I have two friends which own a couple of agencies for a major firm in major cities in Texas. They're buying their 30 year old agents $70k cars as incentives, etc., so they're successful. I started going down that road, but I soon realized the dark underbelly of insurance (at least for captive brokers.)

You're not being recruited as an agent to take over (or start) a territory to be successful. You're there so that when your business fails, one of the senior agents gets to take over your book of business. Look at all the tiny strip mall agency offices you see.

If you can't hire properly, you won't be successful. And coming from your industry, you have to dumb down your expectations. Does someone cancel their policy because their birthday card showed up two days late? It happens. Does it make sense, no.

You can't start an insurance agency with you and an admin; big company with a red logo won't let you. You'll likely get a great, inspiring spiel from the regional director, and then during your initial interview with the intake, you'll get quizzed on what your agendas will be for your weekly office meetings (not kidding.)

If you haven't worked in retail insurance, it's going to be rough. Based on what I've seen, as easy as it seems, don't do business with neighbors or anyone that knows where you live.

I hate to break it to you, but the vast majority of the home/auto market doesn't give two shites about your credibility. They're going for price, which is why some agencies engage in the inane process of calling people on their birthdays, etc. Every agency in the Houston area, at least, AllState, State Farm, Progressive, etc., have bitching points, which as an agent, you can't control. Agents are not claims departments. The agent is sort of powerless in a claim (or so it appears,) but customers remember your face and name. Upside? Not great. Downside? Huge, for things outside of your control.

I would advise registering with a business sales site, so you can get sent listings of carwashes, rural internet providers, etc., will get listed. You'll get an idea of the EBITDA, sometimes before you get sent an NDA.