Phelan Insurance Agency

What Phelan Insurance Agency does

Phelan Insurance Agency, Inc. is a third-generation, family-owned independent insurance brokerage founded in 1949 in Versailles, Ohio, with a second office in West Chester, Ohio opened in 2009. The agency employs approximately 37 people and serves clients across 40 US states, specializing in commercial and personal insurance, risk management, and employee benefits. Its core product portfolio spans Business Owners Policy, General Liability, Commercial Property, Commercial Auto, Commercial Umbrella, Directors & Officers, and personal lines (home, auto, RV, umbrella, life), organized around seven industry verticals: trucking and transportation, hotels and motels, manufacturing, Ohio public schools, contractors, agribusiness and farm, and towing and wrecking.

The agency generates revenue primarily through commissions from placing and servicing policies with 24+ insurance carriers including Travelers, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, Chubb, Anthem, Aetna, Hartford, Progressive, Grange, and Ohio Mutual. Its primary technical differentiator is RiskView365, a proprietary 12-month risk management methodology positioned against the industry-standard 90-day renewal cycle, combining in-house attorney contract review, SHRM-CP HR compliance support, safety training, and the firm's "Top of Stack" submission approach to underwriters. Supporting technology is standard for the industry: Vertafore for the agency management system and client portal, and ePayPolicy for PCI-compliant online payments.

Distribution is relationship-driven rather than digital: dedicated account managers serve each client, all quotes require human consultation (no online quoting), and the firm operates phones answered by staff rather than automated systems. Marketing relies on content (Learning Center blog), social media across LinkedIn/Facebook/Instagram/X/YouTube, a client referral program, and earned media including Insurance Journal's Best Agencies to Work For 2025 recognition. The firm earned $58M in placed P&C and Life & Health premium in 2022 (Dayton Business Journal), ranking #3 among Dayton-area privately-owned agencies, and has been recognized with Grange Senior Partner designation and Ohio Mutual Top 10 for Outstanding Profitable Growth.

Name

Phelan Insurance Agency

Legal name

Phelan Insurance Agency, Inc.

Website

https://phelanins.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1949

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

Phelan Insurance Agency is a third-generation, family-owned independent insurance brokerage founded in 1949, serving small and mid-market businesses across 40 US states through seven industry verticals with proprietary RiskView365 risk management and 24+ carrier partnerships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage Services

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (524210)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Mid-Market Commercial Package (Package Policies) (FSAJAFAB)

akta.pro secondary industry

Management Liability (D&O/EPL/Fiduciary) (FSAJAGAD)

Keywords

• Commercial insurance brokerage
• Risk management services
• Employee benefits administration
• Personal lines insurance
• Business insurance coverage

Headquarters

HQ city

Versailles

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B and B2C

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Commissions: As an independent insurance agency, Phelan Insurance Agency earns commissions from insurance carriers for placing and servicing insurance policies. They represent 24+ insurance companies including major carriers like Anthem, Aetna, Nationwide, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, and regional carriers.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels10 records

Core offering

Phelan Insurance Agency is an independent insurance brokerage that places and services commercial and personal insurance policies on behalf of 24+ insurance carriers, earning carrier commissions as its primary revenue stream. The agency offers commercial lines (BOP, General Liability, Commercial Property/Auto/Umbrella, D&O), personal lines (home, auto, umbrella, RV, life), employee benefits (group health, dental, vision, self-funded options), and proprietary RiskView365 year-round risk management services across industry verticals including trucking, hospitality, manufacturing, Ohio public schools, contractors, agribusiness, and towing.

