Ever feel like a human vending machine? 

A prospect calls, asks for a price, and before you can say "oath or affirmation," they’re off the phone, probably shopping for the cheapest notary in town.

Frustrating, right?

But it happens. Yes, it’s true that some prospects really are price conscious and they don’t care about anything else but getting the cheapest, rock bottom price. But I’m willing to bet MY bottom dollar those people are not YOUR ideal customers. 

Your ideal customers probably care about the quality of the work and service they’re about to receive. Your ideal customers care that you’ll be notarizing the document correctly so it doesn’t get rejected or challenged in the future. Your ideal customers will appreciate the steps you take to go the extra mile for their convenience and support. 

Yes, they’ll appreciate these things, but they don’t necessarily know how to ask for it yet. 

As notaries, we take it for granted that the public knows mobile or online services are a...

If the thought of tax season makes you sweat, you’re not alone. Many notaries find themselves scrambling to pull together receipts, invoices, and mileage logs come April.

But what if I told you that a simple bookkeeping system could make your tax season feel like a breeze (or at least not like a full-blown hurricane)?

Welcome to Challenge #3 from my book, The Notary Business Building Challenge, where we tackle the beast that is bookkeeping head-on.

Why Bookkeeping Matters (More Than You Think)

Bookkeeping is one of the foundational pieces of running a thriving, profitable notary business. Why?

Because knowing your numbers = knowing your business.

Tracking income and expenses properly:

• Saves time during tax season

• Keeps you compliant with state and federal laws

• Uncovers profit leaks you didn’t even know existed

• Gives you peace of mind, which is priceless!

The Dread of Doing It Alone

Most notaries fall into the trap of thinking they’ll keep up with bookkee...

The most successful notaries have one thing in common: They follow the formula.

And, somewhat obviously, I suppose, those who struggle the most, don’t. 

This struck me as I was reading Mel Robbins’ new book, “The Let Them Theory,” during a hot bath, as I tried to shake the January blues (I’m writing this in the last week of February and I STILL haven’t shaken them-but it is better. Anyone else relate?)

Here’s what Mel said on page 82, in regards to being afraid of people thinking poorly of you:

“Every business has a formula. Follow it. I say that because one of the things I see people get hung up on all the time is this belief that, ‘I need to be different.’ That is a fancy way to say that you're afraid other people will think that you copied them. This is an example of how your fear of what other people think holds you back from following the most obvious, easiest, and most proven path to success. Let them think you copied them. Because you did. And they copied the formula from so...

Want More Clients? Get Specific!

In the apostille business, trying to appeal to everyone often means appealing to no one.

Casting a wide net may feel like the best way to bring in more business, but in reality, specificity sells. By narrowing your focus and marketing to targeted niches, you can establish yourself as the trusted, go-to expert for industries that need repeat apostille services.

The result? A steady stream of clients who see you not as an option, but as the solution.

Why Niche Marketing Works (and Why It Matters for Apostille Agents)

Clients are more likely to trust an apostille agent who understands their specific needs. A law firm managing international contracts, an adoption agency finalizing foreign adoptions, or a corporation with global hires isn’t looking for a jack-of-all-trades. They want someone who knows the nuances of their documents and the urgency of their timelines.

By honing in on industries that require frequent apostille services, you create a repu...

Continuing the conversation about my Top of Mind Method and the SMILE framework, let’s look at the next step of a successful service/sales call. 

Let me catch you up again: Answering your phone is step one. Answering it professionally is step two. In step three, you take gentle control so you can do step four- demonstrate your expertise by asking probing questions. 

If you fumble through the call, let the caller steer the conversation, or fail to ask the right questions, you could end up on a wild goose chase to notarize a will that doesn’t even need notarization. (Yes, that happens…all the time)

I want to help you avoid wasted time, under-quoting, and awkward "Oops, I can't do this" moments by giving you a simple, repeatable framework for every general notary work (GNW) call you take.

Say hello to “SIGN IT”, your new best friend for asking the right questions and showing up prepared like the pro you are.

The SIGN IT Framework for Notary Calls

A repeatable process for getting the...

Want to build a notary business that keeps clients coming back and referring you to others? It starts with mastering four essential pillars: Competence, Confidence, Integrity, and Likeability. These aren’t just buzzwords, they’re the foundation of a thriving, relationship-based notary business.

If you want to learn how to leverage these pillars to the max, I lay it all out step by step in Supercharge Your Notary Business With LinkedIn, written with the incredible, Sandra Long . Trust me, this isn’t theory, this is the blueprint I used to build solid professional relationships and a multiple six-figure income.

Pillar 1: Competence – The Backbone of Your Reputation

Clients hire notaries they trust to get the job done right the first time. Competence isn’t just about stamping documents, it’s about becoming the total package. You have to know what you're doing, and your clients have to be able to count on you for it all- printing, scheduling, client management, and even tricky situation...

There are three tenets that helped me flourish in this business as a notary entrepreneur:

One, being a mobile notary gave me a flexible schedule, unchained from any desk or cubicle, so I could be free to do more of the things I enjoy with the people I love. 

Second, it provides a truly unlimited opportunity to earn revenue in seemingly endless ways. 

And third, providing an essential service that helps people is something we can be proud of. 

We are, in fact, the last line of defense against fraud and identity theft. 

Especially in today’s marketplace. 

Consumer protection is eroding. The safety nets that once existed are vanishing faster than  free pens at a notary networking event.

Recent cuts to the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau (CFPB), the agency that was supposed to crack down on predatory lenders and shady financial dealings after the whole 2008 debacle, have left a gaping hole in the fight against fraud. 

And guess who’s standing right at the edge of that hole, pr...

When notary work slows down, many of us start scrambling for side gigs. But what if you could tap into a steady stream of income without stepping too far outside your notary skillset?

Behold... Field Inspections.

This under-the-radar opportunity is a perfect complement to your notary business, and it’s one of the specialties we highlight in Beyond Loan Signings: The Ultimate Guide to Monetizing Your Notary Commission with Specialty Work, co-written with the amazing Laura Biewer .

What Are Field Inspections?

Field inspections involve visiting properties or businesses on behalf of clients to verify conditions, take photos, and complete simple checklists. Banks, insurance companies, and lenders frequently need these services.

Why Notaries Are Perfect for the Job

As notaries, we’re already trusted to verify identities and documents. Field inspections leverage those same skills—attention to detail, professionalism, and punctuality. Plus, the flexibility means you can book these jobs a...

When I owned a signing company that hired notaries across the country, I saw firsthand how a simple skill, following instructions, could make or break a signing. 

We weren’t sending generic order confirmations. We created customized instructions for each appointment. Tailored details about the signers, the documents, the client’s preferences, and the non-negotiable requirements. 

And we didn’t just email them to the hired notary. We followed up with texts. Sometimes, we even called to stress how important it was to read the instructions before heading to the appointment.

And yet… time and time again, we had notaries who completely ignored them.

They missed crucial details. 

They asked questions that were already answered in bold, underlined, highlighted instructions. 

Some even went rogue, assuming they knew best, only for us to find out later that they had done something completely different from what was required. They used black ink instead of blue. Or printed on letter sized ...