How to Become a Mobile Notary

A mobile notary or traveling notary is someone who travels to an individual’s home, office, or another location to provide notarization services. They’re basically on-call notary officials (also known as “notary publics”).

People call on mobile notaries to provide quick and convenient services when they don’t want to (or can’t) go to a notary office or they need notarization services for high-liability documents that notary offices generally won’t deal with, such as power of attorney (POA) documents or wills.

Like traditional notaries, mobile notaries are public officials who have been commissioned by a state government to perform notarial acts that benefit the public and prevent fraud.

What does a mobile notary do?

As a mobile notary, you may perform any of the following tasks:

• Travel to various locations to meet clients
• Be a legal witness to the signing of documents
• Verify a signer’s identity
• Ensure that signers understand the purpose and implications of signing particular documents
• Confirm that a signer isn’t being coerced or manipulated into signing a document
• Sign and stamp documents

While many mobile notaries work on the move, commuting from one client to the next, you can also become an online mobile notary. In this case, you can do all your notary work remotely and make money from the comfort of your own home.

It’s important to fully understand and accept your responsibilities as a notary public. You can be called into court if a document you notarize is ever called into question.

You also need to be well versed in notary laws in your state and also keep up to date on changes in notary law.

Why do people use mobile notary services?

There’s a huge demand for mobile notaries right now, and it’s no wonder why. Mobile notarization services have several big advantages over traditional services.

The most obvious advantage to hiring a mobile notary is not having to visit a notary office. If there are multiple signers who can’t all meet together, then a mobile notary can also travel to each person’s location separately.

Additionally, mobile notaries can work outside of regular business hours and take urgent assignments with very little notice, making them much more flexible and readily available than traditional notaries.

Amanda L. McCarty, a professional mobile notary based in Oregon, told us that she’s provided notary services to a wide range of clients. A few examples include people who can’t leave their homes, patients in hospitals who want their affairs in order before a major surgery, new mothers who’ve undergone a home birth and need proof of their newborn’s name, and even busy doctors in clinics. Many people need help from a notary at some point in their lives.

Each state in the US has its own laws and regulations for who can be a notary public and the requirements you need to meet first.

Most commonly, to become a notary, you need to be:

• A US citizen or lawful permanent resident
• A resident of the state you live in
• At least 18 years old
• Able to read, write, and understand English

According to McCarty, mobile notary work is pretty quick and simple to get into. All you need to do is submit a few documents, undergo some quick training, and take a test. “If you pass, you’re approved!” she added. She said the whole process (including training, waiting for approval, and getting advertising set up) took her just 2 months.

However, it might not be this easy for everyone. Since honesty is such an important part of the job, all applicants have to undergo a thorough 10-year background check, which McCarty noted to be a “huge barrier.”

Bear in mind that some states have restrictions that can prevent you from performing certain tasks. For example, some require you to be a licensed attorney or possess a professional license to handle loan closings. 1

Becoming a mobile notary might seem complicated or confusing, but it’s easier than it looks from the outside. You can quickly start earning serious cash by starting your own mobile notary business (which is worth doing even if you’re only looking for part-time work to supplement other sources of income).

All you need to do is follow the steps below.

1. Become a notary public in your state

Check the legal requirements for notary officials in your state to make sure you’re eligible and find out what you need to do to become one.

According to the National Notary Association (NNA), here are the steps you need to take to become a notary public: 2

• Complete an application form: You can find the notary application form on your state government’s website.
• Pay your state’s filing fee: This is a mandatory and nonrefundable fee that varies according to your state, but it’s usually pretty small. For example, the filing fee is $10 in Colorado and $25 in Montana. 3 4
• Get training from a state-approved education vendor (if applicable): Some states require you to undergo professional training before you can become a notary public. Information about how to sign up for and complete this training should be available on your state government’s website.
• Pass a state-administered exam (if applicable): Some states also require you to pass an exam (and sometimes also a pre-assessment exam) to demonstrate your knowledge and competence. 5
• Complete fingerprinting and a background check (if applicable): You may be required to complete a criminal background check to provide notarization services. This should take only a few days to complete.
• Get a notary bond (if applicable): You may have to get a notary surety bond, often in the range of $1,000–$25,000, from a licensed insurer or bonder in your state.
• Receive your commission certificate from the state: Depending on how you submitted your notary application, you could receive your notary commission certificate by mail or electronically (by email).
• File your commission paperwork with your notary regulating official: You’ll need to submit your surety bond and notarized oath of office form to your local notary official (e.g., your state secretary or county clerk) and register your signature. Many states impose a time limit of around 30–45 days in which you need to do this before your commission is nullified.
• Purchase notary supplies: In most states, you’ll need to purchase a notary stamp, notary journal, and inkless thumb printer to become a notary. It’s also wise to get other office supplies you can take with you on your notary trips, like pens, a stapler, and a calculator.

The exact steps you need to take (and the order in which you need to take them) may vary, depending on where you live. If you get stuck or you’re feeling lost, contact your local secretary of state. They handle the application process and laws that apply to mobile notaries, and they can help answer your questions or even offer free resources.

