Pennsylvania Association of Notaries

What Pennsylvania Association of Notaries does

The Pennsylvania Association of Notaries (PAN) is a Pittsburgh-headquartered nonprofit professional membership organization that serves Pennsylvania notaries and PennDOT-authorized motor vehicle agents. Its core function is delivering state-approved notary education alongside a bundled suite of compliance products — including $25,000 four-year notary bonds, Notary E&O Insurance at $30,000/$50,000/$100,000 coverage tiers, RULONA-compliant stamps, embossing seals, journals, and forms — that a Pennsylvania notary is legally required to obtain during each four-year commission cycle. PAN also supports motor vehicle agents (card, full, dealer, messenger, salvor, and miscellaneous) with PennDOT-approved basic and advanced refresher education, agent packets, stamps, and reference manuals.

The underlying platform combines an e-commerce website (notary.org), live in-person seminars across Pennsylvania, live Zoom instructor-led seminars, self-paced online courses, online chat, and phone sales (800-944-8790). Technology features include a searchable Find a Notary member directory (by zip code, radius, language, and notary type), Remote Online Notarization (RON) education aligned with Department of State-approved audio-visual technology providers, and a criminal record check service operated through a partnership with the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository.

PAN makes money through six diversified revenue streams: subscription recurring revenue from memberships and E&O insurance, one-time license revenue from education courses (live seminars, Zoom, and self-paced online), hardware/retail revenue from notary and motor vehicle supplies, professional services revenue from notary bonds (via insurance broker E.R. Munro and Company) and motor vehicle agent packets, and professional services revenue from PennDOT-related education. Customers are segmented into three personas — individual notaries (primary), motor vehicle agents, and business employers — with go-to-market conducted through direct-to-consumer channels (website, phone, chat, live seminars), B2B enterprise field sales (Business Support Program for 15+ employees), and event-driven seminars.

Name

Pennsylvania Association of Notaries

Legal name

Pennsylvania Association of Notaries

Website

https://notary.org

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

The Pennsylvania Association of Notaries (PAN) is a Pittsburgh-based nonprofit membership organization that provides state-approved notary education, required bonds, E&O insurance, and RULONA-compliant supplies to Pennsylvania notaries, plus PennDOT motor vehicle agent services, primarily through its notary.org website, live seminars, and Zoom courses.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Pittsburgh

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales, Technology or R&D, Supply Chain

Revenue model

1. Membership Fees: Annual or four-year membership providing access to customer service, notary education, bonds, insurance, and member discounts on supplies. Membership is a recurring revenue stream with the core value proposition centered on compliance support and liability protection.
2. Notary Education: State-approved notary education courses including live seminars, online seminars via Zoom, and self-paced online courses. Required for first-time notaries and reappointments.
3. Notary Supplies: Sale of notary stamps, embossing seals, journals, books, forms, signs, and accessories required for Pennsylvania notaries under RULONA.
4. Notary Bonds: $25,000 four-year notary bonds required by Pennsylvania law, sold as part of membership packages or separately. PAN's insurance broker E.R. Munro and Company also provides bonds.
5. Notary E&O Insurance: Errors and Omissions Insurance policies at three coverage levels ($30,000, $50,000, $100,000) providing liability protection for notaries.
6. Motor Vehicle Services: Motor vehicle agent packets, education, and services for PennDOT agents including card agents, full agents, dealers, messengers, salvors, and miscellaneous motor vehicle businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion3 records

Distribution channels6 records

Marketing channels9 records

Core offering

PAN is a Pennsylvania statewide professional membership association that provides state-approved notary and PennDOT motor vehicle education (live seminars, live online Zoom, and self-paced online courses), the mandated $25,000 four-year notary bond, tiered Notary Errors and Omissions Insurance ($30K/$50K/$100K), Signing Agent E&O Insurance, RULONA-compliant notary supplies (stamps, embossing seals, journals, forms, signs, accessories), motor vehicle agent packets and supplies, a Find a Notary member directory, criminal record checks via the PA State Police, and bundled Become-a-Notary and Reappointment Packages paired with multi-year membership.

