Make Your Business Our Business: An Interactive, Step-by-Step Guide to Policies, Procedures, & Profits
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Make Your Business Our Business - Judith P. Lawrence
Copyright © 2018 by Daniel C. Lewis and Judith P. Lawrence
All rights reserved. This book or any portion thereof may not be reproduced or used in any manner whatsoever without the express written permission of the publisher except for the use of brief quotations in a book review.
The information provided in this book is designed to provide helpful information on the subjects discussed. The authors and publishers of this book are not lawyers, they do not profess to be lawyers and nothing in the book should be purported as constituting legal advice. Should the readers have any legal questions, the authors and publishers encourage the readers to seek legal counsel in their respective jurisdictions. Although the authors and publisher have made every effort to ensure that the information in this book was correct at press time, the authors and publishers do not assume and hereby disclaim any liability to any party for any loss, damage, or disruption caused by errors or omissions, whether such errors or omissions result from negligence, accident, or any other cause.
References are provided for informational purposes only and do not constitute endorsement of any websites or other sources. Readers should be aware that the websites and links listed in this book may change.
Print ISBN: 978-1-54392-908-9
eBook ISBN: 978-1-54392-909-6
Table of Contents
Dedication From Judi Lawrence
Dedication From Daniel Lewis
So, You Have An Idea!
A Message To Our Readers:
Forward
Why You Should Read This Book
How To Use This Book
I. General Business
Financial Planning For The Notary Entrepreneur
Tax Advantages
Opportunity for Increased Retirement Savings
Unlimited Income Potential
Better Career Security Than a Job
How To Write Your Business Plan
How To Write Your Mission Statement
Starting A New Business
Local Governing Bodies Of Each State For Notary Publics
Should You Start A Business?
Be Prepared For Some Hard Work
Should You Have A Home-Based Business, Or Must You Have An Office?
How To Apply For An EIN Number (Employer Identification Number
)
IRS Instructions For A Misplaced EIN:
Should You Register Your Business as a Minority?
The Benefits of Being a Minority-Owned Business with Certification
7 Benefits to Becoming Certified as a Minority-Owned Business:
Choosing An Accountant
Ask Your Accountant
Limited Liability Company
S Corporation
C Corporation
Partnership
Limited Partnerships
Do You Need To Get A Business License?
Alabama
Alaska
Arizona
Arkansas
California
Colorado
Connecticut
Delaware
District of Columbia
Florida
Georgia
Hawaii
Idaho
Illinois
Indiana
Iowa
Kansas
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Massachusetts
Michigan
Minnesota
Mississippi
Missouri
Montana
Nebraska
Nevada
New Hampshire
New Jersey
New Mexico
New York
North Carolina
North Dakota
Ohio
Oklahoma
Oregon
Pennsylvania
Rhode Island
South Carolina
South Dakota
Tennessee
Texas
Utah
Vermont
Virginia
Washington
West Virginia
Wyoming
How To Choose A Name For Your Business
How To Create Business Cards
How To Purchase A Domanin Name(s)
How To Select Your Logo
All About Branding
Do Not Put All Your Eggs In One Basket
Landline vs. Wireless?
All About Smartphones
Answering the Phone
Texting
Contacts
Calendar
Notifications and Alerts
Answering Phones
Customer Sevice - Or Lack Of It
If You Did Not Write It, Your Did Not Say It And IF You Did Write It, You'd Best Do It
Invoicing
PayPal
Accepting Credit Cards
Documenting Passwords and Serial Numbers
How To Create An Effective Website
Best Practices
Reviews
Take A Moment And Give Back
Interesting About Notaries Fact Or Fiction?
Section I - General Business Checklist
II. How To Become A Notary Public
Understanding Your Job As A Notary Public
France - The Role Of The Notaire
Notaries In China
Notaries In Denmark
Notaries In Brazil
Notaries In Italy
Notaries In The USA
Watch For Signs Of Fraud!
What Do You Need To Do To Become A Notary Public?
