Allstate Announces Plans to Grow Florida Agency Force

FloridaAllstate's Florida Region announced plans today to expand its footprint across the state of Florida, mostly concentrated in North and Central Florida.

Published on May 15, 2012

The company hopes to add dozens of new agencies and the total growth plan will also bring more than 70 support staff jobs with it. The aggressive plan is needed to best serve customers in strategic business growth areas around the state.

"We expect to appoint at least a couple dozen new agencies," says Bob Jackson, Regional Sales Manager for Allstate's Florida operations. "But it's not so much about a specific number as it is about finding the right candidates who can best serve current and future Allstate customers in their local communities."

Allstate agents are independent contractors who own small businesses selling Allstate products. Each new agency opening also means multiple job opportunities for people to staff the agency and service customers, meaning Allstate's 2012 agency strategy should create approximately 100 new jobs in Florida.

To help both new and established agents succeed and grow their business, Jackson points out the myriad of support mechanisms offered by the company.

"We offer product and process education, as well as business and marketing consulting to all of our agencies free of charge," he says. "Agencies also benefit from the company's national and local marketing campaigns. Our goal is to give them the tools to help them grow their business and serve their local communities."

Ideal candidates will have a minimum of $75,000 in liquid capital but that money is not a franchise fee and does not go to Allstate. Instead, the money is used to pay for the normal operating costs associated with opening and running a new business including hiring staff and marketing to new customers.

Finally, when the time comes to retire or leave the business, owners can resell their book of business to other Allstate approved candidates, which also makes these new career openings a unique investment opportunity.

"This really is a unique proposition," Jackson says. "And for someone who is entrepreneurial-minded and has a passion for serving customers, there can be a tremendous upside."