Rush Serves: What is the Appropriate Amount for a Process Server to Charge?
- December 24, 2012
- by Kimberly Faber
- Business Tips
Editor’s note: This article was written based on the comments and suggestions of various members of the process serving profession. The following tips are meant to serve as suggestions of how to approach charging for rush serves and should not be taken as a strict formula or guide.
Whether it's a formulaic amount, doubling the charge, or a case-by-case determination, process servers are often faced with the decision of what to charge for a rush serve. Selecting the amount to charge for a rush serve can have a profound effect on your firm's income today and in the future. There are numerous factors to consider, and a recent conversation in the Process Servers LinkedIn Group has professionals sharing their prices and opinions on charging for rush serves.
The original question: "what do you think is an appropriate charge for an immediate serve - one where the papers need to be served in less than 6 hours?", provides very specific parameters. Group members responded immediately with their formulas or flat additional fees for the job.
What is considered a rush serve?
According to the ranging opinions of process servers in both groups, there are variant definitions of what should be considered a rush serve. Some count a request for service within 1-3 days a rush serve. Others have varying costs associated with different timeframes designating two separate additional charges for a serve that needs to be completed in 48 hours versus 24. Others have a same-day rush fee, while other firms choose not to charge for rush serves and work on volume. Many group members encourage their peers to get a sense of what their local competition is charging for rush serves and have a price that can compete. As the format and cost differ from firm to firm, it may be best to decide what your firm will consider a rush serve and what different levels that will include. An alternative is to designate a charge for each individual rush serve on a case by case basis.
What are other process servers charging for rush serves?
The charges for rush serves that process servers have shared vary tremendously. Some of the listed amounts have been double the service fee, 25% of the regular service fee, and an additional $25, $35, or $45 on top of the regular service fee. For a business, $130, $100, $95, $80, $75, and various other amounts have been listed. Pricing for a rush serve for an individual has been listed as high as $140 and as low as $0, and included in the varying opinions of what is fair to charge is the option to completely forgo the rush serve fee. Though the format may not suit every process serving firm, some refrain completely from charging a rush fee while others will waive the fee to instill good faith in a potential repeat client. The major takeaway is that what an individual process server charges for a rush fee differs based on a number of factors not limited to where the process serving firm is located, the terms of the serve itself, and personal preference.
Factors you may want to consider when determining what to charge
Creating a formula for your rush serve charge that can be used on a case by case basis can alleviate some of the headaches in deciding what to charge. If you choose to develop a formula or flat rate, there are a few factors that you may want to consider:
- What is the time frame?
Is the person requesting a serve be completed within 1-2 business days? 48 hours? 6 hours? If you plan to offer pricing tiers for different levels of rush serves this can be an important element to consider. - Is the person who needs to be served a business or an individual?
Some group members note that there is no way to guarantee that a personal paper will be served within a specific timeframe. The same is true for a business. However, if the paper is for a business or registered agent and the rush allows the paper to be served within standard business hours, a process server may choose to charge less than they would for an individual as the serve may be easier to effectuate. - What is the location of the serve compared to your office?
How large are the counties that you serve? Many process servers work in multiple counties or across entire states. The geographic location of the serve will determine how much time and resources will be devoted to the job in addition to fuel costs. You may want to keep this in mind when deciding on a suitable fee. - Is someone readily available to complete the job?
This is a factor in which assessing the devotion of your resources is important. Is there a contract worker or employee that is readily available to take on the rush job or will it set back the status of several other serves? Consider what resources will need to be devoted to the job and how it will affect your backlog. - Is this an opportunity to generate repeat business?
When approaching this factor there are a number of things to consider. Many process servers have noted that a rush serve charge can be the difference between significant income on one serve or increased business over an extended period of time. If you have been contacted by a person or business that can potentially grow into a repeat client, you may want to consider the potential for an ongoing professional relationship when determining what to charge.
There may be other elements that your firm considers that are not addressed above. Additionally, some of these factors may not always apply. If you already have a formula or a flat rate that you charge across the board or other items that you consider, add your thoughts to the comments at the bottom of the article.
A note on guarantees and taking on a rush serve
One of the common themes in this conversation is that process servers need to be careful about what they are guaranteeing. Most agree that it’s never a good idea to guarantee that a serve will be completed as there are too many uncontrollable factors. Even if the serve is on a business with a registered agent during business hours there is still a chance that the serve will not be completed. Process servers have expressed that it’s often the serve that presents itself as straightforward and easy to take care of that causes the most trouble. Rather than guaranteeing that the serve will be completed you may choose to focus on the guarantee that you can make: that an attempt will be made within a specific timeframe.
The importance of managing a client's expectations
As with any serve, ensuring that your client has a clear understanding of the terms of the serve and what can be guaranteed can prevent headaches later on. If they do not understand why there is an additional fee, then take a few moments to explain it to them. Anticipate questions that may come up during billing or in the event that you were not able to complete the serve within the requested timeframe. Communication is an essential component of good customer service, and outlining what will be done from the onset can help manage a client’s expectations and keep them satisfied with your work.
Comments from group members
Here are some of the comments made by members of the Process Servers LinkedIn Group on the subject of rush serves:
Professional Investigative Group
"It all depends on what area and if it’s personal or business. No one can guarantee that a personal paper can be served within a certain period of time.”
“There are too many servers that are worried about what they can make today versus what they can make in the future. Take care of your clients and they will remain your clients, even if it means eating the cost of a rush paper occasionally.
Andrea Patterson
"I feel as though an emergency serve should be double the regular service fee. I do also agree that this should only be if it is a business or registered agent. If it is a residence or personal serve I feel as though 25% of your regular service fee is fair.”
Ed Ochoa
"We should not be charging less than the industry rate. You should check around your city and see what other servers charge for a same-day serve. The attorneys pass this charge down to their clients, so it is not like they are actually paying for this themselves. Also, consider when you’re doing a same-day serve that you have to drop everything else that you’re currently doing and just take care of this particular client's. Don’t undercharge. It hurts the business overall.”
Brad Stokes
"There are too many variables to give a straight answer. It’s like asking what is a good price for a car. It’s all according to what car, what trim level, and where you are located.”
Conclusion
Whichever way you choose to format your rush serve charge, being cognizant of the client’s expectations and how rush serves will affect your business and income can serve as a guide for what you need to consider when structuring your fees. With varying opinions from process servers across the country and so many factors unique to individual serves, it can be difficult to determine what is the right fee to charge. If you have a formula, flat fee, or further thoughts on the subject, join the conversation on LinkedIn or comment below.
This topic is discussed in various social media threads across the internet. To read further comments and to add your opinion, click on any of the following social network icons to be directed to a conversation on this topic.