How to Start a Notary Business in Arkansas: Online Exam, Bond Filed With the County Recorder, Ten Year Commission

If you want to know how to become a notary in Arkansas, the core process is simple: pass an online exam, buy a surety bond, submit an online application, and take an oath at the county. Each step is easy on its own, but the county oath is where people most often lose time. The fee and business setup questions come after you are commissioned.

The Arkansas Secretary of State's Business and Commercial Services Division commissions notaries. Arkansas calls your authority a commission, not a license, so you will see both terms. Anyone searching for an arkansas notary license is usually looking for this same commission. Once issued, it lasts ten years.

Informational content only. This article is not legal, tax, or financial advice. Notary and business requirements can change, so confirm current rules with the agencies named below before you spend money. For complex situations, such as forming an entity or handling tax questions, talk with a qualified attorney or CPA.

What You Need Before You Start

Gather these items before you open the application. Missing one usually means starting a step over.

• Internet access and an email address. The Secretary of State's online portal handles your account, exam, application, and payment.
• A debit or credit card. The application is paid by card.
• Your residence and work location. You can live in Arkansas, or in a bordering state if you are employed in Arkansas.
• A $7,500 surety bond. You buy this from a surety company or bond agent before you apply.
• The $20 filing fee and the online convenience fee. The statutory filing fee is $20 under A.C.A. 21-14-101. The convenience fee is added online. This article does not list its amount, so read the total on the payment screen.
• The 2025 Notary Handbook. Study it before you take the exam.
• A plan for the county oath. You will need your original bond, both Oath of Commission Certificates, and a visit to the county Recorder of Deeds, which is usually the circuit clerk's office.
• A notary stamp. The state does not issue a seal. You buy your stamp after your certificate arrives.

Step-by-Step: How to Become a Notary in Arkansas

Step 1: Confirm you qualify

Arkansas commissions notaries who live in Arkansas. A resident of a bordering state can apply if they are employed in Arkansas. If your job is across the state line, confirm how the employment rule applies to your situation with the Secretary of State at 501-682-3409 before you pay anything.

Step 2: Create your free online account

Go to bcs.sos.arkansas.gov and create an account. Use your full legal name exactly as it appears on your identification. The name on your exam, bond, application, and commission should match, and a mismatch can hold up the process. The 2024 Secretary of State FAQ still described printing and mailing the application. Follow the instructions the portal shows you today, and call the Secretary of State if the portal and this guide disagree.

Step 3: Pass the online exam

The exam has 30 questions. You need 24 correct, which is 80 percent. Study the 2025 Notary Handbook section by section, and look up any term you do not understand. When you pass, save the exam certificate as a PDF right away, because you will upload it with your application.

Step 4: Buy your $7,500 surety bond

The bond is a required part of the application, and it must be $7,500. A surety bond protects the public if you make an error or act improperly. It is not insurance for you. If a claim is paid, the surety can expect you to repay it. Bond premiums vary by provider, so compare quotes from several bond agencies before you buy. Choose a provider that issues the bond document quickly, gives you a clean copy to upload, and sends the original paper bond you will bring to the county. The cheapest quote is not always the easiest to work with.

Step 5: Complete the application and pay

In the portal, complete the notary application and upload two items: a copy of your bond and your exam certificate. Pay the $20 filing fee and the convenience fee by card. Check every field before you submit, because the entries carry into your commission paperwork. This guide does not list a processing time for notary applications, so ask the Secretary of State when to expect your certificates.

Step 6: Take your oath at the county

After approval, you receive two Oath of Commission Certificates. Take both certificates and your original bond to the county Recorder of Deeds, which is usually the circuit clerk's office. Take the oath at that office. The county files one certificate together with your bond. One certificate goes back to the Secretary of State. Because the oath happens at the county level, confirm which office accepts it, its hours, the identification it requires, and any recording fee before you go. Ask the clerk's office who sends the certificate to the Secretary of State.

