Boost Your Income: Become a Part-Time Notary Signing Agent

Q: Do I need to tell my employer?

Not usually, unless you work in a related field where there could be a conflict of interest. Check your employee handbook.

Published July 31, 2024 · Updated May 21, 2026

Plenty of notary signing agents start while working a day job. The work is flexible enough to fit around a 9-to-5, and the extra income can be meaningful. This guide covers how to get certified, find clients, and manage your schedule without burning out.

What a Notary Signing Agent Does

A notary signing agent is a notary public who specializes in loan document signings. Where a general notary might notarize a single signature for $10, a signing agent walks borrowers through an entire loan package: mortgage note, deed of trust, HUD settlement statement, disclosures, and more. You verify IDs, witness signatures, notarize where required, and return the documents to the title company or signing service.

Most signings take 45-90 minutes at the borrower’s home or office. The pay ranges from $75 to $200 per signing. The tradeoff is that you need more training, a reliable printer, and the ability to drive to appointments on short notice.

Getting Certified While Working Full-Time

The certification process has two parts: getting your notary commission from your state, then completing signing agent training.

Step 1: Notary commission. Each state has different requirements. Some require an exam, some require a bond, some require both. Check your Secretary of State’s website. Processing times range from 1-8 weeks. This step costs $25-$200 depending on your state.

Step 2: Signing agent training. A course like the one at Notary Training School covers loan document types, signing procedures, and common errors. Most courses can be completed online in a weekend. After training, you will need a background screening (about $50-$75) and E&O insurance ($30-$100/year).

The whole process from start to first signing typically takes 4-12 weeks, mostly waiting on your state commission. Start the notary application right away so the clock starts ticking.

Scheduling Signings Around Your Day Job

Most loan signings happen in the evening (5-8 PM) or on weekends because borrowers work during the day too. This works in your favor. A typical part-time schedule looks like this:

Weeknights: 1-2 signings per evening, 5-8 PM. Home by 8:30.
Saturdays: 2-4 signings. Your highest earning day.
Sundays: Optional. Some signings come through, especially end-of-month.

Set your availability in signing service platforms (SnapDocs, SigningOrder, NotaryDash) to match the hours you can actually work. Be conservative at first. It is better to turn down a signing than to accept one you cannot make. Your reliability score on these platforms determines how much work you get offered.

Watch out for the end-of-month rush. Mortgage companies push to close loans before the month ends, so the last week of every month is the busiest. If you can take extra signings during this window, you will earn disproportionately more.

Finding Clients

When you are starting out, signing services are your best source of work. These companies match signing agents with title companies and lenders. Register with as many as you can. The major ones include:

SnapDocs
SigningOrder
NotaryDash
Mortgage Connect
Xome
Pavaso

At first, you will get offered lower-paying signings ($75-$100). Take them. You are building a track record. After 20-30 completed signings with good ratings, the better-paying assignments ($125-$200) start coming.

Once you have some experience, start contacting title companies and escrow officers directly. A direct relationship with a title company means no middleman taking a cut. Drop off business cards at local title offices and real estate brokerages. Follow up by phone a week later.

What You Need to Buy

Dual-tray laser printer: $200-$400. Loan docs use both legal and letter paper. Inkjet printers are too slow and smudge.
Mobile hotspot: $20-$50/month. For printing docs at the borrower’s house when you do not have Wi-Fi.
Notary stamp and journal: $15-$60. Required in most states.
E&O insurance: $30-$100/year. Most signing services require at least $25,000 in coverage.
Background check: $50-$75. Required by most signing services and title companies.

Total startup cost: $300-$700. Your first 3-5 signings will cover it.

Talking to Your Employer

You do not have to tell your employer about your notary side business, but it is a good idea if there is any chance of a conflict. For example, if you work in real estate, banking, or law, your employer may have policies about outside work. Check your employee handbook first.

If your day job is unrelated, there is usually no issue. Just make sure your notary work does not interfere with your regular hours. Do not take phone calls from signing services while at your desk. Handle notary business on your own time.

Managing the Workload

The biggest risk is overcommitting. When the signing offers start rolling in, it is tempting to accept every one. But showing up late to a signing because you got stuck at your day job hurts your reputation and your platform ratings. Start with 3-5 signings per week and increase from there.

Use a shared calendar (Google Calendar works fine) to track signings. Set alerts for when you need to leave your house. Build in buffer time: if a signing is at 6 PM and you get off work at 5, do not accept a signing that is 30 minutes away. Traffic happens.

Track your mileage for every signing. The IRS deduction is 70 cents per mile (2025 rate). On a typical night with two signings 15 miles apart, that is $21 in deductions you would miss without tracking.

Part-Time Earning Potential

A part-time signing agent doing 4-6 signings per week at an average of $125 each earns $2,000-$3,000 per month before expenses. After gas, supplies, and taxes, expect to keep about 60-70% of that. Over a year, that is $24,000-$36,000 in net income from part-time work.

The income is not steady week to week. Some weeks you will get 10 offers, some weeks you will get 2. Budget accordingly. Set aside 25-30% for taxes since you are a 1099 contractor for signing work.

Frequently Asked Questions

Can I really do signing agent work with a full-time job?

Yes. Most signings happen in the evening and on weekends. If you can commit to 2-3 weeknight evenings and Saturday availability, you can make it work.

Do I need to tell my employer?

Not usually, unless you work in a related field (real estate, banking, law) where there could be a conflict of interest. Check your employee handbook for policies on outside employment.

How long does certification take?

Your notary commission takes 4-12 weeks depending on your state. Signing agent training can be done in a weekend. Background checks take 3-7 days.

What if I get a signing request during work hours?

Decline it. Your platform ratings depend on reliability. Only accept signings you can confidently make on time. The signing services will keep sending offers that match your stated availability.