Let's set the stage
Your individual license lets you sell. Once a business is the name on the commission checks, or once you hire agents, most states want that business licensed too. We are a licensed agency in Draper, Utah, and we contract agencies in many states, so we built these guides from each state's insurance department, statute and NIPR pages. Every number below links back to its source on the state page.
Ten states side by side
| State | Initial state fee | Renewal | Responsible person | E&O or bond on the agency |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Utah | $85 | Every 2 years | Designated responsible licensed individual | None on the agency; resident producers carry E&O |
| Idaho | $80 | Every 24 months, $60 online | DRLP | None stated |
| Texas | $50 per application | Every 2 years, $50 per line | DRLP who is an officer or partner | $250,000 E&O or $25,000 bond |
| Florida | $0 on NIPR | None while an agent in charge is designated | Agent in charge at each location | None stated |
| California | $188 per license type | Every 2 years, $188 | Every licensed person endorsed, $32 each | LLCs: E&O or security from $500,000; P&C: $10,000 bond or appointment |
| Arizona | $120 | Every 4 years | Exactly one DRLP | None stated |
| Nevada | $185 plus $50 per DRLP | Every 3 years, $185 | A DRLP for each line | None stated |
| Georgia | $100 nonresident | Every 2 years, $100 plus $5 | DRLP and a licensed agent at each location | None stated |
| North Carolina | $144 | Every year on April 1, $134 | DRLP already licensed in the state | None stated |
| Ohio | $10 per line | Every 2 years on September 30, $25 | Designated Ohio licensed agent | None stated |
State fees exclude NIPR's transaction fee, which NIPR says is currently $5.60. "None stated" means we found no requirement on the department, statute or NIPR pages we used; carriers can still require E&O.
What every state has in common
Most states built their rules on the NAIC Producer Licensing Model Act, so the bones look alike. Section 6 says a business entity acting as a producer must obtain a producer license and designate a licensed individual responsible for its compliance. Expect to provide the entity's legal name, FEIN, addresses, owners and officers, background answers and any assumed name. Our agency license requirements guide walks through the common framework.
Where states differ the most
- Who can be responsible. Texas requires an officer or partner. North Carolina and Ohio say the responsible agent need not be an owner or officer.
- Financial responsibility. Texas wants $250,000 of E&O or a $25,000 bond, and California LLCs must carry security starting at $500,000.
- Renewal cycle. North Carolina renews every year, Arizona every four, and Florida not at all while an agent in charge is designated.
- Name rules. California requires name approval before you apply, Georgia requires it for restricted words such as Insurance or Health, and Florida rejects names with Medicare or Medicaid.
- Where to file. Georgia residents cannot file through NIPR; they use Sircon.
When do you need an agency license at all?
Here's the thing: the trigger is usually the business, not the person. Florida exempts a single licensed agent working in their own name who does not use other licensees. Georgia requires the license once an entity employs licensed agents who sell for it. Ohio treats you as an entity once you operate under an FEIN. Read do I need an agency license to hire agents and how much an agency license costs.
After the license
A licensed agency still needs carrier contracts at the agency level, and every agent who sells under it needs their own license and appointments. Let's be real: the license is the easy part. When you are ready to contract, start at agency contracting with ESI.
Frequently asked questions
Does every state require an insurance agency license?
Most states require a business entity that acts as an insurance producer to hold its own license, following the NAIC Producer Licensing Model Act. Rules on exemptions, such as Florida's single agent exemption, vary by state.
Which state has the cheapest agency license?
Of the ten states we compared, Florida shows a $0 state fee on NIPR and Ohio charges $10 per line of authority. NIPR adds its $5.60 transaction fee to each filing.
Which states require E&O for an insurance agency?
Of our ten states, Texas requires a $250,000 E&O policy or a $25,000 bond, and California requires LLC agencies to carry E&O or other security starting at $500,000.
Can I apply for agency licenses in several states at once?
Many states accept the uniform business entity application through NIPR, which lets you file nonresident agency licenses state by state. Georgia residents must use Sircon instead.
Sources
- NAIC Producer Licensing Model Act (#218)
- Utah Insurance Department: Exam and licensing procedures
- Idaho DOI: Business entity license type
- TDI: General lines P&C agency application
- DFS: Licensing FAQ
- CDI: Licensing fees
- DIFI: Licensing, insurance professionals
- Nevada DOI: Producer business entities
- NIPR: Georgia non-resident licensing, business
- NCDOI: Renewal fees
- NIPR: Ohio resident licensing, business
- NIPR: Apply for an initial license (transaction fee)
Updated October 13, 2026 by the Everything Senior Insurance Data Desk.