Episode 105 – How to Make Side Hustle Income as a Notary with Renee Bryant

Acquania Escarne 0:00

Hey guys, welcome back to The Purpose of Money Podcast. I'm super excited on this episode we are going to talk with Renee Bryant about why being a notary public is an awesome side hustle and why you should become one too.

You are listening to The Purpose of Money Podcast, a podcast where we talk about ways to build wealth and create more freedom in your life today. I am your host Acquania Escarne.

As a woman who's been a mobile notary for over 18 years, she is commissioned to do business in Washington DC, Maryland and Virginia. She started in 2004 as a mobile notary in the state of Virginia, primarily completing loan packages, progressing to acquire her commissions in DC and Maryland. Having had so many unique experiences performing notary duties. She remembers her most notable experience as the swearing in and a newly barred attorney at the US National Archives in front of the original Constitution. Her most fulfilling duty is mentoring other notaries in this vast community, and she is also experienced with event planning, entrepreneurship, mentoring, and community outreach planning and engagement.

Renee went to Virginia State University where she got her Bachelors of Science and Mathematics and Computer Science from Johns Hopkins University Carney School of Business with a Master of Science in Information Technology and she's known as the connector. Renee is actively involved in her community passionate about reading, traveling a member of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated, Jack and Jill of America, and the National Notary Association and the American Association of Notaries.

Hey, Renee, welcome to the show how you doing today?

Renee Bryant 1:54

I'm excited and I thank you so much for having me, I am doing wonderful and just excited to be here with you.

Acquania Escarne 2:00

That's awesome. I love to kind of give people the background on how we came to be. So we are both members of Delta Sigma Theta Sorority Incorporated and we are members of the same local chapter, Federal City Alumni Chapter. So it was really exciting when you and I connected on Instagram, and you just talked about being a notary and how you want to tell more people about this business and opportunity. So I'm super glad to have you on the show today to talk about your business and to give some women out there who are listening and men but most of my audience is women some tips on how they can get their business started because from what I understand, notary publics are very independent, but have to find their own path, business connections and the money. I know for some people that might be a challenge. So today, we're gonna talk about all the steps to get started. But first, I'd like for you to tell us a little bit about yourself and more specifically about your money story. So what was money like for you when you were growing up?

Renee Bryant 3:10

You know, I really appreciate that question because I grew up in a very loving home, I'm the youngest girl of three older brothers and one smaller brother saw no other girls for boys. But I was always an independent child, always a saver. I understood in graphs that in order to get this, you had to take your time build it up. So I kept birthday money, I opened up a bank account at 11. So I did not grow up with a lot of money again, five kids, three bedroom apartment, Yonkers, New York, but it felt like we had the world and part of it was the sum of the money lessons that my parents shared and some of the things that I was just curious about and figured out on my own along the way.

So it's funny you say that sometimes people look at us that we were you know doing well off when okay, I always had someone's hand me downs, never upset about it. We always shopped at the off brand or back you know, so especially in New York, where you got your side hustle stores and go out somewhere discount that was a normal way of life and an interesting point to bring that full circle.

In my older years when I got better at managing my money and able to do more for myself. I went on a trip to Morocco and it was funny it was so reminiscent of going to the Medina is how they haggledand how you negotiate that was the same experience I was experiencing in the Bronx, the Fordham Road down Harlem heights. So it was just really fun, just to see his full circle and that's a way of life. So money for me was understanding we did not have it all that I knew I had to take certain steps to get to a place I wanted to be. I had to be smart about it. It's been a long journey. I'm always learning always want to know new things, but I I understand the importance of money and I understand the importance of planning out my money. So I believe in multiple streams of income, and being a mobile notary is just one of those.

Acquania Escarne 5:10

I love it. And that's a great segue into my next question. So how the heck did you become a notary? Who was the first person to say, Renee you should do this?

