Posted by Evaline Braswell on 3/9/13 9:32am
Msg #460211

just a Question for being new.

if You have a company that call's and You are the closes to the Signing and they need it done . they offer You a price and You ask them to go up a little and they tell you that is all they can give . what do you do . when you look around and read and they are lower then what some say that you need to get paid. so the Question is :
Do You rate Your pay against what others think that You need to be paid or do You go with what You are able to get just so that You may get the experience and knowledge of what you are doing ?

Reply by 101livescan on 3/9/13 10:31am
Msg #460219

Girl, say what you mean? Have you done your homework? I personally like $150 as a starting point. Try it out.

Reply by MW/VA on 3/9/13 10:35am
Msg #460223

You should only be setting a fee if you know what you're

doing in the first place. Most of us set a fee & do negotiate those fees when we get a call. I have a minimum of $xxx, for instance.
Trying not to be critical here, but please try to communicate more clearly. Remember, cos. do follow the forum, and your image is certainly affected by the way you communicate.

Reply by Linda_H/FL on 3/9/13 12:33pm
Msg #460258

Evaline, only your can determine your fees

Only you know what your costs are and what you need to make a profit. You need to develop a business plan and work it.

I'm also going to respectfully suggest a few things:

1. Proof read your posts - you are very difficult to understand and as someone said - companies read these forums.
2. Study your notary materials and take a loan signing course. The more you know and the more education you have the higher fee you can command (assuming you do the studying and know what you're doing).
3. Please fix your profile. Possibly get help to develop a good one, but your profile really needs work and, as it stands right now, companies are going to move on when they read it. Your profile is your first best foot forward - make it work for you.
4. Contact your local Chamber of Commerce - maybe they have a Small Business Section that can help you learn how to run your business - I do firmly believe you need some help there.

Good Luck.

Reply by NJDiva on 3/9/13 3:05pm
Msg #460288

Hi Linda and Cheryl :) The difficult part when starting out

in this business is that it's really difficult to develop a business plan because there are variables that a new NSA has no clue to take into consideration. You only learn them by gaining experience.

I would never encourage ANYONE to take lowball fees or (MOST IMPORTANTLY) to work for lowballing companies! However, it's also difficult to justify why an inexperienced newcomer should command the same amount as a veteran closer. I am notorious for passionately imploring people to stop accepting lowball fees. But what I do know is that when I started out 8 years ago, I didn't know about this site and therefore had no clue what to charge. I remember when I took the "course" ( from you know who) they had a pay scale as to what to charge. I went by that not knowing better. They've since stopped pushing those fees (I'm sure they got SLAMMED.) (it's probably why these companies started lowballing!!!!)

Nonetheless, you are lucky enough to have this site to refer to. If you ARE (ugh, I'm gagging right now just typing it) going to take lowball fees, please check the company out on Signing Central before working for them. If they have lower than three stars (some say three and a half, I say FOUR) please consider NOT covering their closings at all, EVER. The companies that have low ratings have it for a reason. Keep in mind, these companies will tell you anything to get it covered, after all, they need SOMEONE to cover it in order to get paid themselves (you may or may not get paid depending on the company-be careful with low rated companies, some don't pay the notary). And please, please, please don't take anything lower than...UGH choking again...$85-80 EVER (for refi's with e-doc's anyway.) Fax backs and packages over 120-125pages are an extra fee!

Companies will try to tell you they'll give you "volume" for accepting low fee's. It's manipulation at it's best. Don't be fooled into believing it makes good business sense to do that. You have volume (if you even GET volume-many times it's a ploy to get the closing covered), but with that comes the additional overhead (paper, toner, wear and tear on printers and vehicle-double the gas and other expenses). Don't be a sucker. You (in the third person) do three to my one and I'm STILL making more than you at those fees and overhead.

As has been said, the better you know the doc's, the easier it will be for you to quickly realize your worth. Do not undercut yourself because you will not be able to sustain a viable business and will quickly give up. If they ask you what your fee is, always ask them what they pay. I have had some companies offer me more than my base fee. I will not give them the upper hand when it comes to that.

The low life, thieving companies that need desperate notaries WILL try to get you to work for them. They ALWAYS prey on new people trying to get established. Beware my dear...beware.

I could go on and on about this, but will close up for now...thanks for letting me share my opinion.

Reply by Luckydog on 3/9/13 2:33pm
Msg #460278

I have a flat fee for a set distance printing 2 copies edocs. If excessive fax backs I charge more, typically not. SS do not like you bargaining with them like at a flea market. You need to be consistent and dependable to get volume. That is the way I run my business, and works fine for me. My suggestion is look at other profiles in your zip code and see if they post what they charge on there and go from there.

Reply by NJDiva on 3/9/13 3:10pm
Msg #460289

hmmm, I propose that lowballing SS's don't like bargaining..

reputable ones don't necessarily need for you to bargain. They offer fair fees to start!!! If you have to bargain so much that they don't like it...move on!!!

Not for nuthin, but...!!!!