Far as I know, there’s always room for negotiation. There is 1 co. who does the ‘take it or leave it’ approach. And even then, they come back higher if no taker. I think it’s kinda frowned upon and you’ll get dinged for accepting & then trying to negotiate—particularly if you do it a lot. Not that I’ve never…but only when some over-the-top, undisclosed ‘thing’ makes it just a loser at accepted fee.
Rarely happens. Experience isn’t the key…it’s 2 things: fee & experience.
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I’ve noticed that several of the Signing Agents who flew in during COVID, hit the ground in the last year. They believed too many of the 6-Figure Income TikToks reels.
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Everyone was once a New Notary.
I have noticed the title companies are coming direct to notaries with a body of work free from errors. Experience gets better fees.
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I came into this business when I retired as a mortgage banker in 2011. At that time I set my base fee at $150. All of the big guys agreed and we did business for years on that basis. I have made anywhere from $125 - $400 per transaction since then until the past couple of years. If one of these weisenheimer assignment companies wants you to work for less tell them to have the title company to contact you directly.
The assignment companies are worthless. Title companies are still paying what they always did but the assignment companies are keeping more of the fee.
These people are the rectums of the closing business.
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I really wish you notaries would stop saying that! I mean honestly you guys act like you didn’t have to start off at all taking low offers and any offers for that matter 
You have to crawl before you walk and to walk you need experience and to gain that you take what you can until you can walk!!!So piece of advice be humble to those especially who are just getting started in this business it’s not easy and like any business it takes time to get it really going and growing word of honesty and advice be patient when you start you must take at least 50 signings before anyone wants to even consider you as a notary. SO PLEASE DON’T BELIEVE THE HYPE:relieved:
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For a baseline understanding & to enable clear comprehension of the endeavor being embarked upon (it’s no cake walk), one owes it to themselves to review (and take notes) from several key threads within the Goldmine database found right here on the Notary Café forum accessed via the Search Function utilizing the Magnifying Glass.
Of course, anytime one performs a Search, it’s important to activate your critical thinking skills to ensure that you’re discerning the unadulterated truth from other types of information . . .
======
Here are two primary examples of jewels immediately available:
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Dont accept less than $100 for a signing
Always xounter if its not $100 or even $150. Its ridiculous that in my 13 years of signing ,.people have managed to low ball themselves and just accept any job thrown their way. If we all set a precident it will be met. They will have no choice. In alaska we are a min of $125 sellers docs $ 150 to 175 for purchase or refi. If I have to drive its $75 /hr or more for me to drive depending on where and when. Late nights , winter snowstorm , I charge more and even have to spend the night sometimes. I charge for that too! Highest fee I’ve ever got was recently when I had to fly on 2 planes to get to a remote area of alaska. $1925 for a refi, my cost was $825 and 24 hrs of my time. Quite an adventure up here.
Cities and States with more notaries it can be harder to negotiate a higher fee , but I feel like everyone has gotten a raise but us. It was a standard $100 to $125 when I was a new agent in california in 2009 now its like $65. Stop accepting less! Always negotiate. Even if its $25 more !
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two planes!!?? lol i don’t think I’ll complain about the traffic I sit in around Boston anymore 
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I never even as a new person, accepted $65 for a signing. And that was 13 years ago the standard was $100. You only hurt yourself in the long run accepting low ball fees IMO. It costs you $15-20 just to print double docs. Let alone vehicle costs and god forbid a mistake u may make and have to fix. Every time I accept a job less than i want, its a pain job.
Just saying
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Ya but i made $1100 and it was gorgeous! Dont get me started on the rusty truck and slightly buzzed driver that picked me up lol
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I suppose I’m the one y’all get so mad at.
When I started as a notary in California 2 years ago I took anything at almost any price. Yes, I lost money on drive time and supplies, but I gained experience. And I built relationships. I had a goal of doing 50; both Loan Signings and General Notary Work before I could say I was “experienced” enough to “demand” a better price. I had to prove myself.
And I fell in love!! I absolutely love the people I meet, the places I go and the opportunity to help someone!
