Notary Public Underwriters Blog
Making Money as a Notary Public
- Details
- Published: March 20, 2023
Did you know a Notary Public commission can help you earn money? All you need is a realistic assessment of your ability to put yourself and your services out there, a clear understanding of your state’s Notary laws and rules, and the discipline to accurately track your income and report it as required.
Enterprising Notaries who notarize mainly for an employer have realized their lunch hours, evenings and weekends offer a prime opportunity to notarize for the general public. They accept appointments with the general public during those work breaks and after hours, and meet their customer(s) at a safe, mutually convenient location. Once together with the customer, the Notary performs the notarization and collects the agreed-upon fee.
These so-called “mobile” Notaries also cultivate relationships with groups and businesses that typically need, but don’t have, employee Notaries on-premises. These might be homeowners associations, non-profit organizations, mom-and-pop small businesses… the more possibilities you consider, the longer your list of potential customers will grow.
Even when an employer pays for a Notary’s commission, that commission is solely the Notary’s. In general, the employer can impose certain guidelines while the Notary is on the clock, on the employer’s premises, but cannot dictate or control an employee’s Notary-related activities when the employee Notary is on his or her own time.
For performance of a specific notarial act, a Notary Public may charge up to the fee authorized by the Notary’s state of commission. Presently across the U.S., fees for notarial acts involving an ink-signed paper document range from less than $5 per notarial act (depending on the state) to as much as $15 per notarial act (again, depending on the state). A Notary Public may also charge* for additional services, such as mileage for traveling to-and-from a meeting place or providing basic clerical services. When charging any fees the Notary must disclose all fees upfront, have the customer’s agreement to the fees, and follow all requirements of the Notary’s commissioning state law.
____________
*Be sure to check your state’s Notary laws for any state-specific requirements or limitations on charging of fees.
So, yes, a Notary Public commission can help you earn money, and provide value and convenience to customers who appreciate a Notary Public willing to bring their skills and expertise to them!
(Want to become a Notary Public or renew your commission? Learn more here.)
Related Article(s)
Why Becoming a Notary Might be a Good Side Job for You
How to Market Yourself as a Notary
Beyond the Notary Stamp - Supplies Notaries Need