So How is Business?

[BTFuzz]

Curious how busy you are writing new auto, home, business, etc right now?

What's your outlook for the near future as it relates to growth? Would love to get some different viewpoints.

 

[BTFuzz]

Anybody? Is everyone that busy they have no time to respond? Good to know...

 

[VaDwayne]

This is no exaggeration. I only do commercial and I have been so busy this year I haven't had 1 second to prospect, cold-call, I haven't been in my car calling on businesses 1 time this year. I cold-called like crazy last year and started out the year with 500 renewals to work this year, and so far so good.

I normally take the apps. or info and have the ladies in the office do the quotes for me but one lady had surgery in December and was off until March 1.

Last Friday I finally took the day off and ran 24 hours of First Aid Crew duty just to get away from the office.

 

[CaptiveGuy]

Ha as a scratch agent I've been more busy setting up my office and marketing. Last week was my first full week in the office and I sold 4 auto and 3 home. Today I sold 3 auto and 2 condos. It doesn't take too much time to actually sell the policy I'm more worried about where my next policy will come from.

I have a decent marketing plan I'm putting in place. Right now I'm setting the foundation if I can make $1k a week with renewals coming in 6 months I'll be fine. I must say this is much more fun and rewarding as an indy agent now.

- xCaptiveGuy

 

[BTFuzz]

This is no exaggeration. I only do commercial and I have been so busy this year I haven't had 1 second to prospect, cold-call, I haven't been in my car calling on businesses 1 time this year. I cold-called like crazy last year and started out the year with 500 renewals to work this year, and so far so good.

I normally take the apps. or info and have the ladies in the office do the quotes for me but one lady had surgery in December and was off until March 1.

Last Friday I finally took the day off and ran 24 hours of First Aid Crew duty just to get away from the office.

Dwayne...what kind of commercial do you write? Type and size? I write a lot of small contractors (10 or less employees) and have been pretty busy with commercial also and I'm primarily a PL agency.

 

[Bertolinoins]

Busy. You are still doing twice the work for half the money (on middle market commercial) but the business is out there and those that have survived are interested in cutting costs. If you have a strong niche market you have some opportunities right now. 5/6 years ago owners were too busy raking in money to worry about insurance rates, now they are talking a much closer look at overhead.

 

[1manshow]

Hey captive guy...glad to see you're busy writing new biz !

 

[VaDwayne]

Dwayne...what kind of commercial do you write? Type and size? I write a lot of small contractors (10 or less employees) and have been pretty busy with commercial also and I'm primarily a PL agency.

I also do some with contractors, but when I am done with the quotes I now have on my desk, I am only going to spend time on businesses with 20,000 or more possible premium, unless they are a referral or something like that.

I am spending WAY TO MUCH time on quotes that don't pay much.

 

[BTFuzz]

I also do some with contractors, but when I am done with the quotes I now have on my desk, I am only going to spend time on businesses with 20,000 or more possible premium, unless they are a referral or something like that.

I am spending WAY TO MUCH time on quotes that don't pay much.

Well it sounds like you're busy. I don't like spending time on low value accts either, but most of the little accts I obtain turn into nice size accts after I cross sell them.

 

[VaDwayne]

Well it sounds like you're busy. I don't like spending time on low value accts either, but most of the little accts I obtain turn into nice size accts after I cross sell them.

You are correct. and a lot of times our agency will get th personal lines, health insurance. etc., but I think the same will happen with the 20,000 account.