How Much to Charge as a Mobile Notary
Charge your state's per-notarization cap for each seal, then add a travel fee on its own line — flat within a zone, by distance beyond — since the trip is uncapped. Price loan signings as a flat package ($75–$200 in most markets), bill print and scan-backs separately, add an after-hours surcharge when it applies, and keep a trip fee for signings that fall through. ShowTheReceipts saves your signing and travel lines so every appointment prices the same way twice.
Two different fees, two different rules
The single most important thing to understand in notary pricing: the seal is capped, the service around it is not. Your state sets a maximum per notarization. Everything else — travel, waiting, printing, scanning — is a service you price freely.
Build your fee from both, and keep them on separate lines.
Price the seal, then the trip
- Notarization — number of seals × your state’s per-seal cap
- Travel fee — flat within a radius, by distance beyond
- Print / prep — per page or per set when you supply documents
- Scan-backs — flat fee when the signing company requires them
A visible travel line is normal and expected. Padding the capped seal fee to cover your drive is the one thing that can actually get a notary in trouble.
What the numbers look like
| Job | How to price it |
|---|---|
| Single notarization | Per-seal cap + flat travel (~$25–$75 total) |
| Loan signing (refi / purchase) | Flat package, commonly $75–$200 |
| Print + scan-backs | Per page + flat scan fee, itemized |
| After-hours / weekend | Base fee + stated surcharge |
| Fall-through | Trip fee for the drive and prep |
Loan signings: quote the package
For a loan signing, quote one flat package fee up front that covers the full document set and the travel. Refis, purchases, and sellers packages differ in page count — so agree the number before you print, not after the borrower questions it.
What not to do
- Don’t pad the capped seal fee to hide travel — itemize travel instead
- Don’t take an out-of-area signing with no trip fee agreed
- Don’t print a package before the fee and the count are confirmed
- Don’t forget the after-hours surcharge on that 9 p.m. closing
Frequently asked questions
How much does a mobile notary charge per appointment?
A single notarization is your state's per-seal cap (often $5–$15) plus a travel fee that covers the drive — so a basic mobile appointment commonly totals $25–$75. The seal is regulated; the travel, print, and wait are where the real fee lives, and they're priced by you, not the state.
How much should a loan signing agent charge?
Loan signings are priced as a flat package, commonly $75–$200 depending on the market, the document count, and whether scan-backs are required. Refis and sellers packages differ in page count, so quote the package fee up front rather than billing a stack of per-seal lines.
Can I charge for travel, printing, and scanning?
Yes — none of those are capped. Travel is flat within a radius and distance-based beyond it, printing is per page or per set, and scan-backs are a flat fee. Itemizing them separately keeps your regulated per-seal charge clean while still earning a real fee for the work.
Do I charge if the signing doesn't complete?
Yes — a trip fee. If you've printed the package, driven out, and the signer backs out or the documents are wrong, you've spent the time and fuel regardless. State a trip fee up front so a fall-through covers your cost instead of being a total loss.