The number of hours a notary works can vary significantly depending on their business model, whether it's a full-time profession, or a part-time venture. For an individual balancing notary work with a separate full-time job to earn extra income, the commitment is often around two to three hours per day. These hours are typically dedicated in the evenings, for example, from 5:30 p.m. until 8:00 p.m., usually for general mobile notary services.
Diverse Notary Work Schedules
While some notaries dedicate only a few hours daily as a side gig, others operate notary services as their primary business, working traditional full-time hours or even more, depending on demand. The flexibility of the profession allows notaries to tailor their schedules to their personal and financial goals.
Factors Influencing Notary Work Hours
Several elements can determine how many hours a notary works:
- Business Model: Notaries can operate full-time, part-time, or on-call.
- Income Goals: Notaries seeking to maximize earnings will naturally work more hours.
- Service Specialization:
- General Mobile Notary: Often involves traveling to clients for standard notarizations (e.g., affidavits, powers of attorney). Hours can be flexible, often in evenings or weekends to accommodate client availability.
- Loan Signing Agent (LSA): Requires specialized training to handle real estate closing documents. LSAs frequently work irregular hours, including evenings and weekends, as real estate transactions often close outside standard business hours.
- Remote Online Notary (RON): Notarizations are conducted virtually via audio-visual technology. This can offer immense flexibility, allowing notaries to work from anywhere and potentially handle notarizations around the clock if demand exists.
- Market Demand: Notaries in high-demand areas or those offering specialized services may find more opportunities for work.
- Marketing and Networking: A notary's effort in promoting their services can directly impact the volume of work they receive.
Common Notary Work Scenarios
The table below illustrates how work hours can differ based on a notary's chosen path:
| Notary Type/Scenario | Typical Daily Hours | Key Considerations |
|---|---|---|
| Part-Time/Moonlighting | Approximately 2 to 3 hours per day (e.g., 5:30 p.m. – 8:00 p.m.) | Often for individuals with full-time employment looking for supplemental income through general mobile notary work. |
| Full-Time Notary Public | 8+ hours per day (standard business hours or more) | Operates as a primary business, handling a higher volume of diverse notarizations, possibly with an office. |
| Loan Signing Agent (NSA) | Flexible, often evenings, weekends, or on-call | Hours are dictated by real estate transaction schedules, requiring readiness for client needs. |
| Remote Online Notary (RON) | Highly flexible, can vary based on virtual demand | Conducts notarizations virtually, offering convenience to clients and high flexibility to the notary. |
Ultimately, the exact number of hours a notary works is a personal choice, influenced by business strategy, market conditions, and individual availability.
