William Knight Insurance Agency

What William Knight Insurance Agency does

William Knight Insurance Agency (WKIA) is a privately held, family-owned insurance brokerage founded in 1977 and headquartered in Knoxville, Tennessee. The firm serves individuals, families, and small-to-medium businesses with a portfolio spanning personal lines (homeowners, auto, life, renters, boat, motorcycle, RV, flood, and specialty personal coverages) and commercial lines (general liability, workers compensation, commercial property, business auto, cyber liability, professional liability, builders risk, and ~20 other coverages). The agency differentiates itself through five specialty programs — Cabin Insurance (30+ years, having helped design the first true cabin program), Contractors Insurance, Self-Storage Insurance (since 2007, available in 48 states), Alarm Operations & Installations Insurance, and Transportation Insurance (25+ years).

WKIA operates as a traditional independent insurance agency with no proprietary technology platform disclosed; service is delivered through dedicated producers and account managers supported by a Customer Service Center online portal for policy changes, certificates, and ID cards. The agency represents over 90 insurance carriers, including national carriers (Progressive, Travelers, Liberty Mutual, The Hartford, Berkshire Hathaway Homestate) and regional/specialty carriers (Frankenmuth, Celina, Builders Mutual, Tapco), enabling broad product breadth and competitive placement.

The revenue model is standard for an independent agency: commissions earned from carriers on policy placement and renewal, with no subscription or fee-based pricing publicly disclosed. WKIA is licensed in 28 states across the Southeast, Midwest, Mid-Atlantic, and Mountain West, with the self-storage program available in 48 states. Distribution relies on direct producer-led sales, inside sales via phone and email, an inbound quote-request website funnel, and referral channels cultivated through memberships in industry associations (8 self-storage state associations, 2 home builder associations, and the Tennessee Network of Security Integrators).

Name

William Knight Insurance Agency

Legal name

William Knight Insurance Agency, Inc.

Website

https://wkia.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1977

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

William Knight Insurance Agency is a privately held, family-owned independent insurance brokerage founded in 1977 in Knoxville, Tennessee, serving individuals, SMBs, and niche verticals (cabins, contractors, self-storage, alarm operations, transportation) across 28 states via 90+ carrier relationships.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Insurance Brokerage and Risk Management Services

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421)

SIC

Insurance Agents, Brokers & Service (6411)

akta.pro primary industry

Retail (Personal Lines) Insurance Brokerage (FSAEADAA)

akta.pro secondary industry

Specialty Insurance Brokerage (Marine, Aviation, Cyber, Professional Lines) (FSAEADAJ)

Keywords

• Personal insurance brokerage
• Commercial insurance agency
• Specialty insurance programs
• Risk management services
• Independent insurance agents

Headquarters

HQ city

Knoxville

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

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: The agency earns commissions from insurance carriers for placing and renewing insurance policies. They represent over 90 carriers, earning commission income on each policy sold and renewed. This is a standard insurance agency revenue model.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

William Knight Insurance Agency is a family-owned independent insurance brokerage that places personal and commercial insurance coverage on behalf of clients by accessing over 90 insurance carriers. The agency sells personal lines (homeowners, auto, life, renters, boat, motorcycle, RV, flood, etc.), commercial lines (general liability, workers compensation, commercial property, business auto, professional liability, cyber liability, builders risk, etc.), and runs five specialty insurance programs for cabins, contractors, self-storage facilities, alarm/security operations, and transportation companies. Revenue is earned primarily through commissions paid by the insurance carriers whose policies the agency places and renews.

Product overview

William Knight Insurance Agency is a family-owned insurance agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products through two main categories: Personal Insurance and Commercial Insurance, supported by five specialty programs. The agency works with over 90 insurance carriers. Personal insurance includes homeowners, auto, renters, life, boat, motorcycle, RV, umbrella, mobile home, condominium, flood, earthquake, sinkhole, jewelry, and vacation home coverage. Commercial insurance encompasses general liability, workers compensation, commercial property, business auto, group life & health, equipment/inland marine, commercial flood, professional liability, builders risk, umbrella, cyber liability, bonds, special event, errors & omissions, directors & officers, earthquake, lessor's risk, liquor liability, garage & dealers, and cargo coverage. The specialty programs include Cabin Insurance (30+ years of experience), Contractors Insurance (since 1977), Self-Storage Insurance (25+ years, available in 48 states), Alarm Operations & Installations Insurance, and Transportation Insurance (25+ years of experience).

