a Successful mobile notary business
get SKILLED TO
build
by leticia chaw
HOW TO GET STARTED
Write down your business plan Your business plan should consist of your reasons for your new business. This is your “why”. Your why will determine which direction you take your business and how big or small you want it. Every decision you make and every investment should be to take you closer to your goals. Your plan should include a work schedule, expenses and special services. You should know how your service fulfills the needs of your target market or a niche that other notaries do not. Knowing what you want to do, who you want to do it for and how you plan to get there will provide you the greatest opportunity for success. Go to the National Notary Association website or to your State Website for requirements to become commissioned. You will need your notary commission, journal, notary stamp and bond. Errors and Omissions is optional but I would suggest that you view it as a must since it will provide protection against mistakes. You may want to consider a DBA or LLC as well. Set up a spot in your home to print and review documents with good lighting. Have a place to store packages where neither children nor pets have access to them. Your space should not be in a room where children are always playing and the TV is blaring in the background. If you don't have any other options, then you may have to run outside when a call comes in for privacy. Most importantly, having a positive mindset and overcoming fear will help you reach your goal of having your own business.
Supplies Needed For Your Mobile Notary Business
You’ll need a fast internet connection, a good reliable computer, and dependable cell phone service. Notary signing agents need a dual tray printer. You might have to start with a single tray, all-in-one type, but upgrade once you have completed a few assignments. Consider speed, toner costs, and dependability when you buy. HP and Brother are two of the most popular types of printers. Keep an eye out for deals on equipment. Let family and friends know that you are looking for a machine in case they see a special or they are members of a warehouse club store where there is special pricing for members. Learn where your nearest printing offices are like Fedex or Office Depot to print on the run. Carry your discount card info for printing offices with you or keep track of it in your phone in case you need to stop and print in between signings. You will need a rubber finger, stapler, pens, clipboard, sanitizer, biz cards, extra USB drive, phone charger, colored paper for attaching checks, post it pad, stamp, journal, a couple of rubber bands and paper clips. I also suggest picking up extra Fedex and UPS shipping envelopes and label pouches to keep in the car along with tape to re-close a package or just for extra seal. It’s also a good idea to carry blank general acknowledgments and jurats when you go out on an assignment. Always let your signer determine which one they need to attach to their document.
Your business cards should include a good head shot of yourself. You don’t need to go out and hire someone for a professional shoot. Phone cameras do such a great job of taking pics these days. Ask a friend to help you or take a good selfie. Make sure the lighting is good and you are smiling.
Always dress for success. I always suggest dressing like you would if you worked in a bank or Realtor office. I always dress business casual when going to a signer’s home. If I am going to do a signing in a bank, title company or attorney office, I dress more business.
Business Cards
Next, my recommendation is that you get a second phone number like google voice. You should have a separate business number to differentiate a work related call from a personal one. If you want to get more assignments, you have to answer your phone. If you are going to be on vacation or be away from your phone for an extended amount of time, you should have an away from office greeting to let everyone know. If a signing company calls you and you don’t pick up, they won’t be waiting for you to call back. They will simply go to the next one on the list.
Business phone
Dress for success
Be prepared to quote your fees for your services. You should ask questions when you are offered an assignment such as location, type of assignment, date, time and if scan backs are required. Take into consideration the size of the package to be printedf and time that it will take to complete the assignment. Will you need to rent a room at an attorney office or title company? Are you going to a hospital? Is it after hours? Holiday hours? Urgent or Rush Service? You can easily make $50 to $200 in less than an hour per assignment.
Practice filling in your notarial certificates
About half of your success will come from knowing notary laws. Many notary signing agents have issues because they do not know how to complete a notary certificate. Notaries who make mistakes at the table may not get called back for a second assignment. Get trained by starting with a course that fits your learning style while getting your basic notary training. I offer training In-Person and via Zoom. Be aware that some courses limit the time that you have access to their modules or that they don't offer mentoring one on one.
Trained or untrained
I always suggest setting up your business while you are learning all the ins and outs of being a notary. Learn to notarize correctly one document at a time while working with the public. Practice as many variations of a notarial certificate as possible. Practice general notary work until you are comfortable moving on to real estate transactions. You don’t have to get certified as a signing agent but if you want to make a lucrative income, you will want to have the opportunity to get hired for Real Estate Signings when you are ready. Practice mock signings with a friend or relative until you feel comfortable and gain confidence.
fee negotiation
cash app, paypal, venmo, apple pay
You will need to offer several payment options.
Credit card payments
You will have clients that will want to pay with a credit card. Having access to Square or Stripe will allow you to Tap & Pay directly on your phone or use payment links. You can send invoices or use one of their small card readers to take payment. The technology has made it very easy to get paid.
