How to Increase the Budget for the Speaker
General Operations
Our services are provided at no cost to the host organization. We communicate rates transparently and advocate for organizations at every stage of the process.
No Additional Costs
We do not set speaker rates, and our services are provided at no cost to the host organization. Our commission is taken directly from the speaker, ensuring there are no additional costs for organizations.
Fee Consistency
Speakers charge the same fee directly as they do through Speakers Bureau of Canada. Speakers must remain consistent in their fees across agencies and organizations, considering audience, event format, customization, and location.
Transparency
Upon initial inquiry, we communicate rates exactly as provided by each speaker to ensure transparency and consistency. Many speakers balance event commitments with research, media, and other professional responsibilities, which also contribute to their overall fees.
Speaker Fees
Speaker fees reflect far more than time on stage — they encompass experience, preparation, research, customization, travel, and delivery.
Average Canadian Fees
The average speaking fee in Canada falls between $5,000 and $7,500. In-person fees typically range from $3,000 to $25,000, while virtual engagements range from $2,500 to $20,000.
What Fees Reflect
Each speaker fee reflects the speaker’s experience, travel time, industry demand, and total preparation, research, customization, and delivery — not only their time on stage.
Session Length
Fees are generally consistent whether for a 20–60 minute keynote or a 90–120 minute workshop, with very few virtual sessions extending past 90 minutes.
-
Our team advocates for organizations by negotiating with speakers who are open to flexibility and frequently secures reduced fees through our established relationships. We possess a strong understanding of our speakers and align with their conditions for offering reduced rates.
Negotiated & Reduced Rates
Speakers may adjust their rates based on factors such as organization type, event purpose, schedule, and location. The following conditions may qualify an engagement for reduced fees.
Qualifying Factors
Discounts may be available for virtual engagements, local speakers, or non-profit events. SBC has proven processes to manage negotiations and reduced rate confirmations for events that qualify on behalf of our clients.
Our Advocacy
We work with speakers who reflect our values and uphold the highest standards in research, customization, and delivery. Our established relationships allow us to negotiate effectively on your behalf.
Speaker Alignment
We possess a strong understanding of our speakers and align with their conditions for offering reduced rates, ensuring a mutually respectful and successful engagement for all parties.
Event Frequency & Scheduling
Strategic scheduling decisions can significantly increase the budget available for high-impact speakers without increasing overall spend.
-
Consolidate Events
Schedule events less frequently and with larger audiences to invest in higher-impact speakers. Replace monthly lunch and learns with quarterly, semiannual, or annual events to apply the same budget more strategically.
-
Flexible Formats
Offer the speaker flexibility for the presentation format, date, and time. Plan events on weekdays or during less peak seasons when speakers may be more flexible with pricing.
-
Shorter Sessions
Schedule shorter sessions if appropriate, as some speakers may agree to reduced fees for less stage time. This can be an effective option when budget is limited but a high-quality speaker is still a priority.
-
Book Early
Booking 6 to 12 months in advance gives you more negotiating leverage and first pick of speaker availability. Speakers are more flexible with pricing when their calendar is open. Last-minute bookings almost always cost more and limit your options.
-
Multi-Year Commitments
Commit to the same speaker for a recurring annual engagement. This guarantees consistent work for the speaker and locks in your rate, avoiding year-over-year increases. Ideal for leadership summits, annual conferences, and staff development days.
-
Pilot Engagement
If leadership is hesitant about a high-fee speaker, start with a shorter or virtual session as a trial. Use the feedback and engagement data to build the case for a full keynote at a future event.
Cross-Department & Organization Collaboration
Pooling resources across departments, branches, or partner organizations is one of the most effective ways to access higher-calibre speakers and reduce per-organization costs. Allow more time for research, coordination, and negotiations to confirm the right speaker and ensure alignment with event goals.
-
1
Multi-Department Booking
Book multiple sessions with the same speaker across departments or branches at one event to maximize value and impact.
-
2
Shared Hosting
Coordinate with another organization to share the cost of hosting the speaker at consecutive events in the same region.
-
3
Bundled Contracts
Bundle multiple events with the same speaker into one contract to negotiate a reduced overall fee.
-
4
Bureau Leverage
Book multiple speakers through a speakers’ bureau for one or several events to leverage relationships, support budgets, and align speakers with client needs.
-
5
Tap Separate Organizational Budgets
Speaker fees do not have to come from one budget. Depending on the topic, draw from professional development or training budgets, DEI funding, employee wellness or mental health programs, safety and compliance allocations, leadership development funds, or union and association education funds.
Event Locations & Presentation Formats
-
1
Local & Virtual Options
Local speakers are more flexible with their rates since travel is not required. Virtual events qualify for discounted rates, provide broader reach, allow recordings, and create opportunities for shared funding.
-
2
Maximize the Engagement
Schedule the speaker for both a keynote and a workshop during the same event to maximize value without doubling costs. Allocate travel costs from a separate budget where possible to preserve funds for speaker fees.
-
3
Regional Networks
Leverage local relationships and networks in your region to access speakers, venues, and services at lower rates. Regional conferences or association events can be leveraged to book speakers already travelling for another commitment.
-
4
Conference Alignment
Aligning your event with a regional conference or association gathering allows you to piggyback on an existing speaker’s travel schedule, often resulting in significantly reduced fees and travel costs.
Value & Visibility Exchange
Offering non-monetary value to speakers in exchange for reduced fees is a powerful and mutually beneficial strategy. Visibility, media, and professional opportunities can be highly attractive to speakers at all levels.
Media & Exposure
Offer visibility through media opportunities, interviews, or features to enhance the speaker’s profile. Feature the speaker in your event marketing materials, newsletters, or association communications to increase their exposure and reach.
