As an independent agency owner, you may be planning to sell your agency someday. However far in the future, that day may be, you should start planning your strategy now. According to the Exit Planning Institute, as little as 50% of small business owners in the US have an exit plan in place, and most of those have not even documented their plan.
Whether you plan to leave your business to someone, sell it, or merge into a larger company, you need to start taking stock and making plans at least 2-3 years ahead.
Many business owners overestimate what potential buyers are willing to pay for their agency. The insurance industry usually considers several factors to determine the value of an agency: earnings (current and through time), a risk to future earnings, and market conditions.
A good book of business is not enough to get a good valuation if your finances are not organized or your staff is too reliant on you.
Get a good CPA to help you calculate your agency’s EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization) if you don’t know it already. It is a great indicator of the state of your business and will help you set a realistic value for your agency.
In the past, decisions to sell or buy agencies were based on the commissions that the agency brought in. However, the current valuation method is much more accurate, since it also takes into account expenses by focusing on actual profits instead of just income.
Setting a realistic price will make your sales efforts more effective and help you complete your sale faster. Don’t cling to fantastic notions of the value of your company, and stick to the numbers.
With a good CPA and tax expert, and a solid plan, you can enjoy tax benefits when selling your insurance agency. In order to make the most of them, you need to start planning and laying the groundwork a few years before the sale actually takes place, so start now.
We believe that the way in which you built your business will attract a specific type of buyer. Learn more about our philosophy and how you can leverage it to increase your chances of selling for a good price.
It took a lot of blood, sweat, and tears to found and grow your agency. Make sure it survives and thrives without you by making sure processes and finances are in order, your staff is well trained and empowered, and the next generation of managers will make the right decisions.
Deciding to sell your insurance agency is a big step. What would you like to learn more about?
Regardless of who you sell to, consider getting professional assistance to help you value the agency. You’re a professional agent, not a professional mergers and acquisitions person. This is likely your biggest asset and you’ll probably only do this once.
The logistics of who will take over your agency can be built in to your exit strategy. For example:
Potential Additional consideration can be given to an interested party who is prepared and ready to buy.
Employees who are on board with the vision you’ve articulated should have a clear understanding of what’s at stake for everyone, including themselves. While it's important to make this vision clear from the start, we can also help with transition logistics when the time to sell arrives.
EBITDA is an acronym. It stands for earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization, and it can give the truest picture of any business's profitability.
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