What Deans & Homer does

Deans & Homer is a California-based Managing General Agent (MGA) founded in 1856, licensed in 47 states plus the District of Columbia, and operating as a privately held specialty insurance intermediary. The company places business with multiple A-rated carriers, including Hudson Insurance Company, Indian Harbor Insurance Company, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company of America, Greenwich Insurance Company, and more recently Palomar Specialty, Obsidian Pacific, and Obsidian Insurance, and earns commission on the premiums it underwrites. Its portfolio is organized around three core product verticals: Commercial Insurance (including the Premier Building Owner's Package, Inland Marine Coverage, and Surplus Lines, targeted at commercial property owners and operators of tenant-occupied buildings), Community-Based Renters Insurance (offered to professionally managed apartment communities with pre-approved residents, real-time compliance tracking, and same-day policy issuance), and a Self-Storage Tenant Protection Program (providing contractual liability protection for tenants' stored property, in the self-storage industry since 1974 and the tenant protection product line since 2003).

The business is run on a 100% agent-and-broker distribution model. Independent appointed agents access an Agent Center web portal for policy management, submit new business through local in-territory underwriters in five core states (CA, MI, NV, OR, WA), and earn adjustable commission of up to 25%. Technology is concentrated in the Agent Center platform and direct-to-consumer quote portals (insureyourstuff.com, storage.insureyourstuff.com), with no disclosed APIs, AI capabilities, or data products. The company has no parent organization, no disclosed equity funding, and operates a wholly owned claims subsidiary (DH Adjusting LLC) and a cannabis-focused MGU joint venture (Pacific Underwriting Facility, launched November 2024 with $5 million in A-rated carrier capacity). Customer outcomes reported include a Net Promoter Score of 78 (described as among the best in the industry) and an average policy tenure exceeding 10 years, with 101-250 total employees supporting the operation.

Name

Deans & Homer

Legal name

Deans and Homer

Website

https://deanshomer.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1856

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

Deans & Homer is a California-based MGA founded in 1856 providing commercial property, community-based renters, and self-storage tenant protection insurance through independent agents across 47 states plus DC.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Commercial Property Insurance

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Insurance Program Administration & MGA/MGU Services (FSAEADAK)

akta.pro secondary industry

Landlord / Dwelling Fire (DP) Insurance (FSAJACAD)

Keywords

• Commercial property insurance
• Managing general agent
• Tenant protection programs
• Self-storage insurance
• Community renters insurance

Headquarters

HQ city

San Francisco

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Technology or R&D, Marketing or Sales, Infrastructure

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: Deans & Homer acts as a Managing General Agent (MGA) earning commission from insurance carriers. The company places business with A-rated carriers and earns commissions on written premiums. Agents can earn adjustable commission up to 25%.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels4 records

Core offering

Deans & Homer operates as a Managing General Agent (MGA) that underwrites, prices, and services insurance products placed with A-rated carriers. The company provides three core lines: commercial property insurance for building owners, community-based renters insurance for apartment communities, and tenant protection programs for self-storage operators, distributed exclusively through a network of appointed independent insurance agents and brokers.

Product overview

Deans & Homer is an insurance solutions provider established in 1856 offering a portfolio of commercial property insurance products. The company operates as a managing general agent (MGA) and provides three core product lines: Commercial Insurance (including Premier Building Owner's Package, Inland Marine Coverage, and Surplus Lines), Community-Based Renters Insurance for multi-family housing, and Self-Storage Tenant Protection Programs. These are supplemented by Rental Dwelling Insurance and Business Personal Property Coverage add-ons. The company partners with multiple "A" rated carriers including Hudson Insurance Company, Indian Harbor Insurance Company, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company of America, and Palomar Specialty Insurance Company to offer proprietary Standard and Surplus Lines products. Deans & Homer also recently launched a cannabis-focused MGU partnership called Pacific Underwriting Facility.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Commercial Insurance Property and liability coverage for commercial, tenant-occupied properties under well-written leases. Includes the Premier Building Owner's Package with replacement cost basis, no coinsurance, broad ordinance or law coverage ($250,000 base limit), and up to 30 months loss of rents. Designed for commercial property owners and operators.
• Community-Based Renters Insurance Insurance program for professionally managed apartment communities offering pre-approved residents, real-time compliance tracking, same-day policy issuance, and direct claims handling. Standard $100,000 liability limit (increasable) with property limits from $15,000 to $60,000 and deductible options of $250, $500, or $750.
• Self-Storage Tenant Protection Program Flexible contractual liability protection program for self-storage operators offering protection for tenants' stored property. Features filed and fixed rates not subject to loss experience, customizable protection terms for operators of all sizes, increased revenue opportunities, and A+ claim service.
• Inland Marine Coverage Specialized policies to protect business equipment and property including Builder's Risk, Contractor's Equipment, Installation Floater, Transportation, Motor Truck Cargo, and Warehouseman's Legal Liability.
• Surplus Lines Coverage for unique commercial and inland marine risks requiring individual tailoring of rates or forms, including vacant commercial buildings, renovations, premises liability, and DIC with FAIR Plan. Features low minimum premiums and no coinsurance forms.
• Rental Dwelling Insurance Property coverage for buildings and rents with optional liability for 1 to 4 unit tenant-occupied dwellings. Not available in California.
• Business Personal Property Coverage Coverage for operating businesses where liability has been placed elsewhere. Includes business income coverage which may be increased or written as a separate policy.

