New agent DBA vs agency LLC questions

[jaguars25]

I just got my producer life/health licenses a month or two ago. I registered a good domain that I want to market under. I called my insurance commission to inquire about using a DBA as an agent for marketing versus getting an LLC and going the agency route. I was told that only agencies can use business names and I can use an alias as an agent but it has to be the name of a person. (I'm not sure this is true, but this is what she told me)...

That being said, I have an existing single-member LLC that I use for another business. Would it be better to use my existing LLC and maybe use another business name under that LLC, or should I just start with a fresh LLC and get a new EIN, etc and just register as an agency so I can be known as "Name Branded Insurance Group, LLC" or whatever?

Also, my bigger question is if I register as an agency, am I required to register as an agency in non-resident states that I want to to business in, or would I be able to just register as a non-resident producer in those states (and only be registered as an agency in my resident state)?

Thanks in advance...

 

[Tahoe Ray]

Also, my bigger question is if I register as an agency, am I required to register as an agency in non-resident states that I want to to business in, or would I be able to just register as a non-resident producer in those states (and only be registered as an agency in my resident state)?

You have to register yourself and your agency in every state. You also have to register with the secretary of state in some states.

No too hard, but lots of $$$

 

[jaguars25]

You have to register yourself and your agency in every state. You also have to register with the secretary of state in some states.

No too hard, but lots of $$$

thanks for the feedback Tahoe Ray. What would happen if I just register my agency in my home state and registered as a non-resident agent (no agency) in other states? Is that possible?

Or would it be better if I didn’t do an agency in my home state and just registered as an agent/producer in non-resident states and marketed under my website to get started?

And once I have some results I can look at doing the agency license in all non-resident states that I choose?

 

[Tahoe Ray]

And once I have some results I can look at doing the agency license in all non-resident states that I choose?

So I think that's what most people do.

It's what I did at least. Over the years, I just started patching everything together.

At first I was individual in most states. Then agency in home state. Then agency in other states as I picked up business.

I'd try to get carrier/imo to pay the agency. Sometimes that worked, sometimes I had to get the license.

It doesn't matter now but if I had to do it again (and was paying attention to my P&L), I'd probably do it the same way, knowing there is some ramp up time and licensing is pretty fast (but gets expensive) in most states.