Hello everyone,
I did a signing, I accepted the fee they offered me, and on snap docs once the signing is complete you enter your additional fees like the notarizations and fuel. I just looked at the final payment and they did not pay me for the notarizations. what do I do at this point?
I never knew one could tack on additional fees for notarizations (or fuel) on any of the platforms. My understanding was that once you agreed to whatever fee, that was it. No add-ons. In the past, have you been able to integrate additional fees after you accepted?
Snapdocs only has that info for your own benefit regarding expenses. When you accept a fee on snapdocs that’s the fee you’ll get paid. The additional fees do not add to any invoice for service.
Snapdocs pays a fee. The fee includes everything.
What do you do at this point? Figure out whether you had a profit or a loss. Notarizations, whether 1 or 21, are included in the fee you accepted. Same is true for ALL your expenses. Live and learn.
Yes you are right about that. Live and learn lol
Here is a piece of advise from an Accountant and Notary. I always look at how long it will take me to get to a job. I also have price brackets, I am a Notary in two States so I already have a price block just to cross the bridge into the other State. The only thing I may tack on is an additional print fee at that point when the package comes in due to page size.
Your Fee should include already; printing, the notarizations, and your trip. So on an Excel spreadsheet you need to build your pricing bracket for your areas where you are willing to travel and how much you will charge. I do a lot of winter traveling where most Notaries will not go as I have a big truck with 4x4 and tire socks to put on them. It makes a difference, but of course it also takes me longer in the weather, so I do charge an additional fee as it will take me longer to get there. I have traveled up to four hours in one direction. As long as my fee is met, I will drive it. Be smart and price yourself right. Newbies will take your jobs by under bidding and then they lose money and then price us out of work. I haven’t really been able to change my prices in 14 years due to that.
I have a spead sheet, I have found that I will break down # of pages, how many copies. Of course I will add travel time if it is over 2 hours and the time. Not a fan of signing after 7 pm.
That’s a great idea,
Thank you so much
I have said this before.. Newbies dont you dare accept a low ball fee.
You /WE deserve to make a profit..THIS IS A BUSINESS. Not a charity.
Figure $50. Per hour for your time.
Include drive time to and from
Size and type of package..number of signers.
Printing and prepping..put. sign here stickers wherever there are signature lines for your signers
Put Notarize here for your stamp and signature
Dont forget u have paper .ink.. and gas etc expenses to pay.
U cant drive 2 hours for $45.00. Because they tell you its only 4 signatures or something as ridiculous.
DON’T FORGET to add extra $ for scan backs and drive out to drop docs .afterwards.
Search the subjuects here a read the responses..
A typical re fi is 150 to 175 pages with a 2nd copy for client..in NY. THAT CAN TAKE 75- 90 MINUTES EASY, TO SIGN.
It probably takes 35 minutes to prep..i had a title person on the phone asking questions about the docs to be sure i had them signed correctly.
Different states have different requirements including state tax forms
Then i would have qualified the signer and drive over to get it done.
SCAN BACKS ARE EXTRA TIME ,so figure it all in.
$50 per hour
@CAFRAN2 Excellent insights.
NOTE: To @TIME2SIGNSTACYNOTARY & Other Notary Cafe Members who are pondering this topic, Please take a moment or two & Review the following thread:
$50/hours is lowball, I charge $100/hour that includes print fee travel, each signing is a min hour if you include your office time. If they are coming to my office it is still $100 as usually I am having to scan and then everything else that goes with it. You also have to figure that you round some out with others you don’t charge max on.
So true! And right now, I have a lot of newbies taking the low bids. You know what? They will lose their pants in a month or so and give it up. (It usually takes about 3 months) I’m just looking at it as staying home for the winter. Don’t get me wrong, I’m still working but I’m not running like a mad woman all over the countryside. I know there are those who depend on this income but going into it in the beginning, my location, etc. I knew better than that and I am blessed to not be so dependent. And when these guys cancel out on the signing companies because of weather, etc., at the last minute…I just bid higher (could have had me at a reasonable price). I tend to think that working with just the few dependable, reasonable, companies are what I prefer.
THANK YOU FOR SAYING ALL OF THIS…listen to experience! In total agreement!
I know it’s widely known to ask for additional money for a larger packet, but FYI you can ask for more money due to the number of notarizations you have to do also. An example recently for me was a refi that required 16 notarizations where others are typically half of that. I asked for an additional fee and was granted it.
@tlbennett0 Yes, this is true. It’s one of the myriad elements that are factored into calculating the cost to provide these professional services (see thread that follows).
More pages take additional time.
More notarizations take additional time.
Etc.
Etc.
Etc.
You need to estimate your time. Re fi can be 150 pages with multiple signings and notarized documents. They take easily 80-90 minutes and more.people have to take a break..especially if you are there in the evenings. Not unusual for folks to take a break ..i always set the pace and slowed up if necessary.
Helps eliminate mistakes ..check each signature on signing that page….use SIGN HERE SIGNATURE STICKERS ..STAPLES HAD BRIGHT COLORS ..I MIXED THEM UP WITH STANDARD size yellow stickers.
This all takes time ..you need to be paid for.