Renee Bryant 5:21

I had to get something notarized. This is so socially, I guess I'm notarized and I was like, What is this apparatus? I like this device. What is it? And it was the notary stamp. I was like, that's cool. Is this? How do you do this? Being curious, always looking for different ways in different opportunities. If I had to pay this person to do it, was this something I can do? And so I was living in Virginia at the time. I happen to mention to a friend like you, have you ever had a notary work or being a notary, she's like, actually, I am, and I'm a mobile notary, I get paid to do loan signing, I said, hm, fill out this application. Let's see where this goes. And that was the beginning of my journey. At that point, I had already owned my first home, and wanted to get into investing more understand more about the real estate market and knowing that was a good place to put, put my money and to earn money. So I said, well, this can be easy and quick, you know, very flexible schedule and I had the means to start now there's things you need to get started. And I could talk about that as well. But that's how I got into it. To be very honest, I always tell people all the time that I thought the stamp was really cool.

Acquania Escarne 6:31

I love how certain things just spark our curiosity and then can lead to a 18 year career. So tell me more, what are the steps that people need to take to get started, if they want to become a notary in their state?

Renee Bryant 6:45

Absolutely. So one of the unique, one of the unique experiences I have is being a commissioned notary in three areas, that is not common. But I was able to do that living in this area, it'll be 25 years in June, that I've lived in this DMV area, I have lived and worked in all three and that is key.

First and foremost, the easiest place to get your notary commission is where you live, always start there. But being a contractor here in the DMV, I had assignments in Maryland, and Virginia, excuse me and in DC. So while I was the DC resident and Virginia resident, and working in DC, I was able to apply for my commission because I had an address, a real address of a place of business I could have in the district in the boundaries where I could perform those duties and really, that is key.

Now they've added a little more steps you I want to say when I first started I think in Virginia, you needed a reference but DC you didn't. Now they do require ref references for each state that you are commissioned in, which is great. Maryland does require a training. DC does an orientation and Virginia at this time, forgive me I've been a notary so long I can't remember what they require a training I have renewed my notary every five to four to five years, you have to renew your commission, depending on the state. But I've renewed so many times that it's very streamlined for me know that Maryland only required me to take a two hour online course. There was a test and you get your certificate, but it wasn't the initial I think it's a little bit of long process if you start from scratch in Maryland.

Acquania Escarne 8:22

Okay, so something like continuing education like hey, we just want to make sure you know the latest information.

Renee Bryant 8:29

Absolutely.

Acquania Escarne 8:29

So I know you said you started out with loan packages. So that's people closing on houses, selling, buying and selling homes, but or even refinance. I use the notary to refinance my house. But what are some of the other things that notaries can be used for?

Renee Bryant 8:46

Oh my goodness, like I said, like you read in my bio, one of the most unique experiences as a mobile notary was swearing in an attorney as she read the her bars hearing for her bar for the DC bar in front of the Constitution. Super cool. There's a long list. It could be rewarding and it can be humbling. A lot hospitals. Nursing homes need mobile notaries, attorneys offices that do trust and wills. I've also had experience with some things that I'm not, I'm just getting into because it's always been a part time thing for me.

So I've taken the larger paying loan signings, but sometimes I do you know one offs I've done prenups and post ups. All right, Debt consolidation, debt settlements. Different items that need notarizations. Now notaries particularly can be called in just because we are. We had that stamp of approval from the secretary, secretary of state from our respective areas to say we trust this person. So we could work with the courts to do court reporting. You can do remote notarizations. In addition to mobile notaries, whatever document needs to be notarized, you move around and you get to do that. But there are unique experiences that go outside of just notaritical acts. There's a big one out there called Apostle Agent services and pretty much your courier. A lot of people get that confused and thinking that it's the notary that provides the apostle and in no state is that even in Washington DC? Is that the process.

Acquania Escarne 10:30

So what is that again? So you're the courier.

Renee Bryant 10:33

Apostle Agent, and that is dealing with international documents. It's actually those who have agreed to the forgive me drawing a blank higher HYA act and forgive me if I'm wrong, but there's an agreement between certain countries and United States. That said, for documents to be official and improved, you need to follow the Apostille process, which sometimes not all the time does the document need to be notarized? Sometimes there is a notarization needed. But the courier service is where that money comes in and being able to move this document around for someone else is where that comes in where the big bucks come in for some people, not necessarily that you are the Apostle, you cannot be that this only provided that service is only provided through the Secretary of State's for each state or district.

