Has anyone here moved states and managed a relatively smooth transition? I’m about 8 months and 200 signings into my new notary business. I’m considering a move to a different state (across the country) in about 18 months. I’d like to think that my record on major platforms go with me, but I’m wondering if there are things I should be planning for in advance to help smooth the transition. Thanks for any insights!
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You’ll basically be starting over: new turf, competition, area quirks, fees offered, etc.
About all you can do is figure out what new zips will provide a profit at what fee so you don’t accept losers. Mappng programs are pretty accurate as to mileage and drive time, so that’s a place to start educating yourself. Doubt your record will move with you.
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I moved to another county and that data bases do not get updated with current information. Still receiving requests for signings in previous county 4 hours away. Did NOT change my phone number and email. Starting over with new email and phone number might be easier. Good luck !!
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Oof—that’s really frustrating! I definitely would want to keep my email if possible, but it’s not a hill I’d want to die on. That said, it would be important to me to keep my signing history. By the time I move, we’d be talking hundreds of signings (possibly into the thousands). I can’t imagine why that history would have to be deleted if you just update your address on the signing platforms that you’ve already been working through.
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I’m wondering if sending an email to the signing services you work with, politely explaining that you’d like to keep your history intact as you change locations and if they would kindly honor your request. I can’t imagine so doing would be difficult for them.
Just a thought.
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I hear what you are saying and sounds logical. I had thousands of signings with over a frequent flyer group of over 100 entities. I emailed, called, updated on their websites, etc. for whatever reason right hand does not know what left hand is doing. Data bases don’t update or communicate if employees working out of their homes. New hospital in Silverdale WA which is in Kitsap County still have not updated their information and I relocated 5 years ago. I called, emailed, wrote letters to hospital and they are still providing my information to patients and their families. I refer these people to NNA website and tell them to search for notary by entering zip code or city for certified notary. Took me approx 1 year to get my business back to where it was originally prior to move. I had a lot of entities that liked my work quality and retained my history ~ did not take long to get up to speed. I’m 76 years old and also provide general notary work for a lot of seniors. I really like general notary work better than LSA work. Good luck!!
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Nice logical thought but then have to deal with real world of data bases not being updated.
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In a new state, a new commission is required. Which leads to a brand new history.
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Good comment ~ new state, new commission, begins new history. Spent half my life in CA (born and raised) after Viet Nam War (worked for US Navy) relocated to WA with few years return to CA. Utilized CA Notary for construction documents for projects in multiple locations. After relocationg to WA NNA continued communications as I managed notaries in multiple states. Loan Signing contractors working in WA also have contacts in other states. Perhaps some of Erin’s associates work in state of her relocation. Homework prior to relocation necessary. Relocation can be a pain and I have worked all over USA and other countries created “school of hard knocks” relocation spreadsheets to check off items requiring attention and easily overlooked. Wishing you the best Erin. 
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Good comment, this. It might be advantageous to draft a letter to all concerned parties explaining your relocation and the history you’ve earned at your former location. If you can print/produce evidence of your ratings and other statistical data and attach it to your letter (preferably an email), you’ll be grounding your credibility and maybe establishing your presence so you can get order offers more readily.
Think it all through carefully and have a knowledgeable and trusted editor/critic/friend read your work and help you with content. May the Good Lord bless your move and your prospects when you are ready to get going again.
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I wouldn’t worry about changing my address and signing area on my signing platforms; it’s having to redo the Google Business Profile that would kill me, and I’m thinking about a move too. I think you’d also have to start with a new one, but I’m not sure. That’s where most of my work comes from. And the SEO on your website that you’ve spent years building up. That, to me is a huge job because everything–including meta titles and meta tags for every single page, landing page, and dynamic pages– has to be rewritten. I’m not sure I’d want to do all that.
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Wow, that’s frustrating to hear, but I appreciate the honest reply. I’m actually thinking that when I do move, it wouldn’t be so terrible to focus on general work over loan signings. This is currently my second job—not primary income—so it’s not like I would need to replace a full-time salary starting from scratch.
And I agree—the general notary work tends to be more enjoyable/less stressful. Especially when it comes to setting rates. I find so many signing agents trying to low-ball and happy to pass off to that lowest bidder.
Thank you Alice. I guess the question is, what is my homework list so that I can actually start checking off those items as the time draws near?
I’m still less than a year in here. If I move in summer of 2027, that would put me right around the two year mark (enough to have significant experience without having to rebuild a decade’s old business). Honestly, I don’t even have a Google site for reviews. I guess I was so focused on signing platforms like SnapDocs and SigningOrder that it never even occurred to me to set that up. Now I’m wondering if it makes sense to start building something like that here or wait until after I go.
Interesting idea that I wouldn’t have thought of (mapping zip codes). I’m not sure I’d know how to do that. I live in corn country now and I basically negotiate higher travel fees for any driving beyond an hour, but have never actually considered how rates might be tied to zip codes.
That’s amazing if you’re busy and don’t even have a google profile. I get all of my work that way. That would be a good question to raise at the Notary Stars mentorship session. It’s open to the public. I’ll have to think about that myself. I have no idea if you can just change the info on it when you move.
You can keep your e-mail.I don’t know why someone’s telling you you need to change it.
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I moved from Orange County, Southern California to Horry County, South Carolina with no issue, your vendors (companies you sign for) will be there for signing in your new area. One of the advantages with South Carolina, you only have to do your notary test every 10 years, unlike Ca. every 4 years. No bond is required (and you can’t even get a bond in SC), but do get the E&O.
I think she can retain the phone number and email with no problem if she sends a notice to any signing service that she’s done business with, advising of her new location, so they can update their records and not send her jobs in the old location.
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Yes—I have no intention of changing my email. As for phone number… I might choose to change that as I did recently. I’ve had (and still have) a personal 808 number after many years of living in Hawaii but found that nobody would answer it locally. Most signers saw the 808 and assumed it was a scam call. I added a second (local) business line to my phone and the pickup rate is much better. I would probably do the same after any future move just to streamline communication.
And updating my number on the signing platforms didn’t cause any hiccups so I’m pretty sure that would be the least of my concerns with a future move.