You may want to consider having other apps available to accomodate your clients as well. Most will offer two options that allow you sign up as an individual or as a business. As a business there may be fees to consider
Zelle is an easy tool for receiving payments and it is free to use. The funds are generally immediately deposited and so therefore it is like getting paid in cash. There is no additional software needed and most banks offer it as part of their service. Confirm that your business account also offers it as some do not.
zelle
hire a coach or mentor
Hire a coach or mentor If you are serious about your business, you should consider hiring a coach or mentor. It would make sense to hire someone that you resonate with and that has achieved what you want for yourself. Your coach should have experience and fit your style of learning. There are many different kinds of mentors or coaches for businesses but you will probably want to consider a notary specific mentor and preferably one in your state. Ask for credentials, experience and referrals. A good Notary coach should be available to answer your questions as needed and actively involved in staying current with changes to the law. Please consider my services when seeking a coach or mentor. I offer a 5 hour prerecorded class as well as an In-Person Masterclass that includes unlimited mentoring and a private facebook group as well as a Whatsapp chat where I provide tutorials, tips and information to help you grow your business. The Whatsapp Chat will also be a part of the Texas signing agency where you can receive offers for assignments.
Even though you are a mobile notary, you can add to your income by branching out and adding to your portfolio of services. If you only do real estate transactions, you will lose income when the real estate market is slow. It’s better to build several streams through a variety of services. Put together a list of services that complement your notary work. It may take 30-45 days to get paid for NSA/Loan signings after completion of job and so you should consider other streams of income that pay faster. Get a Google my Business page so that individuals can hire you for general mobile notary work which gets you paid at the completion of a job. Consider some of the following as additional services to complement your notary business. Translation services Marriage officiant Immigration forms specialist Photo inspections Estate Planning Facilitator Income Tax Preparer Car Title Transfers Serving court documents Affiliate online sales Apostille Agent
team effort
Team up with other notaries in your area. Find other notaries with different skill sets or that speak other languages. Do they work different hours than you? Do they work in a different area than you? Trade referrals. Leave cards with local businesses and agree to send referrals to them and ask them to send referrals to you. Network and join social media groups to build relationships. By doing this, you may find that someone might send you jobs that they are unable to fulfill. Anyone that sends you business is a marketing partner so make a special effort to meet others and let them get to know you. Before you pursue a connection, consider why you want to network with this person. Can they give you work or connect you with those who can? Can they add to your knowledge? And remember, good contacts don’t just come from the Real Estate Industry. An attorney you work out with could start using your services. The bank employee who’s on a charity committee with you could start referring you to customers. Also, remember contacts are not one-sided. Think about what you can do to help them and follow through. If you don't already have a Linkedin profile, you should get one for networking with like minded professionals. In my Superheroes to The Rescue private facebook group for trainees, you will find a community of notaries that are also still learning and may have some of the same questions as you. Stay plugged in and become part of the team.
As you begin to sign up with notary signing agencies or title companies, check out what other notaries are saying about them. Check notary forums or ask seasoned notaries about their experience with a specific company. Since you are completing the work in faith expecting to be paid in up to 60 days, they should be evaluated like any other company asking for credit. How many jobs will you do while previous work is still outstanding and unpaid? Make sure to do your research on notary registries, LinkedIn sites, BBB, Yelp, Google and other sources for recommendations or warnings. As an independent contractor you determine your fees based on your costs. Take all expenses into consideration when taking a job. You may find that you have to adjust your fees to make what you feel is fair for that type of assignment. If the signing company is continuously offering to pay below the average fee, you may want to let them know that you no longer wish to receive offers from them. Also consider dropping companies that ask you to do something unethical or illegal. Here are some quality sites to sign up with. https://www.notaryrotary.com/ http://123notary.com/ https://notarycafe.com/ https://snapdocs.com/ As you move forward towards success, never be afraid to ask questions and call the NNA hot line, call the State or call your mentor for further clarification. Your function during a real estate transaction as a mobile notary is to witness and acknowledge signers signatures, identity and perform oaths. If you are not following through on the one thing that you are there to do, then you are not fulfilling your function or your duty.
Research Signing Agencies
Remote Online Notary
An online notary public is a commissioned notary public in the State of Texas who has the authority to perform a remote notarization using an audio-visual conference rather than having the individual physically appear before the notary at the time of the notarization. Many Notaries have asked how they can apply to provide remote online notarization (RON) services. Your state’s Notary regulating official will have a specific authorization process based around the documentation needed to comply with your state Notary laws. The general steps to become an online Notary may include: Meeting your state’s qualifications to become a traditional Notary. Applying or registering to perform virtual notarizations. Paying the state’s application fees. Completing any RON-specific testing or training courses required by your state. Getting remote online Notary tools and technology like an eSeal and digital certificate. Choosing a state-approved RON vendor. Having a surety bond to cover remote online notarizations. Buying an E&O insurance policy that covers RONs. Submitting any other documents required by your state’s laws. There are several platforms available and many title companies are moving towards a more remote process. So consider the costs, the training, support, and their format.
Learn more about my training and mentor program. mentor@LeticiaChaw-Coach.com
executive services
CONTACT INFO 281-460-9993 www.facebook.com/meetyourmentorLeticiaChaw https://www.youtube.com/@leticiachawcoach https://www.tiktok.com/@multiple_income_coach
I started out as a Realtor and Mortgage Broker in 2002. As my needs changed, my career also changed. I love working with the public and enjoy the freedom of being a mobile notary. This position has exceeded my goals and expectations. I continue to look for new ways to make more money and complement my notary business. We all face challenges but I have learned to thrive through them and I want to help you do the same. I hope this provided insight and has given you valuable information to help you in your mobile notary business. Wishing you much success. LETICIA CHAW, CSA, Entrepreneur, Coach, Mentor and Author