The Missing Ingredient in Local Agency Acquisition Offers – Equity
The greatest competitive advantage for local, privately held retail agencies (local agencies) is becoming their greatest competitive disadvantage in the rapid consolidating IA system. As we have discussed in previous articles, mergers and acquisitions (M&A) are at record levels without any sign of significantly slowing (average of 551 M&A transactions annually in the past 10 […]
What Are Best Practice Agencies Doing to Differentiate Themselves from the Rest of the Field?
One thing that has remained true through the test of time… we all want to be the best. Whether that be in insurance, sports, law, or even in daily life, it is in our human nature to strive to be the best. Well, in order to be the best, you need to discover what the […]
Is it Time for Your Annual Agency Tax Check Up?
As we near the dreaded Tax Day, we urge all independent agency owners to take some time to review your corporate structure with your tax expert. A review will determine if you are best positioned to reduce your yearly tax burden, and to better understand the tax liability you will face when you eventually sell […]
Three Vital Agency Factors to Integrate Today!
Over the course of the last five years, the team at IA Valuations has performed over 200 valuations for independent agencies. We have analyzed a wide variety of agencies, ranging from small agencies in rural areas to larger, more sophisticated agencies in major metropolitan areas. One thing that remains true from our experiences is that […]
How Local Agents Can Compete with Private Equity for Acquisition Opportunities
Almost every M&A article on the IA system written in the past 10 years typically focuses on the increasing number of transactions Private Equity (PE) is responsible for. It is undeniable that PE transactions are increasing. The latest studies estimate that PE accounted for 77% of the M&A transactions in 2022.
However, what every M&A article on the IA system fails to capture and discuss is the amount of local, privately held retail agency to retail agency transactions happen every year.
What Impact Does Agency Ownership Age Have on Agency Performance and Valuation?
If age is just a number, then why does that number appear to have such a significant impact on agency performance and valuation. At IA Valuations, we study aggregate data on hundreds of agencies and we have found that the ownerships age has a direct correlation on growth and overall valuation.
The Misperception About Agency Values and Private Equity Buyers
The Private Equity (PE) infusion into the IA system is a fairly recent phenomenon that has created a fundamental realignment of the IA business model. It has also created an unprecedented amount of myths and misperceptions about agency values and selling options.
Five Things to Consider When Selling Your Agency
The process of selling your agency can be a long and winding road. As an agency owner, your agency has become a major part of your identity and is synonymous with your name in your community (often times the agency is the owner’s name). You have spent countless hours and energy building your business, serving your clients and engaging with your company […]
Using an Agency Valuation as a Roadmap for Growth
Why Agency Owners should Utilize an Agency Valuation as a Business Planning Tool In today’s business climate, agency owners can no longer afford to use revenue multiples to understand agency value. The exact calculation of agency value requires a much deeper dive into the numbers, employees, and operation to get an accurate assessment of an […]
The Gap Between High and Low Performing Independent Insurance Agencies is Wide and the Effects are Severe on Agency Valuations
Based on recent studies published on the health of the independent agency system, the gap between high and low-performing insurance agencies is significant. According to the 2022 Big I-Reagan Best Practices Study, the top quartile of Best Practices agencies grew by over 22% and the average best practices agencies grew well over 8%. As the […]