Do any notary signing agents find the fees offered by signing companies insulting for the amount of time and work we put in to each transaction?
And to top it off, some of them require you to provide a witness as well.
Just wanted other opinions. Thanks
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Free enterprise. It’s the American way. Signing companies will offer bargain basement fees in their quest to keep the bulk of the pie that Title companies pay. HOWEVER – and that’s a big however – this is your business. You set your fees. Your fees should cover ALL your expenses and still make you a profit.
They offer a (paltry) fee; you counter-offer with your professional fee.
If you’re not sure how to go about setting a profitable fee or running a business, perhaps you should contact SCORE for guidance. SCORE is affiliated with the SBA.
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@susanfingercohen Great question! 
I see you’re very new to the forum.
FYI: There is immediately available information found within the Notary Cafe database on this topic.
This information is a GOLDMINE!
Most members express that they find it difficult/NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to locate the Search Function in order to access the wealth of information available within the database.
To be helpful, I’ve inserted an image for you & others [see below] to help members locate it to unlock the wisdom & knowledge of other members on the forums.
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Here is a recent (9 days ago) thread on the same topic:
GUIDELINE FOR CREATION OF SCHEDULE OF FEES:
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Accessing the database to locate information about potential clients has saved many of us an inordinate amount of time ‘chasing’ payments for Services professionally provided to potential non-payers . . . 
I use to make comments but stopped
Yes they Never Reply. Unfortunate.
I worked for 29 of 95 services (31%) from 12/2022-12/31/2024. I attached two tables that illustrate the number of calendar days post assignment I received payment. One table is sorted alphabetically by name of service, the other by calendar day from low to high. I learned that the service pay policy is not as important as the actual pay date. I mark on my calendar when to expect payment, then follow-up as necessary if I have not been paid per their policy. Where no policy is forthcoming, I allow 45 calendar days, then start following up and document all my follow-up steps. I have been paid for all my services. My intent is for notaries to have comparable data for services, and for services to see how they compare with each other if they are lurking on the forum. I love numbers and the stories they tell.
CustomerNoDaySummary.pdf (77.3 KB)
CustomerNoNameSummary.pdf (77.2 KB)
If for some reason you can’t open these files, I’d be happy to share them with you directly.
I’m in a rural area. I will not provide a witness (period). If needed we can meet in a public place and they can pay someone we ask to “witness.” After all it’s usually just one document that actually needs the witness. I’ve never had someone say no. I wish they would verify the information regarding the notary serving as a witness. In my state I can do one or the other and some wish to argue that it’s dependent on the property location. No, it’s not. I’ve questioned the out of state requirement for witnesses vs my states requirement. I’m not arguing that point but neither am I providing the witness. But as I said…a public place is easy enough to find someone.
No I don’t ever feel insulted when offered work and I don’t accept low offers I always counter and when awarded a job it’s at the fee I stated I required.
People who accept these offers and claim they are insulted should be embarrassed they took something at an unacceptable fee. Stop blaming signing companies for decisions that lie with the notary.
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I have been countering signing offers for the last two years and have never been awarded any through a signing company when I have done so. There are always NSA’s that will accept any fee offered regardless.
I do about 40 a month almost each one is a counter offer. Must be a geographical regional thing.
@susanfingercohen Absolutely correct! 
It’s truly sad to know that at some point they’ll discover that it’s COSTING them money to provide their professional services . . . 