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How To Make Money as a Notary Public in California? Tips & Ideas

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How To Make Money as a Notary Public in California? Tips & Ideas

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    by Notary Course Online
  • November 9, 2023

Have you ever wondered how notaries make money once they have completed the necessary steps to become a notary public in California? While this might not be your primary source of income, especially when you’ve first started, you can definitely make extra money as a notary public. You just need to know where to find clients and what your options are for maximizing the money you can make as a notary public in California


Table of Contents

Tips to Promote a New Notary Public Business

The crucial milestone after becoming a successful notary public in California in 7 steps is to make your new business as visible to the public as possible. It’s likely that word of mouth alone isn’t enough to promote a newly established notary public.

1. List your notary business

There are a number of business listing websites that allow notary service vendors to publish information about themselves online. To do that, you can create an account in the business directory, create and claim your notary business listing, and add your contacts, such as email and phone, as well as a link to your notary public website (if you have one). Some business directories allow vendors to brand their listing with a logo, collect customer reviews and feedback, and even publish blog posts or articles.

Here are some of the top business listing websites that customers use to find a notary public near me:

123Notary

Yelp

Yellow Pages

Angi (former Angie’s List)

Google Business Profile (Google Maps listings)

Important note: in order to legally promote your notary service in the state of California, you are required to be an officially approved notary public!

2. Use Social Media

Social media is a great way to share information with people you know. The next time one of your friends or family members is in need of a notary public in the state of California, they’ll know where to turn for assistance.There’s no doubt that people will jot down your contact information and save it for a later date. They may also perform a search several months later, and your name or website will show up at that point.You can reach out to potential clients by posting in various groups and building your social media presence:

* Become a member of local social media communities on Facebook and Reddit, that have anything in common with local businesses and notary public services.

* Create branded business pages on all major social networks, including LinkedIn, Twitter, and Instagram.

* Sign up for Quora and establish yourself as a notary public expert. This is a huge community that answers all sorts of questions from users who are in need of help or advice.

3. Use promotional materials

It may sound outdated, but it’s still effective to put your name on various promotional items and hand them out to people. Some popular marketing promo items include pens, pencils, refrigerator magnets, pads of paper, and calendars. The idea is to put your name and contact information on an item that a potential client will use often. Eventually, when that person is in need of a notary public service they will be very familiar with your name.

4. Network with local businesses

Spend a little time out in your community. Reach out to business owners. Introduce yourself, explain who you are, and what kind of notary public services you offer. The hope is that your name will be retained for future use if somebody is in need of a notary public service and they are not sure where to go.

5. Keep in touch with previous clients

There are all kinds of scenarios in which someone may be in need of a notary public in California. For example, confirming that the signatures on a specific document are legitimate. This includes things like deeds, transfers of sale, mortgages, and contracts. Once you have provided your services to someone, try to keep in touch with them in some way so they will hopefully reach out to you again. You can do this by inviting them to your social media business page, keeping them on an email list, or sending out promotional materials every so often.

6. Attend events and conferences

Attend big events for professional notaries, such as the National Notary Association Conference. The 2023 NNA Annual Conference is held in Scottsdale, Arizona. This is a highly important event where notaries public from California and other states can network, establish new contacts, and exchange experience. Thus, you can generate tons of new ideas on how to make money as a notary public. You can even find that you end up partnering with some other highly experienced notaries public who can help you to become a successful notary. These conferences also have a number of guest speakers who can provide some valuable information and inspiring ideas.

7. Consider multiple payment options

Flexibility is very important when it comes to notary public business promotion. More and more people are turning away from the use of cash and have now focused solely on carrying credit cards. Consider setting yourself up with a way to accept credit card payments for your notary services. You can also utilize payment platforms like PayPal and Venmo.

But what are the actual ways to make money as a notary public in California, you might ask? What kinds of services can you provide to your clients? The following ideas will help you to create a valuable business offer and attract as many clients as possible.


Ideas for Making Money as a Notary Public in California
1. Become a loan signing agent

A great way to secure paid contracts as a notary is by choosing to also become a loan signing agent. Notaries public often perform as loan signing agents in California, since they are certified to witness and confirm a loan document that is being signed. This most frequently occurs when someone buys or refinances a home. The loan signing agent walks through the final paperwork and can also take care of the notary duties during this process.

2. Offer apostille services

Apostille services certify the authenticity of a document, such as a birth certificate, marriage or divorce certificate, diploma, court document, etc. An apostille is made in a form of an attachment to the original document and makes it valid internationally.

3. Perform Live Scan Fingerprinting

Live Scan Fingerprinting is a replacement for traditional ink fingerprinting available in California. A notary public can offer Live Scan Fingerprinting for criminal history background checks, conditions of employment, licensing, certifications, etc., and transmit the fingerprints electronically to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

4. Provide jail signing services

There is often a need for notarizing documents in jail, and a notary public can offer these services within the confines of a facility.

5. Witness of the Power of Attorney

A power of attorney form must be signed in front of a licensed notary public. A notary public can offer these services to ensure a person is signing a document under their own free will.

6. Offer Mobile Notary Services

Notaries public in California can make more money by offering mobile notary services. This can be a convenient option for clients who need to notarize their documents without wanting to visit a notary’s office. A mobile notary can accommodate a large number of clients due to their flexibility and 24/7 availability. If you have a car and a valid driver’s license, nothing is stopping you from an opportunity to provide mobile notary services in your area. However, after the SECURE Notarization Act becomes law, notaries will be able to perform a remote notarization (RON).


How Much Do Notaries Public Make in California?

If you’re wondering whether the investment in becoming a notary public in California is worth it, it likely is. The cost of approved online notary courses in California is just $34.99. The answer to how much notaries public make in California falls between $43,214 and $56,267 per year, as of December 2022, according to Salary.com. Additionally, every notary public needs notary supplies that are aligned with California state requirements, such as a California notary journal, notary seal,  jurat stamp, pocket embosser, and others. We advise you to order our Notary Kit Essential Bundle, which includes all the required supplies, so that you can rest assured you’ve got everything you need for work. 

Of course, exactly how much you’ll make as a notary will depend on how long you’ve been working in the field, how many clients you regularly work with, and what amount you charge. Your income will likely go up as you acquire more experience and better reputation.

If you would like to learn more about how to become a notary public in California and kick start your new career, consider Notary Course Online as a gateway to your success.

Visit https://notarycourseonline.com/for more information.

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