Thinking About Selling Your Insurance Agency? Here Are 3 Wins You Need to Get Right

Selling your insurance agency is a big deal. It’s not just about cashing out—it’s about protecting what you’ve built and setting yourself up for the future.

But here’s something we see far too often: agency owners going into this process alone.

No advisor. No second opinion. No one in their corner.

If you’ve never sold a business before, you might not even know what kind of help is available. But going it alone can lead to regrets: the wrong partner, the wrong deal terms, or just leaving money on the table.

That’s exactly why we started Legacy Advisors.

We’ve started and sold insurance agencies ourselves—and now we help other insurance agency owners do it with clarity and confidence.

If you’re thinking about selling—or just starting to explore your options—these are the three things to keep in mind:

1. A Buyer Who’s Actually the Right Fit

Plenty of agency owners get a decent financial offer, but still end up regretting the sale. Why? Because they picked a buyer who just didn’t fit.

Maybe the culture didn’t align.

Maybe the transition felt rocky.

Maybe it stopped being fun.

We think you should know exactly what kind of partner you want before you ever accept an offer. That means asking the right questions, watching for red flags, and making sure your values align. If the buyer’s not a good fit for you and your team, the rest doesn’t matter.

2. A Deal Structure That Matches Your Goals

No two insurance agency owners are alike.

Some want to exit completely.

Others want to stay on and grow with a partner.

Some want to take chips off the table but keep building.

That’s why the structure of your deal matters just as much as the price.

We help our clients think through:

• How much should be paid upfront vs. over time? (how to make $ after a sale→)

• Should equity be part of the deal? (more about equity →)

• What happens if the agency keeps growing?

• What role (if any) do you want post-sale?

  
  

The goal is to shape the deal around your life—not the other way around.

3. A Financial Outcome That Reflects What You’ve Built

This is likely your one shot to get paid for everything you’ve poured into your agency over the years. It should feel worth it.

And while multiples get all the attention, what really drives value is margin—how profitable your business is. A high multiple on a low margin might sound good, but it doesn’t always deliver the best result. (Multiples vs. Margins: What really matters→)

We work with owners to make sure the business is in the best shape possible before going to market. If it’s not ready, we’ll say so. No pressure. Just honesty.

Selling your agency shouldn’t feel rushed or unclear.

We believe that unless all three of these boxes are checked—the right buyer, the right structure, and the right value—you shouldn’t move forward. Not yet.

This is your legacy. It’s worth getting right.

Want to talk it through?

If you're thinking about selling, buying, or just testing the waters, we're here to talk. No pressure, no sales pitch—just a real conversation with people who’ve been there.

Let’s connect.

Legacy Advisors is the only M&A advisor dedicated solely to sell-side insurance deals. 

With a team comprised of successful ex-agency owners and experienced private equity investors, Legacy Advisors was founded on the mission of helping agency owners make more confident decisions in their journey to a sale.

Most clients begin with an introductory call to ask general questions, discuss market trends, and learn more about our process. If it makes sense for both parties, we then offer business valuations at no charge.