We were lucky to catch up with Zakariya Alshawi recently and have shared our conversation below.

Hi Zakariya , thanks for joining us today. What’s the backstory behind how you came up with the idea for your business?

When I first arrived in Knoxville, Tennessee. I’ve always liked the idea of owning a business since I was a kid, and I’ve always loved the concept of being self-sufficient and not relying on others for help.

My first source of revenue was when I began a vending machine business in middle school. I bought coke and snack machines and placed them in various locations such as office buildings, industries, and laundromats, producing a passive income.

As I grew older, I desired a business that would not only make me money but also benefit my community by providing convenient notary services. After conducting extensive research, I discovered that the community was in desperate need of a mobile notary, as other notaries in the area did not provide such services, so I decided to open Zaks Notary.

I went through the process of becoming a notary public, which involved being elected by the Knox County board of commissioners, having my notary certificate signed by the Secretary of State and the governor, and taking an oath.

I began once everything had been finalized and I started offering mobile services in hospitals, nursing homes, and retirement facilities due to the fact that most of the institutions that I mentioned do not provide particular notary services.

Elderly individuals for example are unable to travel outside of their facilities because of being handicapped or too unwell to visit a notary office. Zak’s Notary, on the other hand, brings the office right to your living room.

We also recently opened up a location where clients can drop by and have their documents notarized.

Great, appreciate you sharing that with us. Before we ask you to share more of your insights, can you take a moment to introduce yourself and how you got to where you are today to our readers

Zak’s Notary proudly offers fast and simple Notary Services for Loan Signing and General Notary work to Knoxville and surrounding areas all over East Tennessee. Clients can schedule an appointment with us and we will gladly travel to the location of your convenience or you can come to us during and after normal business hours.

Our mobile notary services give clients the opportunity to sign important legal documents when and where they need them. By relying on technology and experience, we gladly take every opportunity to make their notary experience effortless. Clients can call, text, email, or visit our website!

Zak’s Notary offers 20% off any notary service for active duty and veterans, we also offer a 15% discount for all students.

What do you think helped you build your reputation within your market?

People, they’re the most important thing to me. It doesn’t matter if it’s a consumer, a team member, the community, or a vendor. Every person in my immediate vicinity has a special significance. In business, people are everything. Whether you like it or not, they are the lifeblood of any company.

There is no future without humans. Many small business entrepreneurs, I believe, forget or have forgotten that other people are the reason they are where they are and able to do what they do. Society has lost sight of the truth that money is merely a commodity with no worth unless people are present to assist in its utilization. Many small businesses are locked in this cycle of converting customers into revenue rather than revenue into customers. Your most valuable asset is your people! They are in charge of the customer’s experience. You win if it’s good; if it’s bad, you lose.

It’s as easy as that. When a customer calls with an issue, the customer service person, for example, becomes the customer’s primary service provider. That employee then becomes the Company for that customer. That consumer’s impression of the value of doing business with you will be shaped by their interactions with that customer service agent.

What’s been the most effective strategy for growing your clientele?

Marketing and advertising on social media was definitely my most effective strategy to getting clients. With so many social media platforms to choose from nowadays it is very simple to create posts and advertise your services or products that you have to millions of people within seconds.

Contact Info:

• Website: zaksnotary.square.site
• Instagram: instagram.com/zaknotary/
• Facebook: facebook.com/zaknotary
• Linkedin: linkedin.com/in/zaknotary/
• Yelp: yelp.com/biz/zaks-notary-knoxville
• Other: thumbtack.com/tn/knoxville/notary-public/zaks-notary/service/432008193300504579