Going independent is one of the biggest decisions an insurance professional can make. But not all independent agencies, networks, and aggregators are built the same. Two opportunities can look nearly identical on a recruiting page and be completely different once you read the contract.
The good news is that a handful of direct questions will reveal almost everything you need to know. Before you sign with anyone, including us, ask these.
Who owns the book of business?
This is the question that matters most, and it is the one most often glossed over. If you leave, do your clients go with you, or do they stay behind? Some agreements grant ownership in name but include non-solicitation clauses that make it meaningless in practice. Ask for the answer in writing, and read the exit provisions before you read anything else.
What is the commission split, and does it change?
Ask about the split on new business and on renewals, because they are not always the same. Ask whether the split changes as you grow, whether commissions are capped, and whether any portion is held back. A generous headline number can hide a very different reality on renewals, which is where long-term wealth actually comes from. Our agents keep 80 percent on both new and renewal business.
Are there quotas or production requirements?
Quotas change how you sell. When you are required to hit a number, the pressure eventually shows up in client conversations. Ask whether there are minimum production requirements, what happens if you miss them, and whether carrier access is tied to volume. Then decide whether that structure serves your clients or the agency.
What carriers will I have access to, and when?
Some networks advertise dozens of carriers but require new agents to earn access over months or years. Ask which carriers you can quote on day one. An agent with immediate access to 60 or more markets can compete for nearly any household or small business from the first week.
What is actually included in the fees?
Every agency has costs. The question is whether they are transparent. Ask what the monthly fees cover: agency management system, raters, E&O coverage, tech support, training. Then ask what is not covered. Surprises in this category are common and expensive.
What does training and support look like after the first month?
Almost everyone offers onboarding. Fewer offer real mentorship six months in, when you hit your first complicated commercial account or your first difficult claim. Ask who you call when you are stuck, and how quickly they answer.
The takeaway
An agency that welcomes these questions is an agency you can probably trust. One that dances around them is telling you something too. Do the due diligence now, because the answers will shape the next decade of your career.
If you would like to hear how we answer every one of these, we are happy to walk you through it. Start the conversation at our Get Started page.