Are you tired of spending the vast majority of your week stuck in a traditional office setting? Have you ever wanted to start your own small business and work to promote the goals of your family? Are you tired of working yourself to the bone, for no additional financial reward? Are you looking for a way to supplement your existing income? Do you wish you had the flexibility to spend more time with your family and loved ones, but don’t know how to make that a reality? If you have answered yes to any of these questions perhaps you would benefit from becoming a mobile notary.
With just a small amount of training and a limited initial investment you can become a California state licensed and bonded notary public. This career choice can afford you the opportunity to earn additional income, create your own work schedule and achieve the Financial Freedom that you have been longing for. You may be asking yourself, what does a mobile notary do? A Notary Public is authorized by the state of California to perform legal duties that include but are not limited to witnessing of signatures, administering oaths or affirmation, certifying copies of documents and officiating at weddings. That in combination of travel to the client is a mobile notary.
Being a mobile notary public affords you the opportunity to be social, meet new people and travel all with minimal investment and a short learning curve. Despite the relative ease at which you can become a notary public it is not a position to be taken lightly and does come with its responsibilities and demands. The legal requirements to become a notary are as follows:
- the illegal resident or a federal civil servant on a military base in accordance with the government code section 8203.1.
- be at least 18 years old number
- complete and pass a proctored, written examination prescribed by the Secretary of State.
- have fingerprint electronically scanned for the background check by the state department of justice and the Federal Bureau of Investigation for a federal summary of criminal information.
- not have been convicted of a felony or of a crime involving moral turpitude.
- be able to read, write and understand the English language.
- complete a 6-hour education course regarding the notaries function and duties. Renewing notaries who have completed a state-approved 6 hour course and whose commissions have not yet expired must complete a refresher course or at least 3 hours.
- submit a 2-inch by 2-inch color passport-style photograph of his or her person.
This process sounds a little more complicated than it is. There are many private companies that help you with navigating the road to obtaining a notary license. On average from the time you sign up for the course until you receive your commission will take as little as 10 weeks. That means, in a short time you can be on your way to earning additional income. By following these steps you can create your own small business and eventually say goodbye to your nine-to-five job.
Some of the necessary tools of the trade include a reliable means of transportation; e.g. car, truck or my favorite a motorcycle. As a mobile notary you are only as relevant as your ability to travel to your client, this means that a well-functioning mode of transportation is a must. Oftentimes clients are in immediate need of notarial services and require you to be present at their business home or agreed-upon location in a short amount of time. As the adage goes time is money, so do not waste either.
In addition to having reliable transportation, communication is paramount. Having a dedicated business phone, and answering that phone every time it rings is a measure of success. We at The OC Notary find that answering the phone sets us apart from the other notary companies in the Southern California service area. You may find it useful to purchase an additional line. Examples of this include Google Voice or a Skype number. This can be used for advertising your business, as opposed to giving out your direct personal line. The benefit of this is that over time when your business grows you will be able to transfer your phone number to another party to book and or schedule appointments. This allows for a disconnect so that you are not physically tied to your business at all times.
These days having a telephone number to be reached at is not enough. There are many additional ways in which people prefer to communicate, including email, text message or direct messaging via social media. To become a successful mobile notary, you will need to have an up to date computer or laptop (for portability sake a tablet or laptop is preferred). In addition to your device, it is beneficial to have a high speed internet connection. This will allow you to receive requests from a number of different clients. It will also give you the ability to receive documents, from clients, that you may need to print for an upcoming appointment. This will be especially true when working with escrow companies and title companies to sign loan/refinance documents.
As mentioned, depending on the type of signing that you will be targeting, it may be necessary for you to invest in a quality LaserJet printer. Color printers and inkjet printers are not preferred as their ink cartridges are expensive to replace, they last a very limited time and the printed page per minute is less than desirable. And although the cartridges are often times expensive they last exponentially longer than their inkjet counterparts. A quality laser printer allows you to print many black and white documents in a short amount of time. As this is how you will be earning your income, it is best if you have a quality printer that will perform the tasks necessary. In the long run, this will allow you to grow your business and keep your customers satisfied. However, there is something you will want to print in color though, you will need to outsource this print job…Business cards anyone!?
Professional business cards, flyers, or brochures are also an invaluable tool for a mobile, or traveling notary. When you are out networking with your friends, family or other business professionals it is useful to have cards on hand to distribute to all new or potential clients. You should always be looking for new contacts that can help you grow your business and having business cards with all your pertinent information will expedite the process. Some of the information you should consider placing on your business cards would be your contact information, hours of availability as well as licenses and certifications that you hold. Quality Company cards and fliers will assist you when prospecting for your target audience so spend a little extra to ensure the quality of product.
Knowing your market and demographic is also very important for the growth of your business. It is recommended that you scout your immediate service area for mortgage companies, credit firms, real estate agents, banks, law firms, hospitals and set some time aside to contact them and introduce your business services. Although farming your area may seem difficult at first it is in your best interest to not sit back and wait for the clients to come to you, but for you to make a professional introduction.
These are just a few small recommendations that will help you on your path to financial independence and allow you the flexibility to spend more time with your friends, family and loved ones. If you find that you would like to work with our company The OC Notary, a reputable authority in the mobile notary marketplace, please feel free to complete our online application form. It is important to align yourself with quality services such as The OC Notary so that you can call upon us to serve as a mentor as you grow in the traveling notary business. We are happy to help you achieve your goals and assist in answering any questions that you may have about mobile notary services business development etc. We look forward to building a lasting mutually beneficial business relationship. Take advantage of our wealth of knowledge we are here to serve you and share our experience and expertise to help you navigate your future business endeavors.
Great post and helpful too.,,Thanks for sharing these type of knowledgeable content and keep writing.