Becoming a Mobile Notary Public

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7/28/2019 Becoming a Mobile Notary Public http://slidepdf.com/reader/full/becoming-a-mobile-notary-public 1/12 INCOME BOOST BLUEPRINT BECOMING A MOBILE NOTARY PUBL If you’re looking to start your own small business, you’ve probably been wracking your brain trying to come up with some low-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 mobile notary 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 just might 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. Keep in mind you’ll likely want to have available at least some time to 1

Transcript of Becoming a Mobile Notary Public

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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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