# Notary Signing Agents: The Importance of Considering Fees Before Accepting Assignments **URL:** \ **Category:** Looking For Advice\ **Created:** [September 25, 2023, 3:25pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/notary-signing-agents-the-importance-of-considering-fees-before-accepting-assignments/42240 "2023-09-25T15:25:37Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 6
**Author:** ![cNsa5](https://yyz2.discourse-cdn.com/flex034/user_avatar/forum.notarycafe.com/cnsa5/32/33381_2.png) [@cNsa5](https://forum.notarycafe.com/u/cNsa5)\ **Post date:** [September 25, 2023, 5:25pm UTC](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/notary-signing-agents-the-importance-of-considering-fees-before-accepting-assignments/42240/6 "2023-09-25T17:25:56Z")
It would be in the best interest of each Professional Signing Agent’s [PSA] to jot down (_if they haven’t already_) _ **all of the expenses** _ associated with **performing the services you provide** within your service region to determine a baseline operating cost. Then, at that point, _ **you can calculate the fees** _ that will generate a net profit to determine if you’ll have a Profit or sustain a Loss at that rate. There are **many items** to consider within your Overhead calculations. Here are a few to get you started: • telephone expenses including cell phone equipment and monthly service fees • office equipment and furniture; i.e., work chair, work desk, reliable dual-tray printer, trustworthy scanner, etc. • Notarial stamps for Jurats, Acknowledgements, Notarial Name, Commission Expiration, etc. • rent and utilities • paper • toner • binder clips • pens (inexpensive for one-time use) • stationery and supplies including stamps & envelopes • travel costs to & from signer locations (i.e., create a generic by **county** list) • travel costs to & from FedEx/UPS/USPS, etc. (i.e., choose your favorite location OR the closest that will provide you with a **receipt** ) • business insurance • business-related meals and entertainment • professional association memberships • annual background checks • annual certification expenses • legal and accounting fees • tax preparation fees • advertising and marketing costs; i.e., Google ads, yellow pages ad, website, business cards, or brochure • Protection equipment; i.e., COVID-19 masks, hand sanitizer, wipes, etc. AND many more! Your **individual** overhead would _ **also include** _ the cost of fringe benefits; i.e., medical insurance, disability insurance, retirement benefits. Also, remember to include quarterly income tax payment to federal & state (as appropriate) and self-employment taxes. ====== If calculating all this accurately seems to be a bit overwhelming, reach out to your tax advisor and ask for guidance in this regard. ✨💛 ====== Also, there is an _ **excellent specific cost breakdown by one business owner** _ for services within her [@anon78047977] _ **region & for her overhead** _: "Ok for a seasoned already in business Signing Agent (meaning no start up costs to factor in, just on going costs) **Average Refinance** - 150 pages (300 when having to print 2 copies) - 35 miles average miles to signing/from signing/to FedEx drop - Print cost average .15 per page (Laser printer, standard paper. Note this is also the cost at Staples, FedEx Office in the area BUT I have actually calculated my real costs by dividing the number of pages I get from a toner kit, my drum kit, cost of paper etc. but I use this average of .15 because there are Notaries around who actually use outside printing) - IRS mileage .56 per mile (you can use actual costs of gas, insurance, plus maintenance costs. I will use the IRS rate because it’s a good average and I also have Tolls I have to pay which I will not add in this example. Also later I kind of use this amount as a “catch all” for other expenses. Again, I have determined my “actual” costs and the averages I use are pretty spot on.) - 2.25 hours an average total time spent which includes, confirming appt & reviewing instructions, printing/prepping docs, travel time to/from/to FedEx, signing/notarizing docs, scan back - Costs that people usually do not take into consideration because it’s part of their household BUT they are costs of running a business (home office expenses - internet, electric, computer, phone, supplies, etc.) Remember every business has similar expenses **So here we go…let’s look at average total for this signing:** **$45 print costs** **$19.60 mileage rate** (So this number is based on IRS mileage rate. I use this number as a catch all to give me an estimate of my actual costs (gas, toll, %of annual maintenance, %of insurance and a % of home office costs, %of supplies, etc. Since I know my % for every business expenses, I already know this number is pretty close to my actual costs. For example my actual costs for this signing would be around $21) **It will cost me $64.60 for a 150 page refinance order.** With no issues, no traffic, no reprints, no problems **If I took a $75 signing fee I would net $10.40** **I would net roughly $4.62 per hour for a signing that took up 2.25 hours of my time.** **$95 I would net $30.40 or $13.51 per hour** **$125 I would net $60.40 or $26.84 per hour** **$150 I would net $85.40 or $37.96 per hour** So when I advocate for SAs and fees I am not just coming up with number off the top of my head. I have done the math for myself personally." SOURCE: [Signing Agent Fee is Just Not a Notary Fee - #38 by anon78047977](http://forum.notarycafe.com/t/signing-agent-fee-is-just-not-a-notary-fee/23455/38) --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.notarycafe.com/t/notary-signing-agents-the-importance-of-considering-fees-before-accepting-assignments/42240)._