Books-in-Lieu-of-Fee Speaking Engagement Platform

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Books-in-Lieu-of-Fee Speaking Engagement Platform

Inspired by a conversation on:

The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

SPI 895: What's Working in Publishing Books Right Now

Host: Pat Flynn

Timestamp: 00:20:00 - 00:21:30

Listen to Episode • View Podcast • All Ideas from The Smart Passive Income Online Business and Blogging Podcast

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Feather Flow

Direct Quote

"I was able to... sell books in exchange for me to show up."

Market Gap

Speakers need innovative ways to monetize engagements.

Public speakers often face challenges in monetizing their engagements, especially when budgets are tight. Many organizations are hesitant to pay high speaking fees, yet they still want valuable content for their audiences. As a result, speakers often resort to traditional fee structures that may not align with the organization's budget. Current solutions lack creativity and may not effectively engage audiences. There's a need for a platform that facilitates transactions where speakers can offer their books as a part of their speaking fees, thus providing an alternative revenue stream while also promoting their work. This model benefits both parties by enhancing the audience's experience while ensuring speakers receive compensation.

Summary

Creating a platform that connects speakers with organizations willing to pay in books instead of cash could revolutionize how speaking engagements are monetized. This platform would allow speakers to set their books as a fee option, enabling organizations to provide valuable resources to their audiences while compensating speakers for their time. This model not only fosters a deeper connection between the speaker and their audience, but it also serves as a promotional tool for the speaker’s book, creating a win-win situation. By facilitating these transactions, the platform can help authors gain visibility and leverage their speaking engagements to build their brand and audience.

Categorization

Business Model
Marketplace
Target Founder
Generalist
Difficulty
Medium
Time to Revenue
3-6 months
Initial Investment
$1,000-$10,000

Potential MRR (18-24 months)

Conservative
$5,000 - $10,000 MRR
Moderate (Most Likely)
$15,000 - $30,000 MRR
Optimistic
$40,000 - $70,000 MRR

* Estimates assume solo founder/bootstrap scenario with competent execution

Scores

Clarity
8/10
Novelty
8/10
Feasibility
7/10
Market Potential
9/10
Evidence
8/10
Overall
8/10
Found on October 8, 2025 • Analyzed on October 8, 2025 7:39 AM

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