Honest Opinion please

Beginner's Questions
1

I have worked for a school as an Administrative Assistant to the Principal for 5 years now. The school year ended and I have chosen to not return next year. With that said I took my loan signing agent through NNA and have been thinking about taking the Loan signing System course as well. I am new to the Notary world and am trying to read, listen and learn everything I possibly can. I know I will need to work hard at making this successful, but I am also wondering if I am insane to dive in full time with no other income source. I am married and my husband makes enough to cover our bills but not much more than that.

I have signed up with Proof, NotaryGo, OneNotary, Signdocs, SigningOrder, Mobile Notary Net and Unlimited Ink. Please let me know if you suggest any that I have not already joined.

My question is am I being unrealistic in hoping to make at least $1000 a month? Is the Portland Oregon market so saturated with Notaries and the housing market is still quiet…. Currently filled with doubt and freaking out as my last day of guaranteed income is in 3 days.

Thank you in advance for your advice. I truly appreciate you taking the time to advise a newbie.

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@tlstewart.notary :tada: Excellent! :tada:

2023 Notary Survey Results

CREATE YOUR INDIVIDUALIZED SCHEDULE OF FEES

The income within this Business Sector varies WIDELY from one region to another across the US . . .

There are many scams to be wary of . . .

This is what is meant when we reference that “it’s a very small world” in this business sector.

Someone new can make an inadvertent (or simple) error on their initial few signings and VOILA! Their name is “out for publication” between & among lenders, title/escrow companies [T/ECs], etc. and those individuals are avoided for possible Signing Orders.

Another reason we advocate for ensuring you receive some professional, reliable, & trustworthy training (not YouTube) prior to accepting your initial Signing Order.

As new members seek insights regarding launching their business, a Key Element to Success is providing themselves with an appropriate foundation and undergirding that will serve & support their business.

There are multiple factors to consider:

  • What is your background?
  • Do you have experience in Real Estate?
  • Do you have experience in Mortgage Lending?
  • Do you have experience in Banking?

Etc. ad nauseam . . . => just know that you’re launching a business and the onus is upon you to create the best foundation possible from the onset.

My personal experience:

When I initially started performing this work, I successfully completed MULTIPLE training/certification programs including Notary2Pro & NNA and many others. I have extensive experience in skill sets that require certification and recurrent evaluation tests; i.e., I’ve maintained my Project Management Professional [PMP] certification for more than 20 years. So, I understand what it usually entails and the elements that should be included within a comprehensive training program.

Regarding the NNA training specifically, it’s lacking across multiple topics & categories. Many NNA “graduates” choose to take additional training courses elsewhere, because they sense they’re insufficiently prepared. Their primer has errors throughout. Their hotline is less than reliable for accurate responses.

In my experience with undergoing the multiple training programs for certified professional signing agent [PSA] certification, hands-down without question, Carol Ray’s Notary2Pro training programs are optimum in this industry. I’ve successfully completed ALL of the multiple training/certification programs that Carol offers through her company Notary2Pro. Her programs are thorough & detailed. These also prepare the business owner to operate a business. In addition, she offers Mentoring services. I found those to be excellent & INVALUABLE when I was initially starting out in this business sector. The prices are surprisingly reasonable. :white_check_mark:

I’ve professionally compared the training/certification programs available at Notary2Pro with the others I’ve successfully completed. The ONLY training/certification program I recommend is Notary2Pro.

A list of companies that hire Notary2Pro graduates (with minimal or no experience) is provided to successful course graduates. => This list is pure GOLD! Study up, refresh your notes, & let Carol know when your initial few signings are scheduled. She is a wonderful mentor & can be on standby in case you encounter difficulties or have questions during your first few signings. She’s the Best! Her support will help you Build your Confidence in providing this service. :trophy::white_check_mark:

In addition, Notary2Pro works diligently to keep this list up-to-date regarding vetting and viability. As we all know, some reliable clients can encounter financial difficulties and that, in turn, can negatively impact PSAs directly.

Of course, your best bet would be to visit their website at https://www.notary2pro.com/ , research, and make the choices appropriate for your situation. The training programs by Carol Ray are comprehensive & thorough. :sparkles::tada::sunglasses:

P.S. I receive no compensation or remuneration of any type or kind as a result of my first-hand experiential review above.

P.P.S. Unfortunately, Carol passed (February, 2022) from our earthly plane. I hope she Rests In Peace. I’m grateful to have made her acquaintance and studied under her tutelage.

THE UNADULTERATED TRUTH ABOUT THIS BUSINESS SECTOR

INVESTIGATE THE SATURATION IN YOUR REGION

ABYSMALLY LOW FEES

You’ll also benefit GREATLY by performing a Search of the Notary Cafe database looking for reliable business entities for Signing Orders [SOs] from which you’ll receive appropriate remuneration.

Remember that this is a PUBLIC forum & be discerning while simultaneously performing additional due diligence across the internet PRIOR TO making any additional financial investments.

NOTE: I probably missed a query or two from your post, but will leave those for the other sages on the Notary Cafe forum.

:swan:

3

Know nothing about Portland market but you’ll need to make more than 1K/mo. to NET 1K/mo. Playing with AI…about 3 of 10,000 people need a notary on any given day. How many notaries & adults are within the radius you’re willing to travel? What are your odds of getting the job? That’s part of the answer.

