becoming a mobile notary public
TRANSCRIPT
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INCOME BOOSTBLUEPRINT
B E C O M I N G A M O B I L E N OTA RY P U B L
If you’re looking to start your own small business, you’ve
probably been wracking your brain trying to come up with somelow-cost options.
As you know, commencing a business usually takes quite a bit of
cash up-front to get things going. But there’s one possibility for a
business you might not have thought about: becoming a mobilenotary public.
Although you’re probably familiar with notary publics in general,you most likely haven’t heard of a “mobile” notary public. Read
on to learn more about a new twist on an old profession that justmight make you some easy money.
Whether you plan to earn some extra cash on the side or make it
your full-time profession, developing a mobile notary public
business can be done by following the information herein. Keepin mind you’ll likely want to have available at least some time to
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make notary calls during business hours, 9 a.m. to 5 p.m.,
Monday through Friday.
What is a Notary Public?
A notary public is a licensed person who has completed trainingand a state exam regarding the statutes and duties of a notary.
She can professionally witness signatures of individuals on
o ffi cial documents and issue o ffi cial oaths. More speci cally,
many types of important papers require a notary’s signature andstamped impression to verify the authenticity of the signatures.
Depending on the state you live in, you’ll most likely be required
to complete some fairly brief training — 3 hours in several states.
Some states o ff er online courses in becoming a notary public
while others have in-person classes that you must attend. Once
you satisfactorily complete the training, you’re required to pass
an exam and apply for state licensure.
In most states, a notary must be “bonded.” For example, notariesin the state of Florida must be bonded for $7,500. This means
that in the event you make an error in your work, the company
who bonded you will pay the harmed customer for the error. In2
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essence, the bond is similar to professional liability insurance in
the event you make a mistake as a notary.
The states of Florida, Maine, and South Carolina even allow
notaries to conduct o ffi cial wedding ceremonies that are “legal
and binding,” if they’re performed only in the state that licensed
you. Depending on your state, as a notary, you might alsoprovide acknowledgements and a ffi rmations or o ff er oaths and
certify copies of original documents for your customers.
Although you could probably locate quite a few notary publics in
your area, you could be the rst mobile notary public locally. Thismeans you’ll travel to the people, o ffi ces, and organizations that
need notary services, which is a great selling feature for the
business.
What You’ll Need to Start Your Mobile Notary Business
As compared with other businesses, a notary public business
won’t require huge investments of time, energy, or money.
Take a look at what you’ll need:
1. Completion of your state’s requirements to become a
notary public. Based on where you live, these requirements
(as mentioned above) will most likely involve a brief 3
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educational course, passage of a state exam, your bond, and a
license to be a notary in your state.
2. A telephone where people can reach you. Of course, you’ll
need a contact telephone number so your customers can get
hold of you. You can use your home phone number or a cell
number.
The advantage of using your cell phone is that you tend to
have it with you at all times and you can access calls and
messages quickly and easily.
3. A dependable car. Since you’ll be traveling to most of your
customers, you’ll need a vehicle that runs well.
4. Spiral notebook and pen. Carry paper and pen to keep trackof the miles you travel and the names and addresses of customers with a brief note including the date of what you did
for them.
5. Your seal stamp. You’ll be required to have a “stamper” that
will make an imprint of your name and o ffi cial seal on
documents you notarize. The stamp also says you’re an o ffi cialnotary in your state.
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6. A GPS, although not a requirement¸ will help you nd your
way effi ciently from place to place. Depending on how well
you know the area where you live, a GPS could come in quitehandy as a traveling notary.
7. A log book, if your state requires it. A log book or journal is
your record of sensitive information regarding the people forwhom you performed notary services. It’s your record of what
you did, who you did it for, what their legal address is, and
how much you charged. Your state might require you to keep
other relevant data in your log book.
➡ Twenty of the 50 states in the U.S. require notaries to keep
a log book. Those states also specify what must be done
with the book upon your death or after you stop doing
notary work.
➡ Even if your state doesn’t indicate you must keep a log
book, it’s a good idea to do so. Your journal will come in
quite handy for you at tax time.
The key to being an e ffi cient notary is to know well your own
state’s statutes regarding notary publics.
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You can also nd several notary public associations online that
will provide you with valuable insights and information into
serving as an o ffi cial notary public in your state.
