Insurance Journal Forums

My Name is Justin and I am in the process of opening up my own agency. I am having a real hard time trying to get appointed by companies. As a matter of fact no one is appointing me. Please help

Review a prior post/subject "New Insurance Agency Startup Questions". The info may be helpful to you and answer your questions.

When you start an agency, it is next to impossible to get an appointment from a major carrier. You might be able to work something out with a small regional carrier if they see that you're serious about generating some business.

You should look into either writing through a MGA or joining a cluster/aggregator.

Also, you will need to get E&O insurance before you start writing any business. The page below can answer some of your questions about E&O for insurance agents.

http://www.insurance-agents-errors-omis ... m/faqs.htm

I actually do have a errors and omission already. I am just having a lot of trouble becoming appointed. I have tried contacting some organizations such as siaa but no response back.

Where is your new agency located? Consolidated Agency Partners (CAP) is a great option for small-to-medium sized agencies that don't have direct appointments with all of the preferred carrier markets that they need, and they will work with new agencies.

http://capnet-1.com/

justinarabo wrote:My Name is Justin and I am in the process of opening up my own agency. I am having a real hard time trying to get appointed by companies. As a matter of fact no one is appointing me. Please help

Congrats on starting your new agency! You have a long and successful road ahead of you as long as you keep a determined attitude. Getting appointments is always tuff when starting out. Carriers usually want to see that you can produce a constant flow of business. Most preferred carries will probably turn you down, I recommend that you start with the non-standard markets. These carriers are more likely to give out appointments. Good luck!

Read those contracts very carefully - how much will it cost you to leave. What do they bring to the table and most of all contact at least 5 of their current agents and get their thoughts.
Usually Big I or PIA has a market with the carriers you are looking for. You have to be a member first.

If you are still looking for help getting appointed, check out Insurance Noodle.

Insurance Noodle offers agents access to multiple commercial and personal lines carriers through our direct appointments. You can quote your risks online and get multiple quote results back within minutes of your submission. Signing up is easy, your account gets activated immediately so you can actually get same day appointments and start quoting right away. Check us out at www.insurancenoodle.com or contact me with any questions : ) .

MEMBERSHIP BENEFITS
• Same day appointment
• Immediate access to up to 11 carriers standard lines carriers - personal, commercial, E&S (up to 16 markets)
• One short online application for multiple lines
• Real multi-carrier quotes in minutes
• Commercial and Personal lines quoting
• Personal lines solutions including Home and Auto
• Solutions for over 1,700 commercial classes (BOP, Auto, Work Comp, Prof)
• No minimum production requirements

Alex Eesley
alexandra.eesley@willis.com
www.insurancenoodle.com

It is very difficult to get an appointment as a new agency...we were only able to do so because I was one of the top performing captive agents in the region for the company I worked for, and then it had taken 4 months for the territory rep to receive an exception to appoint us. Going with a company like insurance Noodle or another MGS may be your only choice until you build up a large book of business.

Check out http://www.ASNOA.com

Take the time to develop a written "marketing plan". It doesn't have to be a "business plan". Carriers are most interested in HOW you are going to develop business and then handle it internally within your Agency. Focus on those areas within your Plan.

Contact me if you need a sample (editable) marketing plan that I have used successfully for fifteen+ years with most major National and Regional P&C Carriers.

I put together a Guide to Starting an Independent Agency, you can view this at:
https://www.agencyequity.com/guide-to-s ... nce-agency

You can find a directory of Carriers and access to appointment information by going to:
https://www.agencyequity.com/listings/i ... -directory

This is unbiased and not affiliated with any agency group. Furthermore there is an entire section on agency cluster type groups and which group will best meet one's needs.

There are many choices(cluster groups, brokers etc..) out there. Just be careful of the contracts that have a one or two year non-compete, this may not be to your advantage.

cyberbob wrote:There are many choices(cluster groups, brokers etc..) out there. Just be careful of the contracts that have a one or two year non-compete, this may not be to your advantage.

Very good point, but never expect perfection to your advantage because that doesn't exist. One should research the available options and choose the best of these options. Those who are seeking a one sided deal to their advantage will only leave themselves in frustration.

Since you are new, try these MGA's and get some business going first before getting direct appointments
http://www.piainc.com/
http://www.nlinksuite.com/
GOOD LUCK!