Product overview

Phelan Insurance Agency is an independent insurance agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of commercial and personal insurance products and risk management services. The core offering includes Business Owners Policy (BOP), General Liability, Commercial Property, Commercial Auto, Commercial Umbrella, and Directors & Officers Insurance. The company differentiates through its proprietary RiskView365 risk management platform, which provides year-round engagement contrasting with traditional 90-day renewal approaches, supplemented by add-on services including AppAssist and ValueCheck for schools, Mobile Driving Simulator training, and Contract Review. Employee Benefits services include group health, vision, dental, primary care clinics, self-funded options, and employer direct care. The agency serves six industry verticals: Trucking, Hotel & Motel, Manufacturing, Ohio Public Schools, Contractors, Agribusiness & Farm, and Towing & Wrecking. Personal lines include home, auto, RV, renters, classic car, umbrella, high net worth, and life insurance.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Owners Policy (BOP) Combined commercial property and general liability insurance package tailored for small businesses, offering typically 10-15% savings over purchasing coverages separately.
• General Liability Insurance Coverage protecting businesses from claims involving bodily injuries and property damage resulting from products, services, or operations, including 24/7 certificate access for contractors.
• Commercial Property Insurance Protection for physical business assets including buildings, equipment, inventory, and furniture from fire, theft, vandalism, and natural disasters.
• Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage for business-owned vehicles including liability, medical payments, comprehensive, collision, rental reimbursement, and towing for companies with work trucks or fleets.
• Commercial Umbrella Insurance Additional liability protection that extends limits of underlying policies, covering bodily injury, property damage, and lawsuit costs exceeding primary policy limits.
• Directors & Officers Insurance Liability coverage for company managers protecting against claims from decisions and actions taken in their duties, including Side A, B, and C coverage options.
• Employee Benefits Comprehensive benefits program including group health, vision, dental, group life, benefits administration, primary care clinics, self-funded options, and employer direct care services.
• RiskView365 Risk Management Program Proprietary year-round risk management methodology offering a 12-month engagement cycle (Learn, Create, Implement, Measure & Monitor) including HR compliance, employee training, contract review, and safety programs, targeting commercial clients seeking proactive Total Cost of Risk reduction.
• Personal Insurance Individual coverage including homeowners, auto, motorcycle/RV/watercraft, classic car, umbrella, high net worth, renters, and life insurance.
• Trucking Insurance Specialized coverage for trucking companies including physical damage, trailer interchange, motor truck cargo, non-trucking liability, commercial trucking liability, and contingent cargo liability with safety culture implementation.
• Hotel & Motel Insurance Customized hospitality coverage addressing property damage, business interruption, liability, equipment breakdown, cyber attacks, EPLI, and industry-specific risks like food safety and liquor liabilities.
• Manufacturing Insurance Coverage for manufacturers addressing product liability, inland marine, crime, business income, and industry-specific risks across fabricated metals, food products, tool and die, plastics, printing, and more.
• Ohio Public Schools Insurance Tailored property and liability insurance and risk management for school districts covering school property, auto, professional liability, with playground safety inspections and CPSI-certified assessors.
• Contractor Insurance Customized coverage for professional tradesmen including general contractors, electricians, plumbers, HVAC, roofing, and 17+ trade specialties with 24/7 certificate access and OSHA compliance programs.
• Agribusiness & Farm Insurance Flexible farm coverage from hobby farms to large commercial operations including poultry, livestock, crop, equine, orchards, vineyards, with specialized poultry industry expertise in Versailles, Ohio.
• Towing & Wrecking Insurance Package program for professional tow companies potentially including body shop, auto repair, and salvage operations with broad form coverage, on-hook/cargo, auto liability, garage keepers liability, and dealer plates.

Quantifiable outcome

• Underwriters can increase or decrease premium by up to 25% based on quality of agent submissions (Top of Stack)
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers6 records

Segments9 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Integration2 records

Feature1 record

Partnerships

25 partnerships are on record, tiered core, secondary and minor.

• AcuitycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance carrier partner represented by Phelan Insurance Agency. Acuity is an A.M. Best A+ rated insurance company offering commercial and personal insurance products.
• AetnacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHealth insurance carrier partner for employee benefits offerings including health, dental, and vision insurance products.
• AnthemcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor health insurance carrier partner for employee benefits. One of the largest health benefits companies in the US.
• ChubbcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal property and casualty insurance carrier partner offering commercial and personal insurance solutions.
• Cincinnati Insurance CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional insurance carrier partner known for commercial lines coverage and strong agent relationships.
• CNAcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor commercial lines insurance carrier offering a broad range of business insurance products.
• Donegal Insurance GroupsecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional mutual insurance company partner offering personal and commercial insurance in Mid-Atlantic states.
• Frankenmuth InsurancesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMichigan-based insurance carrier partner offering commercial and personal lines coverage.
• Grand River InsurancesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty insurance carrier partner for trucking and transportation coverage.
• Grange InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorColumbus, Ohio-based insurance carrier. Awarded Phelan Senior Partner designation in 2024. Sells exclusively through independent agents in 13 states.
• Great-WestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorBenefits and financial services partner for employee benefits including life insurance and retirement products.
• HagertysecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty insurance carrier partner for classic car, boat, and collector vehicle coverage.
• HartfordcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor commercial insurance carrier partner offering business insurance, workers compensation, and employee benefits.
• Hastings Mutual InsurancesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional mutual insurance carrier partner serving Midwest states with commercial and personal coverage.
• Indiana Farmers InsurancesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional insurance carrier partner offering commercial and personal lines, particularly strong in agribusiness.
• Liberty MutualcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor national insurance carrier partner offering commercial and personal lines through independent agents.
• NationwidecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor national insurance carrier partner offering commercial and personal insurance products.
• Ohio Mutual Insurance GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional mutual insurance partner. Recognized Phelan as Top 10 agency for Outstanding Profitable Growth in 2023. A.M. Best A rated since 1993.
• Progressive CommercialcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor commercial auto insurance carrier partner, particularly strong in trucking and transportation segments.
• SafecocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLiberty Mutual subsidiary offering commercial insurance products through independent agents.
• Selective InsurancesecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial lines insurance carrier partner offering commercial property, casualty, and workers compensation.
• State AutosecondaryChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional insurance carrier partner offering commercial and personal lines coverage.
• TravelerscoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor commercial insurance carrier partner, one of the largest in the US, offering broad commercial lines coverage.
• Westfield InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional commercial and personal insurance carrier partner serving Midwest and Northeast states.
• Associated Builders and Contractors (ABC)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association membership providing contractor-focused resources, training, and networking. Phelan is a proud member, leveraging ABC resources for contractor insurance expertise.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Broad incumbents

• Brown & Brown, Inc. Large national insurance brokerage operating with an independent-agent distribution model across P&C, employee benefits, and specialty lines. Closest publicly-traded analog to Phelan's independent agency structure but at vastly greater scale.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Global insurance brokerage and risk management services firm. Comparable commercial P&C brokerage and risk management consulting model, though operating at enterprise scale with proprietary analytics platforms.
• Hub International: North American insurance brokerage focused on mid-market commercial and personal lines through acquired agencies. Comparable multi-vertical, multi-carrier independent agency model; significantly larger but similar GTM and vertical specialization approach.
• USI Insurance Services: Mid-to-large market insurance brokerage and employee benefits consulting firm. Comparable independent-broker distribution model with employee benefits cross-sell and proprietary knowledge programs that mirror Phelan's RiskView365 positioning.
• Marsh McLennon: Global insurance brokerage and risk advisory firm. Not a direct competitor for Phelan's SMB mid-market clients but represents the broader incumbent landscape and the consolidation trajectory that eventually touches regional agencies.

Direct peers

• RPS (Risk Placement Services): Specialty insurance wholesaler and brokerage focused on niche verticals including trucking and transportation. Comparable carrier-partner model and specialty-line expertise relevant to Phelan's trucking vertical.
• TrueNorth Companies: Mid-market independent insurance and risk management firm headquartered in the Midwest. Closely comparable in size, vertical specialization, and integrated risk/employee benefits approach to Phelan.
• Oswald Companies: Cleveland, Ohio-based independent insurance and risk management firm with similar vertical focus (manufacturing, schools, construction) and family-style client service culture. Strongest direct geographic peer for Phelan.

Others

• Assurex Global: Global partnership network of independent insurance and risk management agencies. Many regional independents like Phelan access broader carrier and capability reach through such networks — represents a partnership or affiliation comparable.

Emerging players

• Acrisure: Fast-growing insurance brokerage roll-up acquiring independent agencies across the U.S. Represents both a competitive threat (consolidation) and a potential exit/partner path for regional agencies like Phelan.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/phelanins
• YouTubeyoutube.com/@phelanins
• Facebookfacebook.com/phelanins
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/phelanins
• Instagraminstagram.com/phelanins

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles3 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 Phelan Insurance Agency