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Who should make the opening bid? Eric Adams writes:
“In most cases, setting your price is to your advantage. A well-prepared, confident opening demand sends the message that you’ve done your homework and makes it clear you’re a professional who knows how to play the business game.” Eric Adams, CreativePro The Art of Business: Negotiating Fees
Make sure to quote your fee early in the conversation when you receive a call from a signing service. You’re wasting their time, as well as your own, when you wait until the very end of the phone call to let them know your fee. You should be able to determine a fee once they have given you the appointment date, time and location. Quote your fee at the same time you tell them you can do the signing. For example:
Signing Service: I’m calling to see if you can do a signing for us tonight at 7pm in Los Angeles.
Notary: Yes, I can do that for $100. I’m assuming docs will be emailed to me.
Signing Service: Yes, we will email them as soon as we receive them. Would you be willing to do the signing for $75?
Notary: If you can get docs to me no later than 5pm I will do the signing for $85.
Signing Service: That’ll work.
Obviously, I just threw some fees out there. You’re fees might be higher or lower–We’ll save that conversation for another post. The point is, make sure you have a fee structure in mind so you are able to give your price quickly.
I will discuss fees more specifically in future posts for this series. Here are some of the questions I’d like to discuss: How much should I charge? What fee is too high? What fee is too low? Is there such a thing as an accepted standard in the industry? How do “supply and demand” principles apply to notaries?
If you would like to suggest any additional questions regarding fees or leave feedback about this post, please leave a comment below.