After you’ve completed these steps, that’s it! You’re all set to offer mobile notary services. Bear in mind that if you change your mind at any point and no longer want to be a notary public, you may need to formally relinquish your notary commission by contacting your local notary regulating official.

2. Create a business plan

Next is the part that will determine how much you can earn as a mobile notary: coming up with a business plan. This will help you pick realistic short-term and long-term goals and provide a basis for coming up with financial projections.

Your business plan should include the following information:

• What services you’ll offer: Are you planning on doing a mix of administering oaths, solemnizing marriages, and attesting to document photocopies, or do you plan to focus on providing one particular type of service?
• What geographical areas you’ll serve: Will your work as a mobile notary only in your city, or are you willing to travel elsewhere in your state? In McCarty’s words, “Picking the cities/areas you’re willing to cover is important!”
• Who your target clients will be: Are you hoping to do business for real estate agents, lenders, schools, law firms, or some other type of client?
• What strategies you’ll use to market your services: How are you going to attract clients? Will you build a website or simply rely on personal or professional connections?

Part of creating a good business plan is calculating the cost of setting up your mobile notary business. To get you started, your likely expenses are listed below:

Costs of Starting a Mobile Notary Business

Sources: Notary cost estimates are based on Texas, Florida, Nevada, Colorado, Minnesota, and Michigan estimates; E&O insurance cost estimate is from Pogo; notary supplies cost estimates are from McCarty.

The exact cost of starting your mobile notary business will depend on where you live. Depending on your state’s requirements, you may also need to buy an inkless fingerprint pad ($10–$15). Check the fees in your state or jurisdiction for an accurate estimate.

Your business plan should also include a schedule that specifies when you’ll review your costs vs. earnings to identify areas for improvement in your strategy.

3. Register your business

In many cases, you’ll need to register your notary business with your local, county, or state government. This is an important step, and skipping it could cost you.

When checking your local regulations for whether you need a license or permit to operate your notary business, you should also check for any additional legal requirements you need to meet, such as buying insurance and registering for taxes.

Even if you’re not technically required to register your business, it could be worthwhile if you’re serious about starting a side hustle or career as a mobile notary public. Operating as a corporation, sole proprietorship, or limited liability company (LLC) can protect your personal liability and finances if something goes wrong down the line.

4. Get E&O insurance

While errors and omissions (E&O) insurance isn’t necessarily a technical requirement, it’s definitely something should have.

E&O insurance, also known as professional liability insurance, provides crucial protection in the event anyone files a claim against you for mistakes or oversights you made while providing notarial services. This insurance will cover your court costs and legal fees.

5. Set your rates according to state regulations

Each state has its own limits for how much you can charge for notary services. Check the maximum notary fees in your state and come up with a pricing plan for your business.

Most states set the threshold somewhere in the range of $2–$15 for each notarial act. Many appointments involve multiple notarization acts, allowing you to easily rack up $100 or more from just one appointment.

Fortunately, you can get away with setting your rates fairly high as a mobile notary because of the convenience you’re offering to your customers, although you may be able to get more clients (and repeat customers) if your prices are lower.

6. Advertise your services

Once you’ve got your mobile notary business all set up, you’ll need to find some work. Since you’re freelancing and working for yourself, you’ll need to do all the marketing for your business on your own. But don’t worry—we’ll give you a few pointers on how to get your first mobile notary jobs.

Build your own website

Creating a website is a key step in every new business venture. This is your space where you let potential clients know who you are, what you do, and why they should hire you over competitors.

On your website, include the name of your business, a list of the services you offer, and a contact page providing your business phone number, email address, and any other contact information you can think of. McCarty says even using a free website builder like Wix will work. The main thing is making sure your contact details are visible and it’s easy for people to reach you.

Set up a Google Business page

If you want potential customers to be able to find you during an online search, you need to have a Google Business Profile. McCarty says it’s the most successful advertising approach she’s used “by far,” noting that she got her first client not long after she set one up for her own mobile notary business. The best part is that it’s free to do.

It’s also worth considering paying for Google Ads. This is something McCarty does, and she told us she consistently earns 10–20 times the amount she pays for advertisements. It’s cliché, but it’s true: Sometimes you have to spend money to make money.

McCarty has tried paying for ads on Thumbtack, Yelp, local community Facebook groups, and Instagram as well, but she says Google has delivered the best results for her.

Use social media

Social media can be a powerful tool for finding work. Create professional business profiles on major social media platforms to promote your services. You can also join Facebook groups to stay up to date on new job opportunities.

Additionally, you can post advertisements on these platforms or even use LinkedIn to reach out to professionals who you think might be able to use your services.

Try cold outreach

While this is often the marketing approach most dreaded by new business owners, cold outreach can pay off when done well. Offer your services to local businesses in your area. Try these companies:

• Banks
• Car dealerships
• Law firms
• Insurance companies
• Hospitals
• Nursing homes

The more types of businesses you contact, the better. According to McCarty, “you can’t go wrong with passing your information out to any business.” Try setting a goal for yourself to contact a certain number of companies per day.

