Leveling Up as a Notary: What Comes After the Basics

Becoming a notary public is often the first step into the world of entrepreneurship and service. For many, the early stages of the journey involve general notary work — acknowledgments, jurats, and simple signings. But what happens when those start to feel routine? What’s next for notaries who want more?

If you’re asking those questions, congratulations — you’re no longer a beginner. You’re stepping into the intermediate phase of your notary career. And that’s where things get interesting.

1. Identify Your Niche and Specialize

At the intermediate level, it's time to move from “doing it all” to getting strategic. Hospital signings, estate planning documents, and structured settlement signings all require professionalism, confidence, and a deeper understanding of both legal documents and human interaction.

Think about the kinds of clients you want to attract — and build your brand and service model around those opportunities.

2. Invest in Continued Learning

This is when training becomes a true investment. Take advanced courses on topics like:

• Power of Attorney & medical document handling

• Trusts and estate notarizations

• Real estate closings and loan signings

• Apostille processingBeing familiar with the documents is one thing. Learning how to guide clients through them with clarity and professionalism is another.

  
  

3. Polish Your Systems

Intermediate notaries often hit a ceiling not because of lack of skill — but due to poor organization.Ask yourself:

• Do you have a scheduling system in place?

• Are you tracking income and mileage?

• Are your documents organized and accessible?This is a great time to implement tools like Notary Gadget, QuickBooks, or Google Workspace. The smoother your backend runs, the more professional your client experience becomes.

  
  

4. Build Meaningful Business Relationships

Now is the time to build rapport with estate planning attorneys, hospitals, title companies, and senior care centers. These aren’t cold call opportunities — they’re relationship-building opportunities. Intermediate notaries have the confidence and experience to speak the language of professionals and follow through with excellence.

5. Mentorship Is the Shortcut You Didn't Know You Needed

You don’t have to figure everything out alone. A mentor can help you avoid costly mistakes, push past mindset blocks, and give you real-world strategies for marketing, pricing, and growth.

If you’re tired of YouTube rabbit holes and free Facebook group advice that doesn’t match your goals — it may be time for more personalized support.

Final Thoughts

Being “intermediate” means you’ve done the work — but now you're ready for refinement, elevation, and expansion. You don’t need to start from scratch. You just need to start thinking like a business, not just a notary.

If that’s where you are right now, you’re already halfway to where you’re going.