Amplify Speakers
Keynote Speaker Fees: What It Actually Costs
There is no fee to work with Amplify Speakers, ever. We are compensated by the speaker as part of the booking, not by you. The number you are actually budgeting for is the speaker's own fee, and that number depends on who they are, not on which bureau you go through.
Fee ranges below are honest planning benchmarks, not a price list. The same speaker can cost more or less depending on the date, the travel, and whether the event is virtual or in person. Tell us your budget early and we will tell you who fits it, rather than showing you a number that assumes the most expensive version of every booking.
Typical Fee Tiers
Emerging Voices
$7,500 – $15,000Strong regional speakers and rising experts, often with a specific niche credential or a first book. A great fit for internal events, chapter meetings and single-track conferences.
Established Professionals
$15,000 – $35,000Speakers with a national track record, often a bestselling author or a recognized name in their field. This tier covers most annual conferences and company-wide kickoffs.
High-Profile Names
$35,000+Widely recognized figures who can be the reason attendees register for your event. This tier typically applies to flagship conferences, major sales kickoffs and headline association meetings.
What Actually Moves the Number
The speaker's own demand, not the topic. A bestselling author costs more than an equally good speaker without a book, regardless of subject matter. Reputation and platform drive price more than content does.
Travel. A speaker flying cross-country with a night either side costs meaningfully more than one driving in that morning. If any of our speakers are already going to be near your event, we will tell you, because it is the single biggest lever on the number.
Virtual versus in-person. A virtual keynote generally runs below the in-person fee for the same speaker, since it removes travel and often the exclusivity terms of a live date. See our virtual keynote speakers if travel is the constraint.
Exclusivity and add-ons. A meet-and-greet, a workshop add-on, or a request that the speaker not work a competing event nearby can all add to the base fee.
The honest way to use a budget number
Tell us the number first, not last. Event planners often hold back their budget hoping to find out what a speaker "actually" costs, but fees are set by the speaker, not negotiated down through a bureau. Telling us your number upfront means we spend our time finding who fits it instead of pitching names you cannot afford.
FREQUENTLY ASKED QUESTIONS
Does Amplify Speakers charge a fee to event planners?No. We are compensated by the speaker as part of the booking. There is no cost to you for using our service.
Why don't you list exact fees for each speaker?Fees shift with the date, the travel, and what else is happening in that speaker's calendar that season. A number on a page is often stale within weeks. Ask us and we will give you the current figure.
What is a reasonable budget for a first-time keynote booking?Most organizations booking their first outside keynote land in the $7,500 to $20,000 range. Tell us your number and audience and we will show you real options at that level.
Can I get a well-known speaker on a smaller budget?Sometimes, particularly if they are already near your event, if your date is flexible, or if you can offer something of nonmonetary value like strong exposure to their target audience. Worth asking rather than assuming.
Is a virtual keynote actually cheaper?Usually, since it removes travel and accommodation. See our virtual keynote speakers page.
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Virtual Speakers | Speakers by Location | All Topics | Full Roster | For Event Planners
Tell us your budget. We will tell you who fits it.
No hidden markup, no pressure to stretch. Just an honest answer about who is realistic at your number.