(Image from the municipality of Bosler in Wyoming, one of the states AssureStart now sells in. Photo credit: Andrew Filer.)

AssureStart, a Seattle-based insurance agency backed by American Family Insurance (Madison, Wisc.), has expanded its direct small commercial sales operation into four new states – New Jersey, Wyoming, Wisconsin and Minnesota – as of the end of July. AssureStart sells property and general liability insurance directly on the Internet to businesses with fewer than 30 employees. The agency also sells policies in Arizona, Colorado, Kansas, Maryland, Michigan, Missouri, Oregon, Pennsylvania, Tennessee, Texas and Washington, and plans to add four to six states each month through the end of 2014.

“More and more small business are expecting the same level of service they receive as consumers, and smart carriers are working to provide better customer experience and improved tools that help these small commercial customers be more efficient,” comments Jamie Bisker, Senior Analyst, Aite Group. “The trend will continue, and possibly even grow larger than the consumer space as the complexity of managing commercial risks is tackled via increased automation and smarter processing in general.”

AssureStart asserts that small businesses accessing its proprietary technology platform can receive coverage recommendations and a rate quote in less than 10 minutes, as opposed to traditional mediated commercial insurance channels, which can take days in the best case. The direct seller says that the efficiency of its technology-based approach enables it to pass on savings to customers in the form of lower rates.

24/7, Multiple Device Access

AssureStart’s technology platform and recommendation engine can be accessed 24/7 via laptop, tablet or smartphone, according to the insurer. During the application and purchase process, prospective customers can contact a licensed insurance professional by phone, email or web chat to ask questions or receive more information.

“As the only insurer exclusively focused on small businesses, our mission is to help small business owners meet their unique insurance needs through an industry-leading technology platform,” comments Greg Tacchetti, CEO, AssureStart. “A growing number of small businesses handle their administrative tasks on the Internet. We’re offering a new way for them to buy business insurance and manage the entire process on their own.”

“With certificates of insurance available at the point of sale, a small business owner can buy a policy online and present the necessary credentials to start work on a client project the same day,” Tacchetti adds.

AssureStart’s policies are underwritten by American Family Affiliate Midvale Indemnity Company.