Market access is the arrangement that lets a licensed agent with no appointments quote and place business through an appointed agency's carrier contracts. You own the client and the renewal, the appointed agency handles the carrier side, and you are paid a commission split on everything you write. This page explains how it works, what it costs, how it differs from a cluster or an aggregator, and what to check in the contract before you sign.
Carriers grant appointments on production history and premium volume, and they measure loss ratio across the agencies they appoint. A newly licensed agent has no history to show, so almost every direct application is declined — not because of the agent, but because there is nothing to underwrite the agency on. Market access substitutes the appointed agency's track record for the one you do not have yet.
You enter the risk once in the CRM. Personal lines come back as comparative quotes; commercial risks go to a quote desk as a submission with the ACORD applications attached. When your client chooses, the bind request goes to the desk, which finalises the rate with the carrier and issues the policy. The policy documents and the renewal date return to your client record automatically.
Home, auto, condo, renters, dwelling fire and flood on both NFIP and private markets, plus commercial lines — general liability, BOP, commercial auto, commercial property and workers' compensation — across admitted, surplus lines and wholesale markets, with over 50 carriers quotable from one screen. Appointments and appetite vary by state.
The split starts at 65% to the agent and grows to 75% as production builds. There is no signup fee, no monthly production minimum beyond the subscription, and no claim on your book. Commission is paid after the carrier pays, reconciled monthly, and visible policy by policy in your commissions screen.
Clusters and aggregators typically require an entry fee, monthly dues and production commitments, and many keep an ownership interest in the book you build or charge to take it with you when you leave. Market access here is a flat monthly platform fee plus a commission split: no entry fee, no exit fee, no ownership of your clients. That difference compounds every year you write.
$99 a month for a solo agent, $149 for a producer and $199 for an agency — flat for the whole agency, never per user — and the full ARLO CRM is included: clients, policies, renewals, ACORD forms, certificates, proposals, commission tracking and quoting. Write enough bound and confirmed premium in a month and the subscription for that month is credited back.
Four questions, in every market access or cluster agreement: who owns the book, what happens to your renewals if you leave, is there a production minimum, and is there an entry or exit fee. Get the answers in the contract, not in an email.
An arrangement that lets a licensed agent quote and place business through an appointed agency's carrier contracts. The agent owns the client relationship and receives a commission split on every policy placed.
Yes. It is designed for agents with no production history: an active license, an E&O certificate and a W-9 are what is required. No book of business and no entry fee.
The split starts at 65% to the agent and grows to 75% as production builds, as set out in the Market Access Producer agreement.
Yes. Policies are placed under existing appointments, but the clients, renewals and book are yours, with no exit fee and no claim if you leave.
Clusters and aggregators typically charge an entry fee and monthly dues, set production commitments and often retain an interest in your book. Market access here is a flat monthly fee plus a commission split, with no entry fee, no exit fee and no ownership of your clients.
Licensed in all 50 states, with admitted, surplus lines and wholesale markets. Personal lines include home, auto, condo, renters, dwelling fire and flood; commercial includes GL, BOP, commercial auto, property and workers' compensation. Appointments and appetite vary by state.
$99 a month solo, $149 for a producer, $199 for an agency, flat for the whole agency, with the ARLO CRM included and no signup fee.
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