We’re excited to introduce you to the always interesting and insightful Demetria Sheckles. We hope you’ll enjoy our conversation with Demetria below.

Demetria , looking forward to hearing all of your stories today. Risk taking is something we’re really interested in and we’d love to hear the story of a risk you’ve taken.

I remember scrolling through YouTube one day, watching people talk about how they were making good money as notaries. I thought, “Wait a minute people are getting paid to stamp papers? Where do I sign up?”

So I took the plunge and enrolled in Mark Wills’ Loan Signing System. He said “money-back guarantee,” and I said, “Well, I’ve got bills and a family let’s risk it!” I studied hard, practiced my notary smile, and finally landed my first client in October.

Let me tell you, I was nervous. My hands were shaking so much I almost notarized my own signature by accident! But I got through it, and by the end, I felt like I’d just conquered Mount Everest with a pen.

Now I absolutely love what I do. That one risk turned into a full business where I offer notary work, fingerprinting, apostilles, drug testing and more. Looking back, I’m just thankful I believed in myself and that Mark Wills wasn’t kidding about that course!

Awesome – so before we get into the rest of our questions, can you briefly introduce yourself to our readers.

Hi, I’m Demetria Sheckles, the proud owner of DD Fingerprinting & Lab Services, a one-stop shop for professional notary, fingerprinting, apostille, DNA, and drug testing services. My journey into this industry started with a leap of faith and a whole lot of determination.

I originally got into this business after taking a risk to become a Notary Signing Agent. I enrolled in Mark Wills’ Loan Signing System course after seeing countless people on YouTube talk about how they turned notarizing documents into a real income. At the time, I had a family to support and bills to pay, so I told myself, “Why not me?” I completed the course, did my first signing in October, and even though I was nervous, I made it through and that experience changed everything.

From that one step, I built Sign & Stamp LLC DBA DD Fingerprinting & Lab Services, which now offers a wide range of professional services, including:
• Ink and Live Scan Fingerprinting for federal background checks
• Notary and Loan Signing Services for real estate, legal, and business documents
• Apostille Services for international document authentication
• DNA and Drug Testing for personal, employment, and legal needs

What sets my business apart is the level of care, professionalism, and trust I bring to every client interaction. I understand that when people come to me, they’re often handling something important a new job, a legal matter, immigration paperwork, or business documents. I make it my mission to make that process smooth, accurate, and stress free.

I’m most proud of how far I’ve come from taking a chance on myself to building a business that now serves individuals, families, and companies locally and nationwide. My clients know that when they walk into my office, they’re greeted with not just great service, but genuine kindness and integrity.

At the heart of DD Fingerprinting & Lab Services is a story of faith, perseverance, and purpose. What started as a risk has grown into a passion for helping others, building connections, and being a trusted name in my community.

Any advice for growing your clientele? What’s been most effective for you?

Word of mouth has been powerful because people trust personal recommendations. When clients have a great experience with me whether it’s a notary signing, fingerprinting session, or apostille service they tend to tell their friends, family, or coworkers. That personal connection carries more weight than any advertisement ever could.

At the same time, my Google Business profile has been a game changer. I make sure it’s updated regularly with photos, posts, and reviews so potential clients can see exactly what I offer and what others are saying about their experience. It’s like having a digital storefront that’s open 24/7 and working for me even when I’m off the clock.

Combining those two personal referrals and online visibility has helped my business grow steadily and build a strong reputation in the community.

Can you open up about how you funded your business?

I started my business using my own savings.

I’ve always been really good at saving and budgeting, so when the idea to start my business came to me, I didn’t have to look far for funding. I knew I wanted to build something solid and debt-free from the start, so I used the money I had set aside to cover my startup costs from my notary commission and supplies to my fingerprinting equipment and business setup.

It wasn’t easy, but it felt good knowing that I was investing in myself and my future. Every dollar I spent came from hard work and discipline, and that made me even more determined to make my business succeed.

Contact Info:

• Website: ddfingerprintingandlabservices.com
• Facebook: DD Fingerprinting & Lab Services