According to the National Notary Association, there are 4.8 million notaries working in the U.S. Depending upon state regulations, notaries can perform marriages, witness and authenticate the signing of real estate mortgage loan documents and other legal contracts, and take and certify depositions. Notaries can make an average of $10 to $200 per signing, depending on the document type. Each state has individual guidelines that one must follow when first applying to become a notary and specific restrictions that a practicing notary must abide by, including the amount a notary can charge per signing. With all of these rules, it can be quite a confusing process, and along with the frustration of opening your own business, it can quickly become a nightmare. Fortunately, with this new book, you will have a comprehensive toolkit on not only how to become a notary, but on how to open your own notary business and cash in on the booming market as well. Whether you will be a mobile signing agent or you are looking to buy or rent office space, this book can help you with a wealth of start-up information, from how to form and name your business to deciding if this will be a joint venture or if you would rather work solo. Valuable information on forming a partnership, LLC, corporation, or becoming a sole proprietor, the four types of business formations, is included, and also the legal implications of each. You will learn the ins and outs of the application process state-by-state, including which states require training sessions and exams, and also information on the appointment process and individual state laws that govern the practice of notaries. Beyond providing you with the information on becoming a notary, you will be supplied with a wealth of information about opening your own notary business, including working as a mobile signing agent, where you travel to your customers, or operating a full-scale notary business managing other notaries. A special chapter on services you can offer and average prices charged for those services will be included, and also information on charging for travel fees, appointment no-shows, emergency notarizations, and many other services that can be offered for a fee. This complete manual will arm you with everything you need, including sample business forms, leases, and contracts; worksheets and checklists for planning, opening, and running day-to-day operations; plans and layouts; and dozens of other valuable, time-saving tools of the trade that no business owner should be without. A special section on the importance of keeping your notary journal up-to-date is included, and also information on your notary stamp. You will learn how to draw up a winning business plan (the companion CD-ROM has the actual business plan you can use in Microsoft Word