The “loss” per job wasn’t so horrific that it ever was a serious problem. But the gain of paying it forward was enormous. I am now a “preferred” notary for a couple major title companies AND I still have the relationships with the SS!
I am out every week visiting title companies, real estate offices, escrow officers building these relationships. I have a fantastic working relationships with several signing services. I make money with both.
Now that I have proven myself to them and vetted the ones that I want to work with, I can negotiate better fees…
Building relationships is never negotiable. It’s a privilege. And it pays in spades.
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@lyndathenotary Congratulations on your Success! That’s GREAT to know that in CA you can build solid relationships. 
So VERY happy for you! Wish that was true across the board in the US!
It’s SO important to consider one’s LOCATION.
There are MANY parts of the US where this is simply NOT possible. It’s been repeatedly attempted by multiple professional signing agents in specific areas and all professionals in many regions are simply turned away. Of course, give it your best shot in your own regional locale; however, if you’re repeatedly turned away - just know that it’s not you as it’s region specific.
In general, the Title/Escrow Company [T/EC], Lender, etc. explicitly state that they are retaining all work in-house. They also add that if their clients are unable to sign in their office that their Staff will visit them in their home.
So truly, as with MOST transactions within the Real Estate Industry: Location, Location, LOCATION!
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I started during COVID and saw some of the best pay outs then compared to now so I disagree. They had more signings than notaries now with things so sloe is when I’m seeing the lowest offers. There’s few signings and a bunch of notaries willing to take anything.
CXChoice used to offer 150-200 no problem now their start is 67 for a refinance… Push back with 95 and they will ignore you for well over an hour increasing by 5.00 till someone takes it.
C2C used to be negotiated with for 125+ now they won’t respond to you at all unless they are desperate for their 75 offer they aren’t willing to budge on easily taking half or more for their company.
Snap used to offer me 6-10 signings a day and could easily negotiate. Now you have only a little wiggle because anyone is willing to take the low ball offer.
Timios won’t negotiate at all, 95 take it or leave it. They even tell you in their emails, do not reply with counter offers.
Amrock, I here from maybe once or twice a month. And they do things weird now. I’ll get calls for stuff directly even though no bulletin was ever sent out.
Just a few examples. I have to sub driving ride share, things are that slow.
You are so wrong about taking low fees to get started. You are not only hurting yourself, the crawl/walk thinkers are dragging fees down for everyone. Please stop peddling this crawl/walk bs. Once you’ve put yourself in the bargain bin, it’s practically impossible to get out. Hiring party will simply move to the next crawl/walk believer.
Fact is, fees charged by TC have gone up a lot since I began @ $150–30 years ago! If they could pay that much then; they sure as heck can do it now. But, why should they when they’ve got way more crawl/walk thinkers out there?
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Concur percent. Absolutely true, accurate, and repeatable proof of failing concept.
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I know it; you know it, but these dumb newbs keep on spreading the stupid. FWIW, there is a difference between stupid and ignorant. The experienced notaries here have taken care of ‘ignorant’ by telling you the truth. So, what’s left is stupid–you now know better so stop spreading the crawl/walk bs. Yeah, I’m on a rant cuz I’m so tired of hearing this.
Fact is, there’s not much biz out there now, so it’s going to go to the most experienced/least expensive notary…usually the closest, too. Newb…you don’t stand a chance UNLESS nobody else wants it…and THEN–cuz you’re their last hope, you can name a decent fee…and they’ll pay it. But you’re still not gonna make 6 figures as there is very little biz now. Believe that, too.
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True.
Noticed a recent post by someone BRAND NEW (joined in mid-April 2023) to this forum who stated “none of you have found a way to value your worth.”
Tag that one for the same ‘bin’ you’ve noted above.
Broad-brush stroke INSULT to the ENTIRE audience here on the Notary Cafe forums. Truly reveals that is one member who HASN’T taken advantage of the GOLDMINE database to see ALL the members who DO KNOW their worth.
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Arichter, you are geographically near me. I am a newbie and would like to discuss your thoughts on the crawl/walk thinkers. I am just feeling my way around and I certainly don’t want my practices to hurt anyone else. Are you open to a phone con?
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