Find Yourself A Mentor
About Notary Public Fees
Notary Fee Comparison Throughout The United States
Notary Seals
Appearances of Seal Impressions
Correcting Seal Errors
Notary Seal Requirements For U.S. States and Territories
Notary Stamps
Notary Journals
Electronic Notary Journals
State By State Notary Journal Requirements
Confidentiality
A Notary Must Never Give Legal Advice
Professionalism
Know How To Establish Yourself As An Expert
Accepting Proper Identification
Making Changes To A Document...Or Not
Should You Notarize A Document That Has Already Been Signed?
Joining Organizations
Joining Notary Websites
What Is Remote Notarization?
Knowledge Based Authentication
Static Knowledge Based Authentication
Dynamic Knowledge Based Authentication
States that Enacted Laws
Companies that Offer the Service
Electronic Signatures
Electronic Notarization
Webcam Notarization
e-Closing
Online Closing
iClose
Section II - How To Become A Notary Public
III. Let's Talk Technology Equipment Needed To Start Your Business
WiFi Connection
Computers
Laser Printers
Fax Machines
Why And How To Use Outlook
In-Box
Folders
Contacts
Calendar
How To Work From A Remote Location
How To Use Google Drive
Backup - One Of Your #1 Priorities
Are You Prepared For A Massive Amount Of Email And Texting?
Social Media
Blogging
Create A YouTube Channel
Section III - Technology
IV. Did You Know?
Which States Are Authorized To Certify Copies Of Documents?
In Which States Can Notaries Perform Marriages?
Can You Notarize Documents In A Foreign Language?
Can A Notary Notarize For Family Members?
Which States Permit Remote Notarization?
How To Change Your Name On Your Notary Commission
How To Order A New Birth Certificate / Death Certificate
Requesting Copies Of Death Certificates
How To Correct A Birth Certificate
How To Notarize In A Prison
How To Notarize For The Rich And Famous
Why Do Banks Hire Outside Notaries?
What Is A Notary Authentication?
What Steps Must Be Taken When A Notary Dies?
Section IV - Did You Know
V. Estate Planning Documents
Notarizing Last Wills And Testaments
I Need A Witness
What Is A Power Of Attorney?
What Is A Credible Witness?
VI. Emploment Documents
I-9 Verification
VII. Insurance
Protecting Your Notary Business
Errors And Omissions Insurance (E&O)
VIII. How To Become A Certified Signing Agent
Professional Signing Companies
How you get assignments
You accept the assignment
Confirming the appointment.
Receiving documents and directions
What credentials you will need
What are the pitfalls?
Deeds
Deed Packages
Section VIII - How To Become A Certified Notary Signing Agent
IX. How To Become A Mobile Signing Agent
Your Notary Toolbox
Section IX - How To Become A Mobile Signing Agent
About The Author - Daniel C. Lewis
About The Author - Judith Lawrence
Certified Notary Signing Agent
Apostilles
Auto Tags
Financial Planning
References
What Law Governs Notarization Throughout The United States
Specific State Information For Notaries
California
Colorado
Florida
Illinois
Kentucky
Louisiana
Maine
Maryland
Minnesota
Montana
Nevada
New Jersey
New York
Oregon
Pennsylvania
South Carolina
Utah
Virginia
Washington
Wyoming
Some Controversies
The Military
Acknowledgments From Judi
A long long time ago …
The Playpen
5th grade, Parkside School, Camden, NJ
Not sure of year but about 30 years ago at Wolf Block
Appx. 30 years ago
December 2005 (I think)
Appx 10 years ago
April 2007
April 2007
2012
4 months ago
Acknowledgements From Daniel
Professional Acknowledgments
Thank you for reading our book.
Readers:
To four wonderful women who each contributed to my being the woman I am;
My Mom, Aunt Bev, Aunt Mick and Aunt Ruth.
And to my Uncle Chuck, who led by example, teaching me that if you work hard, you can accomplish anything.
I miss them.
This book is dedicated to all those notaries and business people who have inspired me to write this book but will never read it.
Your work is going to fill a large part of your life, and the only way to be truly satisfied is to do what you believe is great work. And the only way to do great work is to love what you do. If you haven’t found it yet, keep looking. Don’t settle. As with all matters of the heart, you’ll know when you find it."
