Today, I am not working due to it’s my birthday. Nevertheless, today I received an email notification for a sellers package/with faxbacks’ paying $75. It was in the radius of 10 miles from my location. I didn’t take the order, but I noticed it wasn’t be taken very quickly. While I was in the process of inputting a counter offer of $125. I watch the company increase the fee by $10. Within a second, I received notification the order had been filled. Apparently that’s was the magic number for a LSA, because the order was taken in mere seconds. Here’s my point, sometimes Notaries work from a mindset of “loss or fear”, so $10 met their expectations. Having the mindset of fear, if I don’t take this assignment now, I will not get any work. Having the mindset of loss, if I don’t accept their low fee, I won’t make any money. I know this company will pay higher fees, because they have done so for me in the past. If we are not willing to ask for our true worth, the company will determine your value for you We can not work from the mindset of the “fear or loss” of not getting an signing orders. The work will come, so be willing to ask for what you are truly worth. Truth, signing fees are negotiable! It’s an art of finding the fee that is agreeable for both parties, it has to be a win win situation for all. Both sides will both feel some discomfort, but will come to terms to do business. Until all loan signing agents learn their true value in this business, we all will be working at a disadvantage to the title companies and signing services. Of course this is just my opinion and it doesn’t mean it’s right or wrong.
Oh, no. It’s not just your opinion. It is a total FACT in this oversaturated, low demand market. Shame so many can’t or won’t do the math and carry on anyway and don’t realize they’re doing all the work while hiring party is making the money they left on the table!
Mirrors the tenet I’ve expressed previously on the Notary Cafe forum. If those accepting the lowball fees would merely take a few minutes to jot down all of the expenses associated with performing the services they provide within their service region to determine their baseline operating cost ===>>> then, at that point, they could easily calculate their fees.
This in turn will enable visibility to calculate how to generate a net profit to determine if a Profit or a Loss is sustained at that rate.
Unfortunately, we’re ‘preaching’ to the choir . . .
See this thread for additional details about calculating Fees:
Here is some more information about myth busting in our business sector:
Happy Birthday!!!
@J4MobileNotary Thank you for acknowledging my birthday!
Happy Birthday and wishing you many more with complete health, happiness, love and prosperity! 
@yolicue Thank you so much for the birthday wishes 
@cfletcher sorry I missed that, Carl! Belated Happy Birthday!
@LindaH-FL Thank you…
Last week I received a text from a notary service in Florida for a POA with one signature around 20 miles from my house for $50. That was a bit less than I would have asked for but I went ahead and took the job. A few days later I received another text from the same company for another POA job with 5 signatures about 3 miles from my house. Instead of asking them what they paid, I texted them my price of $125 with terms of “upon receipt of invoice”. They said okay. Keep in mind that they charged their client $285 for this. The clients gave me a $60 tip. Within 3 days I received payment via echeck for both jobs. I’ve been a notary for almost 4 years and I have never done a loan signing because there’s just too much competition and I refuse to leave my house for what they’re willing to pay. So, I’m hoping that this company sees my worth and will continue to contact me first for any jobs they have in my area.
@schultz.bonnie CONGRATULATIONS! 
You’ve put into practice & achieved SUCCESS with the technique that I ADVOCATE for on a regular basis within the Notary Cafe forum ===>>> DIVERSIFY!
I often state that members should do the following & provide the reasoning for doing so:
- Always DIVERSIFY the services you intend to provide as it will “smooth out” the peaks & valleys of the income stream.
======
Often, members aren’t certain HOW to move forward with diversification of their professional services . . .
Over the years I’ve been providing these professional services, I’ve purchased many texts (more than a baker’s dozen or so). There is ONE text that have purchased & gained an IMMENSE amount of wisdom, support, & guidance from reading => “Marketing Your Non-Loan Notary Services” by Laura Vestanen. The price is QUITE reasonable at a mere $11. This text will be instrumental in guiding you to effectively & efficiently expanding your business while simultaneously utilizing your well-honed notarial skills!
I truly found it to be very helpful , insightful, and truly assisted me in brainstorming my way to greater success . It’s much easier to surf the peaks and valleys of business cycles if there are multiple income streams (diversify your services across varied business sectors ). 
FYI: I receive no compensation or remuneration of any type or kind as a result of my first-hand experiential review above nor from any sales of the text.
I’ve previously referenced this instrumental text many times previously on the Notary Cafe forum as well:
It’s my sincere hope that you’ve found this post to be supportive, insightful, & helpful!
Happy birthday!! 
@abbottirene Thank you so much 
I am fortunate that we have lived off of my husband’s income while I homeschooled our son so it is easier for me to not take anything less than $100. I did make a mistake and take an assignment from a company that I really like and gave me two that same day. I accepted $100 and I regretted it. The package was HUGE!
I really hope others understand that taking minimal fees doesn’t actually make money. Not after adding up the expenses.
I couldn’t have said it better. The problem with taking low fees is you are affirming to the vendor that low fees are acceptable. If I accept $10/hr from my employer, what is his incentive to give me $20/hr ? Zero. Don’t fool your self that break even jobs are good enough for now. You can look forward to more mileage, bald tires and worn brakes with not enough money after all those jobs to pay for the new tires, brake jobs and (God forbid) a new car when the old one has more mileage than it’s worth.
Omg I just relocated to the DFW area of Texas and I am appalled at the low fees. It is so saturated with agents here there is no negotiating. I have 22 yrs and this is the 3rd state I have been a commissioned notary/signing agent. I am amazed at what they get away with here and how poorly they treat agents here.
@Amy_Boyd Unfortunately, this scenario is present across many regions within the US.
It’s truly unacceptable; however, as long as “bargain basement” fees are accepted, the scenario will be perpetuated.
Of note, there are ‘pocket’ regions (like where you recently moved from) in the US that have low saturations of Professional Signing Agents [PSAs]. They’re quite fortunate! 
The NNA has set minimum fee standards as a guide. They ask signing agents to stick to that guide in order to protect all of us. Unfortunately, new agents starting out need to take anything they can to get the experience under their belt.
To my knowledge no, they have not. They USED to…until they ended up under DOJ investigation for price-fixing. They removed those standards a long time ago. Sadly, that organization does nothing to protect notaries…only their pocketbook.
JMO
I hadn’t looked it up for a while. I had no idea they removed it. What a shame.
This profession is only 20-some-odd years old (Signing Agent). We are not very regulated and seem to get pushed around a lot more that the rest of the players in the closings.