I’m fairly new to this NSA gig too, and while I get the whole “gotta gain experience” mindset, let’s talk about something important—not settling for lowball offers!
Sure, it’s tempting to take every signing that comes our way, but if we keep accepting pennies for our work, signing companies will keep thinking it’s okay to underpay us—especially newbies. And let’s be real, this job isn’t just about showing up. Between prepping docs, driving (sometimes halfway across the city!), and making sure everything’s perfect, we put in real work.
So before you hit “Yes!” on that next offer, ask yourself:
How far is this signing? (Gas isn’t free, y’all!)
How many docs am I printing? (Ink and paper add up!)
What’s the appointment for? (Some signings are way more involved than others.)
Personally, I never accept anything in the $40–50 range without at least countering. Know your worth, advocate for fair pay, and let’s raise the standard together!
What’s your minimum fee? Any tips for negotiating better rates? Drop ‘em below!
This post raises critical points about our industry’s challenges—from working in less-than-ideal environments (smoky spaces, unsanitary conditions, long drive times) to the undervaluation of complex tasks. A 180-page packet with scans for $100 is unsustainable when clients would otherwise pay thousands for travel and lodging. Fair compensation is non-negotiable, but it must align with expertise and accountability.
While advocating for higher fees, we must also address inconsistencies in service quality. Newer and seasoned agents alike sometimes demand premium rates while making foundational errors: misreading oaths, confusing jurats with acknowledgments, or skipping critical steps. This undermines trust in our profession.
Experience and knowledge should dictate earning potential. Just as entry-level roles don’t offer top-tier pay, notaries must prove competency before commanding higher fees. Let’s push for rate increases while elevating standards—ensuring clients pay for true expertise, and professionals earn what they deserve.
I absolutely love this perspective! You’re so right—fair pay and professional standards should go hand in hand.
But here’s the reality: There’s a huge gap in education and training for new agents—and even ongoing learning opportunities for seasoned pros. Mistakes happen, but when they do, they don’t just affect one signing; they impact how all of us are perceived.
It’s frustrating when signing companies treat us as disposable rather than as certified professionals. We go through background checks, training, and certifications—just like any other skilled field—yet some still act like our time and expertise aren’t worth fair compensation. And that pressure often pushes new agents to accept low fees just to get started.
Here’s the thing: If we want to be valued as professionals, we have to hold ourselves to that standard—through continuous learning, attention to detail, and refusing to settle for less than we’re worth.
I think we take the lower fee on ourselves. Every day can be a notary strike day if we refuse to take those low-ball offers. It is all about supply and demand. During the pandemic time we are so overbooked and you literary can ask any price. But now the market is so slow, and understandable that people have family to feed and rent to pay. So, as a notary, it is always good to have other forms of income so you don’t put yourself in a vulnerable position.
This business sector for a business owner/independent contractor is very much like other segments of industry
===>>> Lots of Unpredictable Peaks & Valleys (regarding revenue generation).
Many who enter this business sector because of the “six-figure” used car salesman hype expeditiously learn from first-hand experience that it’s definitively NOT an easy-peasy achievement.
Some exit the business sector as quickly as they enter it
Others who need the income, promptly begin to diversify their businesses to include other business sectors to level out the income peaks & valleys
Yet others realize they can’t (or shouldn’t already have) quit their day job
Still others try to “stick it out”
Some realize the ever-decreasing Signing Order [SO] Fees results in a financial loss
Others realize that rapidly dwindling number of SOs in their region will NOT sustain them financially
An few isolated pocket regions in the US tout they’re able to garner elevated Fees & an abundance of SOs, but for the majority of business owners in this sector - it certainly ISN’T the case
If you’re interested in the actual income numbers for this business sector, review the following:
SURVEY RESULTS FOR INCOME OF PROFESSIONAL SIGNING AGENTS
So, the long and the short of it is . . . realistically, “generating steady income” for this business sector is highly unlikely & is regularly volatile.
Try raising your rates on jobs that you don’t really care if you get it or not. You might be surprised if they accept your counteroffer but won’t be disappointed if they don’t.
