Posted by mwm143 on 5/26/11 10:54am
Msg #384365

Cost to print

I stated in post earlier that it cost me roughly $3.00 to print 2 sets of documents. Some questioned that. It's actually $4.05. I don't calculate my time since I rarely sit and watch each and every page run off the printer and if I do it's because I have nothing else to do. And if I did it takes me about 2 minutes to prepare an envelope and put some rubber bands around the docs. Further I could have printed 4 sets in the time I've taken to write this post.

Original printer cost was $425.00 in 2005. It has printed 185,000 pages so far. That's $.002 per page. A ream of letter paper is $3.00 or $.006/per sheet A ream of legal paper is $6.00 or $.012 per sheet. The toner cartridge is $30.00 and at last check printed 5,000 sheets or $.006 per sheet. A typical loan package is 125 (which is actually high) x 2 = 250 pages. I calculate half of a package was legal size and half was letter size.

So back to original point...It will definitely cut into my profit margin if companies start sending out packages over night.

So Lee and Linda, what does it cost you to print?

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/26/11 10:57am
Msg #384366

I don't get into that higher math like that...:)

Let's just say - try printing two loan packages at Kinkos, OfficeMax, your local pack n ship - it won't be $3.00 or $4.00, I'll guarantee you that - and I liken my services to them....

Print fee for standard loan package is $25-$30...paper, toner, time, wear and tear on equipment...

Reply by mwm143 on 5/26/11 11:00am
Msg #384369

I don't have the overhead that Kinko's does. Do you? n/m

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 5/26/11 11:02am
Msg #384371

I also don't have the *other* revenue streams that they

do - and not just Kinkos - the best I can get is $1/page at any printer place - maybe a discount after the first xx number of pages - still adds up, sometimes upwards of $50 -

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 5/26/11 12:31pm
Msg #384424

Re: I don't have the overhead that Kinko's does. Do you?

I agree with everyone else about the charge for the service.

There are some costs that you are forgetting about such as the cost of the computer you use, electricity, web access, phone & plan if you use a cell phone for business to communicate -- receiving orders included, and replacement cost of equipment are just a few I can think of off the top of my head with costs related to printing (and receiving) the docs.

It is true that SAs printing the docs save the companies time and money (same costs to them with the addition of shipping). The TC and SS companies that send out docs 2 hrs before a closing would not be able to complete as many jobs if they were to return to overnight docs on a regular basis.

Reply by mwm143 on 5/26/11 2:15pm
Msg #384438

Oh my...

Seriously? The cost of electricity??? The cost of my computer????? Okay. Make that $4.06 per package.

I would have electrcity, a computer, internet, natural gas, a house, a car regardless of the type of work I do.

One more time....The difference between my cost to print and what I charge is called profit. I bill it as a SERVICE FEE and TC's pay it. I make a living by making a profit. Even it cost me $24.50 to print documents I am still making less profit if the docs are over nighted.

Reply by Moneyman/TX on 6/2/11 11:13am
Msg #384935

Re: Oh my...

I don't know of anyone that HAS to have a computer and internet to survive. But then again, you might be different. Oh well. Then nevermind about including the things you actually use in calculating YOUR costs.

It appears that you truly are one of the lucky ones and that your "business" is just a hobby when it comes to calculating the actual costs involved (because you would have the costs anyway). That's you, not me or anyone else that runs a business.

If you are trying to say that you make such a huge profit off the e-doc fee and you do not want to lose that stream of income -- then don't. Simply refuse to accept overnight docs. Problem solved!

It sounds like you may have hung your hat on all the profit you would make via e-doc charges from your signings while cutting the rest of the service charges down to the minimum or charging at cost. Now that that area may be shrinking, it appears that you are realizing that you have been undercharging for the rest of the services when you break them down. Sounds like you may have undervalued your own time and skills, if so, there is no one to blame but yourself.