Marketing Your Notary Public Business
Unlike other small businesses, there are special precautions youmust take whenever it comes to advertising your mobile notary
public business. Consult the legal statues for notaries in your
state as they will be your guide on how to advertise your notary
business in an ethical manner.
Think about how to get your name out there in front of as many
people as possible. Some items for consideration when
advertising are:
1. Mention you’re not an attorney in your advertising. Inmany states, this is a requirement for notaries who aren’t
attorneys when marketing their services. Further, it’s
necessary to state you cannot provide legal advice nor can
you accept any payment for it.
2. Avoid translating the term, “notary public” into any otherlanguage. In some states, (Florida, for one) it is actually illegal
to do so.
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3. Refrain from showing your notary stamp in the
advertisement. Because your stamp is for use on legal
documents only and must be paired with your own original(not copied) signature, using the stamp in advertising is ill-
advised.
4. Ponder what types of notary services you wish to o ff er. Focus in on your preferences.
➡ For example, will you notarize real estate documents and
transactions?➡ Will you perform wedding ceremonies if your state allows?➡ Are you willing to notarize wills, even if written in long-hand
by a person?➡ Know the direction you wish to go so you can focus your
marketing on your potential customers.
5. Know your state’s maximum established fees for each
type of notarization before you advertise. For example, in
the state of Florida, notaries cannot charge over $10 per
signature that they notarize. Also in Florida, notaries can
charge up to $25 to perform marriage ceremonies, but no
more.
6. Think about what you’ll charge to travel to the customer .
In making your decision for the fees to charge, consider what7
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your state’s reimbursement mileage rates are. For example, if
your state’s reimbursement rate is 45 cents per mile, would it
be reasonable to charge double that amount or even round itup to $1.00 per mile round-trip?
7. How far will you travel to provide notary services? Decide
on your limits before getting your advertising plan together.You could say something like, “Will travel anywhere in the city
limits of Timbuktu” or “Will come to your home or o ffi ce
anywhere in Jackson county.”
8. Set the days and hours you’re willing to work. Keep in mindthat since you’ll be traveling to and from your customers, your
work day will begin a bit earlier and extend a bit later. For
example, an advertised work day of 9:00 p.m. to 4:00 p.m. will
allow you an hour at each end (morning and evening) to travelto and from your customers.
9. Use the media that’s best for you to get the word out. You
have many choices: from television advertising (most
expensive) to printing your own yers (least expensive). You
can advertise through radio spots, put up a sign on your
property (if allowed where you live), and put ads in local andarea newsletters, newspapers, and magazines.
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10. Business cards could be your pathway to success.
Remember to keep plenty of business cards on hand.
Use your business cards to “sprinkle” your name and contact
information everywhere you go.
For example, almost every restaurant and café has a bulletinboard or some other type of way to display a business card for
its customers.
➡ Tack up business cards on your grocery stores’ boards.
Leave them on the counter at your barber, hair dresser,cleaners, and car mechanic’s garage. Give one or two to
everyone you meet. Leave them in reception areas at
doctor’s o ffi ces.
➡ Keep in mind that business cards are relatively cheap tohave printed at your local o ffi ce supply stores like Staples,
Offi ce Max, and O ffi ce Depot. The more you have printed,
the less you pay per card.
➡ Also, if you have a computer and printer, you can easily
design and print your own cards at home at very little cost.All you have to do is purchase pre-perforated pages of
business-size cards, also at the o ffi ce supply store.
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Growing Your Notary Public Business
Now that you understand all about how to establish and marketyour new mobile notary public business, you’ll want to take steps
to grow your business. Expanding your business to ensure
ongoing work is necessary for your nancial livelihood.
These techniques will keep business dollars rolling in:
1. Find your niche. For example, if you live in or near a senior
community, maybe you could specialize in notarizing wills,
both in attorney’s o ffi ces and in your customer’s homes.
2. Establish relationships with people in the community that
regularly require notary services. Attorneys and business
owners are people you should become acquainted with.
3. Join your local Chamber of Commerce. Most cities and
towns have a group of business owners who get together
monthly to share ideas and help one another expand their
businesses. You’ll become acquainted with many business
leaders who will eventually start utilizing your services and
telling others about them.
4. Know your community. When you know your community,
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In terms of a small business start-up, a mobile notary public
business may be the way to go. You get to be out and about all
day, interact with people from all walks of life, and earn somemoney with few over-head costs.
As a supplemental job to your full-time position or as your only
career, consider becoming a mobile notary public to beef up yourincoming dollars.
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