I must tell you… to my awesome surprise my GN work yesterday paid me as much as one signing appointment with no print or doc prep time. It also led to me being added as a preferred Notary for a rehab facility due to me being flexible and accommodating to the hospital staff.
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I started out thinking general notary work was of no interest. Fortunately, I realized that general notary work or what I prefer to call Specialized Notary work is well worth doing.
My change in thinking came when I decided to value myself, my time and work appropriately. My initial thought was it is just a “stamp” and that is no big deal.
Think about this: A person is primarily bed ridden and needs a POA notarized. To get that person to a notary’s location involves getting him/her out of bed and into wheel chair, out of wheel chair and into car; out of car and into notary’s office (bank, UPS Store, other). Now reverse all those steps to get the person home and back in bed. That is a lot of physical stress on him/her and on the person assisting him/her.
What is that worth to the person and family member that provides the help. It is more than ‘just a stamp’.
My invoice for Specialized Notary work may not have as high a dollar amount as a loan closing but my income per hour is greater and costs are lower.
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Hi VIPnotaryCO,
I agree with your comment ‘all my eggs in one basket’. If the basket gets dropped do all the eggs break?
Does CO in your business name stand for Colorado?
My experience with this:
I don’t do loan signings any more and do work part time for the Census Bureau - so my time is limited; but every time I get a call for GNW assignment (from the public, I won’t accept GNW assignments from any SS or middleman…) - when I do them my mindset afterward is always “I forgot how nice these are!” In and out, paid on the spot and no fighting with anyone about getting paid. Most people in my area don’t want to pay full notarization fee ($10) and really don’t want to pay travel fees - in all honesty most want me to do it for nothing. But those who really need the service are happy to pay my fee, which IMO is not unreasonable - $10 per notarization (not signature, notarization) plus $25 travel fee unless a hospital or medical facility - then I charge more because I factor in parking and time needed to navigate the facility.
I really prefer GNW - and once again I’ll say I firmly believe ALL notaries, no matter what the assignment is (loan signing OR GNW) - should be paid at the table at the time of the signing. If signing is completed, full fee from signers. If they refuse to sign, print, trip and time fee.
I’m glad many of you are finding out how nice GNW can be.
JMO
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Congratulations!! That is exciting news!
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Yes,
At first, I thought the same, but if you charge appropriately it can add up fast, most notaries arent including their time and service; or charging per signature or stamp! (great tip!!) I’ve gotten up to $120 cash for a vehicle release tow. I’m the preferred notary for two tow yards, I marketed myself to them and made the process simple for the client. Another example is a simplified (uncontested) divorce which is about 27 pages or more - $$$$$…
I do not ignore GNW work anymore!!!
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YOU ARE SMART! Love hearing your success. You are right, there are plenty of work opportunities for everyone. Just need to be proactive and go get them.
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@Aceiswild2k6 Simply LOVE your thought processes . . . truly from the perspective of a Business Owner.
Congrats on your Success! 
I agree,
I think youtube helped make loan signings very attractive to people(in 2020/2021), the 10k/MONTH videos, etc. I think I’ve only seen one-two video talking about GNW as being profitable. As LindaH appropriately mentioned, if you are pricing correctly most GNW shouldn’t be $10/20 base pay.
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Great advice, I am trying to get more traction on GNW.
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I’ve gotten up to $120 cash for a vehicle release tow.
Could you plese explain how this works? Who pays …why and when?
I think you meant to ask Aceiswild2k6 that question?
Right you are. Sorry
Could you plese explain how this works? Who pays …why and when?
John,
Everything demands on your market, my market has a concentration of tourists who are desperate to get their cars released. Once you add your additional fees like service, travel fees, doc fee ( sometimes they don’t have the vehicle release forms ) and provide excellent customer service; yes you can get paid well. (if they tip you as well) I simply put it as a real-world example of GNW FOR NEWBIES!
Hello,
I am Unity and I am a LSA/ Mobile Notary. Do you have any advice on how to get into doing General Notary work like I-9?
Thanks
FYI I-9s are not general notary work as they do not require notarization…they are just fill in jobs because people trust a notary to check the ID of their potential employee.
Also, depending on your state, make sure you can do them. CA, for one, doesn’t allow notaries to do I-9 signings… Must be an immigration specialist to do them.
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Hey there,
As Linda so kindly explained above, I suppose technically speaking, I-9 form verifications are not considered to be in the realm of GNW because I don’t actually perform any notarizations when completing the forms. However, because the service I work with, N3 Notary, prefers to/seemingly only works with commissioned notaries and they send me weekly assignments, I consider it to be GNW for me and my business model because without my commission, I wouldn’t have been solicited to partner with them. Nevertheless, I’m very new to the notary world so my terminology may be off regarding classifying I-9 verification as GNW, but nonetheless, it’s a great alternative way to capitalize on your notary commission and diversify your services. Also, as Linda said, ensure you’re allowed to provide this service based on your state’s guidelines. N3 found my notary profile online and solicited me directly via phone (now via email), but you can go to their website and apply to become an N3 Notary agent although I’m not sure what their other eligibility requirements are: Remote I9 Verification Services | Reach Hire | (n3notary.net).
Hope this helps – from one new Notary to another 
After coming across @JohnM-FL’s “specialized notary work” term, I may consider reclassifying my I-9 verification service as such instead of GNW as to not cause any confusion 
I really like your “specialized notary work” term. I’ll be borrowing that 