Reply by jnew on 5/26/11 11:03am
Msg #384372

Re: I don't get into that higher math like that...:)

There are some time costs that you are not considering. I always check the pages to make sure they printed corrrectly and match the pdf image. The SA is responsible for any print errors. If you offer a commercial service you are entitled to a reasonable markup for your services, including document printing. The main reason they have the notary print the docs is to save time between documents arriving and the closing and it cuts the settlement agents labor time and delivery cost. By charging 25.00 the notary is saving the settlement agent twice that amount.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 5/26/11 5:04pm
Msg #384470

Re: I don't get into that higher math like that...:)

I agree on the time factor - I had a cash closing today that had 14 attachments!!! That did not even include the FedEx label! It takes time to go through all those attachments and double check to make sure you didn't miss any. I had another one a week or two ago where LSI, who is notorious for sending multiple, multiple attachments, posted the entire package including the UPS label in one single pdf file! My jaw hit the floor when I saw it was only one file.

Reply by jba/fl on 5/26/11 5:12pm
Msg #384471

Re: I don't get into that higher math like that...:)

"My jaw hit the floor when I saw it was only one file."

I so seldom have someone send more than one attachment, the reverse is true here. I really hate multiple attachments - for the same reasons. That is when the print fee should be doubled. Unfortunately, they don't know that TC is sending multiples when scheduling.

Reply by CopperheadVA on 5/26/11 5:28pm
Msg #384473

Re: I don't get into that higher math like that...:)

<< I so seldom have someone send more than one attachment >>

You are very blessed!

Reply by cadmonkey/CA on 5/29/11 2:13pm
Msg #384669

If you buy the full version of Acrobat, you can convert

multiple pdf files into one pdf file with the click of a button. That alone saves me a ton of time since I can combine all 14 attachments into one file, arrange them in the order I like, and print them from one file.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/29/11 2:24pm
Msg #384672

Acrobat X Pro is grrreat! I just bought it

and thisi s one reason, PLUS, it is a good piece of software for electronic notarization.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/29/11 2:26pm
Msg #384673

Re: Acrobat X Pro is grrreat! PS -

Retail is $449, but if you are a teacher or student you MAY be able to get interesting discounts.

Reply by BrendaTx on 5/29/11 2:19pm
Msg #384671

I don't like tons of attachments! n/m

Reply by jba/fl on 5/29/11 2:53pm
Msg #384675

me either! n/m

Reply by Lee/AR on 5/26/11 11:19am
Msg #384386

What Linda & jnew said. This is a 'service' similar to Kinkos and, frankly, if this service we provide wasn't saving them money, do you think they'd be doing it routinely? Also seems that you are not counting your time. Minutes do turn into hours... unpaid, in your example.

Reply by mwm143 on 5/26/11 11:39am
Msg #384399

You stated I didn't know my cost to print in another post. Not what the service is worth. I charge 25.00. Hence the loss in profit for me if docs are sent FedEx. How or why is it you now change gears and say I work unpaid? Makes no sense and unrelated to the subject

Do you even know what your costs are? Not what FedEx charges. I can assure you FedEx makes a profit too. Name of the game. Right?

Reply by parkerc/ME on 5/26/11 4:39pm
Msg #384464

It costs me an average of roughly $8-$10 to run 2 copies of a 100-125 page package. I compute the estimated cost per page in paper, toner, and drum at about 4 cents. Paper of course computer at cost divided by number of sheets. Toner and drum costs computed at actual cost for each divided by the average number of pages the manufacturer lists as the life of each cartridge/drum. The difference between my actual cost and the $25 average print fee is taken up by wear and tear on the machine and on me (making sure the pages come out right, operator maintenance on it, etc., etc.).

Reply by parkerc/ME on 5/26/11 4:40pm
Msg #384465

Re: Cost to print - PS

I don't deal in fractions of a cent. I round up to the next cent for everything.

Reply by parkerc/ME on 5/26/11 4:48pm
Msg #384467

Oops! Delete the "computer" in 3rd sentence of OP. And, altho' I DO deal with fractions until it gets to the final cost per page of paper, toner, and drum, which I round up for each and then add. And I hereby quit posting for today before I screw up any more posts!