---
title: "What Is Agency Owner? Definition | Epic Life Glossary"
description: "An agency owner runs an insurance agency as a business, holds or arranges carrier contracts, and may recruit and manage agents. The owner is responsible..."
url: https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/agency-owner
publisher: Epic Life Group
apply: https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/apply
quote: https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/get-a-quote
---

Distribution structure

# Agency Owner

An agency owner runs an insurance agency as a business, holds or arranges carrier contracts, and may recruit and manage agents. The owner is responsible for licensing and compliance.

## Why it matters

Owners may earn overrides on agents they hire or sponsor, plus their own commissions. They also take on costs, state entity licenses, and management time. Terms depend on the agreements with carriers and any IMO. New owners should plan for start-up costs and learn state rules before hiring. Owning an agency is a business decision, not a shortcut, because income still depends on sales and costs.

Source: [law.cornell.edu](https://www.law.cornell.edu/wex/agency)

[Read next, for agentsStart an insurance agency with Epic Life: how ownership works](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/careers/agency-ownership)

## Where we use this term

-   [Building an insurance agency: how overrides and downlines work, and what is legal](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/guides/building-an-insurance-agency-overrides-downlines)
-   [How to join an IMO: the questions to ask before you sign](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/guides/how-to-join-an-imo)
-   [How to get a multi-state life insurance license: resident first, then nonresident](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/guides/multi-state-life-insurance-license)
-   [Switching IMOs: what experienced agents should know](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/careers/experienced-agents)
-   [The technology Epic Life agents use: CRM, quoting, and AI](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/careers/technology)

## Start your climb.

Tell us where you are today and request a call about licensing, training and the calls.

[Apply to join](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/apply)

Shopping for coverage instead? [Get a quote](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/get-a-quote)