Got this signing offer for a mortgage mod today. Paying $45 for a 22.36-mile drive, and they want a faxback. Usually, these types of signing orders take about 30-40 pages total (for a set of 3) to print in triplicate. Figuring $.15 a page, printing’s like $6 (for 40 pages), and gas is $11.70 ($4.45 per gal; getting 17mpg), so that’s $17.70 total ($6 + $11.70). That leaves $27.30 ($45-$17.70). If it takes 3 hours(prep time, table signing time, and drive time) that’s earning $9.10 per hour net ($27.30/3 hours). (Those numbers doesn’t count for all other operating costs) No way I can even afford therapy at that rate! Keep in mind this is all hypothetical.
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I had one today that was a refi with about 70 miles of driving, the print was 177x2, with scanbacks and the offered fee was $70. I hope nobody actually took that at that fee.
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@takenotenotaryservices Building upon the previous comments, it’s come to my attention that the fee structures being offered appear to be calculated based on specific zip codes, targeting signing agents within those particular geographical areas. The concerning aspect is that these signing assignments are then disseminated to all Licensed Signing Agents (LSAs) operating within the broader region, which seems to create an inequitable situation. Back in 215, companies paid at least $50 up to $90 and I would take those orders in batches of 5 or more. I would find a centralized location at a Panera Bread or Starbucks and have all the signers meet me there in 15 minutes intervals. It was very profitable, but at today’s rates and costs it not worth the time.
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The sad thing is, there are people taking these offers. I don’t know what kind of quality they are getting, but there are some platforms that regularly lowball you, SigningOrder being the worst in my area. I get offers all the time from them for well under $100. I counter and have gotten maybe 2 assignments in the past several months. Someone is taking those $50 and $70 jobs, sometimes providing witnesses, often 150+ pages, often in the middle of nowhere. To each his own but I don’t know how that is sustainable
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I’ve been in the “business” long enough to remember when title companies sent 2 copies of the loan and instructed the signers to hire a notary. We were charging $10 a signature then, and I especially loved the Texas loans that required dozens of acknowledgments. Fast forward to 2026, I’m surrounded by wealth, and my general notary clients expect to pay $100 for a one-signature notarized document that is usually less than a 10-minute drive. To add to the odd mix, there are at least 50 well-trained LSA notaries in my zip code that do not advertise. They are most probably sitting by their pools in their million-dollar mansions, tightly clutching their cell phones, waiting for a call from one of the “platforms” eager to accept a $70, 150+++ page loan signing with scan backs. $70! Friday night I picked up two plates of Pad Ti, egg rolls, and Miso soup, and the bill was $70 + a $10 tip. I still get calls from title companies who ask my fee and i tell them $250 and they remind me to include my invoice with the docs, but not as often as I used to.
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Math lessons might help more.
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Signing order doesn’t low ball you the companies that use signing order platform is low balling.
Understood, thanks for the clarification Earl. I don’t know if it is because there are so many notaries on that platform so the companies can just go low, but companies on that platform in my area are definitely are lower than Snapdocs, NotaryGo, ServiceLink or anyone else I have used
They go low because SOMEONE in the area is taking those fees. But I often get awarded jobs at my counter offer. I have learned who will pay the fee and who won’t.
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Yes exactly. I don’t blame the companies as much as my fellow notaries who are taking these cheap assignments. I always counter if I can make the signing.