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Knowing when and if to sell your agency is a difficult decision. For many agency owners, their agency is more than a business, it's a big part of their identity. Most owners are extremely passionate about their work and serving their clients. The dedication they have for their clients can make the decision to sell very challenging. Below are a few indicators that it might be time to sell.
Lack of Passion
Has it become no fun? Are you wishing you could work less and enjoy life more? Are you starting to envision a different life?
For many agency owners, a lack of passion that they once had for the work can be a sign that it may be time to move into the next phase of their life. A lack of passion can make work feel like work. The industry is moving fast and the rate of change can be overwhelming.
Some agents grow tired of the fast pace and lose the sense of passion when it comes to working with their clients. They may start communicating with clients only when they need something. A lack of interest in keeping up with important technology changes can also signal that it’s time to move on.
Declining Book of Business
A lack of passion and energy will very likely result in a declining book of business. Despite the fact that the independent insurance industry averages a 90% retention rate, many agencies have books of business that are flat or declining. If you are losing more than you are gaining, it may be time to consider selling your business.
As insurance agents, your client list incurs natural losses due to death and life changes, both expected and unexpected, every year. Ideally, your client list should grow annually despite these losses. Your declining book will not only affect your agency valuation but will also directly affect your income. Declining annual revenue is an indication that it may be time to sell. However, a declining book needs immediate attention. Develop a plan to reverse the decline or sell your business quickly to sell at the best agency valuation possible.
Serious Offers Coming In
Are you being approached with offers to purchase your agency? Even if you hadn’t previously contemplated selling, a serious offer is worth examining. The Merger & Acquisition space is more active than it has ever been due to the low interest rates, the continued presence of private equity driving multiples to the highest levels that we have seen, and the number of agencies that are looking to grow by acquisition. A proper agency valuation is necessary to know if the offers you are receiving are worthwhile to consider. Knowing your agency’s valuation is essential to the health of your agency if you decide to keep or sell your business. However, receiving solid offers from motivated buyers is a sign that it may be time to sell.
Talented Staff
Do you have a person or several people on your staff who are interested in becoming an agency owner? Creating a pathway to ownership for your talented staff will strengthen your agency, relieve some of the pressure that you are under, and may help you create the legacy that you envisioned. Starting an internal transition with the right information, time and expectations is critical to the success of the transition. It is never too early to start this process. In fact, waiting too long can result in losing talent or making this type of transition unattainable from a financial standpoint.
Selling any portion of your insurance agency is a significant decision and one you shouldn’t face alone. It takes time, planning, preparation and thoughtful execution for a sale or any transition of ownership to go well. Taking the time to know all of your options is incredibly important. Finding someone to help you with your agency valuation is a crucial step in planning for any agency ownership transition.
AgencyFocus, LLC is here to help you with your insurance agency valuation, planning, preparation, transition planning, or crafting a plan for business growth for you or the future owner of the agency.
Visit www.agency-focus.com for more information.
Find out the value of your agency as a multiple of EBITDA (Earnings Before Interest Taxes Depreciation and Amortization), not a multiple of revenue. You'll see why this wholistic approach is important and how you can leverage this knowledge to plan for your agency, grow and compete in the changing insurance marketplace.
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