A few months ago we wrote about why commercial insurance is the opportunity most agents overlook. The follow-up question came fast: okay, but how do I actually write my first one? For most agents, commercial starts with the business owners policy, so this is our practical guide on how to write a BOP, from the first conversation to the final quote.
What is a business owners policy (BOP)?
A BOP bundles the core coverages most small businesses need into one package, typically:
- General liability for injuries and property damage the business causes to others.
- Commercial property for the building (if owned), equipment, inventory, and furniture.
- Business income, which helps replace lost income if a covered loss forces a temporary shutdown.
What a BOP usually does not include matters just as much. Workers' compensation, commercial auto, and professional liability are typically separate policies. Knowing those gaps is where you add real value, and where one account can grow into three or four policies.
Who makes a good first BOP client?
Keep your first one simple. Good candidates are small, low-hazard businesses, such as an office-based consultant, a small retail shop, a salon, or a bookkeeper. Many agents start with business owners who are already personal lines clients.
What should I ask before quoting a BOP?
Commercial quoting goes wrong when agents skip discovery. Before opening a rater, find out:
- What the business does, in detail, and how revenue splits across activities.
- Annual revenue and payroll.
- Number of employees.
- Whether they own or lease, and what their lease requires them to carry.
- The value of equipment, inventory, and improvements.
- Prior claims and current coverage.
The first question matters most. Carriers classify businesses very specifically, and the right classification drives both eligibility and price.
How do I choose the right carrier for a BOP?
Every carrier has an appetite, meaning the kinds of businesses it wants to write and the ones it avoids. A carrier that loves small offices may decline a restaurant. Independent agents can shop the risk to the carriers that actually want it instead of forcing it into one company's box. That is one of the biggest advantages of carrier access.
How do I complete and present the application?
Most commercial carriers work from ACORD forms, the industry-standard applications, and some let you quote directly in their portals. Either way, accuracy matters. A misclassified business or an understated revenue figure can create serious problems at claim time.
When you present the quote, explain what is covered, what is not, and what else the owner should consider. That conversation about workers' comp, commercial auto, or cyber liability is not an upsell. It is advice, and it is what business owners remember when they refer you.
Where can new agents learn commercial insurance?
Commercial is where new agents most often feel stuck, which is why Secure American built dedicated commercial insurance training. Our agents learn general liability, commercial property, workers' comp, BOPs, and cyber. They also learn to spot coverage gaps, read carrier appetite, quote in commercial systems, complete ACORDs, and work with their assigned commercial underwriters. After training, they can have commercial quotes reviewed before presenting them, and our commercial carriers host webinars specifically for the Secure American team.
If you want to build a book that includes commercial from day one, visit our Get Started page.
FAQ
Do I need a special license to write commercial insurance?
No. A property and casualty license allows you to write commercial insurance.
What coverages are usually not included in a BOP?
Workers' compensation, commercial auto, and professional liability are typically written as separate policies.
Can someone review my first commercial quotes?
At Secure American, yes. Agents new to commercial can have their quotes reviewed before presenting them to a client, and many do until they feel confident.