A Notary Public is an official appointed by state government to serve as an impartial witness during important signings. Notaries help prevent fraudulent acts by verifying the signer is who they claim to be, confirming the signer is aware and willing to sign the documents, and completing the notarization.
A legitimate work-from-home job in 40 states
Traditionally, Notaries would meet with signers in person to perform notarial acts. However, it's now possible to provide Notary services online thanks to remote online notarization (RON) laws.
As of January 2022, the following 40 states allow their Notaries to do remote online notarization: Alabama, Alaska, Arizona, Arkansas, Colorado, Florida, Hawaii, Idaho, Illinois, Indiana, Iowa, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Missouri, Montana, Nebraska, Nevada, New Hampshire, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Dakota, Ohio, Oklahoma, Oregon, Pennsylvania, South Dakota, Tennessee, Texas, Utah, Vermont, Virginia, Washington, West Virginia, Wisconsin and Wyoming.
Benefits of becoming a work-from-home Notary
While there are many benefits of remote work, we're going to explore specifically what makes being an online Notary one of the best work-from-home jobs in 2022.
1. Low barrier to entry
If you're reading this, chances are you've seen "web developer" or "graphic designer" listed within other articles about what jobs you can do from home. While they may sound attractive, these types of business options require a lot of time to learn and some experience to get real work gigs.
Being an online Notary Public may be the better option if you're looking for a remote job that doesn't require a bachelor's degree or months of intense training. It's also a great option for parents looking to work from home with kids.
The process to become a work-from-home Notary is relatively easy, but each state differs in its RON commissioning guidelines. Some states require a training course and exam while others simply require a completed application form.
Even if your state has educational requirements, you can expect to register for and complete your training in a matter of days. The part you'll spend the most time on is waiting to receive your Notary Public commission certificate from your state. It can take anywhere from two to 10 weeks, depending on where you live.
2. Make money from home
At this point, you're probably wondering, "How much can I make as a Notary?" In 2020, we surveyed Notaries across the country and found that 43% of part-time, self-employed Notaries earned more than $500 a month and nearly 30% earned more than $1,000 a month.
Most states set the maximum fee for a remote online notarization at $25. Find out how much you can charge in your state for a remote notarial act here.
Whether you're looking for a work-from-home career, or a side gig to complement your 9-to-5 job, being a remote Notary can provide you that additional stream of income.
The amount you earn can significantly increase by using your Notary commission to become a Notary Signing Agent. Learn more here.
3. Flexible hours while working from home
Becoming an online Notary allows you to be your own boss and make your own schedule from day one. Working from home means you're no longer commuting to meet signers in person, freeing you up to perform more notarizations in a shorter amount of time. In addition, you get to choose when you perform your first notarial act of the day and how late you want to work.
4. Low operating costs
Going hand in hand with fewer qualifications to get started you'll also enjoy lower business expenses. Most of your expenses will be upfront — paying any fees to sign up with a RON technology provider and getting a computer or laptop with a webcam and microphone. Ongoing costs may include a fee to continue using the RON platform and your Internet bill.
This is perfect for college students and new graduates, as most of you are familiar with online transactions and will likely already have the equipment to perform remote notarial acts.
5. Always be in demand
The beauty of being a Notary is your services will always be in demand. From ancient Egypt to present day, the need for an impartial witness hasn't faded away. As soon as you're commissioned and onboarded with an authorized RON platform, you'll be plugged into a system filled with people looking for online notarization services right at your fingertips.
And with only 4.4 million U.S. Notaries in a nation of nearly 330 million people, the industry is far from being oversaturated, according to LoveLee Notary owner, Sharelle Evans.
6. Engage with people
Being an online Notary is perfect for borderline introverts who still like to interact with people, but struggle with a structured work routine involving a lot of people. Notaries usually meet with one signer at a time and the entire process can take as few as 10 minutes.
Remember, Notaries serve as impartial witnesses during signings. You're only responsible for checking documents for blank spaces and completing the notary block or certificate for each transaction. There are strict rules that prevent you from answering legal questions about the documents, too.
7. Help your community
One of the best things about being a Notary is you're helping members of your community achieve important life goals. People looking for a Notary are generally buying a house, designating another person to make important decisions on their behalf, or creating their trust or will. You can feel good knowing your services played a critical role in these life-changing events.
How does an online notarization work?
Working from home as a Notary means you're meeting with the signer through a dedicated and secure platform online. In most cases, the signer can be located anywhere but you — the Notary — must be physically present within your commissioning state. You still follow the steps you would take as if you were completing a paper notarization, except you're meeting the signer virtually and using digital Notary supplies to complete the notarization.
Start the commissioning process today
Working as a remote Notary Public also saves you from the constant need to come up with new product or service ideas; the notarial services you can offer are clearly defined by your commissioning state.
If you find yourself seeking a new opportunity later down the road, your experience as a self-employed Notary will prove to be invaluable. Check out this list of jobs where your Notary experience can help you get hired.
Your Notary commission is valid for at least four years in most states. Whether you use it every day or a few times per month, it's worth becoming a Notary when you consider all of the benefits above.
Rachel Fraser is the Content Marketing Specialist at the National Notary Association.