The Difference Between Repeat Business and Loyal Customers in Your Notary Business

Building a steady stream of clients is essential as a notary, but constantly chasing new business can be exhausting. Instead of spending every day searching for new leads, developing strong relationships with repeat and loyal customers allows your business to thrive with minimal marketing effort. The key is understanding the difference between repeat business and loyalty—and knowing how to move clients from simply using your services again to becoming true advocates for your business. 

Repeat Business vs. Loyal Customers: Understanding the Difference

• Repeat Business: Clients who return to you for notary services, often because of convenience, habit, or a lack of alternatives. They may not be emotionally connected to your business and could switch to another notary if the situation requires it.

• Loyal Customers: These clients actively choose you over others, even when alternatives exist. They s

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Paying It Forward: A Legacy of Freedom, Sacrifice, and Service

As I reflect on my life and the journey that has led me to where I am today, I can't help but think about the generations that came before me—the sacrifices they made, the hardships they endured, and the freedom they provided for me to live the life I have today. Their struggles were not just their own, but a legacy of perseverance and determination passed down to me, and I must honor it by paying it forward.

The Immigrant Story: My Grandparents' Sacrifice

I am deeply indebted to my grandparents, who came to this country with little more than hope and a dream. Leaving their respective countries, they crossed the ocean to America without financial backing, no friends or family to help them, and no language skills. Many immigrants faced isolation and discrimination when they arrived in this country, and my grandparents were no exception. They worked tirelessly, often in sweatshops, to make ends meet and to provide for thei...

It is 2025, and you may have felt an uptick in Loan Signings at the end of 2024! As a Notary entrepreneur, I have many specialties, including Loan Signings. I always keep my credentials current for real estate loan signings as they are part of a stable and sustainable business.

I hope this message finds you well! We are crucial in ensuring smooth and successful loan signing transactions. To help you navigate the process from acceptance to invoicing, I've compiled 10 key steps to enhance your efficiency and professionalism in managing loan signings.

1. Accept the Right Assignments

• Fit Your Business Plan: Only take on assignments that align with your skills and availability.

• Undisclosed Work: Be clear on additional tasks like scanning back or same-day drops.

• Safety First: Choose locations that are safe and accessible.

It is important to remember not every assignment is your assignment.  Be sure you understand the scope of work required vs. the payment agreed to. Onc...

Celebrating 21 Years of Grit: Lessons from Building a Notary Business

This January marks 21 years since I began my journey as a notary public. Mobile notaries were a small profession when I started, and the road to building a sustainable business was far from clear. Looking back, I can see that grit—the passion and perseverance to keep going despite setbacks—was the key ingredient that got me here.

From assignments that went sideways to uncooperative facilities and misinformed signers, I’ve faced more challenges than I can count. Yet, each one taught me invaluable lessons and helped shape the business I proudly celebrate today.

The Challenges That Built My Grit

Unpredictable Assignments

Early on, I took on signings in assisted living facilities and hospitals. These settings often came with complications—unprepared signers, misunderstandings about what notaries can and cannot do, and the occasional attempt to renegotiate fees after I’d arrived.

I learned that preparation was my ...

Reintroducing TNT: Where It Began and Where It’s Headed

Have you ever wondered how Tuesday Notary Titans (TNT) got started or how it’s evolved over the years? As we prepare to relaunch for 2025, I wanted to share its journey, its impact, and what exciting updates you can expect moving forward.

How It All Began

Almost seven years ago, TNT started as a collaboration between Carol Ray, and Bill Soroka. Back then, it was called the Breakfast Club, and I was relatively unknown outside of California and the National Notary Association (NNA). The opportunity to co-host this call, answer notary questions from across the country, and provide micro-lessons helped me grow alongside the audience.

Working with Carol Ray was a turning point in my career. She was the first speaker at my in-person Notary Symposium in Modesto, CA, and she encouraged me to formalize my coaching practice. It was her invitation to join the Breakfast Club that truly expanded my reach and impact in the notary world.  It...

