Question: I’ve been asked to be a guest speaker at a nonprofit leadership conference and they would like me to submit a proposal. I know how to prepare one but I’m uncertain of how to price my services. I believe they have a budget but I don’t know what to ask for. This would be my first paid speaking engagement.
Answer: When you are first starting out as a speaker, try asking your client if they have an honorarium for speakers. If they answer, “No, but what is your fee?” You must be prepared with an answer.
As a first time speaker, I would start with a fee of $500.00, and tell them that is your fee for non-profits, but that your corporate fee is $1,500.00.
If they go for it–fine. If not, make them pay you something even if its only $75.00 to cover your gas and parking expenses. If they say no one is being paid to speak, make sure you ask for a table to sell any products you have and get the attendee list to their event. Those are things that could help you network far beyond the event.
Always be sure to always ask for a recommendation letter for your speaking services, and get a recommendation on LinkedIn too. Once you get the gig, prepare a written introduction for whoever will introduce you, so that you can make sure that you control what will be shared about your brand.
If you want to be taken seriously as a speaker, I suggest joining your local chapter of the National Speakers Association www.mynsa.org or attending the national conference in July of each year. That’s where I learned about the business of speaking.
Good luck with that speech.