The Focus Group aims to explore and research diverse opportunities to expand a notary’s business. Participants will contribute by sharing research findings, personal insights, and experiences related to specific business opportunities, which will be documented as a reference guide.
Apostille Agent | Election Judge | Estate Planning | Field Inspections
Healthcare Community | I-9 Form Specialist | Resident Notaries
Process Servicer | TIPIC | Wedding Officiant | Business Plan | Marketing
Scroll down to review opportunities.
It is with great excitement that I introduce our first Focus Group Project. This initiative explores a diverse array of opportunities available to notaries on a full-time or part-time basis. Drawing from my extensive two-decade experiences in the notary profession, I can confirm society’s—general public, businesses, and government—need for specialty notarial service in addition to mortgage loan closings.
Notaries public often receive requests to perform tasks that do not require 'acting in the capacity of a notary' because they are viewed as trust agents. These requests offer an additional source of income for notaries public.
My objective is to empower notaries public with insight and information on potential non-traditional opportunities that they may wish to pursue. Furthermore, these opportunities can enhance the visibility and accessibility of notaries public within their communities.
Elaine Wright Harris
The focus group report will serve reference guide for notaries seeking other opportunities. It will be presented at the 2024 Maryland Notary Public Day Conference.
Take a moment to review the various opportunities listed below. Once you’ve reviewed them, click here to visit the Focus Group webpage and complete the registration form. Participants can select up to two (2) opportunities to explore.
ACN: No
Maryland notaries live close to the Maryland Secretary of State Office, the Secretary of the District of Columbia, and the U.S. Department of State. These offices make it easy for notaries public who choose to offer "courier service" to document signers to accomplish the steps required to complete the Apostille process.
To learn more about the Apostille process, click here to listen to the December 7, 2022 Notary Town Hall recording: What is an Apostille? Is A Maryland Notary Public Authorized to Perform Apostille? The Town Hall was hosted by Michael Schlein, Division Administrator, Office of the Maryland Secretary of State and presented by Frederick Smalls, Assistant Secretary of State, Administration & Finance, Office of the Maryland Secretary of State.
ACN: No
Becoming an election judge allows notaries to participate in the democratic process, contribute to the community, and help fellow voters exercise their rights. Election judges are responsible for overseeing voting procedures within their precinct. Their primary goal is to ensure that all eligible voters can cast their ballots without any hindrance.
ACN: Yes
Notaries play an important role in helping estate planning attorneys with the legal document signing process. Notarization significantly validates and authenticates important legal documents, adding an extra layer of protection and credibility. Key estate planning documents consist of wills, trusts, powers of attorney, and healthcare directives. A notary public, an impartial third-party appointed by a state government, carries out the notarization.
Notaries public can verify the identity of the signers, witness signatures, and notarize essential documents to ensure that they are legally binding during the estate planning process.
Click here for more information-1.
Click here for more information-2.
ACN: No
Field inspectors perform onsite inspections and evaluations to verify and validate a business entity or claim. Field Inspectors are the eyes and ears of a company that needs something done. Inspections are broken down into three major categories: mortgage, insurance, and commercial inspections.
Click here - Field inspection offers additional income opportunities for Notaries.
ACN: Yes
Providing notarial services to the healthcare community and home-bound individuals is both valuable and appreciated. The healthcare community encompasses sick, disabled, elderly, and infirmed individuals in public or private healthcare facilities. Home-bound individuals refer to those who are sick, handicapped, or elderly and reside at home. Notaries Public offer compassionate and accurate notarial services to support our healthcare community.
More information will be provided to the Focus Group.
ACN: No
"The I-9 form, issued by the U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), verifies the identity and employment eligibility for employees hired in the U.S."
Click here - I-9 Forms: What Notaries Need to Know
Resident Notary 4 Types - If selected, which type do you prefer?
1. Office Notary
ACN: Yes
Working As A Notary Employee (p. 6)
What Every Office Notary Should Know.
2. Resident Community Notary
ACN: Yes
Wanda Moore, 2024 NNA Notary of the Year Special Honoree
Wanda Moore provides notarial services to residents in the Senior Citizen community where she lives.