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@tlstewart.notary One way to project your chances is to use the “Find” link in the bar above and enter your zip code - that will give you an idea of the number of notaries in your zip that are listed here (note…it’s only those listed here). That will give you an idea of your competition. In addition, do the same thing on Notary Rotary and do a 50 mile radius search. Then you’ll have an idea how many notaries you’ll be contending with to try to get work.

I’m assuming you need to “net” $1k/month - because if you’re just grossing $1k/month, you have to deduct all your expenses before you know how much you have actually made. There are several threads here via the search function where notaries have posted what needs to be considered when calculating one’s actual “net income” (IOW - profit)

Good Luck

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I had a lot of expenses in my first two years – printer, scanner, lots of training, marketing, website, office supplies, insurance, etc. If I could do it again, I would be focusing on the best training out there before even getting my commission to see if it’s for me. Once you get your commission, the clock starts ticking. The best investment I made was in my training. Started with NNA, then Notary2Pro for loan signings, and then Notary Stars, where I’ve been a member for the past six years. And of course the best free training are these: Weekly TNT call (on Zoom/youtube) with Laura Biewer and Jen Neitzel and the Monday Night Mentorship with Notary Stars (free and open to the public). I haven’t missed a session in six years. If I miss one, I just watch the recording the next day. I would not have created a website or handled any of the marketing on my own if it weren’t for Notary Stars training. I became a member after Notary2Pro and even took the marketing classes. I still watch their weekly videos if I can’t make a live session. They hold live classes every day of the week and they are fantastic.

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It is not unrealistic at all to expect to make $1000 per month. It can be slow getting started (give it 3 months). Sign up with snapdocs and notarydash, mortgage connect, jot and the closing exchange. When order notifications come through, be ready to accept because they get snatched up quickly. Watch for the signings that might be a further drive that no one seems to be wanting…they often pay the most and you can get some experience that way. Good luck!

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@tlstewart.notary Would you please return to the Notary Cafe forum & respond to the professional insights & guidance that’s been proffered within this thread for you?

:tada: Thank You! :tada:

:swan:

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Thank you to everyone for your advice. I appreciate all of you and this platform. I would be lost without all of the great advice here.

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@tlstewart.notary - welcome!

first…don’t freak out! set realistic expectations. several folks here have offered good advice.

second, pay very close attention to the payment terms for each job/signing service. some pay quicker than others, some say one thing, like net45 but are actually late and late consistently.. keep track of when you will be paid so that you can budget that accordingly. realistically, up front, you may not be paid for the first 45-60 days. know how that impacts you. if you need to earn $1k per month make sure you take into consideration your expenses. in some instances, a local job may not pay as much as a job where you will travel.

with that said, know the going rate in your area. being new does not necessarily require you to take low paying jobs, even for experience. know your worth. set up a rate schedule, and follow it when negotiating. sometimes, the net profit of a low paying job is worth it, but you don’t want to set the expectation with signing companies that you are only worth those offers.

if you are concerned about experience, check with local notaries. part of many professional organization memberships is that we are willing to mentor. if a “witness” job is offered, think about that as an option to learn. in my area, witness fees are around $25. you will not be the notary in that situation, but you will act as a witness giving you the ability to observe another notary and how they manage the documents. plus, you earn the witness fee. my state (SC) does not allow us to advertise that we are available as a witness. you may need to network with other notaries that you are available. if you don’t have any other appointment scheduled, and a witness opportunity comes up, it’s money on the table. decide if you can help out and if the travel is worth it to you.

find sample documents that you can practice presenting to yourself. know what the documents are. many states and signing services don’t allow you to give any kind of legal advice, but you do need to know what the documents are and what purpose they serve.

again, don’t freak out. you are often the only face to face, human contact signers have. the majority of their experience may be online and over the phone. once you are in front of them, your confidence is paramount. remember that the goal of the lender, the title company, the signing service, the signer and you is to complete the documents successfully.

communication with whoever assigned you the work is invaluable. don’t be afraid to ask questions up front. stay in touch. follow the instructions to the letter. these things can help establish you as a reliable professional. don’t let there be a reason that your fee is reduced in any way. follow up when payment is due but not received. many signing services don’t require you to provide invoices but know if you should.

finally, market yourself. this will be a cost, but research the title companies in your area. you are able to contact them via mail, email, calls, in person directly in addition to using signing services. remember that the signers may have a need for a notary in the future. leave business cards (as many people as were attending the signing +1) with each attendee at the signing, plus 1 extra. seems funny, but, they may put your card in their wallet, purse, office, etc., and reach out to you for other needs. find your niche for your notary services. check reputable sources on how to market. stay connected to the notary community. i find notary cafe to be an excellent resource.

lastly, you are the professional. you got this!

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Thank you, I needed to hear the “don’t freak out” as well as the other great advice. So grateful :smiling_face:

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Good advice but a comment on one thing -

You said “you will act as a witness giving you the ability to observe another notary and how they manage the documents”

When I had to bring a witness (obviously unknown to the signers), my witness did not sit through the signing so had no idea how to handle the documents. This is for the signers’ privacy and protection of their personal information. The witness came in only when it was time to sign the document and they saw that and that only - and heard them acknowledge the doc or swear to the truth - that’s it.

My husband went on a few signings with me but sat in another room til I needed him.