Notary Services

About this side hustle

Notary services are a regulated side hustle where you act as an impartial witness to deter fraud by confirming signer identity, willingness, and awareness. Typical requests include notarizing affidavits, powers of attorney, parental consent forms, vehicle title transfers, and business documents. Depending on your state rules, you may also administer oaths/affirmations and certify certain copies.

Many notaries start with general walk-in appointments (local community members and small businesses), then expand into higher-value work such as mobile notary services (traveling to clients) and loan signing appointments (facilitating mortgage refinance or purchase document signings). Loan signings can pay more per appointment but require higher accuracy, punctuality, and comfort with large document sets.

In some jurisdictions, remote online notarization (RON) allows you to notarize via approved identity proofing and audio-video technology, opening access to clients beyond your immediate area. However, eligibility, platform requirements, recordkeeping, and allowed fees vary significantly by state, so the opportunity depends on local rules.

This hustle rewards people who are organized, detail-oriented, and comfortable interacting with the public. The work can be scheduled around a day job, and demand tends to be steady because life events (moving, legal needs, medical situations, business formation) continually generate documents that require notarization.

Why it works

Successful notaries treat the role like a compliance-driven microbusiness: they know their state’s notary handbook, follow identification standards consistently, and maintain clean records (journal entries, seal usage, and retention rules). They also build trust by being punctual, professional, and clear about what they can and cannot do (not giving legal advice, refusing improper requests, and explaining required steps).

Where many struggle is marketing and service design. The notaries who earn more typically specialize (mobile notary, hospital/assisted-living visits, after-hours service, loan signings, RON) and make booking frictionless with clear pricing, service areas, and appointment confirmations. They also reduce errors with checklists, document review routines, and consistent packaging of supplies.

Getting started

Research your state’s notary requirements: eligibility, training/exam, application, background check, bond, and fee limits.

Apply for your commission, purchase required bond (if applicable), and obtain your seal/stamp and a compliant journal.

Set up a simple operating system: intake questions, ID requirements, appointment scheduling, payment methods, and a refusal policy for noncompliant requests.

Launch locally: claim business listings, create a one-page service menu (general notarizations, mobile add-on, after-hours), and network with nearby businesses that frequently need notarization.

Add mobile notary routes and niches: hospitals, nursing homes, jails (where permitted), real estate offices, and small business document packages.

If you want higher ticket work, pursue loan signing training/certification (where common), then apply to signing services and build direct relationships with title/escrow offices.

Expand to RON if allowed: meet state requirements, choose an approved platform, refine your remote workflow, and market statewide within legal boundaries.

Startup costs and requirements

Notary startup costs are usually modest, but they vary widely by state and by whether you add mobile, loan signing, or RON services. Expect a mix of required state items and optional business tools.

State application and commission fees (varies by jurisdiction)

Surety bond (if required) and optional errors & omissions insurance

Notary seal/stamp and an official journal (paper or approved electronic)

Basic office supplies: pens, thumbprint pad (if required/used), folders, printer/scanner (helpful for loan signings)

Mobile setup: reliable vehicle, fuel budget, and mileage tracking

RON setup (if eligible): compliant platform fees, webcam, secure internet, and any required identity-proofing tools

Marketing basics: business cards, simple listing/profile, and scheduling/payment tools

Tips for success

Memorize your state’s ID rules and stick to them every time; consistency prevents liability and protects your commission.

Use a pre-appointment script: document type, signer count, valid IDs, willingness/awareness, and whether witnesses are needed.

Create a “go bag” for mobile visits (stamp, journal, spare pens, acknowledgment/jurat certificates if permitted, receipt book).

Price and communicate clearly: notarization fee vs travel/convenience fee (and only where allowed); confirm totals before driving.

Build repeat pipelines by networking with attorneys, accountants, real estate offices, assisted-living facilities, and small business owners.

For loan signings, use checklists and page-by-page review to avoid missed signatures/initials and costly re-signs.

Track every appointment: revenue, mileage, time on task, error rates, and which referral sources convert best.

Time investment and effort

Weeks 1–2 are mostly administrative: researching your state rules, completing training/exam (if required), applying, and ordering supplies. Expect 2–6 hours per week during this setup phase, plus waiting time for commission approval.

Weeks 3–6 focus on launching and learning your workflow: handling inquiries, scheduling, and performing initial notarizations carefully. Many people spend 3–8 hours per week at this stage, with time split between appointments, travel, and improving scripts/checklists.

As you scale, time becomes more variable and appointment-driven. General notarizations might average 15–30 minutes each (plus travel if mobile), while loan signings can take 60–120 minutes plus printing and drop-off. At 10–20 hours per week, many notaries can build a reliable part-time income stream; beyond that, operational discipline (routing, batching print jobs, standardized confirmations) determines how profitable the extra hours are.

Challenges and reality

What sounds appealing: Easy money for stamping papers, flexible hours, quick appointments, and steady demand from everyday life events.

What it’s really like: A compliance-heavy service business where you must follow strict rules, refuse improper requests, manage scheduling and no-shows, and handle travel/logistics. Higher earnings often come from specialization (mobile, loan signings, or RON), which adds complexity, equipment needs, and higher expectations for accuracy.

Learning resources

National Notary Association (NNA) — nationalnotary.org — Training, state requirements, supplies, and articles plus guidance for notaries and signing agents.

American Association of Notaries (AAN) — notary.org — Education, notary supplies, and practical resources including state-specific commissioning info.

Notary Rotary (Directory + Community) — notaryrotary.com — Large signing agent/notary directory with forums and job listings for loan signings.

SigningAgent.com — signingagent.com — NNA’s directory/marketplace where title companies and signing services find signing agents.

123notary.com — 123notary.com — Notary and signing agent directory plus community resources and industry info.

Snapdocs — snapdocs.com — Platform connecting signing agents with title/escrow companies for loan signing appointments.

Notary Cafe — notarycafe.com — Directory and educational resources for notaries and signing agents.

NotaryGO — notarygo.com — Booking and marketplace-style platform for clients to find and schedule notary services.

Notarize (Proof) — proof.com — RON vendor with knowledge resources for remote online notarization workflows and compliance.

DocVerify — docverify.com — Remote online notarization platform and identity verification tools with support documentation.

BlueNotary — bluenotary.us — Online notarization platform with training materials and guidance for RON-capable notaries.

Notary.net (Notary Forums) — notary.net — Community forums and resources for mobile notaries and signing agents.

Reddit: r/notary — reddit.com/r/notary — Peer Q&A and real-world discussion on commissioning, fees, and best practices.

Reddit: r/NotarySigningAgent — reddit.com/r/NotarySigningAgent — Community focused on loan signings, clients, and field tips for signing agents.

Calendly — calendly.com — Simple appointment scheduling tool useful for mobile notaries taking bookings.

Square — squareup.com — Payments, invoices, and basic point-of-sale tools for collecting notary fees on-site.

QuickBooks Self-Employed — quickbooks.intuit.com — Mileage tracking, expense categorization, and tax-ready reporting for solo operators.

IRS Standard Mileage Rates — irs.gov — Official mileage-rate reference to support travel pricing and recordkeeping.