I have been a notary since 1999 but for me it was always been a community giving back thing so I didn’t charge. Now I am actually using this as a business. I started the business in January 2025 and became a certified loan signing agent and RON. I am getting frustrated because I have signed up with so many different SS’s and I have had a few signings but when I say yes to a job it’s always been given to someone. My rating on the one SS is a 5 out of 5 that I have done the signings for. How does one get the signing jobs? Also, the loan mod jobs are so little money and at least 30 miles away which I will not go to.
Hello! Google Business is FREE and will be your best friend. Reviews are amazing. On a slow day carve out time to send your old customers your google review link so they can leave you a review. That engagement will help rank you in your community, when people look for a notary online.
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Thank you. I do have google business set up as well as a website but honestly I need to revamp it. I also have flyers and business cards that I leave with potential clients as well. I was thinking of doing a drop by (insert location) out in the public to notarize and advertise no travel fee kind of thing, but I was gonna wait a few months only because of the heat.
@Admin1 Excellent question! 
Just wondering if by any chance were you able to locate the immediately available information found within the Notary Cafe database on this topic?
This information is a TREASURE TROVE!
Most members express that they find it difficult/NEARLY IMPOSSIBLE to locate the Search Function in order to access the wealth of information available within the database that has been generously contributed by your sagacious fellow business owners over the years . . .
To be helpful, I’ve inserted an image for you & others [see below] to help members locate it to unlock the wisdom & knowledge of other members on the forums.
I’ve performed a cursory Search on your behalf and the results show ** 50+ separate** threads (in addition to yours) about this particular topic. There is a plethora of data immediately available on the threads within Notary Cafe. 
http://forum.notarycafe.com/search?q=%22getting%20started%22%20order%3Alatest
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REMEMBER - Launching a business within this business sector isn’t a sprint . . .
It’s a MARATHON requiring Herculean Efforts!
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Also, here are three threads that will be instrumental in assisting you in your journey as a Professional Signing Agent [PSA]:
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SPECIAL NOTE: Accessing the database to locate information about potential clients has saved many of us an inordinate amount of time ‘chasing’ payments for Services professionally provided to potential non-payers . . . 
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Thank you, I will check it out.
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@Admin1 
You’re Welcome!
Just remember to pose questions via the Search Function here on Notary Cafe (referenced above in my previous post) as the immediately available information is quite helpful regarding your development as a business owner.
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I have been doing this business since 2005. I stopped for several years to teach and have come back to it as my retirement job. I work full time some months and some months are part to 3/4 time, so I’m busy enough. Both times I started I approached it the same way…
*Sign up on all the platforms you can (snapdocs, signingorder.com, notarygo, notarydash, etc.)
*Spend time everyday googling signing companies and signing up with them.
*Respond to every notification whether you are available or not…it shows you are working today.
*Make sure you have a professional photo attached to all the portals.
*Don’t try to negotiate fees since you need experience.
*Take training courses that are free or inexpensive so you have credentials.
*Sign up with NSA and take the NNA certification exam.
*When you start getting signings be careful about complaining on notary forums about how picky some companies are or how low their fees are. They will be the ones that actually get you started.
*ALWAYS follow the directions and check over your documents to make sure you aren’t making mistakes. Companies review you too.
You WILL get a signing…basically if you are serious about it you have to go to work everyday in your office and make sure you are working towards the goal. When you get busy you will be BUSY. This isn’t a get rich job but if you are willing to work hard full hours and drive (sometimes ALOT), you can make money. I wouldn’t want to support a family on it but its perfect at this time of my life (I’m 61).
Good luck!
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@Admin1 Absolutely 
accurate statements within the excerpt above. 
I do work in my office every day. I have gone through so many lists of signing companies and signed up with the ones that allow me to. I have emailed the ones that I can. I call them. Nothing. I spend 7 days a week hours and hours each day. I seriously don’t know what else I can do. I have car magnets, flyers, business cards all that I hand out. I market on social media.
Hi, I have been doing everything you mentioned on the list. I do witness signings too. I get more of those jobs than anything. I do have boundaries of 25 miles. I see Loan Mods for $40 that are more than an hour each way. I will not accept those. I get that I have to start somewhere but if companies won’t give us people that are starting out a chance how are we ever gonna get the experience?
There may be a high number of signing agents in your area (where are you?) and there just isn’t enough work to go around. You could try networking with another experienced signing agent and see if you anyone was interested in having you work with them to gain some experience. In my first go around I was so busy that I had two other notaries (as independent contractors) working with me and we all stayed busy but they worked with me initially until they were confident to take them on their own. I had to set this up with the signing companies under my business name so they were approved and then I paid them. I did all the printing, maintenance of insurance requirements and paid them a portion of the fee.
Perhaps look at getting RON certified so you can do signings from your home computer?
It is a tough time to get started in this industry, I wish I could give you some kind of concrete plan to get going…its tough out there!!
I am in South Florida. I am RON certified but again haven’t had any luck with that either. I witness for multiple other notaries as well. I get more of those than anything else and I am grateful for that.
@Admin1 Certainly, do understand the frustration when there are some on YouTube & other Social Media websites ‘hawking their wares’ and utilizing deceptive marketing & touting ‘six-figure incomes’ . . . 
Unfortunately, this hasn’t been the true results for many, many years across myriad regions within the United States.
Often, I express to anyone new to this business sector to do their own Research PRIOR TO investing any hard-earned money into launching a business within this sector.
In addition, I often strongly recommend that each & every person check the saturation within your region!
This business sector is very much like the Real Estate market - a LOT is contingent upon your location, Location, LOCATION!
You’ll find much support, assistance, and guidance within this Notary Cafe thread.
Your expecting too much too soon. Building a great business takes time, keep doing perfect work (and I mean perfect), then the work will come.
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Counter the modification offers at $40 for like $100. See what happens.
@Admin1 The excerpt above is accurate.
Try to remember that it’s a MARATHON requiring Herculean Efforts!
It’s NOT a sprint . . .
A great deal of sound advice has been provided within your thread. Please take some time to Review it, Digest it, Apply it . . . Rinse & Repeat.
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I have been doing that for a month now and still nothing. I did get one signing today that didn’t pay much but I figured it was a start and it was close to home.
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Yes, I keep reminding myself of that. Lol.
@Admin1 There are myriad factors that contribute and/or detract from success within this business sector . . .
The threads I referenced above contain a wealth of information to guide you in navigating through it.
Hope you’re able to Review those threads as well as Research the Notary Cafe database to glean the abundant data there immediately available for your Reference.
Good morning,
Thank you. Yes, I looked at them. Lots of great information.
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