Posted by Rallton Hill on 3/26/10 10:41am
Msg #329066
Fees and process.
Hello all, I am new the this and would like a little input from you who have been in the business for a while. 1st, is there a major difference between the basic and premium membership. Whereas if you sign up for the premium service, do you receive more signings and are you moved up on the list. Secondly, what fees should I charge if I am offered a signing? Lastly, how long does it take to receive you first assignment?
Thank in advance.
All answers are welcome
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Reply by MW/VA on 3/26/10 10:45am
Msg #329069
Welcome to the NSA world. You can use the orange search button to pull up message 33325 which is a long-read, but contains a lot of great info.
The difference between basic and premium membership here will be about where you are on the list in your area. Usually, the higher on the list, the more likely you are to get called.
I would suggest you not take assignments until you know what you're doing. If you follow this forum you will find that business issues are discussed daily.
Good luck.
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Reply by Yoli/CA on 3/26/10 11:05am
Msg #329072
You just received some very sound advice from Marilynn. My two cents is to formulate your business plan, do your thorough research then ask questions.
Welcome to NotRot and good luck!
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Reply by Notarysigner on 3/26/10 11:05am
Msg #329073
you'll have a better chance at success if you follow MWs' advice
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Reply by Roger_OH on 3/26/10 11:18am
Msg #329074
Premier membership definitely increases your chances of being called, and you need to think of it as in investment in your business (also tax-deductible as a business expense). Ensure your profile is complete and grammatically correct.
As already stated, please don't attempt a loan signing until you know your state notary laws COLD! The signer, whose $200,000 mortgage is riding on your knowledge, is trusting that you know what you're doing, as are the lender and title company.
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Reply by John/CT on 3/26/10 11:36am
Msg #329075
And, like the others in this thread, link to your profile. n/m
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Reply by Moneyman/TX on 3/26/10 1:39pm
Msg #329092
Follow Marilynn & John's advice and you'll get more
return on your investment (ROI) of a premier membership and time. If you have a question about a subject, or just want to study up on it, use the Orange Search button. The education available here via this board and the willingness of members to share is priceless and will not be in any “course” offered anywhere. I’ll add my opinion as well; you MUST know what you are doing and feel comfortable doing it PRIOR to accepting any signing assignments. Besides the trust issues (which is highly important) you could possibly expose yourself to legal liability you may not even be aware of.
Personally, the ability to support this site was at the top of the list for me when I decided to invest in a premier membership. Good luck
As always, I am not a licensed attorney and this should not be considered offering legal advice, etc. etc. 
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Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/26/10 2:47pm
Msg #329117
Whether or not you get business from this site will depend greatly on the area where you live. I'm generally listed first in my zip code (at least I used to be before they put in the search by address), but I get very little work from this site because it doesn't come up high enough on the search engines in my very populated area. Just depends. If you are Premier member, your listing will definitely be higher on the page. Go to the Find A Notary tab on the first page of the forum and look up your area. You will also see how many other notaries there are in your area who are registered with this site. (Keep in mind that there are also lots out there who aren't listed here. BTW, I'm still a Premier member for other reasons)
Obviously, I don't know your personal circumstances, but before you begin to spend too much money on marketing, etc., I can't recommend strongly enough that you do some research on the market and the state of this industry. Lots of people here who are highly experienced and well established are having problems finding enough work.
In addition to reading all of 33325, I suggest you also start reading backwards from today. You'll get a very good idea of some of the challenges people are facing in this business today - and which companies to avoid, as there are many out there who will hire you with no intention of ever paying you. Others may have good intentions, but aren't able to deliver on them in this market, so the notary ends up getting stiffed or waiting a very long time for payment.
This is a very tough business these days and you should know what you are getting yourself into so you have a good idea what the chances are that you will get any return on your investment of money and time and how long it will take. There are no straightforward answers to that. It depends on your determination and work ethic - and the state of the market in your target work area.
Good luck!
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Reply by Moneyman/TX on 3/26/10 3:09pm
Msg #329126
Getting assignments is the easy part. Always geting paid
or paid on time is one of the hardest part of this business (after learning the business itself). There are good SS companies out there but that list is getting smaller as time goes by.
