---
title: "What Is Agency? Definition | Epic Life Glossary"
description: "An agency is a business licensed to sell insurance through its agents. It can hold carrier contracts, employ or contract with producers, and in many..."
url: https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/glossary/agency
publisher: Epic Life Group
apply: https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/apply
quote: https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/get-a-quote
---

Distribution structure

# Agency

An agency is a business licensed to sell insurance through its agents. It can hold carrier contracts, employ or contract with producers, and in many states needs its own entity license.

## Why it matters

For a family, the agency is the business behind the person who answers the call. For an agent, joining or owning one affects pay, support, and control of the book. An agency is not an insurance company. Policies are issued by carriers, not the agency. Ask who the agency represents and which carriers it works with.

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

## 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)
-   [Burial insurance vs life insurance vs pre-need funeral plans: what is the difference?](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/guides/burial-insurance-vs-life-insurance-vs-preneed)
-   [Captive vs independent insurance agent: who owns your book?](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/guides/captive-vs-independent-agent)
-   [How much does final expense insurance cost, and what sets the price?](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/guides/final-expense-insurance-cost)
-   [Your first 90 days as a telesales life insurance agent: a week-by-week ramp](https://epicline.preview.multisites.ai/guides/first-90-days-as-a-telesales-agent)

## Start your climb.

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