You will need to have or be able to develop certain skills if you want to thrive as a process server. Although it might not be too difficult to become a process server, being good at the job and becoming successful can be tricky. Think about the sorts of skills that are needed for this job.

You should be good at reading people and situations. Sometimes, you will be serving papers to people who are at a rough spot in their lives. They can sometimes be defensive and difficult to talk to because they don’t want to be served. They might lie to you, run from you, or even attack you.

While the job of a process server is not too dangerous, there is always the risk of someone becoming angry and aggressive. If there are threats of violence or actual violence, it should be reported to the police. Process servers need to be ready for anything, especially when dealing with someone desperate.

While the need to defend yourself is not usually a concern, it could still be a good skill to have just in case. It is always better to be safe rather than sorry. You will also find that your ability to empathize and talk people down from being angry are good assets to have. You need to know how to read people and how to determine the best places and the best ways to approach different people.

You also need to have thick skin when you are a process server. As mentioned, people will often lie to you. They might also insult you. You have to remain calm and have the ability to not let those verbal attacks feel personal. The ability to keep calm and rational even when dealing with irate people is essential.

Another skill that is needed is persistence. Process servers will soon find that some people really don’t want to be found and served with papers. They will hide and do just about anything to avoid it. This requires an investigative mind that can help you to find out where these individuals are located. You might need to talk with the person’s family or friends to get more information about them, so you can serve the papers. You may need to research the person’s past to get a better idea of where they might be now. Although you aren’t a private investigator, some of the work can rely heavily on investigation.

Of course, this also means that you need to be patient. While some jobs are simple and will be over in an hour or so, others might take days or longer to complete. You can’t let setbacks make you give up. Without persistence and patience, you will find that it could become overwhelming.

This is why having the proper training, even though it might not be required by the state, can be very beneficial. The more training you have the better you will feel about serving papers in different situations.

How Much Does a Process Server Make?

Of course, you are likely wondering just how much a process server can make. The amount can vary depending on several factors including the types of papers being served, as well as your location. The number of papers you serve will determine how much you make, as well. Typically, the salary for a process server will be from $25,000 to $70,000 annually. They will make between $30 and $250 per document.

You will want to check into your local area to get a better sense of how much money you could make as a process server. In some cases, you may want to start out doing the job part-time. You can see whether it is a good fit for you and make some extra money on the side. If you decide that it’s something you want to pursue, you can then expand your business and consider going full-time.

Starting Your Own Process Server Business

Starting a process server business is a fantastic move for many people. It doesn’t cost much to get started, and you can recoup your investment costs after serving a few papers in many cases. Once you become a process server, you will want to set yourself up as a business. Learn more regarding what you need to do to set up a business in your state and follow all of the requirements to ensure that you are a legitimate business.

Create a website, as mentioned, to let people know about your services and to attract new clients. Get some business cards to hand out to attorneys, law offices, and others when you are marketing in person. You should also create a marketing letter that you can provide to attorneys and other clients. Ask for referrals. Even if an attorney might not need your services right now, they could know someone who does.

Always deliver. Work hard, work fast, and provide the clients with better-than-expected results. This will impress them and make them want to hire you again and again. You can go solo in your business for as long as you would like. This is what many process servers do. Others might eventually want to expand their business further and bring in other process servers when their client list starts to become too large.

Treat this business as you would any other, and you can start to see some great results.

Should You Become a Process Server?

Only you can answer this question. Now that you have a better understanding of what a process server is and what they do, it should be easier for you to determine whether this is the type of career you might want to pursue. It could provide you with a way to earn a good income without the need to be stuck inside of an office or a cubicle all of the time.

If you are interested in becoming a process server, your next step is to take a course that will provide you with all of the details that you will need to understand to enter this field. Even if you do not need to be licensed or registered in your state, going through a course will help to ensure that you know the ins and outs of the job. It will make the transition to process served much easier for you.

Take the next step, go through a course, and start earning as a process server. Your new career is closer than you might think.