How to Set Boundaries with Clients as a Mobile Notary
You’re a notary, not a doormat.

Running a mobile notary business means flexibility, yes - but it doesn’t mean being available 24/7, bending the law, or putting your safety, time, or sanity at risk.

Whether you're new or experienced, setting clear, professional boundaries is the key to staying respected, safe, and sane.

Here’s how to set boundaries with clients - without sounding rude, losing business, or burning out.

🕒 1. Set (and Stick to) Your Business Hours

You don’t need to be “on call” unless you’re being paid for it.

✅ Post your hours clearly on:

Your website and Google Business profile
Your voicemail greeting
Email signature
Social media bios
💬 Say it like this:

“I’m available for signings Monday–Friday from 8AM to 6PM. Anything outside of that window can be scheduled in advance with an additional fee.”
And stick to it.

🚫 2. Say No to Illegal or Risky Requests

If someone asks you to:

Backdate
Not check ID
Not complete your journal
Leave a document unsigned for “later”
You don’t need to debate. You need to walk.

💬 Try this:

“I’d love to help, but what you’re asking is against notary law. I could lose my commission - or worse - and I have to decline.”
✅ This is non-negotiable. Boundaries protect your license.

📱 3. Set Communication Boundaries

You are not required to answer calls, texts, or emails instantly - especially outside your working hours.

Use:

Google Voice to separate personal and business calls
Auto-responders for after-hours texts or emails
A polite voicemail greeting that says when clients can expect a response
💬 Example:

“Hi, this is Kimberly with [Your Notary Business]. I’m currently in a signing or outside of business hours. I’ll return your message as soon as possible.”
✅ Fast response is great - instant availability is unsustainable.

🧍 4. Don't Let Clients Dictate Your Process

If a client says:

“You don’t need to log that in your journal”
“You can just skip the oath”
“I don’t want to show my ID, but it’s me!”
…remember: you’re in control of the notarization. Not them.

✅ Set the tone:

“In order to remain compliant with notary law, I’ll need to follow my standard procedure.”
You’re not being difficult - you’re being professional.

💵 5. Enforce Your Fees and Travel Policies

If someone tries to negotiate your price down, cancel last-minute without warning, or ghost you after confirming…

That’s a boundary violation.

✅ Have a clear policy:

Cancellation/no-show fee
Travel fee outside of a set radius
Rush fee or after-hours fee
💬 “My mobile notary fee includes up to 15 miles of travel. Beyond that, there’s an additional $15 fee.”
💬 “Same-day appointments are available for a $25 rush fee.”

Put it in writing. Charge it when needed. Respect starts with you.

💡 Pro Tip: Boundaries Don’t Chase Away Good Clients - They Attract Them

The right clients will respect your rules, your time, and your professionalism.
The ones who push back? Let them be someone else’s headache.

Boundaries = brand protection.

At Notary Academy, We Help You Build a Business and a Backbone
We teach notaries how to say no professionally, stay in control, and grow their business without getting walked on.

🛡 Because your peace of mind is just as important as your profit.