Hi Kevin,

The number of abstractors in this area on the SOT directory are not really in this area.  They are just listed in the directory because the SOT directory allows anyone to list in any state even though they may not search there with their employees.  For example, I get title work from an abstracting  company listed in the counties I cover as a subcontractor because the title company contacted them and required a search in this county.  So they see me on the SOT directory and send the search to me for say $55.00 and they turn my work in to the title company as theirs for $75.00.  That is what I was saying as far as the LLC sending work to someone else in the SOT directory that really is not local yet instead of the LLC sending the work to me directly I am getting it from someone else the LLC gave it to.  Follow that?  However, if the stipulation is that the LLC will only give work to the local abstractors then that would work for me..... but, if the large abstractor company listed in many areas of the country buys a bigger portion of the stock in my area then I am still back to working for the larger abstractor and not the LLC directly.  You mentioned becoming a signing agent.  How do you find out how to do that?  I went to the book store to purchase the book that was a hot topic a few months ago, Ringer??, I was told that the publisher pulled it off the market.  Which the book store employee said that was rather odd because it was just published.  I have sat in on many closings but to become a signing agent then I would feel like a NEWBIE taking business from someone else except that it has just become legal to do in North Carolina with stipulations.  I have researched that aspect of it.

Then not many of the local abstractors in my area are not listed in the SOT directory.  There are only four of us that search locally out of the 27 listed in the directory.  The abstractor I mentioned previously is not in the SOT directory because she doesn't need to be.  She has all the work she needs and has no time to be on line right now like I do (LOL).   We are friendly and have known each other for 12 years.  Her business grew from working for the companies bak then that the other three independents in our area at the time were told NC bar would sue you if you did that and the attorneys refused to give my friend their work.  While I was out of state, I worked for the title companies and made more money.   When I  returned to NC after 3 1/2 years, I found that about 10 other abstractors are working for the title companies too.  One title company told me that I would be number 12 on their list in my area and that I would probably never get any work from them because they did not need a 12th abstractor.  The attorneys that I used to contract with in this area are now searching online from their offices.  This what I see the title industry is up against.
As far as independants banding together that are not in the same competive areas, I already do that and get that from others.  I have a lot of requests for referrals of searchers in other areas from title companies and attorneys.  I am always happy to pass on work to others in areas that I do not service.  When I don't know anyone in an area that someone has asked for a referral, I go to the SOT directory and pull someone off to recommend.  That is just a courtesy that is extended and accepted in this area without compensation or finders fees. 
All this LLC talk has come at a timely manner for me.  It has helped me in so many ways that I can not tell right now.  I am in the process of reinventing my company so that I can get the lion's share of the market.  IF things work out the way I plan, then joining up for shareholder in a LLC would not be a problem for my company but right now.... I see too many things that need to be worked out for the small abstracting business.  If things don't work like I plan, I will be slaving away for one of the two law firms that are wanting to hire me as an employee.  I want to keep my freedom but I have to pay the bills.
I will keep reading this thread because I am interested......