The Duty of a Notary: More Than Just a Job—It's a Responsibility that takes grit and Integrity.

As notaries public, we hold a unique and vital position in the legal and business world. Our role, often perceived as straightforward-witnessing signatures, administering oaths, and verifying completeness, is, in fact, a complex and crucial duty. We meet our mission each time we execute our notary certificates correctly and fully complete the task of verifying that the right person is signing the documents. It's about fulfilling a fiduciary duty to the people we serve.

Duty: Not What Everyone Else Does, But What We Are Obligated to Do

Our duty as notaries is to adhere to our professional and legal obligations. This sets us apart from the average person—it's our commitment to a higher standard of Integrity and responsibility. Being a notary means stepping up to a level of responsibility beyond simple honesty. It requires us to act with Integrity, fairness, and transparency, not just when i...

I am back, with what I hope are helpful steps to confirm with your signer either after you accepted the job from the hiring company or when it is direct with the signer.

Last week I gave you a list of questions I suggested you use before saying yes to the job to ensure it is the right one for you.  You cannot rely that the Title Co or Signing Service has already asked and verified everything is good for you to notarize.  So, when you make your confirmation call with the signer consider the following questions.

Questions for the Signers:

1. Do they have valid ID?
   It's crucial to ensure compliance with state requirements. Be specific—ask for a state driver's license, non-driver ID, or US passport or whatever is on your list of acceptable IDs.

2. Will all required signers be present?
   This prevents unnecessary second trips.

3. Are witnesses needed?
   In states like Florida or Georgia, witnesses are required on Deeds, so if witnesses are required, can the signers arrange them? If not, yo

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Let's talk about being confident before you go to the job site.  I mean "Know Before You Go"

There has been a small uptick in Loan Signing appointments and for some of us, it has been a minute since we got these calls.  It is not enough to get the call, we need to accept the right jobs for our business, and feel confident we will get paid after it is completed. 

As a notary, I thrive on handling assignments that are efficient and lead to successful outcomes. One of the keys to achieving this is knowing potential pitfalls before I even step out the door. Here’s a comprehensive guide to the essential questions to ask before your notary signing, tailored to different types of services.  If you have others, I would love you to share with me!

Real Estate Closings: The Essential Questions

When it comes to real estate closings, I typically ask a series of questions twice—first for the hiring party and then for the signers.

Questions for the Hiring Party:

1. When is the appointment?
   Knowin
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Laura Biewer and Valerie VanBooven discuss providing notary service in facilities or in homes of the elderly.

---- Raw Transcription of Video ---

Valerie (00:00):
This is Valerie VanBooven with the Senior Care Industry Netcast, where leaders with three or more years of experience share their advice. So let's get to it in a few sentences. Tell us who you are and what you do.

Laura (00:13):
Thank you, Valerie. My name is Laura beware and I serve the public by providing notary services and I focus and specialize for those services to be in hospital setting, skilled nursing assisted living homes of the elderly, those who need access, but can't get to notary services.

Valerie (00:34):
And we were just talking before this interview started about how important this is and how important it is for a notary who's going to be doing notarizations and things like this in these settings, how important it's for them to understand what's going on a little bit better maybe than just your t...

Hi, this is Laura Biewer, Founder of CoachMeLaura.com and the Founder of the Notary Symposium - an event by notaries for notaries.

I want to share some important information with you that can financially help you and your business. It is called the Paycheck Protection Program or PPP, and it comes under the Cares Act. It helps companies and independent contractors who have had difficulty because of the Corona virus and shut down that we experienced.

If you were in business before February 15th of 2020, and you had at least a gross income of $5,000 in either of those years, you can apply. I personally applied back in April of 2020. I was approved and I did receive a check directly to my business account. The calculation, however has changed, and it's now easier and you can qualify for more money to easily calculate what you might receive.

Just take either your 2019 tax return or your 2020, whichever is greater. Look at line seven on your schedule C. Take that amount, divide by 12, a...