Notary Signing Agent vs. Traditional Notary: What's the Difference?
If you're exploring a career as a notary, you've probably heard two terms: "notary public" and "notary signing agent." While all signing agents are notaries, not all notaries are signing agents. Understanding the difference is crucial for choosing the right career path and maximizing your earning potential.
Quick Overview: The Key Difference
A traditional notary public performs general notarial acts like acknowledging signatures, administering oaths, and certifying copies. A notary signing agent (NSA) is a notary who specializes in handling loan document signings for the mortgage industry—and typically earns significantly more per assignment.
Traditional Notary
- General notarial acts for the public
- Work from home, office, or retail location
- Typical fee: $2-$15 per signature
- No specialized training required
- Clients come to you
- Specializes in loan document closings
- Mobile—travels to clients' locations
- Typical fee: $75-$200 per signing
- Specialized loan document training
- Works with title companies & lenders
What Does a Traditional Notary Do?
Traditional notaries provide general notarization services to the public. They verify identities, witness signatures, administer oaths, and certify document copies. You'll find traditional notaries at banks, UPS stores, law offices, real estate agencies, and many other business locations.
Common documents traditional notaries handle include:
- Powers of attorney
- Wills and trusts
- Affidavits and sworn statements
- Vehicle title transfers
- Contracts and agreements
What Does a Notary Signing Agent Do?
A notary signing agent (NSA) is a notary public who has received specialized training in handling mortgage loan documents. When someone buys or refinances a home, an NSA guides them through signing all the required loan documents, ensures everything is properly executed, and returns the completed package to the title company or lender.
A typical loan signing includes:
- Promissory note and deed of trust
- Closing disclosure (CD)
- Right to cancel forms
- 100+ pages of loan documents
Income Comparison: Which Earns More?
This is where the difference becomes dramatic. Traditional notaries typically charge state-regulated fees of $2-$15 per notarization. Even a busy notary doing 20 notarizations per day would only earn $40-$300.
Notary signing agents, on the other hand, earn $75-$200 per signing, with some complex signings paying $300 or more. An NSA who completes just 2-3 signings per day can earn $150-$600 daily—and set their own schedule.
Annual Income Potential
Traditional Notary (Part-Time)
$5,000 - $15,000
Signing Agent (Full-Time)
$75,000 - $150,000+
Training Requirements
To become a traditional notary, you only need to meet your state's basic requirements—which may or may not include education. To become a notary signing agent, you'll need additional training on loan documents, even though it's not legally required in most states. Title companies and signing services expect NSAs to be certified and understand the complete loan package.
Important Note
While NSA training isn't legally required, nearly all title companies and signing services require certification before they'll assign you signings. Without proper training, you risk costly errors that can delay closings and damage your reputation.
Which Path Is Right for You?
Choose Traditional Notary If:
- • You want a low-commitment side income
- • You prefer clients coming to you
- • You're adding notary services to an existing business
- • You want minimal investment and training
Choose Signing Agent If:
- • You want to maximize income potential
- • You enjoy meeting people and traveling locally
- • You want to be your own boss with a flexible schedule
- • You're willing to invest in specialized training
Can You Do Both?
Absolutely! Many notary signing agents also offer general notary services. This diversifies your income and keeps you busy during slower periods in the mortgage market. The best notary entrepreneurs combine loan signings, general notary work, and other services like apostilles and mobile notary services.