How Large Was Your Book of Business when You Hired Your First CSR?

[Nanci]

Mine is currently around $600k and I am a one-woman shop. I wasn't planning on hiring until after I hit the $1 million mark, but now I am questioning that plan. Seem to get more and more customer service work which gives me less time to sell.

 

[TrustedAdvisor]

I have heard of agents with bookjs at 1.5mm with just one pt CSR. Depends on your book and how you have built it. I try to write all business together with the same renewal dates so easier to manage and review once per year

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I would ask yourself how much time could I free up if I unloaded some service work ona CSR.

 

[Nanci]

My book is mostly commercial lines and I've read that the rule of thumb is one full time person per $1.5 million commercial lines business. The thing is if I wait that long to hire someone my new bus. growth will dramatically slow (the larger my book becomes, the more customers to service, the less time to sell new accounts). Also, as my customer base increases I find it more and more difficult to take a vacation. As it is my laptop is with me on my vacations and part of my time is spent keeping up with clients. The thought of not being able to take a vacation with my family for a few more years is a bit of a downer. Thanks, guys, for letting me vent!!!

 

[TrustedAdvisor]

Yes it's all a balancing act..between managing your book w quality and personal time.

 

[Milkman1265]

what is your schedule like before your 1MM book?

9-5 prospect sales activity? 6-7 paperwork?

 

[CaptiveGuy]

Maybe hire a part time unlicensed CSR to save money and also help to take down quote information, payments, and type certificates. You could still prospect and do the presentations.

I hired my unlicensed admin/CSR for 25 hours per week at about $600k premium but I'm mostly personal lines. At around $1.2-1.3M I hired my licensed CSR to actually help write business and make policy changes. I'm trying to hold out until $2.5M to hire my second licensed CSR.

 

[todd02]

Damn, I just hired my second ft csr and I have two pt csrs. As well as one producer. My book is only 2mill. Invest in quality staff that can duplicate what you do.

 

[Soaringagent]

I think you should hire before you grow too big. It takes some time for training before the CSR can get up to speed.

 

[tarobhap]

My book is mostly commercial lines and I've read that the rule of thumb is one full time person per $1.5 million commercial lines business. The thing is if I wait that long to hire someone my new bus. growth will dramatically slow (the larger my book becomes, the more customers to service, the less time to sell new accounts). Also, as my customer base increases I find it more and more difficult to take a vacation. As it is my laptop is with me on my vacations and part of my time is spent keeping up with clients. The thought of not being able to take a vacation with my family for a few more years is a bit of a downer. Thanks, guys, for letting me vent!!!

Nanci....I tried to PM you but maybe I'm still not allowed. Could you contact me? Would like to talk to you regarding commercial P&C.
214-497-3318
[email protected]

 

[Aram Fingal]

Look at it this way. If you should have a full time staffer, which means 40hrs per week when you're at $1.5m, that works out to (roughly) 2.5 hours per week per $100k of premium. So if you're at $600k then you should have someone working for you about 15 hours per week right now. Hire someone to work part time 15 hours per week, and increase their hours and responsibility as your business grows.

My book is mostly commercial lines and I've read that the rule of thumb is one full time person per $1.5 million commercial lines business. The thing is if I wait that long to hire someone my new bus. growth will dramatically slow (the larger my book becomes, the more customers to service, the less time to sell new accounts). Also, as my customer base increases I find it more and more difficult to take a vacation. As it is my laptop is with me on my vacations and part of my time is spent keeping up with clients. The thought of not being able to take a vacation with my family for a few more years is a bit of a downer. Thanks, guys, for letting me vent!!!