Motivational speaking hits the headlines on a regular basis. You may have recently seen shock surrounding the fee Barack Obama commanded for the speech he gave at a Wall Street conference, organised by Cantor Fitzgerald LP. Surprising as it may seem, his fee, $400,000, pales in comparison to some of the most expensive speeches ever given – where the $1m mark has long been surpassed!
This elite list of top earning motivational speakers is full of ex-politicians, who satisfy the corporate necessity for a performance, celebrity status and business know-how.
These “fee frenzy” headlines often deter many organisations who are looking to host a successful event – but it shouldn’t. If you are organising an event, it might surprise you to learn there are a plethora of speakers available for a wide range of budgets.
What is the average cost of a motivational speaker in the UK?
Taking away the jaw-dropping fees of the world’s most high profile speakers, with our 50 years of experience, we estimate that the average cost of a motivational speaker in the UK is between £2,000 – £20,000. The reason for the broad range in price is simple; popularity, experience and supply & demand.
Our guidelines to booking a motivational speaker revolve around one simple premise:
“Price does not always affect quality.”
What we mean by this is that you do not have to pay over the odds to get the right speaker for your event. By analysing your audience and purpose during the planning stages, you should be able to find an engaging and insightful motivational speaker at any price range. Our advanced speaker search refines by price and category so you can easily view what speakers are available for the type of event you’re hosting.
So what do you get for your investment?
Budget-Friendly Motivational Speakers: £1,000 – £3,000
Cheap in price does not mean “cheap” in performance. Some of the best, lesser-known speakers that we represent sit in this category and, depending on the audience, your industry and what you’re aiming to achieve, this price range could be ideal.
This category also holds the rising stars in the motivational speaking industry – charismatic and ambitious circuit speakers who will be commanding much higher fees in the future, meaning you can boast that you were one of the first to recognise their talent!
Popular speakers in this category:
Eddie ‘The Eagle’ Edwards – Great Britain’s first Olympic ski jumper
Alan Chambers MBE – Record-Breaking Polar Explorer
Corporate Motivational Speakers: £3,000 – £10,000
This price range is the most common for corporate and business events. You can usually expect established circuit speakers, industry experts and business celebrities as well as Olympic heroes, adventurers and leaders from the world of sport.
If you’re looking for a recognisable face and a top performance within a reasonable budget, you should expect to pay the higher end of this fee.
Popular speakers in this category:
Adrian Webster – Leading Motivational Business Speaker
Debra Searle MVO MBE – Solo Atlantic Rower and Adventurer
High-End Motivational Speakers: £10,000 – £30,000
Unless you’re looking to hire a prominent ex-politician or a business tycoon (think Sir Alan Sugar), the majority of celebrity and high-end circuit speakers command a fee less than £30,000. If you want to fill a big room, the easiest way to do it is by bringing in a “big name”, motivational speaker.
Popular speakers in this category:
Baroness Karren Brady CBE – West Ham Vice-Chairman
Sir Clive Woodward – England Rugby World Cup-winning coach
Get Support Booking a Speaker
Are you preparing to host an event? Download our free guide on how to choose the right event speaker.