–Steve Jobs
A six-foot purple dinosaur named Barney stars in the children’s TV show Barney and Friends. The character got his start in 1987 in direct-sale videos created by Dallas teacher Sheryl Leach. The tapes caught the eye of the Public Broadcasting System, who put Barney and Friends on the air in 1992.
Xavier Roberts, a 21-year-old art student, used quilting skills he learned from his mother to develop a line of hand-stitched, one-of-a-kind, soft fabric sculptures he called The Little People,
found in a magical cabbage patch. They were not offered for sale, but were adopted,
each with his or her own individual name and birth certificate. Cabbage Patch Kids are now one of the longest-running doll franchises in the country.
YouTube is an American video-sharing website headquartered in San Bruno, California. The service was created by three former PayPal employees—Chad Hurley, Steve Chen, and Jawed Karim—in February 2005. Google bought the site in November 2006 for $1.65 billion; YouTube now operates as one of Google’s subsidiaries.
Most business begin with an idea – it is what you do with that idea that makes the difference.
I was at a crossroads in my own life and didn’t know what to do. I was selling my home and needed a notary, which I paid for. That was a light bulb for me and that is how my first company was born. Starting a notary company was easy for me because I was in familiar territory. Moving into mortgages and refinances was comfortable because I had worked for attorneys all my adult life and I had familiarity with such documents.
Daniel Lewis and Judith Lawrence will teach you our PPP theory— Policies, Procedures and Profits.
Talk to your family and friends. You have the Internet to help you. There are sites that will listen to your ideas and offer you their assistance.
You are about to read how to create your new business.
We want you to know that many of the topics you will read about tell you to seek advice from experts, including an accountant, a technology expert and a webmaster, to name a few. These people will become important to you as you take this journey, but it is important to remember that this is YOUR BUSINESS and YOU make the final decisions.
When you decide on who you are going to work with, it is important that you choose people who get you
and who you feel comfortable talking to. You will need to show your accountant how much money you are spending, and you will need to tell your website designer that you just don’t like the new design he or she slaved over. Take your time, interview these people and try to make the best decisions you can. And should you make a wrong decision, as we all do, cut your losses and move on as soon as you know.
It should be an exciting time. Especially in the beginning, you will feel overwhelmed by the decisions that need to be made. Keep a notebook; jot down what people tell you. Later, that will become an invaluable resource.
At MAKE YOUR BUSINESS OUR BUSINESS, our advice to you is to listen carefully, do your own research, and make not only well-informed decisions, but decisions you feel will be congruent with the vision you see for your business.
We are available to answer questions and consult with you every step along the way.
Contact Daniel and Judith at MakeYourBusinessOurBusiness@gmail.com
When written in Chinese, the word ‘crisis’ is composed of two characters. One represents danger and the other represents opportunity.
-John F. Kennedy
I want to tell you that it is never too late. Sometimes it feels hopeless but do not give up. Let your family and friends support you. Focus on what it is you want and need and then, most importantly, if an opportunity knocks on your door, smile and invite it in. You will be glad you did.
For almost 30 years I worked as a legal secretary. In most instances I was much more than just a secretary, I was the one that they gave the most difficult projects to because I worked tirelessly and diligently to accomplish whatever tasks they gave me. Since I’m an extremely outgoing person by nature, everyone was comfortable with me. I was the go-to girl
for committees, coordinating firm events, I was a member of the Firm Diversity Committee and I often was asked to work additional hours. Sixty years young, still attractive and single, I was basically a happy person—until Wednesday, May 21, 2014 at 12:00 noon when I was told that my long-term position with my firm was finished.
I later described the next six months as being much like having anesthesia; if you are working it keeps you from feeling or thinking about things that hurt. For me, when this happened, and the anesthesia was suddenly removed, that pain was front and center.
I was a miserable person. I no longer had a destination. I have many friends but almost all of them still worked. I watched a lot of television; looking back I recall that my conversations were mostly about the People’s Court. It was during those long days that I thought about things that I simply never had time to dwell on - never having children, being alone. And of course, I was obsessed with what would happen to me because I did not have a lot of savings and now I had no income. I used my 401(k) account to live on and I knew that if I didn’t work, one day I would have no choice but to sell my beautiful condo. I gave it six