PPIB

What PPIB does

PPIB (Professional Program Insurance Brokerage) is a California-based specialty insurance program manager operating as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC. Founded in 1993 in Novato and licensed in all 50 U.S. states, PPIB designs, underwrites, and distributes ~34 proprietary insurance programs targeting niche and hard-to-place commercial risks that standard carriers typically decline. Vertical focus areas include medical aesthetics (medispas, laser/IPL, Botox, dermal fillers, IV therapy, cryotherapy, medical-director liability), body art (tattoo studios, body piercing, permanent makeup, microblading), consumer products (products liability for beauty supplies, tattoo pigments, CBD and dietary supplements), regulated retail (smoke shops, e-cigarettes, CBD/hemp), entertainment/agritainment (corn mazes, pumpkin patches, petting zoos, pyrotechnics), and emerging micro-businesses (podcasters, sexual abuse and molestation coverage). PPIB writes business primarily through London Markets (Lloyd's syndicates) and U.S. surplus lines carriers and distributes exclusively via appointed independent insurance agents and brokers — never directly to insureds — offering branded applications and higher commission tiers to high-volume producers, along with manuscript-policy capability for unique risks. The company also acquired the assets of Jones Birdsong (Petaluma, CA) in May 2022 to extend its operational footprint.

PPIB's revenue model is built on commissions and fees earned on premiums placed into carrier capacity, supplemented by service fees for policy issuance and surplus-lines tax filings. Pricing is set on a per-program basis through underwriting review with typical turnarounds of 5–8 business days (expedited to 2 days); individual micro-business policies begin around $150–$200 annually, full salon/spa premiums typically range $1,000–$2,000, and higher-tier products-liability and agritainment programs offer limits up to $5M/$5M. Distribution is broker-led across wholesale and retail channels, supported by an organizational structure of ~10+ dedicated underwriters organized around distinct program clusters, plus operations, business development, and a software architect — consistent with the 101–250 employee band.

Leadership transitioned in February 2021 when President Susan Etter (an internal underwriter since 2010) was elevated to head daily operations while founder Susan Preston — co-founder of the Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals — moved to VP of Program Development at parent SPG, formalizing a multi-generational succession. PPIB reinforces channel and demand generation through industry-association partnerships (SPCP, APP, AAM, TMSA, PIA, CIWA, TMPAA, IICF), trade-publication presence (Insurance Business America, Rough Notes, Dermascope), convention participation in tattoo, piercing, and medispa events, and podcast appearances such as Awkward Insurance. Customer logos, programs, pricing tiers, and channel data indicate a long-tail SMB and micro-business customer base distributed across many verticals with very low per-account concentration risk.

Name

PPIB

Legal name

Professional Program Insurance Brokerage (Division of Specialty Program Group LLC)

Website

https://ppibcorp.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1993

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

101–250 employees

Short description

PPIB is a California-based specialty insurance program manager operating since 1993 as a division of Specialty Program Group LLC. It designs and distributes ~34 proprietary insurance programs for hard-to-place niches — including medispas, tattoo, body piercing, permanent makeup, agritainment, CBD/hemp, products liability, and podcasters — exclusively through appointed insurance agents and brokers across all 50 U.S. states.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Novato

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: PPIB acts as a program manager placing insurance through surplus lines carriers, earning commissions and fees on premiums written. They offer insurance through multiple carriers for various niche industries.
2. Broker Fee: Service fee charged for handling accounts and issuing policies. Additional surcharges include surplus lines taxes that must be filed for each policy in each state.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

PPIB is a program manager and specialty insurance brokerage that develops and places proprietary insurance programs for hard-to-place, niche industries such as medispas, tattoo and body piercing studios, permanent makeup, agritainment, CBD/hemp, and smoke shops. It distributes coverage exclusively through appointed insurance agents and brokers, using London (Lloyd's) and US surplus lines carriers.

