Notary Public

Becoming a notary public is one of the most underrated side hustles because the startup investment is minimal, the certification process is straightforward, and the demand is constant. Notaries earn $5-25 per signature depending on the state, but the real money is in mobile notary services ($75-200 per appointment) and loan signing ($75-300 per signing).

Loan signing agents — notaries who specialize in real estate closings — are the premium tier. Every mortgage refinance, home purchase, and HELOC requires a notary. A loan signing takes 45-90 minutes and pays $75-200 (sometimes more for complex packages). In an active real estate market, a part-time signing agent can complete 3-5 signings per week for $300-1,000. During refinance booms, that number doubles.

The certification process varies by state but typically involves an application, a short course ($50-200), an exam, a surety bond ($50-100), and notary supplies ($50-100). Total investment: $150-500. Many states also now allow Remote Online Notarization (RON), which lets you notarize documents via video call — no driving required. RON is growing fast and has made notary work more lucrative and flexible than ever.