Mobile Notary: Signing Fee With Travel Minimum

All versions

A mobile notary earns two ways: the signing itself and the drive to get there. Charge the base plus mileage, but protect the short trips with a travel minimum so a five-mile hop still covers your time in the car.

Quick formula: Base plus the larger of mileage or the travel floor:

=B2+MAX(C2*D2,E2)

A $75 signing 30 miles out at $0.65 a mile bills $75 plus $25 minimum (mileage was only $19.50), for $100.

Functions used (tap for the full reference guide):

MAX

The example

Three appointments at the same $75 base and $25 travel minimum, differing only in distance.

	A	B	C	D	E	F
1	Client	Base	Miles	Rate	Trip min	Fee
2	Refi — Plano	75	30	0.65	25	$100.00
3	Seller — Frisco	75	60	0.65	25	$114.00
4	Refi — Allen	75	10	0.65	25	$100.00

The formula

MAX picks the higher of computed mileage and the travel floor, then the base is added on top:

=B2+MAX(C2*D2,E2) // base + whichever is larger: mileage or the trip minimum

How it works

Build the travel piece first, then add the base:

C2*D2 is the raw mileage charge — 30 miles at $0.65 is $19.50.
MAX(...,E2) compares that to the $25 travel minimum and keeps the larger, so a short drive still bills $25.
B2+... adds the signing base to the travel charge for the total fee.
Once the miles push the mileage charge past the minimum, the minimum stops applying and true distance takes over.

The crossover is the minimum divided by the rate: $25 over $0.65 is about 38 miles. Beyond that, every appointment bills real mileage.

Try it: interactive demo

Interactive

Enter the signing base, distance, mileage rate, and your travel minimum.

Signing base ($)

Miles

Rate per mile ($)

Travel minimum ($)

Variations

Per-signature loan package

Loan signings often price by the number of notarized signatures on top of the base.

=B2+F2*G2+MAX(C2*D2,E2)

Print fee for e-docs

Add a per-page print charge when the borrower gets a paper copy.

=B2+H2*0.10+MAX(C2*D2,E2)

Pitfalls & errors

State law caps the per-signature notarial fee in most places, but travel and convenience fees are usually separate and uncapped. Keep the base and the travel in different columns so the capped part is clear.

Round-trip mileage, not one-way, is what costs you time and fuel. Decide which you charge and enter it consistently in the miles column.

Practice workbook

📊

Download the free Mobile Notary: Signing Fee With Travel Minimum practice workbook

Edit the yellow base, miles, rate, and minimum cells; the fee recalculates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the travel fee legal to charge?

In most states, yes — travel and convenience fees are separate from the regulated notarial act fee, as long as they are disclosed and agreed to in advance. Check your state's notary handbook for the specifics.

Should I bill one-way or round-trip miles?

Either is fine as long as you are consistent and the customer knows. Round-trip better reflects your real cost; one-way at a higher rate gets to the same place. Pick one and keep the miles column honest.

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Function references: MAX