Need Help PLEASE HELP

[Cali_jake]

Hello everyone, new to this forum.
I live in Sacramento, Ca I want to open my own agency since i have a lot of experience in sales. I sold Life ins for a few years and now work for a Famers agent as a sub agent. I like the insurance industy and want to build a nice big agency.

How can I get appointed with big Insures or is it better to join an association like SIAA?
Are there benefits of going with association instead of going directly trough the insurer??


I have been beeting my head against a wall, can't get any answers.

please help

WHAT IS THE BEST WAY OF OPPENING MY OWN AGENCY?

Any info is greatly appreciated.

Thank you

 

[cordellpascall]

You might first check with local office about rules and regulations and some small business consultants .. they can batter help you.

 

[sgriswold]

Hi Jake,

I run a 60-year old agency, and we just started offering all lines of insurance. Let me tell you, it's hard work and then some. Here's some food for thought so you know if starting from scratch is for you:

- Many P&C carriers will not give you a direct appointment without an existing book to transfer, or without previous direct appointments from other carriers. Starting out with a wholesaler is probably the way to go.

- Keep in mind office overhead costs. This is a killer. Working at home or renting an executive suite may be a good start.

- Your prospecting options may be limited, depending on the contract you signed at Farmer's. Make sure you aren't prohibited from working in the same area as your current agency.

 

[Cali_jake]

Thank you very much. I will probably contract with one or more wholesalers. Do you know of any good ones. I have looked at Superior Access, Agent Secure and Insurance noodle.
I was thinking Superior and Agent secure to go with both of them.

 

[moeasadi]

I am in Berkeley , and starte my agency from home 2 years ago.I started with wholealer, then I found an agency that I made some arrangement to write with them.I recommend that to all nw agents.Email me [email protected] we chat more.

 

[NuSurance]

Getting appointed is like it was dating in high school - When you did not have a girl friend no one would talk to you -- get a date with a girl and they all wanted you ....

Companies - If you don't have a company appointment they will not look at you get your first and they all want ya.

With 28 years of exp left one agency and opened a P and C agency and waited 6 months (selling Life and Health) finally got 1 appointment - had 6 more within 3 weeks ===

Go figure -- Are there any company reps out there?


Starting an agency is a Marathon - once you start you CAN NOT QUIT - Last 36 Months - meet 1 new person a day sell 1 and you will be OK

STAY independent and join the Big I or PIA

Kazor

 

[vincent26us]

ok im in the same situation you are, im in cali also, the only way you can start selling without a book of business is to get associate with someone that already have the companies, here in my area its an agency you can get appointed and receive 90%! for first year commisions and 75% after 400 policies or more is farmers agency, and i think youre near from my area, i dont know but i just got a deal with my boss and ill be selling for most popular companies and also farmers with a 70 % of net income after expenses isnt a great deal just to start?

 

[Cali_jake]

Thank you you all. Who would be one of the easies carrier to get appointed with as a new agent?? A p&C insurer, does anyone have any suggestions?

Thanks again.

 

[moeasadi]

Progressive for Autos. Fedility for home, State Fund for workers Comp.

 

[JSO]

Since your in CA that may change some #'s, I'm in FL and my partner and I started an independent agency in Feb this year with less than 4k. To date we've written aprox. 250k in mostly personal lines business. Our over head is approximately $650 a month and we're 100% debt free with multiple appointments with FL companies. I've been considering writing an article or small book, something of that sort and offering it for a modest cost. I'm not looking to get rich from it but, I would like to generate some revenue from it. I'm new to the forum and wanted to see what kind of feedback I got with something like that. What do you think?????