Acquania Escarne 11:28

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Okay, so how do you get on a call me list? Because if I become a notary, I want them to call me for everything. But I don't know, where do I find the list? Do I have to pay to be on certain lists? Let me know.

Renee Bryant 12:48

So that's a very good point. Because it's a little bit of everything. Once you become a commissioned notary, you will automatically be added to the state's list, boom. But to get into these other areas where you do maybe loan signing services, or remote notarizations, you want to take certain training with reputable organizations, such as NaNa, which is the National Notary Association. They are the number one organization they've been around the longest, they have the most thorough training, I actually, really I always recommend anyone I mentor, I recommend that they hold membership with them and that's not a paid promotion, this is just my experience that I have.

I have really had great experience with them. But once you are certified in those areas, you take them as reputable training, then you get to be on their list and then people will pick you up from different lists. One of the other things is being in the community we share one of the things I've experienced is that we share, we share information because there is enough work for everyone. Please let me repeat that there is a enough work for everyone. So if you think oh is saturated? No, it's not. Because if I have an appointment at one o'clock in this hour and a half, if somebody called me for 1:30 I can't take it. But what I will do network network network, I will call my my, I want to say mentees or my community, Hey, are you free, I know someone that can take it and forward that business out.

One of the things I really really, really want to make clear when it comes to being a notary and, getting that side, having an extra stream of income getting that side hustle, be very aware of what that what your what they're paying you and think about it like this. If you if they're paying you $35 for a 50 page document. That's not an hour's worth of work. That's probably two to three hours worth of work for $35 for two to three hours. That's not okay and don't accept that. respond back when you get called and somebody respond back to say I appreciate this, but you want me to print out 50 pages always print out two copies of whatever it is you bring into someone. Two pages, get to that person has to go through this package with them signed and notarized. Then package it back up, sometimes with the scan back and then mail back or only scan back. That takes up a lot of your time. So it almost brings down to less than minimum wage. That's not okay. Industries have some time compensated properly and sometimes have not. You do want to get started want to get your name out there. But it's okay to say this pay is too low. Because it's really not worth your time unless you just do it for the fun and most of us are not. Another part of it is the tax write off? It is the easiest company to have a tax write off.

Acquania Escarne 15:36

Yeah, getting your mileage, the paper. So is it the notaries responsibility to print the documents and bring them when they're mobile when their mobile notary now, when you are going to someone else who says I need to notarize this, they might be providing the documents.

Renee Bryant 15:54

They might. So each state has their fee structure. So I want to say in Maryland, they have the lowest fee structure to be honest with you, you can't charge more than $6 per notoriety act, and $25 for travel, that makes it a little difficult for you to really perform a lot of mobile notarizations and it'd be worth your time. Part two to that is for the remote notarization structure and I'm gonna say the Apostle structure, right. So also, in order to do loan packages, nine times out of ten in the state of Maryland, they want you to have your title produces license, that's that cost about four or $500 to get that license in sidebar. So if I can take one step back for the apostle agent, that training is between three to $500 as well.

So you want to be mindful, if you're trying to make money. Spending a lot of money up front is not the best move to jump into it. Take your time, build your business where it's not costing you a lot, because with the NANA and at least with your state, that's already paid for on your application. NANA then a membership comes with a lot of perks, but there's a part of your membership. Other places you can just sign up again, we share. Like I use Snap Docs and I use Signing Order X marks the spot and just you know giving some tips out there some places you can sign up with to say, hey, I'm a new mobile notary, if I can be of service was so important and this is something that's new and want to share, you used to be able to just do about $15,000 in errors and omissions insurance, they want you to have about 30,000 It's not that expensive. It's maybe 56 to 75 bucks for $30,000 worth of errors and omissions insurance and you want that god forbid something goes wrong, god forbid there's a change, you are covered. In addition to the company that has assigned you.

If I can take one more step back with the mobile notary community, we have a lot of third parties, and they're signing companies where a title company make or a seller or buyer may go to them to find the notary instead of coming to you, as a third party getting a commission on your work. Part of this is your own marketing, your own experience, your own reputation being put out there. So you're working directly with the title companies or other agencies, we're cutting out that middleman and making more of that money. So you want to be mindful of what is the relationship with the signing company, you're going with the third party to help you find other jobs and so when you say pay to play, it's kind of like a pay for marketing. Yes, and no, you kind of are some places you can sign up for free, but they'll take a little cut on the back end. Some places you can probably pay up front for marketing, and they're not taking anything, or just being on your state's website.