Product overview

PPIB (Professional Program Insurance Brokerage) is a division of Specialty Program Group, LLC, offering specialized insurance programs for niche industries. The company operates 14+ distinct insurance programs covering the beauty, wellness, body art, and entertainment sectors. Core programs include Medispa Insurance, Tattoo Insurance, Body Piercing Insurance, Day Spa Insurance, Permanent Makeup Insurance, Products Liability Insurance, and Agritainment Insurance, among others. PPIB provides customized policies covering professional liability, general liability, products liability, property, cyber, and excess coverage, with the ability to create manuscript policies for unique situations. The company primarily serves insurance agents and brokers who place coverage for their clients in hard-to-place risk categories.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Medispa Insurance Specialized insurance coverage for medical spas offering laser/IPL treatments, injectables, IV therapy, cryotherapy, weight loss prescriptions, and aesthetic procedures. Covers professional liability, general liability, and property for individuals and spa owners.
• Tattoo Insurance Insurance coverage for tattoo studios and artists, covering professional liability, general liability, sexual abuse, and property for individual artists and shop owners.
• Body Piercing Insurance Insurance coverage for body piercing services including gauging, surface piercing, dermal anchors, dermal punch, tooth jewels, and decorative tattoos. Covers professional liability, general liability, and property.
• Day Spa Insurance Insurance coverage for day spas offering facials, massage, manicures/pedicures, eyelash extensions, needling, body contouring, permanent makeup, and other salon services. Covers professional and general liability.
• Permanent Makeup Insurance Insurance coverage for permanent cosmetic services including lips/lipliner, eyeliner, microblading, bald spot repigmentation, scar camouflage, and pigment removal. Covers professional liability, general liability, and property up to $2,000,000/$3,000,000 limits.
• Agritainment Insurance Specialized insurance for agritourism businesses covering jumping pillows, petting zoos, pony rides, trackless trains, farmers markets, corn mazes, and other agricultural entertainment activities. Provides general liability with optional coverages including liquor liability and hired/non-owned auto, with $2,000,000/2,000,000 limits.
• Products Liability Insurance Insurance coverage for manufacturers, distributors, retailers, and sellers of products including beauty supplies, tattoo pigments, CBD edibles, dietary supplements, and animal supplements. Offers up to $5,000,000/$5,000,000 limits with property and cyber protection.
• CBD and Hemp Insurance Insurance coverage for CBD and hemp businesses including cultivation facilities, distributors, and retailers dealing in hemp-derived products.
• Smoke Shop & E-Cigs Insurance Insurance coverage for smoke shops and electronic cigarette retailers, addressing the unique risks associated with these establishments.
• Pyrotechnics Insurance Insurance coverage for pyrotechnic operators and fireworks displays, covering professional liability and property risks associated with fireworks events.
• Medical Directors Insurance Insurance coverage specifically designed for medical directors overseeing medispa and aesthetic medical operations.
• Podcasters Insurance Insurance coverage tailored for podcasters and podcasting businesses.
• SAM Insurance (Sexual Abuse & Molestation) Sexual abuse and molestation insurance coverage available as an add-on to various program offerings or as a standalone policy.
• Microblading Insurance Insurance coverage for microblading services, a semi-permanent eyebrow technique.
• Laser Hair Removal / IPL Insurance Insurance coverage for lasers and IPLs used in hair removal, developed with input from doctors and laser experts to establish underwriting guidelines.

Quantifiable outcome

• Quick quote turnaround - most quotes within 2 days
• +3 more outcomes

Named customers8 records

Segments8 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature1 record

Partnerships

16 partnerships are on record, tiered core and minor.

