Physical Address for Home Based Agents

[DT1970]

For those of you who run your business out of your home office, I'm wondering how you handle the following issues...

- what address do you use on your website/business cards/etc? a PO Box, your home address or a "rented address" i.e. private for-rent mail drop, or a desk rented monthly at a physical location that you pick up mail from now and then etc?

- How often do clients wish to visit your office? If they do, do you invite them to your house? If so, do clients seem accepting of this (assuming you have a "professional" home office)? Or, again, do you rent space at an office somewhere that you can use occassionally for client meetings when necessary?

I'm trying to understand how independent agents who have home-based businesses handle the issue of their office location with their clientele, advertising, etc

Thank you.

 

[djs]

I had lunch yesterday with a very successful agent. His view was that you wanted to present yourself as a professional, which includes a professional office, professional dress, professional phone system, and up to date professional technology. Okay, his focus was P&C, but I thought this was very insiteful, once you get past the point of not wanting to give up the lazy way of doing things (i.e., not filing paperwork, cleaning up, wearing sweats, etc).

His other point was to be the type of agent you would want to buy insurance from (be honest here). Would you go to an agents house to fill out very personal information?

Does a post office box convey a professional image?

(you get to answer these questions, they are the clients you are pursuing).

Be honest. Going to a professional office with the persons name on the door, he (or she) being there, well dressed, with a receptionist, has some sort of calming affect. This is a business, not some person doing this on the side.

Now, if clients don't ever come to your office, you can pretty much do what you want. Most of my clients have my office address (which is a real office), many have my home address, where I also have a very professional office.

In short, you have to decide what type of clients you want and then decide what will appeal to them.

Dan

 

[David C]

I show my p.o. box address. If someone asks where my office is I just tell them I'm a home based agent, it's never been a problem.

Never had a client who felt the need to visit my office.

 

[insuranceexec]

I had lunch yesterday with a very successful agent. His view was that you wanted to present yourself as a professional, which includes a professional office, professional dress, professional phone system, and up to date professional technology. Okay, his focus was P&C, but I thought this was very insiteful, once you get past the point of not wanting to give up the lazy way of doing things (i.e., not filing paperwork, cleaning up, wearing sweats, etc).

His other point was to be the type of agent you would want to buy insurance from (be honest here). Would you go to an agents house to fill out very personal information?

Does a post office box convey a professional image?

(you get to answer these questions, they are the clients you are pursuing).

Be honest. Going to a professional office with the persons name on the door, he (or she) being there, well dressed, with a receptionist, has some sort of calming affect. This is a business, not some person doing this on the side.

Now, if clients don't ever come to your office, you can pretty much do what you want. Most of my clients have my office address (which is a real office), many have my home address, where I also have a very professional office.

In short, you have to decide what type of clients you want and then decide what will appeal to them.

Dan

Great post, I completely agree.

 

[DJM]

I agree with Dan. You really want to give off a professional image. Think of this on the flip side also. I am an agent you are trying to recruit. now I can get street commissions pretty much anywhere, so would I go with a home based agent, or an agent with an office and phone system, ect.

Now imagine this, you have to assign your commissions over to 1 of 2 agents. who would you rather assign them to? the agent who has an agency with an office address and secretary and phones, computer, ect. or would you be more comfortable with the agent who has an agency out of their house?

I believe you have to dress the part. I mean, you wouldn't go into a lawyers office wearing your pajamas?

Plus an office space advertising your business.

I would say, as soon as you can afford it, go out and rent a space, even if it is small. It helps you look and dress the part of an experienced professional insurance agent.

 

[Jeff]

I use a po box.
Never have had client want to come to me.
I always go to them for face to face meetings.
When they ask (rare) I say I'm based in Ellicott City. If they ask where my office is I tell them I have an office in Baltimore (a local GA lets me use space as needed) but that I mostly work from home since it's out of the way and I spend a lot of my time out seeing clients. It's never been an issue.

 

[stuy119]

I had lunch yesterday with a very successful agent. His view was that you wanted to present yourself as a professional, which includes a professional office, professional dress, professional phone system, and up to date professional technology. Okay, his focus was P&C, but I thought this was very insiteful, once you get past the point of not wanting to give up the lazy way of doing things (i.e., not filing paperwork, cleaning up, wearing sweats, etc).

His other point was to be the type of agent you would want to buy insurance from (be honest here). Would you go to an agents house to fill out very personal information?

Does a post office box convey a professional image?

(you get to answer these questions, they are the clients you are pursuing).

Be honest. Going to a professional office with the persons name on the door, he (or she) being there, well dressed, with a receptionist, has some sort of calming affect. This is a business, not some person doing this on the side.

Now, if clients don't ever come to your office, you can pretty much do what you want. Most of my clients have my office address (which is a real office), many have my home address, where I also have a very professional office.

In short, you have to decide what type of clients you want and then decide what will appeal to them.

Dan

I disagree. I openly tell clients that I work from a home office, as it keeps my costs down and allows me to pass along that savings in the form of working to keep premiums down.

I also mention that I would prefer to come to their offices so they don't have to incur travel time. Granted, I work mostly with business owners, but I meet individuals at their home or at a cafe close to their home or office.

Work from home if you want, publish your address (I don't recommend it, but it's your choice), but just be open and transparent - clients like that more than a physical office.

 

[gzpxyj]

I use a po box.
Never have had client want to come to me.
I always go to them for face to face meetings.
When they ask (rare) I say I'm based in Ellicott City. If they ask where my office is I tell them I have an office in Baltimore (a local GA lets me use space as needed) but that I mostly work from home since it's out of the way and I spend a lot of my time out seeing clients. It's never been an issue.

I think you have a good arrangement for your budget.
- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

I had lunch yesterday with a very successful agent. His view was that you wanted to present yourself as a professional, which includes a professional office, professional dress, professional phone system, and up to date professional technology. Okay, his focus was P&C, but I thought this was very insiteful, once you get past the point of not wanting to give up the lazy way of doing things (i.e., not filing paperwork, cleaning up, wearing sweats, etc).

His other point was to be the type of agent you would want to buy insurance from (be honest here). Would you go to an agents house to fill out very personal information?

Does a post office box convey a professional image?

(you get to answer these questions, they are the clients you are pursuing).

Be honest. Going to a professional office with the persons name on the door, he (or she) being there, well dressed, with a receptionist, has some sort of calming affect. This is a business, not some person doing this on the side.

Now, if clients don't ever come to your office, you can pretty much do what you want. Most of my clients have my office address (which is a real office), many have my home address, where I also have a very professional office.

In short, you have to decide what type of clients you want and then decide what will appeal to them.

Dan

It is especially true if you are an security rep. to maintain your professional image.

 

[djs]

I openly tell clients that I work from a home office, as it keeps my costs down and allows me to pass along that savings in the form of working to keep premiums down.

But your expenses have nothing to do with premiums charged.

The best thing about this business is there is no right or wrong way (within reason). It's how you want to approach it.

In the end, I would venture a guess that the average home agent would generate more business in a professional office environment, especially if there are other agents involved. This is not true for everyone, and most home agents would deny this, but I'm willing to bet that a persons work ethic would increase, the professionalism would increase and the sales would increase. Might not happen the first month or 2 though.

If you are well disciplined, working from home isn't a problem. Most people end up reading posts on the internet though.... oooppppsssss.......

Dan

 

[GreenSky]

I get around this by using Chump's address on my business cards.

Rick