Could be you know, some of the free ways. Actually, I've recently created a free Yelp page, free Google, free Thumbtack, free Pinterest, free NextDoor, which is the app here and I've listened to DMV, which is like Facebook for the neighborhoods. So I've listed myself and free places.

Acquania Escarne 19:06

Okay, I like it so people can find you and assuming you rank on all of those places, they might find you organically on Google. So that's a really good tip. So realistically, if someone wanted to do this as a side hustle, and they weren't consistent, maybe doing a couple of notarize documents per week, what do you think they could expect in income?

Renee Bryant 19:32

Oh, wow, that's an excellent question because if you were a napkin speak for loan signing agents, and you did about four to five notarizations a week. That's about 5 to $700 a week. You want to demand no less than $100-$125. Again, you have to take the time to print and sort the documents. Make sure it's in the right size, whether it be legal or letter, there's a lot of change. Get a good partner, then you have to get to that person. So you mileage and time to drive, sit with that person, which if you're printing everything from 50 to 150 pages, that's an hour to hour and a half, and then get back home to either scan back or get to your nearest drop off to mail it back. So all of that factor that into that time, and that break down what they're paying you. So it's not a bad hustle it like you said, if you're consistent, and it's very much flexible, it's on your schedule.

Acquania Escarne 20:30

Okay, that's good and with, is it ever the case where a mortgage company has in house notaries that they send all over the place or do you think it's more cost effective for them to contract this workout?

Renee Bryant 20:43

It is more cost effective, but you can sometimes go straight to companies like Redfin, or Fidelity. Not all of them offer that. But some of them do. I am familiar with at least Redfin and Fidelity foreclosing, or banks that will take a contracted list of notaries and that's because we do so many, so much more. Right now you have law offices, how to come up with some that will hire someone just to be a notary there, you can get contracts, to just work with that one person, that consistency is lovely.

So that you just have to ask, like, start looking at the title of companies in your area, or the ones I've connected with one in Tidewater area, and we're starting to do business when they have business here, they have someone to go to, but you have to market yourself, you have to make sure that they feel you are the reliable one to stay consistent with, they know they can count on you and you're going to be professional when you get there. That is the other part is that we're all strangers, and you're going into someone's house 9 times out of 10. And they want to know that they they're sending someone that one they're gonna send you to a safe environment, but they're sending someone that that person can feel safe with. So you want to be calm, you want to be engaging in warmth, you want to be inviting, so that someone can sit and trust you in their home and engage to move through the package. So.

Acquania Escarne 22:06

Okay, okay, so you told us about one of your favorite stories, but do you have any horror stories from being a notary?

Renee Bryant 22:15

Um, honestly, not horror. No, I've had really good experiences. I've had some heartbreaking ones and some of the hard part is when you have to go to hospitals and I've notarized a couple people, for a couple of people that were honestly on their last days. and that is heartbreaking. Because they know they know this it and I have had to decline jobs because the person that they needed the family needed notarization for was not coherent and I said I'm so sorry I cannot solve for this person or notarize for this person if they can't agree to what we're doing. So that can be a little heartbreaking. But at the same time, so heartwarming that you were there for family when they called you. So I'm so grateful. I've been safe. I've felt comfortable. I have been I can't say the other day was really windy I had to do notarisation outside it was so windy we almost lost half the package. So that was kind of funny. But the signer was so cool. He helped run down the documents and we were like notarizing on top of my car but you know, help running down hold down but so no, I've actually had good experience in I've heard of friend who had out a cat allergy didn't know the signer had cats and had to stop made sad and couldn't finish because she had a complete allergic reaction. So.

Acquania Escarne 23:41

Like a whole hit scene going on.

Renee Bryant 23:45

Right? Yes.

Acquania Escarne 23:46

Wow. Okay, well, that makes sense. Is there ever so is that one of your suggested advice for someone who's starting out is to maybe ask those questions before they go to someone's house? You know, Do you have pets? Do you have children?

