Jon Snedeker didnt become a notary public because it was his lifelong dream.

He did it because it was a requirement for the loan officer job he landed fresh out of college.

It wasnt until years later that he realized how valuable his Notary Commission was.

A man pokes his head out of the car window while holding his notary stamp

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There are a lot of different opportunities.

Plus, becoming a notary public offers some pretty good earning potential.

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What Is a Notary Public, Exactly?

Who Can Become a Notary Public?

The requirements to become a notary public are pretty lax.

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There are no specific experience or education requirements (other than notary training, where applicable).

Did you know?

How Much Does It Cost?

If you decide to pursue a certification, be sure to check yourspecific state requirements.

You may find that you have to fulfill all of the following requirements or only a few.

Classes typically cost between $100 and $200.

Some states may require you to submit your fingerprints and pass a background check.

This is sometimes included in the examination process.

Bonds range from as little as $500 to as much as $25,000.

Youll pay only a fraction of the value of the bond up front.

For states that require bonds, youll typically have to purchase them before moving forward in the program process.

Bonds sometimes come in packages that include the materials to become a notary.

A four-year, $25,000 insurance policy costs anywhere from $60 to $300.

Unlike a bond, you would not have to repay this amount, and there is no deductible.

Or you’re free to use it independently for aside gigor business, similar to what Snedeker does.

Many businesses do General Notary Work (GNW) for the community.

UPS has notaries on staff.

Whats more, manystates regulate how much notaries can chargefor GNW services.

Snedeker found this out early.

As a signing agent, he said, youre not competing with banks because youre doing real estate work.

And an added bonus: signing agent services arent subject to the same price regulations as GNW.

Depending on the documents involved, Snedeker is able to charge between $75 and $200 per signing.