You can do your outreach by email, but you’ll probably have more success if you reach out by phone or even in person. McCarty has worked with a wide variety of business types, and she told us she’s found in-person outreach using flyers or business cards to be the most effective way to create business relationships.

Once you’ve got your mobile notary side business up and running, the work isn’t over. To make the most money possible and avoid common pitfalls, follow the best practices outlined by a professional mobile notary.

Consider getting a coach or mentor

McCarty emphasizes the importance of joining a notary community or even finding a coach or mentor to help you when you’re first starting your mobile notary career. She recommends searching for a mentor online in a Facebook notary group. Ultimately, she says you’ll get a lot of benefit from finding someone who “understands the struggle of starting” and is “there to help you celebrate the wins.”

Check how much other mobile notaries are charging in your area

McCarty strongly encourages researching what other notaries in your area are charging before setting your own rates (if your state allows freedom in pricing). She says that charging a little lower than the norm can be beneficial, but “charging too low sets wrong expectations” and can hurt the notary industry as a whole.

The bottom line is that providing professional notary services is “much more than just stamping a page,” as McCarty puts it. Understand the value of the services you’re providing, and make sure your prices reflect that.

Offer add-on services

McCarty says that charging for additional services is a good way to get around state-mandated limits on how much you can charge for notary services. “While you are limited to the state’s regulations on travel and notarization fees, you can also charge for services such as printing, scanning, shipping, etc.” she told us.

Many mobile notaries, McCarty included, also offer loan signing services, which can be especially lucrative. Travel fees are another gold mine for mobile notary work, although regulations for how much you can charge in travel fees (if at all) vary by state, so be sure to do your homework first.

You could also explore other side hustle ideas and pick up some complementary work to increase your income. McCarty doubles as a wedding officiant, which she says is a popular side hustle choice among notaries, considering some states allow notary publics to officiate weddings without any additional credentials. She also noted that because people tend to need notaries on weekdays and officiants on weekends, offering both services helps her achieve a good balance in her schedule.

Prioritize your own safety

To McCarty, one of the most important aspects of doing work as a mobile notary is taking steps to protect yourself, especially since the job often involves going into strangers’ homes or meeting them in random locations. “Having a plan in place on how you are comfortable protecting yourself is crucial,” McCarty says.

She carries pepper spray and tells her husband the details of each assignment she takes on, including the address, the signer’s name, and an estimate for how long the job will take. She also sends him a notification once she arrives and when she’s done. “I send a quick emoji on my watch if it is taking longer than expected, and I know my watch can quickly call emergency services if need be,” she added.

Get comfortable saying “no”

McCarty told us that the most difficult part of the job as a mobile notary is learning to say “no” to clients. She expressed frustration that state-mandated notary training doesn’t prepare new notaries for the real (and uncomfortable) situations that they’ll inevitably face on the job, including pressure to commit illegal or unethical acts.

Here are examples of common client requests she’s had to deny:

• Answering legal questions (without being a licensed attorney).
• Notarizing a signature made by a client who doesn’t understand what they’re signing.
• Accepting invalid forms of identification.
• Doing something illegal, such as assisting in fraud.

While it may feel uncomfortable to turn down clients, it’s a very important part of the job. First and foremost, you need to uphold your legal obligations as a mobile notary.

Becoming a mobile notary is not only a great side hustle for lawyers and other legal professionals but also for anyone looking for well-paid, flexible work.

The most obvious benefits of being a mobile notary are the sky-high earning potential and lack of formal requirements. But a mobile notary side business can also have the following advantages:

• Other job opportunities: Notary publics have a reputation for being responsible and professional, and this reputation can open doors to plenty of other opportunities for working remotely or from various locations. Such opportunities include bookkeeping, fingerprinting, and serving as an authorized representative for businesses.
• Complements other side hustles: If you’re juggling multiple side jobs, it can be tough to find another income source that you can fit into your schedule. But since mobile notary work involves traveling to different locations, you can easily pair it with travel-based or remote side hustles like ridesharing, delivery driving, or mystery shopping.
• Quick payment: Some jobs require you to wait weeks to get paid, whereas mobile notaries are often paid immediately after providing notarial services. This allows you to quickly pick up extra cash whenever you need it.

McCarty is passionate about the benefits of working as a mobile notary, highlighting that she’s notarized as many as 97 signatures in a single day. “You get to be your own boss and watch your very own business grow and flourish into something amazing!” she added. “It truly is incredible.”

Although McCarty only planned on working as a mobile notary as a short-term side hustle, once her business took off, she ended up making a full-time income doing only part-time hours. The high earnings, along with the flexibility to set her own schedule, made the decision to stick with a mobile notary career a no-brainer.

With that said, there are certainly downsides to being a notary public, the biggest being the hefty responsibility that comes with the role (and the serious legal implications of making a simple mistake).

Still, as long as you’re careful and professional, working as a mobile notary can be an incredibly lucrative and easy side hustle you can do with no qualifications or experience.