Product overview

The Pennsylvania Association of Notaries (PAN) is a professional membership-based notary organization offering a comprehensive suite of services for Pennsylvania notaries and motor vehicle agents. The portfolio consists of: (1) Notary Education Programs including live seminars, Zoom instructor-led online courses, and self-paced online courses for both first-time notaries and reappointment; (2) Motor Vehicle Education including basic title and registration courses and advanced refresher courses; (3) Bonds & Insurance including $25,000 notary bonds, Notary E&O Insurance at $30,000/$50,000/$100,000 coverage levels, and Signing Agent E&O Insurance; (4) Become a Notary and Notary Reappointment Packages bundling education, bonds, stamps, and membership; (5) Motor Vehicle Agent Packets (Card Agent, Full Agent, Messenger, Dealer, Salvor, MMVB) for PennDOT contract services; (6) Notary Supplies including embossing seals, notary stamps, books & journals, forms, signs & charts, and accessories; (7) Motor Vehicle Supplies including stamps, books, accessories, and packets; (8) Member Services including Find a Notary database, criminal record checks, and Business Support Program for employers with multiple notaries. The organization is the leading provider of notary education in Pennsylvania with a 91% exam passing rate in 2023.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• First Time Notary Online Course State-approved self-paced online course that fulfills the three-hour education requirement for first-time Pennsylvania notaries under RULONA, covering the appointment process, identifying customers, notary equipment, and notary acts.
• Notary Reappointment Online Course State-approved self-paced online course that satisfies the education requirement for notaries renewing their four-year Pennsylvania commission, covering document scrutiny, the notary journal, notary trivia, and the reappointment process.
• First Time Notary Seminar Interactive instructor-led RULONA seminar delivered in-person and live online via Zoom, satisfying first-time notary education requirements and covering the appointment process, the definition of a notary, customer identification, equipment, and notarial acts.
• Notary Reappointment Seminar State-approved instructor-led seminar fulfilling the mandatory education requirement for renewing Pennsylvania notaries, covering reappointment, customer identification, equipment, and notarial acts under RULONA.
• Everyday Notary Challenges Seminar Hands-on workshop delivering practical tips and techniques to help notaries avoid the common mistakes that lead to litigation or fines.
• Motor Vehicle Agent Services Title and Registration Course Online Self-paced interactive online course approved by PennDOT that meets the training requirement for both new and experienced Pennsylvania motor vehicle agents and their employees handling titling and registration paperwork.
• Motor Vehicle Agent Services Basic Title and Registration Course PennDOT-approved in-person course designed for motor vehicle agents and their employees who have not previously provided agent services to the public, covering standard titling and registration forms and procedures.
• Motor Vehicle Agent Services Advanced Refresher Course PennDOT-approved in-person or live online course that fulfills the biennial training requirement for motor vehicle agents and employees, covering updates and review of standard titling and registration forms and procedures.
• Notary Bond - $25,000 Four-year, $25,000 notary bond required by Pennsylvania law for each four-year commission, protecting customers from loss resulting from notary negligence.
• Notary Errors and Omissions Insurance Errors and Omissions Insurance for Pennsylvania notaries offered at three coverage tiers ($30,000, $50,000, and $100,000) with no deductible, protecting against customer financial loss caused by notarial mistakes.
• Signing Agent E&O Insurance Specialized Errors and Omissions Insurance that fills coverage gaps left by traditional Notary E&O for signing agent activities including document review with customers, rescission date calculations, and returning paperwork to loan providers.
• Become a Notary Package Complete first-time notary appointment package bundling step-by-step guidance, mandated education, state application fee, four-year bond, notary stamp, notary journal, security device, Practical Guide for Notaries Public in Pennsylvania, and four-year membership.
• Notary Reappointment Package Complete reappointment package for renewing notaries, bundling step-by-step help, mandated education, state application fee, four-year bond, notary stamp, and four-year membership.
• PAN Membership Recurring membership providing customer service access by phone and online chat, state-approved education, blog and social updates, reappointment service, notary bond, E&O insurance options, and Find a Notary Feature access.
• Business Support Program Enterprise program for employers with at least 15 employees needing notary appointments, offering volume discounts, custom tailored notary solutions, and unlimited support by phone, email, and Live Help.
• Motor Vehicle Agent Packets Printed information packets for motor vehicle agents including Card Agent, Full Agent, Messenger, Dealer, Salvor, and Miscellaneous Motor Vehicle Business (MMVB) packets, each priced at $20 and supporting PennDOT-contracted agent services.
• Motor Vehicle Services - PennDOT Agent Support Ongoing support service for Pennsylvania motor vehicle agents providing free information packets, links to PennDOT resources, and answers to vehicle titling and registration questions through PAN's Customer Service Department.
• Criminal Record Check Service Criminal record check service run through the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository under PAN's agreement with the Pennsylvania State Police, showing arrests in Pennsylvania within the past 7 years for notary applicants and motor vehicle agent employees.
• Notary Stamps RULONA-required customized notary stamps including self-inking, professional knob-style, and Ultimark pre-inked options, plus specialty stamps for acknowledgment, verification, and witnessing.
• Notary Embossing Seals RULONA-compliant notary embossing seals including the Classic raised-imprint seal and the compact Pocket Embossing Seal, customized with the notary's name, Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, and 'Notary Public' designation.
• Notary Books and Journals RULONA-compliant notarial journals, notarial receipt books, and the Practical Guide for Notaries Public in Pennsylvania handbook, representing PAN's core reference products for active notaries.
• Notary Forms Specialized medical and guardianship forms including the Advance Directive for Health Care Form (Living Will), Medical Consent Authorization Form, and Standby Guardianship Form, available only through PAN.
• Notary Signs and Charts Notary public desk, wall, and window signs with personalized options, plus fee signs and schedule charts, including the 'I Am NOT An Attorney' desk sign.
• Notarial Accessories Notarial accessories including ink pads for various stamp brands, Impression Inker for highlighting embossing seal marks, Locking Notary Tote Bag, PAN Attaché Bag, Pocket Embossing Seal Case and Stand, and Stamp Guard.
• Motor Vehicle Stamps Self-inking stamps for motor vehicle paperwork including the 'Commonwealth of Pennsylvania' stamp, 'No Registration Applied For' stamp, Full Agent stamp with agent number, and Signature Verification stamp for dealers.
• Motor Vehicle Books Reference manuals and logbooks for motor vehicle agents including the Issuing Agent's Logbook for tracking PennDOT temporary plates, the Pennsylvania-specific PAA Titling and Registration Manual, and the Signature Verification Log.
• Motor Vehicle Accessories Motor vehicle accessories including the Acceptable Proofs of Insurance Wall Chart, Agent Services Schedule of Fees Wall Chart, and PAN's Permit Pockets for temporary registration permit protection.