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Personal Insurance Lines

Named customers5 records

Segments7 records

Ideal customer profiles7 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

31 partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Accident Fund Insurance GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkers compensation insurance carrier represented by WKIA. Accident Fund provides workers comp coverage and related insurance products to commercial customers.
• Auto-Owners InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMulti-line insurance carrier providing home and auto insurance. Auto-Owners is represented for both personal and commercial insurance products.
• Berkshire Hathaway Homestate CompaniescoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLarge commercial insurance carrier represented by WKIA for workers compensation and commercial property coverage.
• Builders Mutual InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty carrier for builders and contractors, providing construction-focused insurance coverage including workers compensation and commercial property.
• Celina Insurance GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional insurance carrier providing commercial and personal lines coverage including property and casualty insurance.
• Donegal Insurance GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional mutual insurance company providing personal and commercial insurance products including auto, home, and business coverage.
• Frankenmuth InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional carrier awarded WKIA the Tennessee 2021 Diamond Achiever award. Provides personal and commercial insurance products including property and casualty coverage.
• Grange InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional insurance carrier providing personal and commercial insurance products including auto, home, and business coverage.
• Great American Insurance GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial and specialty insurance carrier providing diverse coverage including property, casualty, and specialty insurance products.
• The Hanover Insurance GroupcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial and personal insurance carrier providing property, casualty, and management liability coverage products.
• Harford MutualcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional mutual insurance carrier providing commercial insurance products including property and casualty coverage.
• Liberty Mutual InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLarge national insurance carrier providing personal and commercial insurance products including auto, home, and business coverage.
• Main Street AmericacoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional carrier providing small business and personal insurance products including commercial and personal lines coverage.
• Markel FirstComp InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkers compensation specialist carrier providing coverage for small to mid-size businesses and contractors.
• Progressive InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor national carrier providing auto insurance and commercial insurance products. WKIA represents both personal auto and commercial lines.
• Safeco InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPersonal insurance carrier (Liberty Mutual subsidiary) providing auto, home, and renters insurance products.
• Tapco InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorSpecialty insurance carrier providing niche coverage products for specific industries and risk classes.
• The Hartford InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor commercial insurance carrier providing business insurance products including workers compensation, property, and liability coverage.
• Travelers InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLarge commercial and personal insurance carrier providing property, casualty, and specialty insurance products including business and personal auto coverage.
• West Bend InsurancecoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorRegional commercial and personal insurance carrier providing property and casualty coverage products primarily in the Midwest.
• Self Storage Association (SSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for self-storage operators. WKIA actively participates as a member, supporting the industry and staying connected with industry trends and members.
• Georgia Self Storage Association (GASSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState industry association. WKIA is a member supporting Georgia self-storage operators with specialized insurance programs.
• Tennessee Self Storage Association (TNSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState industry association. WKIA is a member providing insurance solutions to Tennessee self-storage facility owners.
• South Carolina Self Storage Association (SCSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState industry association. WKIA is a member supporting South Carolina self-storage operators.
• Louisiana Self Storage Association (SSALA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState industry association. WKIA is a member providing insurance solutions to Louisiana self-storage facilities.
• North Carolina Self Storage Association (NCSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState industry association. WKIA is a member supporting North Carolina self-storage operators.
• Alabama Self Storage Association (ALSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState industry association. WKIA is a member providing specialized insurance coverage to Alabama self-storage facilities.
• Florida Self Storage Association (FSSA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerState industry association. WKIA is a member supporting Florida self-storage operators with insurance programs.
• Tennessee Network of Security Integrators (TNSI)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association for security integrators in Tennessee. WKIA offers a specialized Alarm Program with A.M. Best 'A' rated companies for TNSI members.
• Home Builders Association of Greater KnoxvillecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal trade association for home builders. WKIA has been a member for over 30 years, providing insurance for contractors and builders in the Knoxville area.
• Maryville Alcoa Home Builders AssociationcoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerLocal trade association. WKIA is a member providing specialized insurance coverage for contractors and builders in the Maryville/Alcoa area.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Higginbotham Insurance Agency: Large independent insurance brokerage founded in 1948 and headquartered in Texas, providing personal, commercial, and employee benefits products across multiple states via regional offices. Comparable to WKIA as a multi-line independent agency with deep carrier relationships and a similar product mix, though materially larger in scale.
• Leavitt Group: Family-owned insurance brokerage network founded in 1952 with offices across the Western U.S., providing personal, commercial, and employee benefits coverage. Closely comparable to WKIA in its family-ownership heritage, multi-line agency model, and emphasis on local service backed by broad carrier access.
• The Horton Group: Mid-sized independent insurance brokerage offering commercial, personal, and benefits solutions with specialty expertise across industries. Comparable to WKIA as a multi-line independent agency that has built niche programs on top of broad carrier representation.
• Haake Companies: Independent insurance and risk management agency serving personal and commercial clients across the Midwest and Southeast with multi-state licensing and carrier partnerships. Comparable to WKIA in scale, regional focus, and multi-line agency model.
• RPS Insurance Brokerage: Specialty insurance brokerage platform distributing niche commercial programs (including transportation, self-storage-adjacent, and habitational risks) through appointed retail agents. Comparable to WKIA's specialty program distribution model, particularly for self-storage and transportation.

Broad incumbents

• AssuredPartners: Large national insurance brokerage built through roll-up acquisitions of independent agencies, offering commercial, personal, and benefits across all 50 states. Represents the scaled incumbent competitor that WKIA either competes with or could be acquired by in industry consolidation.
• Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. Global insurance brokerage and risk management firm providing retail brokerage, specialty programs, and consulting across commercial and personal lines. Comparable to WKIA's full-service insurance distribution but at vastly larger scale and with proprietary specialty program capabilities.
• Marsh McLennan Agency: Middle-market arm of Marsh McLennan providing commercial insurance, employee benefits, and private client services through regional offices. Comparable to WKIA's commercial lines offering, particularly for mid-market accounts in the Southeast.
• Hub International: North American insurance brokerage and financial services firm serving commercial, personal, and specialty clients through acquired regional agencies. Relevant as a PE-backed consolidator operating in many of the same verticals (transportation, contractors, self-storage) as WKIA's specialty programs.
• USI Insurance Services: Large national insurance brokerage serving middle-market clients with property/casualty, employee benefits, and personal lines. Comparable to WKIA's commercial and personal product breadth, with broader specialty program distribution and digital tooling capabilities.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/williamknightinsurance
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/william-knight-insurance-agency

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles9 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 William Knight Insurance Agency