Renee Bryant 24:02

Absolutely. Make sure that's in your profile. Make sure that is something that you let potential partners know that I am flexible to do this, this and this but I have a severe allergy to this. That is big time I actually have another notary friend that is deathly afraid of cat and she will walk away. So yeah, that is something she has to kind of always call please call me if I accept this. I'm allergic. I'm afraid of cats. Do they have cats? If not, I can't do this. So.

Acquania Escarne 24:36

Interesting. Okay, I like that. I like that. So what other businesses are you interested in doing or currently doing?

Renee Bryant 24:44

Okay, good question. So I am a landlord. I've been doing that since 2001 or 2002. Which is very interesting experience. I enjoy it I really do. full time i'm an IT professional in the federal contracting world. I was once a caterer, was once an event planner. I like to do I enjoy getting paid for things I like to do, I love to be around people and to help others. So I also had a travel agency at one point, but I was traveling for work and like, this is not gonna help if I'm traveling work and trying to set up, try to set up trips for other people. But if I could get into anything else right now, I think I would actually and honestly, I'm working towards possibly a federal contract for notary work. Now, just another tidbit, you can get state and local and federal contracts as a notary, they are out there. So I'm constantly on stand.gov, see what opportunities have come out. I'm working on DC's certified small business certification process, I just reached out for counseling to see how can I get contracts to do this and what I want to do is I want to grow the business. I want to start a mentoring and official mentoring organization here in DC, you have it fom Maryland, you have it for Virginia, but Distric of Columbia does not have it. So with experience, I do it for free. I talk to anyone who wants to know, here's what I know. And it is now yours. Anyone calls me Do you ever have a few minutes to tell me a little bit about how this works short, this is the experience. I've even gone with others to sit with their notary jobs just to make sure that they were confident. Starting that nonprofit mentoring platform or mentoring or community here is my next passion. I guess passion project.

Acquania Escarne 26:50

Go for it. I'm here to support you. I think it would be great. So before we wrap up, I'd love to know your answer to my signature question. The name of the podcast is called The Purpose of Money. So I asked all my guests this question, what is your purpose for money?

Renee Bryant 27:10

I love that my purpose for money is to provide stability, comfort and joy for myself and my family.

Acquania Escarne 27:18

I love that answer that is beautiful and if anybody does want to get in contact with you to learn more about what it takes to be a successful public notary, where can they find you on social media and how can they connect?

Renee Bryant 27:32

Absolutely and thank you so much. The name of my company is called DASH DMV notary, I am on all social media handles as DASH DMV notary, I can be reached at info@dashDMVnotary.com and I love to connect, I love to connect and share and one of the things I just really want to leave all of our listeners with is keep it simple. Don't rush to get every certification right away. Be good at one thing at a time because if you mess up, you don't want to have to pay for that. This is I do take this serious. It's not just a stamp and ink. You really have to understand what you're signing. Now. Even though as a notary, you're not responsible for what's in the document, you're responsible for saying the person signing is who they say they are. You still want to be able to understand I assisted in this type of notarital act. So be mindful what you're doing. Just because somebody sells you a good loan signing, training, go out there and research, research to make sure you're getting the best training, the most reputable training and cost effective, because we're not rich starting a side hustle. Just to have fun.

We're out here trying to make money, so you don't have to spend a lot of money upfront. Take your time. Just get find out what's out there and find out what works. YouTube is a great resource. Networking is a great resource. Find out about a notary community days in your area. Look on Eventbrite for free events, notary events, so just do a little research. It's great out here. Come on over. Like I said there more than enought work for everyone. But as don't jump into everything right away, because it's usually less a more cost effective way of gaining that additional skill set to grow your notary business.

Acquania Escarne 29:20

I love it. Thank you so much for being on The Purpose of Money and sharing your tips on how to become a public notary. Guys. If you liked this episode, please do not forget to like, subscribe and leave a five star review and until next time, keep building generational wealth.

Renee Bryant 29:38

Thank you for having me.

Acquania Escarne 29:40

Thank you for listening to the purpose of money podcast. For more resources and information, check out my website, thepurposeofmoney.com and while you're there, please sign up for our newsletter so you have the latest information on new episodes and blog posts. Until next time, keep creating freedom in your life today

Transcribed by https://otter.ai