I’ve read a bunch of posts here about how much jobs are going for or what to charge.
I’m curious and wanted to find out what is a signing worth to you? Or do you know how much it costs to get a new signing?
If you did nothing but accept a signing and you could charge what you wanted, how much would you pay for that? $10, 10%, 20%
This may help:
Suggestions to Beginners
I’ve read through that previously and it’s pretty comprehensive. Thanks for adding.
Well, the only thing I’ll add is only YOU can decide what a signing is worth. Take all those expenses, not forgetting to take into account federal and state taxes (if state applies to you) and then, the next question is -
Is this your only job or a side job. If this is your only job and means of income, then you’ll have to add in all your personal household expenses so that the number you reach is what you need to support both your business AND your personal needs.
From what I’ve read here and elsewhere, this is a difficult business these days to expect it to support all those expenses as your sole source of income.
I wish you luck
I’m more interested in what others think a signing is worth to them. I do quite a bit of Google Ads and other marketing, each with it’s own CPA. I also send leads to people. I’m trying to ascertain how much people think a signing is worth. If I send someone a POA signing and they can charge whatever they want, what is that worth to them. I’m looking for opinions from others.
Ah…okay - my apologies. So you’re just researching for a general concensus.
For me personally, it would depend on many factors…distance, printing involved? time with client, etc etc. Each GNW appointment is unique in and of itself. For me, it’s not a matter of “worth” so much as matter of cost of service rendered.
@christian Great question! 
Check out this thorough (but not unequivocally comprehensive . . .) thread. It should be of immense assistance to you regarding guidance.
@christian – It almost sounds to me like you’re considering being a hiring entity (i.e. signing service) or setting up some sort of platform offering signings.
Personally, I don’t pay for any assignments. Instead, I receive pay for work I perform. I’m old-fashioned in that regard. 
It’s kinda been done before…Thumbtack is but one. In most cases, there is a statutory limit to what a notary can charge for the notarization and some states even limit what can be charged for travel. A POA is only 1 signature… so the likelihood is that, after adding in your referral fee, the client will go elsewhere.
Hi Christian, "How much is a signing worth? can easily be interpreted as “How much should I charge?” and that is the big ambiguous question every notary signing agent must answer for themselves in accordance with their own state laws. Not something we can openly discuss as a group because we could be accused of price fixing (breaking antitrust laws). Each notary signing agent must determine what it costs them to do the loan signing and charge accordingly so that they may stay in business.
Establish your business rates and then stand by them. Don’t let anyone cajole you into taking less. If the rate they offer you doesn’t match your rate, then counter with your rate. And if they are unwilling to accept your rate (which is their right), it is your right to politely decline.
What is PRICE FIXING and why is it illegal? “Price fixing is an agreement (written, verbal, or inferred from conduct) among competitors that raises, lowers, or stabilizes prices or competitive terms. Generally, the antitrust laws require that each company establish prices and other terms on its own, without agreeing with a competitor. When consumers make choices about what products and services to buy, they expect that the price has been determined freely on the basis of supply and demand, not by an agreement among competitors. When competitors agree to restrict competition, the result is often higher prices. Accordingly, price fixing is a major concern of government antitrust enforcement.” (For more information, visit Price Fixing | Federal Trade Commission)
ANTITRUST LAWS PROHIBIT COMPETITORS OF ANY PROFESSION FROM GETTING TOGETHER TO SET OR DISCUSS FEES.
This number really varies by area. Sure everyone has the same expenses but you work based on what the market can bear. I stick to $100 per trip just about all the time in county, Out of county the number goes up. Certain lenders the number goes up because the page count is huge. That’s just me. There are several notaries in this region who’ll take less but that’s because of where they are located. Some folks are out of county and closer to the assignment location and might take less. But I"m staying pretty firm. Volume won’t change expenses. Learned that after the first year when I was interested in getting a lot of experience and thought cost averaging made sense. Accept a signing and pay someone a commission for guaranteeing a certain fee on each one? I wouldn’t pay for that personally.
Also - it’s impossible to “set fees” if I have no idea where someone is working.
Ahhh I think you are right… I should have read through this thread better before I responded to his original query.
And requiring a notary to pay to receive an assignment (a/k/a kickback) is illegal.
“No person shall give and no person shall accept any fee, kickback or other thing of value pursuant to any agreement or understanding, oral or otherwise, that business incident to or part of a settlement service involving a federally related mortgage loan shall be referred to any person.”
There you go, that’s a good answer.
Except for all intents and purposes it’s exactly what you are doing. SS gets X and pays you Y, usually less that 50% of the amount.
I’m only suggesting an alternative structure wherein the notary dictates the fee. Similar to a direct relationship removing the SS from the equation, giving control to a notary instead and cutting out much of the noise.
I’ve already done it with several Title companies and using Google Ads. Notary makes more and is in charge of their own time. Seems to be working right now.
Just wanted some feedback on how people calculate their own costs and if they would be willing to calculate clients acquisition into it.
This isn’t applicable.
@christian – Obviously you’re not familiar with my posts. This is my business; I dictate my fees; a hiring company may offer a fee, however, if it doesn’t meet my business plan, I advise them as to what my fee is for the scope of work involved for that particular file. I’m willing to negotiate my fees provided the agreed-to fee falls in line with my business plan. In other words, I don’t work at a loss.
Agreed. Working direct is best. If, however, we work with a signing agency, choose wisely. There are some professional/respectful signing agencies out there that pay well and timely.
So, basically, you are an SS who, correct me if I’m wrong, gets paid by the Notary for providing some business. And you are trying to determine what percentage we’d be willing to ‘pay’ (we’d have to add your percentage on top of our fee in order to maintain our profit margin). Wondering how you would be able to answer the many questions most have…like Linda mentioned…our fee is subject to many variables, most of which weigh heavily in calculating cost…and, hence, profit.
And, how would you get paid/by whom/when/how? How would you handle the many glitches that can–and do–happen. Late docs/can no longer do; no-signs, no-shows, last minute cancellations by either party, errors? It’s an interesting, but questionable, concept that needs more thought beyond what we’re willing to pay/add to our cost in order to maintain profit.
@Arichter, even as he has described it in deeper detail, how is this not a kickback?
I am signed up with several trusted signing services and I get direct assignments from title companies and lenders. NOT ONE of them charges me a fee or a percentage just to be on their panel of notary signing agents.
Good question that I can’t answer. What IS a kickback? Some charge a fee to be in their database; some just take whatever undisclosed amount they can get between what they get & what they pay. Some have a minimum amount they’ll accept ('course they’ll take more if they can). However they work it, they’re still all middlemen getting paid for connecting A with B. Everything else is just semantics, imo. I guess I mean…how many times have you been paid more than what’s shown on ALTA…where’s it come from? (Rhetorical question)
