How does an Independent Insurance Agency become an accepted agency for the major insurance carriers?

Question

My friend and I plan create our own Independent Insurance Agency, however our experience in the Industry is not on the producer side. Is it possible to become an accepted agency under the major carriers without having wrote business before? If not, how else is one supposed to start?

Answer 1

If you have a license, you have all you need to get started! I am licensed with about 20 companies, and started from ZERO. You need to find an IMO or FMO to help you get appointed. These are companies that Insurance Companies use to help recruit a sales force. There's no magic potion, slick marketing, or previous sales in the industry that gets you appointed.  

If you like, contact me through my web site and I will give you the name and numbers to a couple of FMO's. They will help you with top companies like, United Healthcare, Conseco, Mutual of Omaha, etc....

Hope this helps.

Answer 2

Marketing, baby!  Marketing to the carriers.  You need to have a business plan, a license to sell, and you need to convince them that you'll be able to put business on the books.  Call on your business relationships that you already have, with the marketing reps that you already know.  

It's almost impossible, with no sales experience, and no book to roll over, because without those two things, the odds are against your agency being successful.