Everyone likes Homer Simpson, moron that he is, because let's face it—there is a little Homer in all of us. Have you ever come across a business opportunity you would have liked to try but didn't because you were afraid of your own ineptitude? Well, leave your fears aside fellow Homer Simpsonites because here is a business you can start with your eyes closed and your brains on hibernation mode--Loan Signing!

Loan signers, Notary signing agents, loan signing agents, mobile Notaries, all of these terms have been used interchangeably and they all describe the same thing--a traveling Notary Public (and no, Homer, that's not an island country somewhere in the Bahamas). A loan signing agent goes to a borrower's home to witness the signing of loan documents. Of course you need a few supplies (like your Notary ledger), but I'm not going to get into particulars in this article. What you really want to know is, how do you get started, what is the work like, and how much can you make right?

To get started you can join a Notary Association, most of them have a signing agent section. There you will find more of the basics to getting started with this business and get your name listed. They will all try to sell you some really expensive loan signing classes but that is completely up to you. The smart, un-Homer thing to do is a search for some Notary signing agent message boards where you can learn how to get started for free. The process is very simple and involves a small fee to get a license, ledger, and certificate with your county.

The work is even simpler. A client (usually a title company that found your name through a Notary association listing) calls you and asks if you want to do a signing. They fax a contract that states how much you'll get paid, or how much you won't get paid if you don't do your job right etc. After you accept, they send you the loan package by fax or email. You then call the borrower to schedule a time frame for the signing which usually takes an hour. You watch the borrowers sign their papers, you sign and stamp a couple yourself, the borrowers get a copy of the loan package, and you get one to overnight back to your client. Yes, I've simplified the process a bit, but not by much.

Borrowers will ask you what every piece of paper means and will try to get you to decipher the never-ending stream of legalize contained therein but guess what? You don't have to explain anything to them; in fact, you're not legally allowed to because you are not a lawyer (unless you're also a lawyer—in that case, kudos for you). You simply explain that you are there only to witness the signing of the documents and you refer their questions back to their lender.

How much do you get paid? There are various factors that come into play, such as location, how long you've had to build up a clientele, the client's policies, etc. but you can figure as a complete newbie, to make about $75 a signing. Not bad for an hour's worth of work eh? Soon you might even be able to tell Mr. Burns to go shove it.

Copyright 2005 Jon Castle