Posted by Pooh/CA on 3/2/05 11:05am
Msg #23249

Average mile amount to charge

Hi,
I normally give the first 15 miles free and charge $1.00 for every extra mile. Am I asking too much or should I lower my mileage amount? Is there an average amount most notaries ask or should I give a flat rate? I'm somewhat new and just want to keep up with the rest of you notaries out there.

Thanks!!!!!

Reply by Art_MD on 3/2/05 11:19am
Msg #23252

Do your calculations ahead of time. Know your area. When they say the signing is in xxxx, you should immediately know what your fee is including mileage. If you were driving, how would you be able to set a fee if you can't tell the exact mileage if you had to figure it out each time.
If you are in a conjested area with a lot of zip codes, do it by zip codes. Keep an index card with you and in the car (in large type so you can read it in dim light).

Art

Reply by Korey Humphreys on 3/2/05 11:48am
Msg #23258

Hello,

I don't personally charge by the mile. I go with a flat fee. It makes everything simple for me and my clients.

Within 10 miles I charge 45.00
Beyond 11-25 miles I charge 65.00
Beyond 25-35 miles I charge 95.00
Anything beyond is usually up to 130.00

Some people may think my charges are steep..... however, I get at least 3-5 requests for services a day, usually traveling upto 30 miles. So, combining Notary services with my other services (process server & Paralegal) I make a killing.

Korey Humphreys
Ayer, MA

Reply by Pooh/CA on 3/2/05 11:59am
Msg #23264

I guess I have some figuring to do , but there are alot of areas to cover so I better come up with some flat rates. Thanks for the advice.

Reply by Ernest_CT on 3/2/05 12:37pm
Msg #23270

As silly as it sounds to mention it, always figure that you're going round trip. Also, always figure as if you were starting from home (or office, as appropriate); don't plan on "Well, I'm going to be in x that day anyway". If the borrower is 10 miles away and the drop box for the documents is two miles from your house, that's 22 miles (unless the drop box is directly on the route from borrower to home).

Reply by Pooh/CA on 3/2/05 1:12pm
Msg #23280

Thank you for the info. I've got homework tonight!!!!!

Reply by Dorothy/MI on 3/2/05 2:58pm
Msg #23297

Easy to use form to figure charges

I have designed a form that several notaries in my area have used to arrive at a fee for various areas. First I take the blank form and either a zip code directory or our local phone book lists zip codes. Write down all of the cities and post offices and zip codes. Then I take the list to yahoo maps, enter in my address and then the zip code. Yahoo will take you to the center of the zip code if a specific address is not given. It gives you the miles and the time to travel. I have determined the minimum amount I want to make per hour, times double the driving time, add one hour for signing and misc (fax backs, invoicing, etc) plus the IRS allowance double. Add these two figures together and round up to the next $5 increment. Because it is a table in Word, it is easy to sort it by zip code. I print it out on the printer and staple it in the back of my calendar planner. When I get a call and they ask my price, I ask them for the zip code, flip open my planner and there it is. Now you can also factor other things into the fee; type of area, ease of getting there (or difficulty), traffic conditions. etc. I usually preface my stated fee with "my usual fee for that zip code is $__. Can you do that? If they quote a lower fee, I either can accept it or use that as leverage to see if they will raise my fee. It is a good negotiation tool.

I have found that this works very well for me and it has for everyone else that has used it.

Reply by LauraR_NY on 3/3/05 9:41am
Msg #23418

Re: Easy to use form to figure charges

I used the calculator here on Notary Rotary?

Reply by Anonymous on 3/3/05 12:24pm
Msg #23443

Thank you, thank you

Thank you Laura. Thought I was very familiar with this site, but today I learned something new! Using the calculater is so much easier than the way I did it. If I'd known about this 3-1/2 years ago, I could have save myself many, many hours. I would probably use this as a tool and still use Yahoo to get the driving time because sometimes that is even a bigger factor than the distance, but it is an excellent starting point.

Reply by Dorothy Matsel on 3/3/05 12:27pm
Msg #23445

Posted under wrong name

Sorry, didn't realize that the anonymous tag had dropped down.

Reply by Ernest_CT on 6/18/05 6:29pm
Msg #45907

Thanks, Dorothy/MI! n/m