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
| Speakers bureau | Done-for-you outreach | |
|---|---|---|
| How it works | The bureau recommends you to event buyers it already works with | A team researches events, finds decision-makers and pitches you by email |
| What you pay | Commission, commonly 20% to 30% of the speaking fee | A fee for the service (monthly retainer, project or custom quote); varies by provider |
| Upfront cost | None | Usually yes |
| Cost scales with | Every booking and every fee increase | The scope of the campaign, not your fee |
| Who they take | Selective: mostly established speakers with demand | Most speakers with a clear topic and a strong reel |
| Who picks the targets | The bureau, based on buyer requests | You, with the provider |
| Negotiation and logistics | Handled by the bureau | Usually yours |
| Typical providers | Independent and large bureaus | Hop On Stages, Speakhyve, Axia PR, SpeakerHUB's agency, Speak to Scale |
| What they expect from you | A strong demo reel and proof of demand | A strong demo reel and a clear topic |
| Guarantee | No | Rarely; be wary of anyone who guarantees bookings |
The commission math
Bureau commission is commonly 20% to 30% of the speaking fee. Here is what that looks like on an illustrative $10,000 keynote:
| Commission rate | Per $10,000 booking | Across 10 bookings |
|---|---|---|
| 20% | $2,000 | $20,000 |
| 25% | $2,500 | $25,000 |
| 30% | $3,000 | $30,000 |
That is not an argument against bureaus. A booking you would never have found is worth 75% of the fee to you, and a good bureau also negotiates, handles contracts and manages logistics. The point is that commission is a percentage of everything the bureau places, forever, and it grows as your fee grows. At $20,000 per keynote, the same 25% is $5,000 per booking.
Done-for-you outreach works the other way. You pay for the work, and the fee does not change with the size of the booking. Published examples vary widely: Axia PR's Speaker Membership is $2,250 per month plus booking bonuses (and describes a percentage on paid gigs), Speak to Scale's management starts at $2,500/month after a $2,500 intensive, and others, including Speakhyve and Hop On Stages, quote on a call. Some outreach providers add booking bonuses, so ask whether any percentage applies before you sign. For more on rates, see our speakers bureau commission guide.
What actually separates them
Access
Bureaus need speakers who sell, so most sign speakers who already have demand. That creates a loop for newer speakers: you need bookings to get a bureau, and a bureau to get bookings. Outreach breaks the loop by creating conversations directly.
Control
A bureau pitches you when its buyers ask for your topic. You do not choose the list. With outreach, you choose the industries, associations and events, and you can target a specific buyer.
Effort after the reply
Bureaus negotiate and handle logistics. With outreach, interested replies typically come to you, so you handle the conversation, the fee and the contract.
Risk
A bureau costs nothing until it books you. Outreach costs money whether or not a booking follows. That is the real trade: certainty of cost vs a share of upside.
Which one should you choose?
Choose a speakers bureau if
- You already have steady demand and a recognizable name
- You want no upfront cost
- You want negotiation, contracts and logistics handled
- Giving up commonly 20% to 30% per booking is worth that to you
Choose done-for-you outreach if
- Bureaus are not taking you on yet
- You want to choose the rooms and buyers you target
- You want to keep your whole fee as it grows
- You are comfortable handling the conversation once someone replies
The gap neither one fills
Neither model works without a reel that sells. Bureaus expect one before they will represent you, and every cold pitch asks the reader to watch one. Many outreach providers do not make reels, and bureaus never do.
Hop On Stages does both halves. We run done-for-you cold email outreach that leads with your reel: we research events that fit your topic and fee, find the person who chooses speakers, write a personal pitch, send it and follow up, then pass interested replies to you. We are not a bureau and take no commission; outreach is quoted separately. Keith Ferrazzi's campaigns produced, in his words, "somewhere close to 81 qualified leads", Steve Taubman received a paid invitation to speak at a professional society's annual meeting in New York City, and Doug Noll's workshop was selected for a statewide summit. Our campaigns can also pitch bureaus directly.
We also edit speaker reels from footage you already have for $3,000 flat.
To be fair about our side: we do not negotiate fees or handle logistics like a bureau, we do not guarantee bookings, and outreach costs money upfront. See Hop On Stages vs speakers bureaus for the direct comparison.
Questions people ask
Is a speakers bureau or done-for-you outreach better?
A bureau is better for established speakers who want no upfront cost and logistics handled. Done-for-you outreach is better for speakers building demand or wanting control over targets. Many use both.
How much commission does a speakers bureau take?
Commonly 20% to 30% of the speaking fee. At a $10,000 fee, 25% is $2,500 per booking, or $25,000 across ten bookings.
How much does done-for-you speaker outreach cost?
It varies by provider. Axia PR publishes $2,250 per month plus booking bonuses; Speak to Scale's management starts at $2,500/month after a $2,500 intensive; Speakhyve and Hop On Stages quote on a call. Checked October 21, 2026.
Can I use a bureau and outreach at the same time?
Yes. Outreach covers the rooms you choose; bureaus bring their own buyers. Outreach can also target bureaus, so they see your reel and recent bookings together.
How do I get a speakers bureau to represent me?
Show demand and a strong reel. Bureaus mostly sign speakers who already sell. Our guide on how to get booked as a keynote speaker covers building that demand.
Sources
- Futurist Speakers: what percentage do speakers bureaus take?
- Axia Public Relations: booking public speaking engagements
- Speak to Scale Agency: services
- Hop On Stages: done-for-you speaker booking outreach
Keep comparing
Comparison
Hop On Stages vs speakers bureaus
Bureau representation on commission vs done-for-you outreach with no cut of your fee.
Guide
Speakers bureau commission
The 20% to 30% range, worked examples, and what bureaus look for before they represent you.
Roundup
Best speaker booking services
Done-for-you outreach, self-serve platforms and bureaus, ranked with real prices.
Comparison
Hop On Stages vs Speakhyve
The two closest done-for-you cold email services for speakers, compared on volume, proof, pricing and the reel behind the pitch.
Guide
Get booked as a keynote speaker
The order of operations that actually produces paid keynotes: positioning, proof, then direct outreach.
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.