Navigating Different Parties and Understanding Scope

In the world of notary work, successful negotiation is often the key to turning an assignment into a win-win. Whether you're dealing with third-party signing services, title or escrow companies, attorneys, or the signers themselves, each party may approach you with different expectations, fee structures, and priorities. Understanding these differences—and how to negotiate effectively—can make all the difference in building a sustainable business as a notary.

Understanding the Scope: The Key to Accurate Pricing

One of the most helpful strategies when negotiating fees and terms is to ask questions to understand what's required for each assignment fully. This can include simple details such as travel time and location. Still, it should also account for additional tasks, such as printing, collecting unnotarized signatures, scanning, or dropping off the package at a shipping depot like FedEx or UPS.

For example:

• Travel: Is the si

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