Smart Choice review for insurance agencies: fees, carrier access and book ownership
Smart Choice is an agency network with more than 120 carriers in 48 states. New and growing agencies get carrier access through codes issued under Smart Choice's own carrier contracts.
It charges no entry or monthly fee. Instead it keeps 30% of the commission on the carriers it gets you until your agency reaches its Leadership Level, a commission volume Smart Choice doesn't publish, and then you keep all of it. On Smart Start placements the share stays at 30%.
To sell a carrier's policies an agency needs an appointment, a contract with that carrier. Networks often hold the appointment as a master code and list each member under it on a subcode.
The commission split is how each commission is divided between you and the network. Carriers also pay profit sharing, a yearly bonus for profitable business. Book ownership is about who keeps the clients and the expirations, their renewal records, if you leave.
- Best for
- Startups and captive agents going independent who want carrier access with no upfront cost
- Entry fee
- $0
- Monthly fee
- $0
- Commission share
- Smart Choice keeps 30% until you reach Leadership Level, then nothing. Smart Start stays at 30%
- Carrier access
- Under Smart Choice's carrier codes
- Startups
- Yes
- States
- 48
Our take
Smart Choice is a good first stop for a startup or a captive agent going independent who can't pay a big upfront fee. You get many carriers on day one, and appointments you already hold are left alone.
The 30% share is high for an established agency, so it suits agencies early in their growth. On the way out, the limit is a two-year ban on the carriers Smart Choice got you, so your clients would have to move to other carriers.
Pros
- No entry or monthly fee, and it says no exit fee
- Takes startups and captive agents going independent
- More than 120 carriers in 48 states
- Keeps nothing from your own appointments
- Group E&O and free continuing education
- Pays commissions twice a month
Cons
- Keeps 30% of commission until Leadership Level, and always on Smart Start
- You write on subcodes under Smart Choice contracts
- Two-year limit on its carriers after you leave
- The Leadership Level dollar amount is not on its site
- It also buys agencies and runs its own retail offices
Who they take
- Startups
- Yes, including new agencies and captive agents going independent
- Requirements
- No published checklist. Smart Choice says its volume expectations are small
- Production minimums
- No monthly commission minimum. Carriers still set their own expectations
- States
- 48
- Lines
- Personal and commercial P&C, specialty lines, life, long-term care, disability and annuities
What it costs
Smart Choice charges nothing to join or to stay and earns its money from a share of the commission on business you write with carriers it gets you.
On the Agents Program that share drops to zero once your commissions reach Leadership Level. On Smart Start placements it stays at 30%.
| Fee | Amount | How often |
|---|---|---|
| Entry fee | $0 | Not charged |
| Monthly fee | $0 | Not charged |
| Commission kept, Agents Program | 30% until Leadership Level, then 0% | Every commission payment |
| Commission kept, Smart Start | 30% | Every commission payment |
| Commission kept, Express Markets | 0% | Not charged |
| Exit fee | $0, it says | When you leave |
Fees as of October 2026, from smartchoiceagents.com. Smart Choice does not list the dollar level where Leadership Level starts. Appointments you held before joining are not split.
How you get carrier access
Smart Choice has three ways in. The Agents Program gives you a code under its carrier contracts and Smart Start places business for you when you have no appointment yet. Express Markets covers specialty lines.
Your own appointments
You keep the appointments you had before joining, and Smart Choice takes nothing from them. The contract is not exclusive, so you can add more of your own.
The network's code
Agents Program business is written on a subcode, a code issued to you under Smart Choice's master contract with the carrier. The carrier reviews and approves each subcode.
- Who holds the appointment
- Smart Choice holds the master code. You hold a subcode under it
- Path to a direct appointment
- Keep or add your own appointments outside the program. No set path from a subcode to your own code
- Carriers
- More than 120, including GEICO. Life through Crump, Rohrer & Associates, Back Nine, Kansas City Life and Lincoln Financial
How you get paid
- Who the carrier pays
- Smart Choice on Agents Program business, then you on the 15th and 30th. Express Markets carriers pay you directly
- Commission schedule
- 70% to you until Leadership Level, then 100%. Smart Start pays 70%
- Profit sharing
- Smart Choice says it shares carrier bonuses and contingency pay with members
- Statements
- Carrier statements in the Smart Choice portal
Your book and leaving
Smart Choice says your clients and book are fully yours and it takes no stake in your agency. The catch on leaving is a two-year limit on the carriers it got you.
- Who owns the expirations
- You, including renewals and policies in force, according to Smart Choice
- Carrier code after you leave
- Your subcodes end. For two years you cannot sell the carriers Smart Choice got you
- Your clients after you leave
- You can move them to other carriers
- Selling your agency
- You can sell or pass the agency on
- Liens and transfer fees
- Smart Choice says there is no exit fee
- Restrictions
- No exclusivity while a member. A two-year ban after you leave on the carriers Smart Choice secured for you
What you give up on exit For two years after you leave you cannot represent the carriers Smart Choice appointed you with. Your clients can stay with you, but those policies have to move to other carriers.
Term and exit
- Agreement term
- One year, not exclusive
- Renewal
- Renews each year
- Exit fee
- $0, it says
Technology, E&O and support
Technology
- No agency management system required
- Group pricing on EZLynx and QQCatalyst
- Free website templates
E&O
A group program through CalSurance with installment payments up to 10 months, or a Hiscox policy.
Help you get
- Smart Start underwriters and risk specialists
- Territory managers and state directors
- Unlimited continuing education through CE Authority
- Help valuing or selling your agency
- Agency loans through Live Oak Bank
Who owns the network
- Owner
- Privately held
- Buys member agencies
- Yes, through a separate acquisition program. It bought 36 agencies in 2025
- Runs its own retail agency
- Yes, Smart Choice Retail runs the agencies it buys
Smart Choice alternatives
- SIAAHelps you win direct appointments through a regional Master Agency
- IronpeakNo duesNo entry fee or dues, profit sharing from $100,000 in premium
- RenaissanceMonthly fee with a first-year earnings guarantee, 23 states
- 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 Smart Choice cost?
There is no entry or monthly fee. Smart Choice keeps 30% of commission on the carriers it gets you until you reach Leadership Level, then you keep 100%. Smart Start placements stay at 30%.
Do I own my book with Smart Choice?
Smart Choice says the book is fully yours, but for two years after you leave you cannot sell the carriers it secured for you.
Does Smart Choice take startup agencies?
Yes. It takes new agencies, captive agents going independent and experienced agents.
Do I get my own carrier appointments?
Agents Program business runs on subcodes under Smart Choice. Appointments you already have stay yours and are not split.
How long is the Smart Choice agreement?
One year, and it renews each year. Smart Choice says there is no exit fee.
How we researched this review. We based this review on the terms and product pages published by Smart Choice, 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 Smart Choice quit selling or a contract term that reads different now, let us know and send the link to the page where Smart Choice has it. Somebody here pulls up that page and checks it before we change anything on ours.