Quantifiable outcome

• 91% exam passing rate vs. other providers in Pennsylvania
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments3 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Four partnerships are on record, tiered core and supporting.

• Pennsylvania State PolicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAN has an agreement with the Pennsylvania State Police to run criminal records through the Pennsylvania State Police Central Repository database. PAN provides this service for notary applicants and motor vehicle agents who require criminal record checks.
• Pennsylvania Department of Transportation (PennDOT)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerPAN provides information and support for individuals seeking contracts with PennDOT as card agents, full agents, dealers, messengers, salvors, or miscellaneous motor vehicle businesses under Act 152 of 2002. PAN offers motor vehicle education approved by PennDOT.
• Department of State-approved Electronic/Remote Notarization Technology VendorssupportingTechnology or IntegrationPAN supports notaries in becoming electronic notaries and remote online notaries (RON) by guiding them through the approval process with the Pennsylvania Department of State and connecting them with approved technology solution providers for RON.
• Montgomery County Recorder of DeedssupportingStrategic or Co-development PartnerMontgomery County Recorder of Deeds has partnered with the Montgomery County Prothonotary to swear in notaries both in-person and via video conference. PAN directs members to this service for their oath of office.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights3 records

Emerging players

• NotaryCam: NotaryCam is an early Remote Online Notarization platform serving lenders, signing services, and individuals. It competes in the digital notarization space that PAN supports its members in entering through RON education and supply packages.
• ProNotary: ProNotary is a technology platform providing online notarization and notary management tools. It intersects with PAN by serving the same end-users (notaries) with software rather than the traditional membership-and-education model.
• BlueNotary: BlueNotary is a Remote Online Notarization platform focused on enabling notaries to perform RON sessions. It is an emerging competitor in the digital notarization infrastructure that PAN helps its members access.
• Notarize: Notarize is a leading Remote Online Notarization (RON) platform that enables digital notarization over audio-video sessions. It intersects with PAN's RON support services by addressing the same end-customer need — notarization — through a software-led, state-licensed model.

Broad incumbents

• LegalZoom: LegalZoom is a broad online legal services incumbent offering business formation, wills, and ancillary services that include notarization and document preparation. It is comparable to PAN as a broader legal-services provider whose portfolio overlaps with PAN's compliance and document services.

Direct peers

• Sterling Education: Sterling Education is a provider of state-approved continuing education courses, including for notaries and other licensed professionals. It is comparable to PAN as a competing notary education provider that delivers state-mandated coursework through online channels.
• American Society of Notaries: The American Society of Notaries is a professional membership association serving notaries with education, supplies, and compliance resources. It competes with PAN in the same membership-and-education category, though it operates nationally rather than at the state level.
• National Notary Association: The National Notary Association (NNA) is the largest U.S. professional notary membership organization, offering education, supplies, bonds, and insurance nationwide. It is the closest direct peer to PAN, operating the same membership-plus-education-plus-supplies business model at a national scale.

Others

• Nexsys Notary Public Bonds: Nexsys (and similar surety providers like NNA Surety) issue notary bonds and E&O insurance products that compete directly with PAN's bond and insurance offerings underwritten through E.R. Munro. They are ecosystem participants offering comparable underlying products.

Regional players

• Texas Notary Public Association: The Texas Notary Public Association is a state-level professional membership organization serving Texas notaries with education and supplies. It mirrors PAN's single-state membership-and-education model in a different geography.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• YouTubeyoutube.com/user/PaAssocNotaries
• Facebookfacebook.com/PaAssocNotaries
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/pennsylvania-association-of-notaries
• Instagraminstagram.com/paassocnotaries
• TikToktiktok.com/@panotaries

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Pennsylvania Association of Notaries