I am based in Indiana and get multiple[le calls a day for GNW. I have the state required fee of $10 plus $15 for mobile within 10 miles. Am I charging to much in todays world? I am also, RON certified and try to steer clients to this route for $25 plus a tech fee of $4. Am I marketing this wrong? I am a newer notary, but have a great understanding of business. I feel this is under cutting what I should charge. I am still not getting them to call me back. What is everyone thoughts on this? Thanks in advance…
I’m in California and we’re permitted to charge $15 per signature (not per document) plus a reasonable travel/mobile fee. Mine is $20 minimum. If I am offered a “tip”, I record it as a convenience fee and accept it. My usual GNW is $35-40. I have no problem charging the mobile fee — think of it this way: what do the food delivery kids get when they work for Door Dash or what does the COSTCO delivery guy get. Notaries are at least as important as those guys so don’t be afraid to charge your worth. Offer accurate, timely service with a smile and the word will get around and you’ll score even more jobs. Good luck.
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Thanks for the advice and I will keep at it.
I got a call out of the blue the other day to notarize an affidavit in Trafalgar, and I made $50 - $10 for the notarization and $40 for rush service/travel/time etc. We met at the library and the whole thing took all of 30 minutes. Always charge what you are worth. You are offering a service. The fee for the service should be included in your rate.
I would love to know what signing service you’re on. I think I’d much rather do GNW all day vs loan closings. Indiana here also - my phone has been buzzing for assignments lately but nothing in my area-I’m in Franklin.
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If I am reading your state laws correctly, you can charge a “Maximum of $10 per individual Notarization.” You can bill separately for incidental costs and services such as travel. Your travel fees cannot exceed the current IRS Rates.
As far as your fees for Remote Notarization: “For performing a Remote Notarial Act, a remote notary may charge a maximum of $25 for each Remote Notarial Act. In addition, a remote notary may charge a reasonable fee for providing copies of electronic journal entries and audiovisual recordings of remote Notarial Acts.”
You might need to reevaluate your fee schedule so that you’re compliant with Indiana Laws.
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Hold the phone here mintonb1… first, call around to other local notaries and ask about their travel fees (like “hi, my mom needs a POA, what are the fees” type scenario). If you charge $15 and they charge $30, you are leaving a lot of money on the table. Don’t undersell yourself! We provide a special service and we deserve adequate compensation.
Second, all the notaries I chat with (including my personal experience), it’s just plain slow out there. The economy is tough. What I’ll offer (if I like the way they sound) is either meet them at the local Starbucks where I lower my travel fee (less travel and time for me), or offer a visit in my house (no travel and at least I’m making a bit).
The question might be: is your phone ringing and you lose the job, or is it that your phone just isn’t ringing? If the later, Google Adwords might be a wise decision (I put in a daily value of $1, not their suggested $10/day) becuase using Adwords will help move you to the top of the search results.
My 2 cents anyway. Not the best time out there right now.
Hello,
I am reading all the comments. In Florida we can charge $10 for each notarization and my travel fee is an additional $65. I will never leave my house for a $15 travel within 10 miles.
Those fees sound quite reasonable. That said, do you offer in house service? Do all those people calling need a traveling notary or just a paper notarized? Id say 90% of my GNW comes to me so they dont need to pay my travel fees. Is it possible these people are just going to a brick and mortar?
As an Indiana notary, you have to follow your state’s laws.
Notarial Acts: “A notary public may charge a fee of not more than ten dollars ($10) per signature for each of the following notarial acts:
“(1) Taking an acknowledgment.
“(2) Administering an affirmation or oath.
“(3) Attesting to or witnessing a signature.
“(4) Taking a verification on an oath or affirmation.
“(5) Attesting to or certifying a copy” (IC 33-42-14-1[a]).
Remote Notarial Acts: “A remote notary public may charge a fee of not more than twenty-five dollars ($25) for each remote notarial act” (IC 33-42-17-9[a]).
These are the max you can charge. The tech fee is included in your RON fee.
Travel Fees
“A notary public may charge a reasonable fee for traveling to perform a notarial act. The travel fee requested may not exceed the federal travel fees established by the United States General Services Administration” (IC 33-42-14-1[e]). (70 cents per mile roundtrip)
I hope this helps.
I know what I am allowed to charge, but disagree with you on the tech fee for for remote notarial acts. It states that a notary may charge a reasonable fee to recover expense related to copying of electronic journals and audiovisual recordings of remote notarization acts. Would this not be the storage of these items on the remote platform of choice?