How much time is included in the fee?
Does the speaker's fee cover a one-hour keynote, or a half-day seminar? What about VIP dinners or receptions before and after the event? Some speakers will consider these activities as being a normal part of any engagement, where others view additional time as extra. This can be especially true for celebrity speakers, who can be very guarded about their time and might want a larger fee for anything outside the standard presentation.
What are their travel requirements?
Travel costs can very widely from speaker to speaker and are generally not included in the quoted fee. Some travel alone, while others bring along managers, assistants or family members. Likewise, most speakers will require a first class ticket as part of any deal.
Do they have any special audio-visual needs?
Be sure not to book a speaker for a venue that can't support their audiovisual requirements. It's rare, but it can happen. Certain types of smaller or outdoor locations can't support extensive multimedia
Are there production costs?
Booking music and entertainment speakers will usually entail production costs that can dramatically affect the total cost of the event, sometimes even doubling the bill. These fees can include people and equipment for sound, lights, security and other elements of the show. Make sure you know what costs, if any, you'll be responsible for beforehand.
Can you pre-order books?
If your speaker has written a well-known book, you can probably benefit by ordering them in bulk for your attendees prior to their presentation. Not only does this give your attendees a reminder of your event, but it keeps the presentation fresh in their minds. As an added bonus, most speakers will allow for some time for a book signing if they know that you've purchased a block ahead of time.