• Target Markets Program Administrators Association (TMPAA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerIndustry association dedicated to program specialists and program business. PPIB participates as a member program administrator serving niche markets with specialized insurance programs.
• Insurance Industry Charitable Fund (IICF)minorOthersCharitable foundation supporting insurance industry community initiatives and giving back programs.
• Plus (Professional Liability Underwriting Society)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit professional organization promoting the development of the professional liability industry through forums, education, and networking for industry professionals.
• Professional Insurance Association (PIA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerTrade association providing members with critical information, education, networking opportunities, and business tools for insurance agents.
• California Insurance Wholesalers Association (CIWA)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerCalifornia State professional organization promoting the role of wholesalers in the insurance industry, including insurers distributing through wholesalers and vendors servicing wholesalers.
• Insurance Business of America Magazine (IBA)coreGTM or Marketing PartnerBroker-focused publication delivering breaking insurance news, special reports, and business strategies. PPIB has been featured and recognized by IBA.
• Insurance JournalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerLeading business news source for the Property & Casualty insurance industry.
• Rough NotesminorGTM or Marketing PartnerInsurance industry publication developing products, services, technical and educational information for the independent agency system.
• The Society of Permanent Cosmetic Professionals (SPCP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit association promoting safety, excellence, and professional standards in permanent cosmetics through education, certification, and industry guidelines. PPIB founder Susan Preston was co-founder.
• The Association of Professional Piercers (APP)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerInternational nonprofit dedicated to dissemination of vital health and safety information related to body piercing to piercers, healthcare providers, and the general public.
• American Academy of Micropigmentation (AAM)coreStrategic or Co-development PartnerOrganization inspiring and supporting permanent cosmetic professionals through educational opportunities, industry innovation, and highest safety standards.
• Dermascope MagazineminorGTM or Marketing PartnerProfessional skin care journal educating skincare professionals for over 40 years, covering aesthetics and spa therapy.
• Spa Industry AssociationminorStrategic or Co-development PartnerAssociation connecting the spa and wellness community with free membership for actively practicing wellness professionals nationally and internationally.
• Texas Med Spa Association (TMSA)minorStrategic or Co-development PartnerNonprofit organization proactively addressing emerging changes and challenges in non-surgical cosmetic medicine in Texas.
• Live Free or Die Tattoo ExpominorGTM or Marketing PartnerNew England's largest tattoo expo in downtown Manchester, NH. PPIB has exhibited at tattoo conventions.
• World Tattoo EventsminorGTM or Marketing PartnerComprehensive international calendar of tattoo conventions, expos, and festivals featuring 500+ events worldwide.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• Burns & Wilcox: Burns & Wilcox is a specialty insurance wholesaler and program manager serving retail agents with hard-to-place commercial lines, including niche programs. Its broker-only distribution and specialty program development parallel PPIB's model.
• USG Insurance Services: USG is a national wholesale brokerage and managing general agent placing specialty and E&S commercial lines through retail brokers — a comparable broker-channel program management competitor to PPIB.
• Norman-Spencer Agency: Norman-Spencer is a specialty insurance program manager focused on niche commercial lines, placing coverage through retail brokers. Its program-administration approach for non-mainstream risks is comparable to PPIB's specialty model.
• K&K Insurance Group: K&K Insurance is a specialty program manager focused on niche and affinity markets (sports, leisure, entertainment, and specialty commercial), placing business through agents and brokers — directly analogous to PPIB's niche-program strategy.
• Venture Programs: Venture Programs is a specialty program administrator that develops and manages niche commercial insurance programs placed through appointed agents — a close operating analog to PPIB's 34 proprietary programs.
• RPS (Risk Placement Services): RPS is a large US wholesale broker and program manager placing specialty and excess & surplus lines risks through a national broker network — directly comparable to PPIB's wholesale-only distribution model for hard-to-place commercial business.

Broad incumbents

• Brown & Riding: Brown & Riding is a national wholesale brokerage and program manager serving retail agents with specialty and E&S placements. It competes with PPIB for broker-routed specialty placements across a broader set of verticals.
• CRC Insurance Services: CRC Group is a large wholesale brokerage and program manager focused on specialty and E&S lines. It serves a similar broker-channel customer base as PPIB but with broader product scope across many verticals.
• Amwins: Amwins is one of the largest US specialty wholesalers, distributing a broad portfolio of E&S and program business through retail agents. It competes with PPIB in specialty distribution but at substantially greater scale and program breadth.

Emerging players

• Worldwide Insurance Specialists: Worldwide Insurance Specialists focuses on hard-to-place and non-standard commercial risks, distributing through agents — a smaller, niche-focused peer in adjacent specialty commercial lines to PPIB.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/PPIB_Corp
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/ppib-insurance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles6 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 PPIB