Insurance Pro Agencies review for insurance agencies: fees, carrier access and book ownership
Insurance Pro Agencies, or IPA, is a family-run network in Chicago that gets experienced P&C producers onto carriers through its master contracts. Most agents start under IPA's master code and move to a subcode as carriers approve them.
IPA keeps 20% of commission, with a $495 monthly minimum after 90 days. A review copy of its 2026 agreement is public, which few networks offer.
An appointment is what lets an agency sell for a carrier. If the network holds that contract, it is called a master code, and members are listed under it on subcodes.
A commission split is the share of every commission the network keeps before paying you. Profit sharing, or contingency pay, is a yearly carrier bonus tied to low losses and growth. Owning the book means the clients and expirations, the renewal records, belong to you.
- Best for
- Experienced P&C producers, including captive agents, who want a published contract and a cap on the split
- Entry fee
- $0
- Monthly fee
- $169 for required EZLynx software
- Commission share
- IPA keeps 20%, at least $495 a month after 90 days
- Carrier access
- A subcode with each carrier, or a listing under IPA's master code
- Startups
- With three years of P&C experience
Our take
IPA suits an experienced producer or captive agent who wants to read every term before signing. The Cap is useful as you grow, since IPA's share stops rising once you pass it.
Leaving is costly. You have to move clients off IPA carriers and IPA stops paying you on policies that stay. If you sell, IPA can buy first at the outside offer plus 10%.
Pros
- Review copy of the 2026 agreement published
- No joining fee
- Cap fixes IPA's share as you grow
- Profit sharing from $100,000 in premium on a subcode
- Commercial in every state but Florida
Cons
- $495 monthly minimum after 90 days
- Required EZLynx at $169 a month
- Clients must move off IPA carriers when you leave
- IPA gets first right to buy your agency at the outside offer plus 10%
- Requires three years of P&C experience
Who they take
- Startups
- Only with experience. Three years of P&C work is required, and IPA's homepage says under two years is not a fit
- Requirements
- Personal lines: $1 million or more in written premium, three years of P&C work, active licenses and E&O of $1,000,000 with IPA added as insured. Commercial: three years in standard commercial
- Office
- IPA does not require one. Some carriers do
- States
- Personal lines in AZ, CT, GA, IA, ID, IL, IN, MO, OH, PA, TN, UT, VA, WI and WY. Commercial everywhere except Florida
- Lines
- Personal and standard commercial P&C. No hard-to-place or specialty risks
What it costs
IPA charges no joining fee. It keeps 20% of the commission on its carriers, and after your first 90 days it keeps at least $495 a month even if 20% would be less.
Once your commissions average $14,975 a month over 12 months, you can elect the Cap. IPA's share then stays fixed at 20% of that amount and you keep everything above it. You also pay for EZLynx, the agency software IPA requires.
| Fee | Amount | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Joining fee | $0 | Not charged |
| Commission kept | 20% | Every commission payment |
| Minimum commission kept | $495 a month | Monthly, after 90 days |
| Commission kept after the Cap | 20% of $14,975 a month | Monthly |
| EZLynx setup | $799 | Once, includes the first month's $169 |
| EZLynx, first user | $169 | Monthly |
| EZLynx, each added user | $89 | Monthly |
From the Independent Insurance Agency Agreement v.2026 published on insuranceproagencies.com, checked October 2026. EZLynx charges come out of your commissions.
How you get carrier access
IPA says it works with more than 50 carriers.
Your own appointments
Until you elect the Cap you cannot take outside P&C appointments without IPA's written consent. After the Cap you can get your own, and IPA takes no share of them.
The network's code
Most agents start listed as a producer under IPA's master code and then move to a subcode once each carrier approves them.
- Who holds the appointment
- IPA holds the master contracts. You hold a subcode or a producer listing
- Carriers
- Personal lines include Progressive, Safeco, Nationwide, GEICO, Branch and Openly. Commercial includes The Hartford, Travelers, Liberty Mutual and CNA
How you get paid
- Who the carrier pays
- IPA, which pays you within about 30 days, around the 28th of the month
- Commission schedule
- 80% to you, 20% to IPA
- Profit sharing
- On a subcode, 50% of your share from $100,000 in written premium and 80% from $250,000, if you meet loss, growth and retention targets
- Statements
- By policy, client and carrier
Your book and leaving
The agreement gives you ownership of your accounts and control of the expirations while you are a member. Leaving is where the conditions apply.
- Who owns the expirations
- You, during the agreement
- Carrier code after you leave
- If you leave, you move clients to carriers outside IPA. For one year you cannot get your own code with an IPA carrier
- Renewals after you leave
- If you leave, IPA stops paying you on policies that stay with its carriers. If IPA ends the agreement, you get 12 months of commission while you rewrite
- Selling your agency
- Family or employees of one year or more can take over if they sign with IPA. Any other buyer's offer goes to IPA first
- Restrictions
- If you get an outside offer for your agency, IPA can buy it first at that price plus 10%. This runs during the agreement and for six months after, and you cannot recruit other IPA agents for 12 months
What you give up on exit Policies on IPA carriers have to be rewritten with other carriers, and IPA stops paying you on any that stay. IPA can also hold your final commission until you hand over client files.
Term and exit
- Agreement term
- No fixed term
- Your notice
- 30 days in writing
- If IPA ends it without cause
- 180 days' written notice and a letter releasing you to seek your own appointments with IPA carriers
Technology, E&O and support
Technology
- EZLynx agency software and rater, required
E&O
You must carry E&O of $1,000,000 per claim and in total, with IPA added as an insured.
Help you get
- A carrier wishlist call and appointment help
- A brokerage partner for other markets
- A 16-module training course before launch
- Monthly commission statements
Who owns the network
- Owner
- The O'Reilly family
- Buys member agencies
- Only through its first right to buy, at an outside offer plus 10%
Insurance Pro Agencies alternatives
- Smart ChoiceNo monthly feeNo entry or monthly fee, keeps 30% until a set commission level, then nothing
- FireflyNo monthly duesWrites on Firefly's code and keeps 10%. Moving its carrier business costs 30% of a year's commission
- SIAAHelps you win direct appointments through a regional Master Agency
- Agents Alliance ServicesNo membership feeNo membership fee, AMS360 setup and full commission accounting
- ISG UnitedFrom $299 a monthFlat monthly tiers, no commission split and, it says, no noncompete
See every option in insurance agency clusters and networks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Insurance Pro Agencies cost?
No joining fee. IPA keeps 20% of commission, at least $495 a month after 90 days, and you pay $169 a month for EZLynx.
What is the IPA Cap?
After your commissions average $14,975 a month for 12 months, you can elect the Cap. IPA then keeps a fixed 20% of that amount and you keep the rest.
Do I own my book with IPA?
You own your accounts during the agreement. When you leave, those on IPA carriers must move to other carriers.
How do I leave Insurance Pro Agencies?
Give 30 days' written notice. For a year after, you cannot get your own code with an IPA carrier.
How we researched this review. We based this review on the terms and product pages published by Insurance Pro Agencies, reviewed in October 2026, together with our team's experience working with insurance agents and agency owners since 2008.
Corrections
Vendors change their pricing all the time and they don't email us when they do. So if you see a price on here that's gone up, a plan Insurance Pro Agencies quit selling or a contract term that reads different now, let us know and send the link to the page where Insurance Pro Agencies has it. Somebody here pulls up that page and checks it before we change anything on ours.