I've also been doing this for more than 20 years - and I don't think I was ever even close to this slow, even after the mortgage meltdown. And interestingly, it seems more people than ever are wanting to jump into this field. In the past three days, I think I've either talked to or been told about four people who've just decided (or are considering) starting a notary business. (What this tells me is that lots of people are looking for additional income, but few are actually doing any research on the potential of what they're thinking of jumping into.)
One other major factor that I don't think was mentioned above is that RON (Remote Online Notarization) is already taking a big chunk of business and it hasn't even rolled out nationally yet. Unfortunately, though, I think it's just a matter of time before that happens. So yeah, I don't recommend investing too much money into starting a notary signing business.
BUT, if you decide to go for it anyway, you already have plenty of experience about how the industry works, you just need to learn more details about the specifics of loan documents, which you can do on your own. You can probably get samples from your contacts (or even online), but keep in mind that there's lots of variation from one lender to another.
There's always going to be a learning curve, but as recommended already, reading backwards on this forum may be the best education you can get - and for free. In between lots of nonsense, you'll learn plenty on how to handle various situations, many clients to avoid, and perhaps some great insight on how to find work. (Just don't assume that everything said here is accurate or the best advice. That's in the eye of the beholder, naturally. And things vary from state to state.) The classes being offered are mostly ripoffs, so I agree to save your money.
The only big thing left are supplies and a decent laser printer, preferably dual tray, capable of automatically selecting for letter and legal size paper - unless you already have one. If not, you may be able to get a good quality used printer for a pretty good deal. (That's a pretty common topic here, too. And like FeliceSoCal said, that Orange Search button may be your best friend.) I've had good luck in the past buying on eBay, being careful to research the supplier. I'm in the HP camp. Paying $100 - $200+ for a work group printer that originally sold for $1000 - $2000 or more has been a good investment for me. Given how slow things are, there may be some good values out there again. IDK...
Best of luck with whatever you do! |