Step 7: Buy your stamp and calendar your commission

Once you have your certificate, order a notary stamp. The state does not provide one, so confirm the seal requirements in the Notary Handbook before you buy. Do not notarize anything until your oath and county filing are complete. Your commission lasts ten years. Put the expiration date on your calendar the day you are commissioned, and keep copies of your certificate and bond in your business records.

Step 8 (optional): Add electronic notarization

An electronic notary, or eNotary, must already be a notary in good standing. The application costs $25, which is the $20 application fee plus a $5 convenience fee. You also pay a $30 course and exam fee. eNotaries must complete refresher training every two years. Add this only if you plan to perform electronic notarizations, because the extra cost and training make sense only if the work is there.

Setting Up the Business Side

A notary commission is a personal authority. It does not create a business by itself. These are the decisions to make once you are commissioned.

Fees and what you can charge

Notaries are not required to charge for their services. If you do charge, the fee must be reasonable and agreed on in advance, under A.C.A. 21-6-309. Post a fee schedule, and have the client confirm the amount before you perform the notarial act. A written price list prevents most disputes.

Name your business

If you operate as a sole proprietor under a name other than your own, you record that assumed name with your county clerk. Each county sets its own fee, so confirm the amount directly with the clerk. If you form an LLC or corporation, file the trade name with the Secretary of State instead. The fee is $22.50 online or $25.00 on paper. Forms are listed at the Secretary of State's LLC forms and fees page.

Decide whether an LLC makes sense

Many notaries start as sole proprietors. An LLC can separate some personal and business liability, but it adds ongoing costs and paperwork. The Certificate of Organization (Form LL-01) carries a $45 online filing fee ($50 on paper). Each year, the Annual LLC Franchise Tax Report carries a flat $150 fee and is due May 1. Late filing adds a $25 penalty plus interest. Every registered entity must keep a registered agent with a street address in Arkansas. A P.O. Box is not accepted, and an incomplete filing will be returned for correction. Talk with an attorney or CPA before you choose a structure.

City business licenses

Arkansas has no general state business license and no county business license. Many cities impose their own. The rules vary: Little Rock and North Little Rock charge based on a base fee plus employees, Bentonville runs a free registry, and Conway does not require one. Arkansas has 500 municipalities, so check with your own city's clerk or business license office before you open for business.

Sales tax and payroll registrations

If you sell taxable goods or services, you need a sales and use tax permit from the Department of Finance and Administration. The permit costs $50, and you apply through the Arkansas Taxpayer Access Point at the DFA sales tax registration page. Whether your notary fees are taxable is a question to confirm with DFA. If you hire employees, you also register for withholding through ATAP and for unemployment insurance with the Division of Reemployment.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

• Mailing paperwork when the portal asks for uploads, or the reverse. Follow the screens you see.
• Buying a bond with a name or amount that does not match your application.
• Arriving at the county without both certificates or without the original bond.
• Notarizing before your oath and county filing are complete.
• Charging a fee that was not agreed in advance or that is not reasonable.
• Assuming Arkansas requires a state business license. It does not, so your city and tax registrations are what matter.
• Using a P.O. Box as the registered agent address for an LLC.
• Forgetting the ten-year expiration date.

Tips for a Smoother Start

• Buy your bond before you start the application so you can upload it the same day.
• Save a PDF or screenshot of every confirmation page.
• Call the Secretary of State at 501-682-3409 with questions about the portal, the oath, or processing. Official staff answers are more reliable than third-party sites.
• Ask the county office about hours, identification, and fees before you visit.
• If you want free help with your business plan, the Arkansas Small Business and Technology Development Center offers counseling.

What Results to Expect

A commission gives you the legal authority to perform notarial acts in Arkansas. It does not guarantee clients or income. Some notaries find steady work with banks, title and real estate offices, law offices, and businesses that need document signings, and some offer mobile appointments. Results depend on your local market, your availability, your pricing, and how well you keep records. Plan for a slow start, and treat your first year as a test of local demand rather than a promise of earnings.

Start with the exam, buy your bond, and calendar your ten-year commission date. Once the oath is complete, you can decide whether to add city registration, a trade name, or an entity.