Why should the abstracting business not be allowed to have a markup?  If you have a way to pay wholesale for gasoline; groceries...please do share.

Our copies do not magically jump into our car and go home with us.  Whether you are printing at the courthouse, making copies from books or using your subscription to purchase copies online; as a business owner; you are entitled to set your prices for your labor and your expenses.  All of the above processes take time, time that could have you on your way to the next county or working the next search.  Charging what the clerk charges means you are working part of your day for free.

If one search has 100 pages of copies and one only has one document, do they take the same amount of time to obtain the copies? 

I've been doing this for almost 40 years.  There is nothing dishonest setting your own prices and expecting to be compensated for your time.

Be selective about who you work for.  There are plenty that will gladly take advantage.  I've never regretted a search where my quote was not accepted.  I've regretted plenty where I did not bid enough. 

Just my two cents.