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 loan package by fax or email. You then call borrower to schedule a time frame for signing which usually takes an hour. You watch borrowers sign their papers, you sign and stamp a couple yourself, borrowers get a copy of loan package, and you get one to overnight back to your client. Yes, I’ve simplified 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 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 signing of 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, 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

Partnerships can be a major factor in success of growing companies, providing leads, sales, capital and/or other critical benefits. However, ventures should be careful not to place too much emphasis on any one partner in their business plan. Partnership agreements, like other legal agreements, can be breached, and if venture positions any one partner as critical to its success, this will become a risk factor to investors.

Overall, partners can provide a great boost to growing ventures. Business plans should not only discuss who partners are, but detail terms of partnerships and how they will benefit company. Finally, business plan must not place too much emphasis on any one partner in order to convince investors that business is capable of success even without it.