If you want others to pay for you to speak then you should believe that you can deliver what is needed. More often than not, speakers that are relatively new to the field undervalue their knowledge and expertise just to get an engagement. You should not do this because you are only hampering your financial and professional goals.
If you start with a reasonably high fee, there is no other way but up. So give yourself a nice head start. Be sure to give one hell of a performance and great service so you can have plenty of follow-ups with referrals. Public speaking is all about marketing, networking, and experience.
When trying to set up a fee, you should decide on a base rate. You can go around this rate and this will be your primary basis for your varying charges. Don't sell yourself too thin. Have confidence on your ability!
Now, the things to consider:
1) The Audience
Is it a large audience? Are they difficult to handle?
Obviously, an audience of hundreds is much more difficult to manage compared to 30 to 50 people. You also have to consider what type of audience you will have. An audience composed of unruly teens may be bit demanding compared to an audience composed of educated adults.
2) The Topic
Is the topic or the theme completely new or something you have not really though about? Is the subject specialized in any way?
If the topic is somewhat alien to you or something you have not really done before, you may charge more because you have to put more research work on the subject. Specialized subjects are not that difficult but needs a little research than usual. Of course, you would only want to deliver a great speech.
3) The Location
This is the most important thing to consider. The farther the location, the more you should increase your fee especially if it is from another timezone. The travel can be very taxing.
The best way to negotiate with your contact is to get them to make the arrangements in your travel and accommodations. Make them pay for these essentials. That way you don't have to spend from your pocket initially. If they can't do this, at least, ask for a 50 percent down payment for all your troubles.
4) The Type of Engagement
Is the speaking engagement a one shot deal or is it a series of seminars or workshops?
You should consider this because each has its own pros and cons. Set your price accordingly.
These are the basic things to consider when setting up a speaking fee.
Sometimes, there are golden opportunities to speak in an event where you can build up your market. There also speaking opportunities that have a great chance of making a sale in your products and services. These types of engagements should be treated differently because it has great marketing value. You can then set a lower fee on these "gigs" depending on the marketing value they present.
