The selection of a Remote Online Notarization (RON) platform is daunting, and more in-depth than what many New RON Notaries really understand as they strike out into this new venture. We all see the posts on social media “Which RON Platform is the Best”, and you get a wide variety of answers.
I'm here to tell you right now ALL RON platforms work to complete the session in a legal manner. However, not all platforms will work with your business goals. This is where they are all very different.
Now you are reading this, and if you know who I am you are thinking “she is going to sell her platform”; but I am NOT going to do that. This article was not written to make any sales, but to empower you to really start your foundation with online notarization off on a better foot than I had when I started my path. In fact, as I built my platform, I found out many different things about software systems (yes even I didn't know it all when I started this) and this different perspective is something that you will only hear from those Ronnie's that have been in the industry and failed many times.
Before I get into the “extra” things you need to think about, I want to cover the legal aspects of picking a platform. If your state (and not every state does this) requires you to use a pre-approved platform; limit your search to those on this list. However, if your state does not limit your choice, you should review a state which does have an approved list and has the same RON Laws as you as a guide. There are currently over 60 RON Platforms operating in the USA today, tomorrow there might be more. This will be very overwhelming if you don’t have a short list to start with up front!
These are the top ten questions I wish I had asked myself before spending $7,000 for a RON Platform, which I only used for 3 months!!!! Yes, you read that correctly – I was paying a monthly fee, and credit fees for my work which totaled $7K for the first three months of 2021!
Now the devil is in the details:
Do you plan to use RON for Real Estate work?
If yes, you want a MISMO Certified Platform
Will you be working with clients who may not have access to a USA Based Smart Phone? Google Voice or other VOIP phone numbers will not work
If yes, then you want to make sure the RON Platform doesn’t require this for transmission of the ID verification links.
Will you be working with clients who may not have a social security number?
If yes, then you want a platform that pulls the Knowledge Based Authentication (KBA) questions another way and does not require the clients to have a social security number.
Will you be working with clients who will be in different locations?
If yes, then you want a platform that supports this type of connection.
Will your clients have limited understanding of the English language?
If yes, then you want a platform that will translate their KBA Questions to their primary language.
i. No, I am not saying it translates the documents, but if you click on the internet browser and have that translate the page – does it translate the quiz questions of this process, because if it doesn’t then your client runs a higher risk of failing just because they may not understand the question they are reading.
Will your clients have other impairments? Does the platform work with those that are blind?
If yes (or maybe), Can the automated system read the page to them?
Will your clients have both a Laptop and a Smart Phone? Some platforms require both devices.
If you think they may only have a Smart Phone, then you need to pick a platform which supports this.
Are you able to use a Credible Witness via RON (not all states can), if so, will your platform allow you to enter the required legal statement for the reason of not performing the automatic verification of your signer?
Many platforms only allow you to select “personally known” in this instance, the signer is NOT personally known to you! When using a credible witness your journal should reflect a statement of “Oath of Credible Witness Jane Doe”.
Now, we get into the aspects for YOU the notary in the question line up! These are the questions you do see every day on Facebook.
Which type of platform do you want to have?
Independent – you bring all the customers in, and the platform gives you no work.
Dependent – the platform supplies all the clients; you cannot do your own work on their system.
Hybrid – You can bring your own, and you might be able to work from the platform too.
Will you be performing transactions in “off hours”?
Most RON notaries work at night – does your prospective platform offer “off hours” support?
If you are still reading you will see there is a lot more than your financial investment that goes into the selection of a RON Platform. You may be limiting your future income if you are unable to service your client base due to the limitations of the platform which you selected. After you have determined the technology needed to focus on your specific client base, this is when you start looking at what the cost is. Initial investment, Monthly payments, and Transaction fees to determine exactly which platform will provide you with the best return on your investment. Finally, now you look at your state laws for your ID Proofing methods. Are you able to use biometrics or digital certificate verification of a signer as a means of ID Proofing? If so, then you should use a platform which gives you the most options to validate your client. When you have narrowed your business plan with the area where you plan to advertise to obtain clients, and you have found the software that gives you the most for your money you will find that every single RON notary will have a different platform which is the “best”. Therefore, I say Selecting a RON platform is like buying shoes. I might have a pair that is perfect! Provides the right arch support, plenty of room for my toes, and after 8 hours on my feet – they don’t hurt! But I tell you that these shoes are the bomb, and you purchase the same brand only to find out that your toes are pinched, and the arch support is too high and causes you to feel pain within just a couple of hours. Everyone is different, your business goals are only known to you. Don’t just select a platform based on what others say – do your own research!