“What’s the smartest way to scale without giving up the relationships I’ve built or the legacy I’m protecting?”
He’s 35 years old, running a high-performing family-owned insurance agency that his father started in 1983. With $6 million in premium and an estimated $800,000 in revenue, he’s built more than just a book he’s earned the trust of high-net-worth families, real estate developers, and business owners across Southern California. Every year, he grows. On average, 15% year-over-year.
It’s not luck.
It’s grit, referrals, and a deep understanding of his clients’ lives from insuring $10 million hillside homes to structuring workers’ comp packages for contractors and restaurant groups.
And yet, despite his upward trajectory, he’s not rushing to sell.
He’s asking smarter questions:
That’s what led him to explore a strategic partnership not to exit, but to elevate.
In a recent conversation with our VP of M&A, he didn’t ask, “How much can I sell for?”
He asked, “How does this help me grow?”
He wanted real numbers. Real structure. Real clarity.
Here’s a sample model he considered based on his current business size:
On top of this, he would receive a personalized compensation package (salary + commission + performance-based earnout) and full operational support HR, accounting, licensing, service, IT so he could focus on growth, not admin.
He didn’t say yes.
He didn’t say no.
He said what a smart founder should say:
“Send me your partnership roadmap, and I’ll keep exploring.”
Because this isn’t just about a payout. It’s about future-proofing his business while honoring the legacy his father built.
It’s about owning the next chapter with options, infrastructure, and the freedom to keep winning.
Whether or not a partnership is the right next step today, he’s already doing what the best agency owners do:
He’s thinking ahead.