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Reply by JanetK_CA on 3/26/10 4:12pm
Msg #329140
How many NotRot NSAs do YOU have within 30 miles? n/m
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Reply by Teresa/FL on 3/26/10 4:18pm
Msg #329148
That information does not seem to be available any more n/m
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Reply by Sylvia_FL on 3/26/10 4:23pm
Msg #329151
Re: That information does not seem to be available any more
Hmm it used to come up when you searched by zip
But, also, used to only list first 25(?) notaries. Now it lists more.
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Reply by Teresa/FL on 3/26/10 4:41pm
Msg #329153
Re: That information does not seem to be available any more
It used to list the first 20 premier members and the first 20 basic members. Now it lists the first 25 premier members and only 10 basic members.
Also, what's up with the letters as markers on the map, but no indication of which notary corresponds to each letter?
Harry must not have finished his upgrade of the system or hasn't had a chance to fine-tune the changes.
I really miss knowing the total # of notaries listed. I think it is valuable information.
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Reply by CopperheadVA on 3/26/10 5:19pm
Msg #329158
Re: That information does not seem to be available any more
If you click on the letter, it will tell you which notary it is.
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Reply by Teresa/FL on 3/26/10 5:50pm
Msg #329164
Thanks! n/m
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Reply by jba/fl on 3/26/10 5:21pm
Msg #329159
I miss that - a great indicator for anyone of how saturated
the area is with notaries. Wish that could be added back into the mix.
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Reply by Notarysigner on 3/26/10 4:38pm
Msg #329152
Re: How many NotRot NSAs do YOU have within 30 miles?
I get it by Zip or city...first 25 premier members then the rest..
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Reply by LKT/CA on 3/26/10 8:33pm
Msg #329173
Notary saturation info is utterly useless to me
So what if it says there are 100 notaries in my zip code. Many of these notaries:
May only notarize because of their employment and have no interest outside of that.
May have day jobs are can't notarize before 7am or until 5pm or later. I do this full time and I'm available anytime morning, afternoon and evening.
Have to be to bed for work the next day and won't go out if they get a 9pm or 10pm call - I will.
Want to sleep in late, won't get up for an 8am Sat or Sun morning call - I will.
Won't notarize at hospitals or jails - I will.
Gone for the weekend - I'm not.
Won't answer their phone in the early AM hours. I will - and got a [legitimate] call this morning at 1:45am.
Notary saturation stats mean nothing to me except more $$$ in my pocket because I will do what a majority of those 100 notaries can't or won't do.
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Reply by Joan Bergstrom on 3/26/10 10:59pm
Msg #329185
Lisa nailed it!
You want to work? Make yourself available whenever you can. Keep your cell on 24/7.
My marketing thought when my phone phone rings is: how can I make this call result in a notary/loan signing assignment?
Lisa, great post!
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Reply by Moneyman/TX on 3/26/10 11:18pm
Msg #329186
Great post. n/m
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Reply by Notarysigner on 3/26/10 8:54pm
Msg #329176
Re: How many NotRot NSAs do YOU have within 30 miles?
I agree...if you call the first five in my zip after me you will get six no answers/recorder and one nut.
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Reply by LKT/CA on 3/26/10 8:56pm
Msg #329177
Re: How many NotRot NSAs do YOU have within 30 miles?
LOL! Whose the nut?
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Reply by Notarysigner on 3/26/10 9:51pm
Msg #329179
mis-count 4 no answers 1 nut. LOL n/m
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Reply by Moneyman/TX on 3/26/10 11:20pm
Msg #329187
LOL James. Be careful, the nuts are geting closer n/m
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Reply by Moneyman/TX on 3/26/10 10:28pm
Msg #329183
More than the 2 when I started .. LOL
Not all NSA's in business in my area (like everyone else) are listed on NotRot. Just because they are not listed here does not mean that I do not have any competition for business. I know of at least 18 others not listed here. There reasons reason I cover 6 TX counties.
Population is also a factor in my area vs. a more populated area. (YOUR area: estimated zip code population in 2008: 67,772 vs. Mine: Estimated zip code population in 2008: 26,327 -- both from a Google searchs)
Besides, in the last 10-12 months, I have had to spend an increasing amount of time each month in the pursuit of collecting payments. I have also lost money due to SS's going out of business or filing bankruptcy while still owing me pay. I have taken some companies off my list and still get calls from them.
That is what I meant about being easier to get orders. Not sure if you thought that I meant that I can't stop my phone from ringing. Like everyone else, I wish I had that problem. I do have some good companies on my list and I have found a few more.
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