5 Reasons Your Business Needs an Independent Insurance Agent

So, you’ve decided to get your business insured. Not knowing where to start, you do a quick internet search for “business insurance”. Millions of results pop up, and you’re visually drawn to the bright colored, large font ads beckoning you to click for a “QUICK QUOTE TODAY”. You’ve taken a while to decide to shop for insurance and, now that your decision has been made, the idea of a quick quote from whomever can get it to you the fastest is somehow appealing to you.

We get it. Time is money and you don’t always have the time to devote to determine who you want to spend your money with. Still, it could only benefit you to take a bit of time determining the most sufficient provider, with the most appropriate coverage.

Spoiler Alert: Roundtable Insurance isn’t a just a “quick quote” service provider. While we can get you a quote, quickly and easily, we have the resources to make sure you have a plethora of options to choose from. You’ll know exactly what you’re getting and who is selling it to you.

When we started this agency (5 years ago this month!), we spent a lot of time thinking about how we could bring value to the small business community where we lived and worked.

Our Principal Agent spent nearly a decade working as a captive insurance agent by the time Roundtable Insurance came into fruition. Captive agents work with one insurance company and only sell that company’s products. This doesn’t always provide flexibility when serving a portfolio of clients of varied industries, with diverse business needs. When serving his own business customers, he was adamant about addressing the lack of product options available, as wells as the inability to tailor coverage to a business’ needs.

For this reason, we are an independent agency with the ability to work directly with insurance companies of varying appetites and specialties. We can serve any business customer that comes to The Roundtable and, as we often relay to those seated with us, while you may be the expert on your business, you’re probably not an expert on insurance. Instead of going it alone, your best option is to get the assistance of an experienced, professional, independent commercial insurance agent.

Here’s 5 (very good) reasons why:

1. Choice. Independent agents are not tied to one insurance company. They can offer you products from a wide array of carriers, beyond what their insurance company has to offer. They’ll shop your policy around to get multiple options, which may offer different levels of coverage and costs, and you’ll get to choose which fits best for you. Additionally, because of their carrier access, they can be a one-stop shop for all the types of coverage your business requires.
2. Advocate. Independent means your agent works for you- not the insurance company. Their responsibility is to you, so they’ll work with your best intentions in mind. If there is an issue or discrepancy between you and the insurance company (think claims or billing), they can advocate on your behalf to resolve it amicably.
3. Knowledge. Professional insurance agents are licensed to sell the products they offer. This licensing requires them to become educated, and maintain updated knowledge, on the type of insurance they offer. They are then able to explain, what can sometimes be very complex insurance policies, to you in a way that’s easy to understand. You don’t need to learn it all yourself.
4. Consultant. A good agent will serve as a consultant for you when making decisions for your business. They should understand your company and industry so they can, in turn, give you direction on any risks you may face. Unlike working directly with an insurance company, an independent agent won’t simply “take your order” for the coverage you want. An independent agent will understand all aspects of your business and tailor their advice to what best fits your situation and needs.
5. Time Savings. Could you spend time studying all there is to know about business insurance, reach out to several different insurance companies to obtain quotes on the coverage you think you need, and then advocate for your own best interest in the event of a claim or other issue with your insurance carrier? Perhaps. But do you have the time? Just getting multiple quotes alone requires a dedication of time that most business leaders just don’t have.

We urge you to take the time to consider your options for a full-service, tailored experience in obtaining coverage. By reading this blog, you did just that. Now that you’re equipped with this information, just as you’d contact an accountant for questions about your business taxes, or an attorney regarding your contracts, feel free to reach out to us to let a professional, independent insurance agent address your specific business insurance needs. These five benefits, alone, will make it worthwhile!