In the notary world, we talk a lot about being “low-balled.”

And we should.

Notaries should not be expected to accept assignments that do not fairly compensate them for their time, travel, printing, supplies, expertise, and professionalism. There are real costs involved in running a notary business, and every notary should understand their numbers before accepting work.

But there is another side of the fee conversation that does not get discussed nearly enough:

Can your fees be so high that you price yourself out of the market?

The answer is yes.

A Real-World Example

Recently, I was trying to book a loan modification signing for a Friday evening at 6:00 p.m.

A notary responded that because 6:00 p.m. was “after hours” for her, she would need to charge $350 for the appointment.

Now, let me be clear: every notary has the right to set their own fees. You are a business owner. You decide what your time is worth, what assignments make sense for you, and what you are willing to accept.

But businesses also have to operate within a market.

In this case, that notary had reportedly been blacklisted by 36 companies due to her fee structure.

That is not just a pricing issue. That is a business issue.

The Difference Between Fair Pricing and Pricing Yourself Out

There is nothing wrong with charging more for difficult assignments.

A signing that requires extensive travel, last-minute scheduling, multiple signers, special circumstances, scanbacks, large document packages, hospital appointments, correctional facility signings, or evening/weekend availability may justify a higher fee.

But the fee still needs to make sense.

There is a difference between:

“This assignment requires extra time and resources, so my fee reflects that.”

and

“I am charging a premium so high that clients will simply stop calling.”

That difference matters.

We Need to Talk About Both Sides

Notaries often hear warnings about accepting fees that are too low. We talk about not working at a loss, not allowing companies to undervalue us, and not saying yes to assignments that do not cover our expenses.

That is important advice.

But we also need to talk about the risk of going too far in the other direction.

If your fees are consistently far above what the market will bear, you may not be viewed as a strong negotiator. You may be viewed as unreliable, unrealistic, or difficult to place.

And once companies stop calling, it can be hard to rebuild those relationships.

“Know Your Worth” Also Means Know Your Market

“Know your worth” is a phrase we hear often, but knowing your worth does not mean choosing random high fees and expecting clients to pay them.

Knowing your worth means understanding:

• Your actual business expenses
• Your time commitment
• Your travel distance
• Your experience level
• The complexity of the assignment
• The urgency of the request
• The going rate in your area
• The value of maintaining long-term professional relationships

A fee should be intentional, not emotional.

If you are frustrated by low offers, that frustration is understandable. But your pricing strategy should be based on business math, not resentment.

The Middle Ground

There is a middle ground between being underpaid and overcharging.

That middle ground is where professional notaries build sustainable businesses.

It means saying no when a fee does not make sense.

It also means knowing when a fee is reasonable, competitive, and profitable.

A smart fee structure allows you to be compensated fairly while still remaining someone clients want to call again. That does not mean being the cheapest. It means being professional, consistent, and reasonable.

Protect Your Business Reputation

Your reputation is part of your business.

Clients remember notaries who are dependable, prepared, professional, and fair. They also remember notaries whose fees are so far outside the norm that the assignment becomes impossible to place.

Before quoting a fee, ask yourself:

• Is this fee based on actual time, travel, and assignment requirements?
• Is this fee appropriate for the type of signing?
• Am I factoring in the relationship with this client?
• Would I be comfortable explaining how I arrived at this fee?
• Is this a fee that supports my business long-term?

Sometimes the answer will be, “Yes, this assignment requires a higher fee.”

Other times, the better business decision may be to pass on the assignment or quote something more aligned with the market.

Final Thoughts

Notaries should be paid fairly. Period.

But fair does not always mean high, and reasonable does not mean cheap.

As notary professionals, we have to walk a fine line. We should not undervalue our services, but we also should not ignore the realities of the market.

Fair fees protect the notary.

Reasonable fees protect the relationship.

Smart fees keep you in business.