A 'fee' is the price one pays as remuneration for services, especially the
honorarium paid to a doctor,
lawyer, consultant or member of a learned profession. Fees usually allow for overhead, wages, costs and markup. Traditionally, professionals in Great Britain received a fee in contradistinction to a ''payment'', salary, or wage, and would often use
guineas rather than
pounds as
units of account.
Speaking fee
A 'speaking fee' is a payment awarded to an individual for speaking at a public event. Sometimes it is used as a way to pass money to individuals which would otherwise be prohibited.