I one hundred percent agree with you I made $125 on average in 2009 in california, for purchases or refinances and back then, I would accept $85-95 for a sellers packet. My fees are almost double that now. $200 and $165. If they don’t like it, go look for a notary that has sixteen years experience. I live in Alaska and I service a 200 mile radius. So it definitely helps to get those fees up. And I know people in anchorage that accept a lot less, because I bid on those too. They have even sent me to rural villages where I took 2 flights and had the male client pick me up in his crappy truck and I spent the night at a hotel. I was paid $1900 for that one. After cost $700 profit. Quite an experience though. For something like that, do they not realize that we are taking our lives in our hands, going into these strangers houses and sometimes having then drive us around? I hit a moose coming back from a late night one 2 hrs away once. You think they cared? NOPE. I don’t think title companies appreciate us nearly as much as they should. They do not fight for our fees.They are constantly trying to lower them as they raise theirs. And signing agencies are only getting $25 to $50 when they deal with me so they don’t like that either, but too bad, we’re the ones doing most of the work. I especially like it when there’s 30+ pages. In a 100 page packet, that basically they have us print out for them, because there’s no signatures. They could have easily put that in a docusign document with several other pages that they make us do for no real reasoning behind it and when I hear a client say I already docusigned this online, that’s a page I printed in duplicate for no reason. Or when there’s five affidavits of the same thing, just word it a little differently seriously, they need to go through and fix their paperwork. Time and paper and ink is money out of our pockets, not theirs. END RANT
Generating steady income hasn’t been hard for me. But I also accepted early retirement so what I need to survive changed because of that. But April is 30 contracts and that’s the best month so far. Today I did 3 contracts. I even accepted one for Saturday and I almost never do that. You can tell it’s end of month because there are a lot of requests rolling in my area.
I’m at $100 minimum. I’ve learned that letting the low one go makes room for the one I won’t go broke on. HELOC is big right now. Good luck everyone.
Sadly, everyone is taking their equity out of their home, just like in two thousand eight before the crash.I’m a little worried about that history repeating itself when they Max out their debt to equity Especially VA Loans, they can take 90-100%. I just did one and they were eighty eight years old, now 0 equity and an $800 higher payment. That will be a foreclosure some day for.sure. whoch i.am also seeing more of. Not a good market sign.
Very well put. I too believe we need to elevate our performance, consistently deliver error-free work and support new notaries coming up so they don’t feel so vulnerable. There is no one coming to rescue us. We deserve a seat at the table and will only get one if we advocate for ourselves. That might include a “strike day” to get seen and heard.
A strike day sounds like a great idea to me LOL, and I wholeheartedly agree with the importance of elevating our profession. However, I believe the fee increases must start with the title companies, as they ultimately set the fees somewhat.
Customers often incur significant expenses related to travel and accommodations, unless they are staying with family. Therefore, it’s establish a reasonable fee structure that allows all parties involved to be compensated fairly, with the highest percentage going to the notary would make a big difference.
It is refreshing to hear you are new and you are not taking lowball fees and keeping the integrity for signing agents. I’ve been a signing agent for 10 years now. You are absolutely correct in asking yourself the 3 questions. Good for you and other new signing agents who following suit. My lowest minimum fee is $100 for refinance and it depend on the page count of the package, miles and number of people to be notarized. I really negotiate with signing companies that I have worked for and they know my work. Most will increase due to page count, miles driven and number of people to notarize. I hope this help some.
I accepted my first refi for $100, it was 180 pages with 2hr round trip travel time. Obviously not worth the time it took me to complete it. I have since raised the minimum fee I will accept for a refi which is $165+ depending on travel. The ones accepting low ball offers are basically paying the ss to work for them because after gas, toner, paper, and time the math isnt mathing.
I love this topic but its like the saying goes, you can lead a horse to water but you cant make them drink. I has suspected a whike ago that someone was taking low fees in my area. Im now 100% convinced this month that is indeed what is happening. I do understand that the platforms can and often will stagger their text blast. However, many things im not even having time to look up actual distance before its gone. That implies that someone isnt raking time to even counter the $65 refinance offer and is just taking it. Its happening more and more in my little bubble here its disgusting.
I wouldn’t worry - they’ll cycle out after they lose a lot of money. I notice this sometimes, too. But I also notice those notaries accepting those ridiculous fees aren’t able to accept the better paying orders that come. So I hold my line. They can’t take them all for next to nothing. And I usually end up with something that pays what I ask.
How far is this signing? (Gas isn’t free, y’all!)
How many docs am I printing? (Ink and paper add up!)
What’s the appointment for? (Some signings are way more involved than others.)
You’re so right—fair pay and professional standards should go hand in hand.
percent! 
