Become a Notary - Requirements and Benefits

 Becoming a notary public may be a good option for you if you are looking for a work from home opportunity. As a notary public you will have the option of working out of your home, establishing a mobile notary service, or leasing office space at a company that might have need of your services.

Many of the qualifications for becoming a notary vary from state to state, but there are some criteria that are generally the same across the country. For one thing, you will need to pass a state exam in order to be licensed as a notary public. In order to pass this exam successfully, you will more than likely need to complete a training course to prepare you for the questions you will see on the test. Some notary public training courses can be found online, but you can also find them at local community colleges.

For most states, the basic qualifications for becoming a notary are as follows:

• Be at least 18 years of age

• Be a person who is considered to be of good moral character

• Be able to read and write English (fluently)

• Be a resident of the state you want to become a notary in

• Be a legal resident of the United States

• No convictions or incarcerations for felonies in the ten years prior to your commission date

You might also need to prove that you have never had a professional license of any kind revoked or suspended, and that you have never held a public office or government position that paid you a hefty salary. Be sure to check your state's particular requirements, however, so that you will know exactly what expectations you need to meet. It is important that you learn about this information before you begin preparing for your state's exam.

The need for notary publics continues to grow each year, so depending upon the type of area you live in you might easily find work on a regular basis. Real estate, insurance, banking, law, and some business professions all have a regular need for the services of a notary. Keep in mind, however, that many of these types of businesses have staff members who are notaries. Try not to let that discourage you, though. There are still plenty of other opportunities you can pursue.

In fact, notary services are so in-demand that you will probably be able to carve out a nice business for yourself by advertising your services locally. To start, consider advertising online. That is probably the best way for you to generate business and attract new clients. Once you have built a small client list, your business will likely grow even more by word of mouth.

You might also want to consider investing in some professional looking business cards. You can generally find a wide variety of cards for little or no cost online, but if you do have to pay for them, shop around for the best bargain. Professional looking business cards can be obtained for minimal cost and the expense is tax deductible. They are also a terrific tool for spreading the word about your business.

If you keep your clients happy and set your rates low enough to be competitive in your area, you should have no difficulty getting your new business off the ground. If you aren't sure what other notaries are charging in your area, you might want to start networking with other professionals in order to get a feel for what their rates are.

Arizona Notary. Since 1994 hundreds of thousands in Arizona and around the nation have used AAN to become notaries. From $25.00 for a 4-year Arizona notary term.