Quantifiable outcome

• Net Promoter Score of 78, among the best in the industry
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Ten partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Obsidian Pacific Insurance CompanyminorOthers · 1 January 2025A- rated specialty carrier partner represented since 2025. NAIC #26395.
• Obsidian Insurance CompanyminorOthers · 1 January 2025A- rated specialty carrier partner represented since 2025. NAIC #35602.
• Pacific Underwriting FacilitycoreStrategic or Co-development Partner · 3 November 2024Cannabis-focused MGU (Managing General Underwriter) start-up launched in partnership with Deans & Homer. The venture has $5 million in capacity from an A-rated carrier and is led by former CK Specialty California head of brokerage Allen Shiu along with Deans & Homer president Will Dearie and former Sirius executives Dan Wilson and Bob Kuehn. Deans & Homer provides underwriting expertise and carrier relationships for this specialized market segment.
• Palomar Specialty Insurance CompanyminorOthers · 1 January 2023A rated specialty carrier partner represented since 2023. NAIC #20338.
• Greenwich Insurance CompanycoreOthersA+ rated carrier partner represented since 1987. NAIC #22322.
• Hudson Excess Insurance CompanycoreOthersA+ rated excess liability carrier partner represented since 2020. NAIC #14484.
• Hudson Insurance CompanycoreOthersA+ rated carrier partner represented since 1969. NAIC #25054.
• Indian Harbor Insurance CompanycoreOthersA+ rated carrier partner represented since 1999. NAIC #36940.
• Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Company of AmericacoreOthersA+ rated carrier partner represented since 1992. NAIC #20362.
• DH Adjusting LLCcoreImplementation/ SI/ Consulting PartnerA Deans & Homer company providing full-service independent insurance adjusting, specializing in multi-line commercial property and liability losses in both day-to-day and catastrophic claim environments. Supports the claims servicing needs of the insurance products.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Brown & Riding Insurance Services: Specialty wholesale broker and MGA focused on commercial property, casualty, and excess lines via agent distribution; directly comparable in product focus and channel.
• Burns & Wilcox: Large U.S. managing general agent/specialty insurance wholesaler operating a similar delegated-authority model distributing through independent agents across personal and commercial lines; directly comparable as a multi-vertical MGA with carrier partnerships.
• CRC Insurance Group: Specialty wholesale insurance distributor and MGA placing commercial property, casualty, and specialty lines through retail agents; highly comparable business model, agent channel, and product breadth to D&H.
• RPS (Risk Placement Services): Specialty MGA/wholesaler offering delegated authority programs across property, casualty, and personal lines distributed via independent agents; directly analogous to D&H's MGA + agent-distribution approach.
• NSM Insurance Group: Program manager/MGA specializing in niche verticals (habitational, commercial auto, pet) distributed through agents; highly comparable vertically specialized MGA model.
• Hull & Company: Specialty insurance wholesale brokerage and MGA writing commercial property, casualty, and inland marine through independent agents; directly comparable delegated authority MGA.
• Worldwide Facilities: National wholesale insurance broker and MGA distributing commercial property, casualty, and specialty products to retail agents; directly comparable MGA + agent channel.

Broad incumbents

• Amwins: Largest U.S. specialty insurance wholesaler offering broad property, casualty, and MGA services across all 50 states; relevant as the dominant incumbent MGA/wholesaler against which D&H competes for agent relationships.
• ICW Group Insurance Companies: Commercial property and casualty carrier/MGA operating across multiple states; comparable as a regional commercial property specialist with agent distribution, though larger and carrier-owned.

Emerging players

• Falcon Risk Services: Cannabis-focused insurance program administrator and MGU; relevant peer for D&H's Pacific Underwriting Facility cannabis venture, addressing a similar emerging vertical via delegated authority.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/deans-&-homer

Compliance1 record

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 records

Subsidiaries2 records

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about Deans & Homer