Unfortunately, it can be incredibly expensive to start your own business. It typically costs hundreds of thousands of dollars to open a fast-food restaurant. It costs tens of thousands of dollars to open a dry cleaners. In most places, it costs several thousand dollars just to get your real estate license.
But since all you need to start your speaking career is (1) your voice, (2) having something to talk about that people want to hear, and (3) knowing what you're doing, your start-up costs can be quite small! (But as with anything, you need to spend that money wisely, knowing where you get the biggest bang for your buck!)
Bottom line - becoming a pro speaker doesn't have to bust your budget. And in these unsettling economic times, that counts for a lot!