I've spent the past 11 years as a Captive Agency Owner at a well known company with $1.7 mil in premium volume (90% personal and 10% commercial).
My objective in the beginning is to recapture a decent amount of my previous clientele to help pay the bills (the one year non-compete is another discussion), but I would like to become more of a commercial agent as time goes on, and less of a personal lines agent.
So in the beginning, I'm going to get only a few appointments. I plan on working with Travelers, possibly Erie, and Progressive to start (to regain previous personal lines clientele). I figure it will take a solid 6 months before I start getting a decent flow of commercial prospects, and I don't want to push for a commercial carrier from day 1 if I can't produce right away like I can in personal lines. Travelers Requires a separate commercial appointment, so that leaves me with Erie, and Progressive to start in the commercial realm.
Does anyone know of any commercial carriers that might be a decent fit for me in the beginning? I mean is there a good all encompassing commercial carrier that doesn't have high production requirements from day 1? I would hate to get appointed and not be able to give them much for the first 6 months, permanently burning that bridge. But I know I probably can't go after larger commercial accounts with Erie and Progressive either, which is what I'm working towards in this venture. Or would I be better off placing what I can with Erie and Progressive, and then placing any larger risks with an MGA until I start getting enough commercial prospects/clients to get a solid commercial carrier. I have no desire to join a cluster (nothing against them, I would rather take the long road).
My objective in the beginning is to recapture a decent amount of my previous clientele to help pay the bills (the one year non-compete is another discussion), but I would like to become more of a commercial agent as time goes on, and less of a personal lines agent.
So in the beginning, I'm going to get only a few appointments. I plan on working with Travelers, possibly Erie, and Progressive to start (to regain previous personal lines clientele). I figure it will take a solid 6 months before I start getting a decent flow of commercial prospects, and I don't want to push for a commercial carrier from day 1 if I can't produce right away like I can in personal lines. Travelers Requires a separate commercial appointment, so that leaves me with Erie, and Progressive to start in the commercial realm.
Does anyone know of any commercial carriers that might be a decent fit for me in the beginning? I mean is there a good all encompassing commercial carrier that doesn't have high production requirements from day 1? I would hate to get appointed and not be able to give them much for the first 6 months, permanently burning that bridge. But I know I probably can't go after larger commercial accounts with Erie and Progressive either, which is what I'm working towards in this venture. Or would I be better off placing what I can with Erie and Progressive, and then placing any larger risks with an MGA until I start getting enough commercial prospects/clients to get a solid commercial carrier. I have no desire to join a cluster (nothing against them, I would rather take the long road).
