Disclosure: we make one of the options on this page, so this is not an independent review. Competitor facts come from their own websites and were checked on October 21, 2026. We say where others are the better fit. Spotted something wrong? Email us and we will fix it.
Side by side
| Hop On Stages | Speakers bureaus | |
|---|---|---|
| Model | Done-for-you cold email outreach | Agencies that place speakers with event buyers for a commission |
| What you pay | Quoted separately, based on your goals (not published) | Commission, commonly 20% to 30% of the speaking fee |
| Upfront cost | Yes, the outreach engagement | None |
| Who they take on | Speakers whose goals and reel fit a campaign | Selective: mostly established speakers who already have demand |
| Who chooses the targets | You, with us | The bureau, based on what their buyers ask for |
| Negotiation and logistics | No; interested replies come to you | Yes |
| Pitches bureaus | Yes, bureaus can be part of the target list | Not applicable |
| Reel | We edit it in-house ($3,000 flat, separate service) | Expect you to supply a strong demo reel |
| Booking guarantee | No | No |
What actually matters
A percentage of everything vs a fee for the work
A bureau is free until it works, and then it takes commonly 20% to 30% of the fee, on every booking it places. Illustration: on a $10,000 keynote, a 25% commission is $2,500. That is a fair trade for a booking you would not have found, and bureaus earn it by bringing buyers, negotiating and handling logistics. It is worth knowing the number, though, because it repeats with every booking. Our bureau commission guide walks through the math.
Hop On Stages does not take a commission. Outreach is a separate engagement, quoted on your goals, and the fees you earn from the conversations it starts are yours. For a full model-level breakdown, see speakers bureau vs done-for-you outreach.
Getting in the door
Most bureaus represent speakers who already have demand, because their business depends on speakers who sell. That leaves a gap for good speakers who are not yet established: the bureau wants proof of demand, and you need bookings to create it. Outreach is one way through. It creates conversations directly, and the bookings that follow are the proof a bureau looks for.
Control
A bureau pitches you when its clients ask for your topic. You do not choose the list. With outreach, you decide which industries, associations and events to target. If you want to speak to a specific type of buyer, such as CIOs (as in Keith Ferrazzi's campaigns), outreach lets you go after them directly.
The reel either way
Bureaus expect a strong demo reel, and so does every planner who opens a cold email. We make speaker reels as our core service, which makes us useful whether you want bureau representation, direct outreach or both.
What speakers bureaus are
Speakers bureaus are agencies that connect event buyers with speakers. They maintain relationships with corporate and association planners, recommend speakers for events, negotiate fees and handle contracts and logistics. They are typically paid by commission, commonly 20% to 30% of the fee. Good bureaus are valuable partners, especially for in-demand speakers who want to focus on the stage.
Using both
Bureaus and outreach are not rivals. Many speakers run direct outreach for the rooms they want and work with bureaus for the inquiries bureaus bring. Our campaigns can include bureaus as targets, so that a bureau sees your reel and your recent bookings at the same time.
Which one should you choose?
A speakers bureau is the better choice if
- You already have steady demand and a recognizable name
- You want no upfront cost
- You want someone to negotiate fees and handle logistics
- You are comfortable giving up commonly 20% to 30% of each fee
Hop On Stages is the better choice if
- Bureaus are not signing you yet and you need to build demand
- You want to choose the events and buyers you target
- You want to keep your whole speaking fee
- You want bureaus pitched as part of the campaign
Questions people ask
Is a speakers bureau better than doing outreach?
For established speakers with steady demand, a bureau can be ideal: no upfront cost and someone handling logistics. For speakers building demand, bureaus are often not an option yet, and outreach creates the conversations directly. Many speakers use both.
How much do speakers bureaus take?
Commonly 20% to 30% of the speaking fee. On a $10,000 fee, 25% is $2,500. See our bureau commission guide.
Is Hop On Stages a speakers bureau?
No. We do not represent speakers or take a commission. We run done-for-you outreach, quoted separately, and edit speaker reels.
Can outreach help me get a bureau?
It can. Bureaus look for speakers with demand and a strong reel. Outreach can create bookings, and our campaigns can pitch bureaus directly.
Sources
- Futurist Speakers: what percentage do speakers bureaus take?
- Hop On Stages: done-for-you speaker booking outreach
Keep comparing
Head to head
Bureau vs done-for-you outreach
Commission on every booking vs paying for outreach: the math, the trade-offs and who each model suits.
Guide
Speakers bureau commission
The 20% to 30% range, worked examples, and what bureaus look for before they represent you.
Guide
Get booked as a keynote speaker
The order of operations that actually produces paid keynotes: positioning, proof, then direct outreach.
Roundup
Best speaker booking services
Done-for-you outreach, self-serve platforms and bureaus, ranked with real prices.
Guide
Speaker one sheet
The one-page document that travels through program committees, and how it works with your reel.
Service
Speaker booking outreach
Cold email outreach to event organizers, run for you. How it works and what it has produced.
Your next stage
Get a speaker reel that books the room.
One flat $3,000 per reel (50% to begin, 50% on completion). Edited from footage you already have, delivered in 2 to 3 weeks, with two rounds of revisions. Two minutes to see if you're a fit.