Cost worksheet · verified August 2026

What a Florida Notice to Owner actually costs

There are two ways to serve an NTO: do it yourself, or use a service. The advertised prices rarely tell the whole story, because a typical notice goes by certified mail to two or three recipients — the owner, the direct contractor, and a lender when one is on the job — and most services price the postage separately. Here is the honest math.

Doing it yourself

The direct cost is certified-mail postage for each recipient — the incumbent services themselves put the DIY range at roughly $5–50 depending on how many parties must be served. The real risk isn't the postage: it's using the wrong form, missing a required recipient, or blowing the 45-day window (Fla. Stat. §713.06(2)) — Florida courts require strict compliance, and defective service can cost the lien rights the notice exists to preserve. You also carry the burden of keeping the mailing evidence §713.18(2) expects.

What the services charge

Prices below were verified on each provider's public pages in August 2026. "Plus postage" matters: at typical certified rates, two to three recipients add roughly $17–27 on top of the preparation fee.

What the $39 includes

• — The statute-correct NTO document, with citations printed on it.
• — USPS Certified Mail to every recipient the statute requires for your role — no per-recipient charges, ever.
• — A tracking number for each piece, captured the moment it is submitted.
• — A permanent evidence-archive page: the document, the tracking, and a timestamped record — the mailing evidence §713.18(2) expects you to keep.

Isn't cheapest always best?

Compare the all-in number, not the headline number — and compare what you can prove afterward. A notice you cannot evidence is a notice you may not be able to rely on. Whatever you choose, keep the mailing records. (We are a document preparation and mailing service, not a law firm; for advice about your specific situation, ask an attorney.)