliberately been built into them. The Mollie Plotkin Group's exclusive speakers do have travel included in their published fees.
Getting a quote for your event
Send the Mollie Plotkin Group the event date, appearance time, audience, expected attendance and budget, along with the speaker or program you have in mind. Include any other appearances you are considering. We can generally provide precise fee and travel information quickly, so you have a number that reflects the engagement you want to book.