Renaissance review for insurance agencies: fees, carrier access and book ownership
Renaissance is an agency network in 23 states with a strong commercial lines focus. Members keep their own carrier appointments, and its Placement Team can bind some risks on the network's code.
There is no entry fee, and Renaissance says there is no exit fee. You pay a monthly membership fee, and Renaissance promises that your first-year overrides (extra commission carriers pay on volume) and profit sharing will beat going alone or it pays the gap.
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
- Commercial-minded agencies and experienced producers starting out who want placement help
- Entry fee
- $0
- Carrier access
- Your own appointments plus its master code for some risks
- Startups
- Yes, with P&C experience
- States
- 23
Our take
Renaissance fits an agency that wants more commercial markets and a placement team without giving up its own appointments. Renaissance promises that in year one its overrides and profit sharing will beat going alone, or it pays the gap. Ask for that promise in writing, along with the monthly fee.
The limit that matters most is the 180-day notice to leave, which is long next to most networks. The monthly fee amount also isn't on its site.
Pros
- No entry fee, and it says no exit fee
- Promises a first-year guarantee against the monthly fee
- Placement Team that can bind on its master code
- Takes experienced producers starting an agency
- Billing and commission reconciliation you can hand off
Cons
- Monthly fee amount is not posted
- 180 days of notice to leave
- Private equity owned
- Only 23 states
Who they take
- Startups
- Yes, through Renaissance Launch
- Requirements
- A license and earlier P&C experience
- Production minimums
- Renaissance says membership removes the premium minimums carriers often set. Carrier underwriting rules still apply
- States
- 23, across the Northeast, Southeast, Mid-Atlantic and West
- Lines
- Personal, commercial and specialty, with a commercial focus
What it costs
Renaissance charges a monthly membership fee but doesn't post the amount. It backs the fee with a first-year promise: if your overrides and profit sharing, net of the fee, don't beat what you would have earned alone, it pays you the difference.
| Fee | Amount | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | $0 | Not charged |
| Monthly membership fee | Quoted to you | Monthly |
| Exit fee | $0, it says | When you leave |
As of October 2026, from renaissanceins.com.
How you get carrier access
Renaissance lists more than 100 carrier and broker relationships.
Your own appointments
You keep every appointment you already have, and network appointments are added on top.
The network's code
Its Placement Team can bind some risks on Renaissance's master code when you have no appointment.
- Who holds the appointment
- You, on your own appointments. Renaissance, on master code business
- Carriers
- Progressive, Travelers, The Hartford, Chubb, CNA, Nationwide, Safeco, Markel and others
How you get paid
- Commission schedule
- Fixed overrides from carriers that pay them, plus growth bonuses
- Profit sharing
- Most members qualify with every standard carrier. Renaissance says members average 2.5 times the profit sharing they would get alone
- Who gets overrides
- Renaissance passes the overrides and bonuses to you
Your book and leaving
Renaissance says members keep complete ownership of both their agency and their book, and the owner decides on any sale.
- Who owns the expirations
- You, according to Renaissance
- Carrier code after you leave
- Your own appointments stay yours
- Selling your agency
- Your decision
- Liens and transfer fees
- Renaissance says there is no exit fee or penalty
Term and exit
- How to leave
- Written notice, for any reason
- Notice
- 180 days
- Exit fee
- $0, it says
Technology, E&O and support
Technology
- Discounts on agency management licenses, which it says save up to 60%
- Comparative rater and dashboards
- Portico placement workflow and Maestro email marketing
E&O
Vendor discounts on agency E&O.
Help you get
- Placement Team with commercial, personal and workers comp specialists
- Billing and commission reconciliation service
- Websites, branding and social coaching
- Onboarding, training and a help desk
Who owns the network
- Owner
- Long Arc Capital, a private equity firm, has held a majority stake since 2018
- Buys member agencies
- No. It buys other agency networks
Renaissance alternatives
- SIAAHelps you win direct appointments through a regional Master Agency
- Smart ChoiceNo monthly feeNo entry or monthly fee, keeps 30% until a set commission level, then nothing
- IronpeakNo duesNo entry fee or dues, profit sharing from $100,000 in premium
- FirstChoice$500 a month, per PIA associationsFlat monthly fee, your own appointments and, it says, no noncompete
- FireflyNo monthly duesWrites on Firefly's code and keeps 10%. Moving its carrier business costs 30% of a year's commission
See every option in insurance agency clusters and networks.
Frequently asked questions
How much does Renaissance cost?
No entry fee, and it says no exit fee. The monthly membership fee is quoted to you, and the first-year guarantee covers the gap if you would have earned more alone.
Do I own my book with Renaissance?
Renaissance says yes, and that members keep complete ownership of their agency and book.
Does Renaissance take startup agencies?
Yes, through Renaissance Launch, if you are licensed and have P&C experience.
How do I leave Renaissance?
Give 180 days' written notice for any reason. Renaissance says there is no exit fee.
How we researched this review. We based this review on the terms and product pages published by Renaissance, 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 Renaissance quit selling or a contract term that reads different now, let us know and send the link to the page where Renaissance has it. Somebody here pulls up that page and checks it before we change anything on ours.