Posted by Anne Jablonski on 9/23/12 8:47am
Msg #435523

Signing Agent

Can a person really make a decent living doing Notary work and signing agent work? I am thinking about doing this as a living but I need to have feedback before I go through the expense of starting this business and doing all the requirement state work.

I live in PA if that helps!

Thanks everyone!!

Reply by HisHughness on 9/23/12 9:22am
Msg #435527

Tip: All the signing agents who earn six-figure incomes are members of the NNA.

Reply by Barb25 on 9/23/12 9:32am
Msg #435529

I must join

Reply by 101livescan on 9/23/12 4:04pm
Msg #435570

REALLY, HUGH? Are you one of them? Wow, I'm going to sign right up...

Reply by Karla/OR on 9/23/12 4:49pm
Msg #435579

You should know Hugh! ha ha n/m

Reply by RickG/CA on 9/23/12 10:36am
Msg #435541

It depends on what you consider a "decent living" and are you willing to put in the unpaid work to get the paid gigs?!?!

Reply by MW/VA on 9/23/12 11:07am
Msg #435547

Try msg. 33325 & decide for yourself. There are

people in this biz that are full-time, some part-time, some in addition to their day job.
A lot depends on what your objective & expectations are. It isn't for everyone.

Reply by F2F/FL on 9/23/12 11:39am
Msg #435550

Re: I will give you my thoughts

and I will try and be as nice as I can. Don't go to all the trouble and expense unless you have some sort of income source to pay your bills every month over and about your business expenses. Your time seems to be the most expensive thing and in a lot of ways (at least for me) it has not been worth it. But I can say that all the people, borrowers, clients etc. have been the nicest people in the world. We all wish you good luck.

Reply by Lee/AR on 9/23/12 1:21pm
Msg #435554

First, go to all findanotary sites and see how many notaries in your area (zip, city, nearby) are already established in the area/s you intend to serve. Second, consider what you have to offer that is the same as or better than the established ones. If that answer is 'nothing', plan on starving for quite a while...months, for sure. Third, KNOW what it will COST you to travel to said area/s so that you can establish a fee/area that will be profitable. Fourth--very important--never ever think that undercutting the competition will help you establish yourself. All it will do is assure that you will go broke a bit slower and attract the low/non-paying companies.

Reply by NVLSlady/VA on 9/23/12 2:09pm
Msg #435557

Anne - Many start in PT - as I did. So you can get a "taste" of what it will be like when more of your time is consumed by it. I was attracted to it primarily because of being familiar with the lending industry after "growing up" banking (:

I would say, ask yourself first, WHY do I want to do THIS? I recall the time as an active real estate agent and I disliked almost every aspect of that form of sales; but many make a very good living at it. I know people who are very successful real estate salespeople; but I knew enough about myself to know I could never be one of them. They will readily tell you: We don't have a Life.

Reply by Karla/OR on 9/23/12 4:08pm
Msg #435571

Hi Anne~ I started working as a NSA on a part-time basis while working part-time at a law office. My husband works full-time and that helped with my initial business expenses which came to about $450. That does not include the two new printers I purchased: laser (for fast printing of large docs) and an inkjet (fax,scan, copy). That initial year was expensive but allowed nice tax write-offs. The best tax year in a very long time!!

I quit my law office job in June of this year and now solely work part-time to 3/4 at the NSA job. I REALLY like this work. I come from a customer service and law background so meeting and working with the public was not new to me. I have met some wonderful people over the past two years through this business.

The BEST part of this business is that I am in business for myself for the very first time - I make my own decisions and that is so rewarding.

Best of luck to you!

Reply by JanetK_CA on 9/23/12 5:49pm
Msg #435584

How are you at marketing? Once you learn the basics - not just to be a notary, but to have a good understanding of loan docs - most of your work in the beginning will be unpaid, marketing yourself to signing services and trying to get clients. Signing appointments don't just start flowing in unless you're in an area that is largely under-served currently.

It may take a while to get your first appointments and even longer to get established, i.e to get to where you are actually profitable. But you've received lots of good advice here. Do your homework, know ALL your costs (there's lots of info about this under Msg #33325, I think), and read as much as you can on this forum. There are archives here available via the orange search button at the top of the home page of this forum that go back for many, many years. After that, you should have a pretty good idea if proceeding with this work makes sense for you.

Reply by Notary - Premier on 9/23/12 5:51pm
Msg #435585

I sent you a message.

Reply by Clem/CA on 9/23/12 6:19pm
Msg #435588

Dare I say Chicken Suit and a cardboard sign?

Reply by HSH/WA on 9/23/12 10:09pm
Msg #435600

Re: My startup cost was around $1100 with printer including

a membership in NNA (certainly optional), E&O etc. There are about 20 mobile notaries in a 10 mile radius, so lots of competition. I figure I will be lucky to break even by the end of the year. I look at Signing Certral before I accept a signing and if there are less that 3 stars, no thanks. No sense in doing the work for free or having to fight to get paid. Other NSA's in my area say it takes about a year to get enough business to really matter. I hope this helps.

Reply by MW/VA on 9/24/12 12:06pm
Msg #435644

You're smart that you're following the forum & using SC.

That will help you a lot in building your business. Everyone just needs to be prepared to build a business from the ground up.