Kandice Winfield’s journey to becoming a notary wasn’t straightforward. Originally from Colorado, she learned about the idea from a young woman skilled at finding new income opportunities.

“She asked me, ‘Have you heard about this notary thing?’ and I said, ‘No, not really.’ Then she said, ‘The money isn’t in being a notary; it’s in teaching it,'” Winfield recalled.

Despite her initial interest, Winfield’s corporate job promotion led her in a different direction. Years later, while studying marketing in Northwest Arkansas, she decided to use her notary skills to make extra money. A simple Google ad for mobile notary services brought a flood of inquiries, leading to the birth of TNA Mobile Notary.

Kandice Winfield wanted to scale her mobile notary business and knew to call CU for assistance

TNA Mobile Notary, which witnesses document signings and verifies identities to prevent fraud, has been serving Bentonville since 2018 and began taking clients in January 2020.

The COVID-19 outbreak in 2020 boosted Winfield’s business unexpectedly. With disruptions to traditional notary services, demand for mobile notary services increased. Winfield adapted quickly, leaving school and committing to her notary business full-time by 2022.

What sets TNA Mobile Notary apart is Winfield’s emotional connection to her work. She enjoys supporting clients through significant life milestones like marriage, home purchases, having kids, and other transitions.

“My favorite part of this job is being a small part of people’s journeys,” she says. In a medium-sized town, Winfield often sees repeat clients, allowing her to share in their joys and challenges.

However, Winfield faced a big challenge: scaling her business. She had limited knowledge of business operations, as she originally started the notary service as a side project without a strong business foundation.

Kandice Winfield turned a side project into a scalable business with assistance from CU

Realizing she needed guidance, Winfield contacted the Entrepreneurship Team at Communities Unlimited (CU) and began working with Management Consultant Sierra Polk. Her goal was to build a solid foundation and figure out the next steps for growing her business, even though she wasn’t sure what those steps should be.

Polk and Winfield worked together to examine TNA Mobile Notary’s business model. Using tools like the Business Model Canvas, they defined current operations and developed a growth strategy. They also did the work to analyze and define the business’s mission and vision to align with Winfield’s goals.

A key part of the consultation was exploring new revenue streams like a “Notary Coach” service. They also looked at current marketing efforts and found ways to improve client onboarding and communications through automation.

Polk helped Winfield navigate federal platforms like grants.gov and Sam.gov to understand the requirements for getting federal Minority Woman-Owned Business (MWOB) certifications.

Winfield found the collaboration with Polk helpful, especially appreciating having someone who looked like her.

“Being a Black female entrepreneur is intimidating. There are many stereotypes and stigma. Having someone who looked and talked like me made it easier. I felt very comfortable with Sierra. Talking about my finances and shortcomings is sensitive but having someone familiar made it easier. Sierra was knowledgeable and answered all my questions.”

— Kandice Winfield, TNA Mobile Notary

CU has given Winfield a clearer vision and a strategic plan for her goals. Polk has enjoyed supporting Winfield in growing her business and is grateful for the opportunity to help her focus more on creative endeavors and new business ideas.

Polk noted that many entrepreneurs think securing their first contract means everything will be easy. Together, Polk and Winfield worked on strengthening the foundation of TNA Mobile Notary’s business model and operations. This ensures future growth opportunities, like short or long-term contracts or service offers, can be managed smoothly.

“Often, like houses, businesses fall apart or stop growing because they weren’t built to last or prepared for the weight they carry,” Polk said. “I’ve enjoyed helping Kandice explore and learn about the MWOB certification process. This will make TNA Mobile Notary more attractive for federal, state, or local service contracts. It’s been a pleasure working with and getting to know Kandice Winfield of TNA Mobile Notary.”

Although Winfield is taking a brief break from working with CU to gather more resources, she is optimistic about the future. She plans to seek grants, expand her business, and eventually secure federal contracts with CU’s help.

“For TNA Mobile Notary, I’m excited about its future. My business is built on my passion for helping people. I want clients to feel welcomed and supported, knowing their needs will be met. I’m eager to keep growing this culture and the notary industry in Northwest Arkansas.”

"My experience with Communities Unlimited was priceless. I now understand my business better and know what steps to take. Their resources and courses are fantastic, and I look forward to using them more when I re-enter the program.

— Kandice Winfield, TNA Mobile Notary