Notary signing agents who are just starting out are probably finding it difficult to afford all of the equipment and supplies that they want and need to do the job. What I recommend is buying equipment and services that are as versatile as possible.

Fax machine:  Faxes are like taxes. They are inevitable. What you should look for is a fax machine that can do more than just send faxes.  You're probably thinking, 'Great, I have an all-in-one machine.'  But it's probably an ink jet printer.  Sorry, loan documents need to be printed with a laser printer. So get a multi-purpose laser fax machine. 

It's a personal preference, but the one that I highly recommend is the brother Intellifax 2820.  The reason why I recommend it is that, everything that it produces is laser quality.  Not only will it send faxes, it will also make copies. This will come in handy in case you need to make copies of loan documents (i.e. Right to Cancel). And as a bonus, it also prints.  So you have a backup printer.

Cell phone: Your cell phone is your life line. It's how you do business. Buy one that will do more than just make phone calls though.  You want to stay organized. So buy one with a PDA. You may also want to make photos. There are going to be times when the borrowers don't have a photocopy of their ID. Yes, you could buy a digital camera, or bring the one that you have. But if the digital camera is already contained in your phone, all the better.  You might also want to check your email while you're away from your desk. Check it from your phone.  Or perhaps you want to get directions from Mapquest so you can find the closing location. Get those from your phone too.

How, you might ask, are you going to get all of these features in one device? Answer: a smartphone.  There are a lot of them out there. The Blackberry, for example.  Or the Palm Treo.  Yes, they cost more. But they do more. And the more they do, the more productive you will be. And since a large part of this job requires being mobile, you will want to be productive when you are away from your desk.

Refill toner cartridges yourself: One of your biggest expenses, apart from that smartphone and the calling plan that you got with it, is going to be printing loan documents.  And that, of course, requires toner.  You can save a lot of money by refilling the cartridges yourself.  Just one refill per cartridge will cut your toner costs in half. (For instructions on how to do it, see: Refilling Toner Cartridges)

EconoMode: This setting on your printer will reduce the amount of toner that is used. I use it occasionally. For example, I'll get instructions that have these huge graphics (i.e. a big stop sign). Why waste toner printing out something like that?  Occasionally the appraisal will come with the loan documents.  These have lots of photos. Photos require more ink than letters.  I think you get the picture. In short, if the document contains heavy graphics and/or photos, use econo mode.

Join a shopping club: You're going to need paper to print those documents. If you're a member of a shopping club, you can get it at reduced prices.  I belong to Sam's Club, for example. The annual membership dues is worth it.  I got my dues back the first day when I bought a couple of cases of paper.  It is paying for itself every time I buy something.  Not only paper, but other office supplies as well. 

Phone costs:  This one falls in the 'whatever works best for you' category.  I have digital voice service with Comcast. There are no additional charges for long distance calls. Not all signing companies provide you with a toll free fax number. And when you're sending lots of faxes, you will see how this can save you a lot of money. The phone service is part of a package, so it's also my high speed internet (which you will need), and also my cable.  Look for bundled services. Like I said, this is one where you choose whatever works best for you. Try to get as much out of the service as possible so that it cuts your costs for what you have to do as a notary signing agent.

There are many other areas where you can cut costs and save money (i.e. financial services, clothing, food, etc.). 

But don't hesitate to splurge every now and then.  You do enough home delivery of closing services.  It's only fair that you have something home-delivered to you too.

Good luck.

See also:

Save money on toner cartridges. Refill them yourself.