Digital Value
Offer digital value such as backlinks, landing pages, or blogs to reference the speaker’s work. Share social media promotion across organizational and partner platforms. Record a podcast or webinar with the speaker to expand their credibility and content library.
Professional Opportunities
Facilitate networking opportunities with decision makers, industry leaders, or media contacts. Offer professional photography or videography, opportunities to sell books or merchandise, or include the speaker in future partnership or sponsorship opportunities.
-
Hospitality and Experience Perks
Offer non-cash value that costs the organization little — extra nights at the venue, companion travel, local experiences, or VIP event access. Venue and hospitality sponsors can often provide these at no cost to the organization.
-
Speaker as Content Partner
Extend the engagement beyond the stage. Have the speaker record a podcast episode, write a guest article, host a pre-event webinar, or participate in a leadership roundtable. This multiplies the value of the booking and gives the organization weeks of content from a single fee.
Funding Avenues
Diversifying your funding sources is one of the most effective strategies for securing a high-calibre speaker. Explore the options below to offset or supplement your speaker budget.
-
Sponsorships & Grants
Research and secure sponsors who benefit from visibility at the event. Review provincial and federal grants to determine if programs are available to fund the event. Seek support from municipal governments or local tourism boards if the event benefits the community.
-
Revenue Generation
Generate revenue through ticket sales, registration fees, VIP packages, or recordings to offset speaker fees. Hold fundraising events or raffles in advance to allocate proceeds toward the speaker fee.
-
Budget Combinations
Combine corporate training or professional development budgets with event budgets to support speakers. Leverage regional or industry associations to co-host and share costs. Approach caterers or venues to provide services at reduced or no cost to offset expenses.
-
Revenue Share or Ticket Sales Model
For ticketed events, offer the speaker a base fee plus a percentage of ticket sales or registration revenue. This reduces upfront financial risk and motivates the speaker to help promote the event.
Charitable Donation in Lieu of Full Fee
Some speakers will accept a reduced fee if the organization makes a donation to their chosen charity or foundation. This can align with the organization’s CSR goals and create a positive story around the event.
Exhibit and Vendor Booth Revenue
Sell exhibit space or vendor tables to businesses related to the speaker’s topic. Each booth fee contributes toward offsetting the speaker cost without touching the event budget.
Membership or Learning Fee Model
For associations and membership organizations, build a small speaker fund into annual dues. Even a modest per-member contribution creates a dedicated speaker budget without requiring event-by-event fundraising.
Engaging Leadership for a Higher Budget
Building an internal case for increased speaker investment requires strategy, research, and alignment with organizational goals. Use the following approaches to present a compelling argument to decision makers.
ROI & Strategy
Deliver a Return on Investment analysis to justify expenditures and explain how to measure impact after each event. Position the speaker as a professional development investment to reinforce budget allocation. Provide strategic ideas to reduce costs, apply funding from different avenues, and maximize value.
Build Your Case
Use industry standards, societal shifts, and competitor benchmarks to illustrate the importance of investing in speakers. Present a case study applicable to the organization’s industry, culture, struggles, and goals. Showcase a sample speaker who aligns with company goals to demonstrate strategic value.
Content Licensing and Recording Rights
Negotiate the right to record the presentation and reuse it internally for onboarding, training, or regional offices that could not attend. This extends the ROI of a single engagement across the entire organization and makes it easier to justify the investment to leadership.
-
Internal Advocates
Engage your leader or a long-time employee to act as an advocate when approaching decision makers to request additional budget. Department heads and leaders can pool resources with background knowledge of past, current, and future engagements.
-
Discovery & Alignment
Ask strategy questions to better understand leadership goals, initiatives, and feelings around speakers and investing in culture. Provide services to poll team members and help make the idea come to life with organizational buy-in.
-
Add Value Instead of Reducing the Fee
Rather than asking for a lower fee, propose adding deliverables — a pre-event webinar, post-event Q&A, workshop, or signed books for attendees. Split the speaker’s total across two budget categories such as speaker fee from events and workshop from professional development. The speaker keeps their rate and the organization gets more for the same spend.
-
Source Internal Speakers
Look within your own organization for subject matter experts, leaders, or team members with compelling stories. Internal speakers come at no cost and can deliver highly relevant, credible content that resonates with colleagues and reinforces organizational culture.
Resources for Speakers at a Lower Cost
Community & Emerging Talent
Local Toastmasters chapters may have emerging speakers willing to present for reduced fees. Emerging talent, community leaders, and local entrepreneurs can provide valuable insights at accessible rates.
Academic & Internal Experts
Academic instructors can provide subject expertise at lower cost, often with a more academic delivery style. Internal experts within the organization can be engaged as a no-cost option.
Toastmasters
Local Toastmasters chapters are a valuable source of emerging speakers who are actively developing their presentation skills. Members are often willing to present for reduced or no fees and can deliver engaging, well-prepared talks on a variety of topics.
Professional & Government Representatives
Professional associations or government representatives may be available to speak at little or no cost. These speakers can provide credible, relevant content for audiences in regulated or public-sector-adjacent industries.
SBC Speaker Roster
Browse our full roster to find speakers who align with your budget and goals. Our team is available to help match the right speaker to your event at every price point. Learn more about our services.
Source Internal Speakers
Look within your own organization for subject matter experts, leaders, or team members with compelling stories. Internal speakers come at no cost and can deliver highly relevant, credible content that resonates with colleagues and reinforces organizational culture.
Bilingual Sessions
Events: Cancellations & Rescheduled
Events: Dispute Management
Government Relationships & Collaboration
Pre Decision Meeting Guide
Speaker Fees of Professional Speakers
Speaker Presentation & Session Formats
Speaker Travel Expenses Policy & Fees
Speakers Bureau of Canada Communications
Speakers Bureau of Canada’s Services