". . .Sometimes, it’s her reassuring, calm presence borne of her many years of experience that’s needed most in the lives of the people she helps. The daughter of one of the residents in her senior housing community had put together some directives regarding her mother’s health, and she needed someone to notarize them. She had gone on to the AARP website and downloaded what she thought she needed. “I spent a couple of hours with them,” Moore recalls. “In addition to notarizing, they were figuring out which documents to use. I couldn’t give them legal advice, but I stayed and waited while they made decisions about what they needed.” Moore is going to be there for however long it takes, offering her reassuring presence, expertise, and care." Click here to read more about Wanda Moore (p. 17).
3. UPS/FEDEX
ACN: Yes
Have you visited a UPS or FedEx location lately? Did you notice if any of the staff were notaries? Why not offer your services as an on-call notary?
4. Permit Runner
ACN: No
As a permit runner, you help manage paperwork during the permitting process. This frequently involves helping drop off or pick up paperwork from city/county offices, reviewing materials, reviewing permits to ensure they meet all submission requirements, and interacting with both city and project staff to help advance approvals. Click here to learn How To Become A Permit Runner.
ACN: No
A process server is an individual who delivers important court documents to an individual who has been summoned to appear in court. When there is a legal proceeding, all parties have to be notified. In layman's terms, if someone decides to take you to court, you have to be told when and where to appear and why you are being asked to appear in court. This notification must be done in writing and done by someone who is not party to nor does that person have any ties to the court case. By being impartial, the process server doesn't have an ulterior motive in delivering the court documents — it is not done to embarrass an individual, nor is it done deceptively or in such a way that does not provide proper notification. On the contrary, a process server not only has no ulterior motive, but a server is actually upholding an individual's legal right to due process.
Grow your business: Serving court documents
ACN: Acting in the capacity as a notary and title insurance producer independent contractor (TIPIC)
A Title Insurance Producer Independent Contractor (TIPIC), also known as a Notary Signing Agent (NSA), is a licensed title producer and commissioned Notary. These professionals receive specialized training to handle loan documents. Lenders and title companies hire NSAs as independent contractors to assist in the final stages of the loan process. Their responsibilities typically include printing loan documents, meeting with signers to witness their signatures, and promptly returning the executed documents for processing. Given that NSAs handle private financial information and often visit clients’ homes, the mortgage finance industry mandates that all Signing Agents undergo an annual background screening to ensure security and prevent fraud.
Please note that notary signing agents in the state of Maryland must also be licensed as a title insurance producer independent contractor (TIPIC) and hold a notary commission.
Click here to view the video - Managing Loan Signings Like A Pro - NNA Conference 2017 (Dallas, Texas)
2 Groups - Select the group you prefer.
1. Working with Title Companies in Maryland
2. Working with Signing Companies within the U.S.
ACN: No
A wedding officiant is an important figure at a wedding ceremony, responsible for making the marriage official. Their role extends beyond simply leading the ceremony; they work closely with the couple in the months leading up to the wedding day to craft a personalized and meaningful experience.
How Notaries can add 'wedding officiant' to their list of services
A business operational plan is essential for establishing and operating a notary and/or TIPIC business legally, efficiently, and effectively. Factors to consider include obtaining an EIN number, registering your business as a sole proprietor or LLC., acquiring business insurance, and more.
More information will be provided to the Focus Group.
This focus group will brainstorm strategies for marketing notarial opportunities listed above.
Unlock effective marketing strategies for your notary business. As a notary, investing time and effort in acquiring customers pays off significantly in terms of revenue and client base. If you’re seeking ways to expand your general notary work but are unsure where to start, this focus group will explore methods to attract more customers, boost profits, and enhance customer loyalty. Learn how to leverage social media, network with fellow professionals, and provide complementary services to achieve success.
Here are a few tips for how to market your business and find potential customers.
1. Improve your search visibility. Want more traffic to your website without spending money? ...
2. Publish blog posts. ...
3. Create a Google My Business Account. ...
4. Reach out to media. ...
5. Advertise online. ...
6. Use social media wisely. ...
More information will be provided to the Focus Group.
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