Direct Access Insurance Services

What Direct Access Insurance Services does

Direct Access Insurance Services (DAIS) is a national insurance agency network operating under a cluster model, headquartered in Roseville, California, with an apparent operational affiliation to specialty distributor Amwins. The company aggregates more than $400 million in property and casualty premium across over 130 independent retail agency partners and provides those partners with direct market access to over 40 admitted P&C carriers. Member agencies retain full ownership and independence, earn 100% of commissions on direct access business, and are eligible for profit sharing from dollar one, with up to 80% of override and contingency earnings passed through to members under a two-tier annual membership structure.

DAIS's core technology is a carrier-aggregation and agency-management integration layer rather than a proprietary software product. It connects member agencies to carriers via agency-level producer codes or DAIS house codes for direct quoting, binding, and servicing, and is supported by an internal operations team of five handling carrier code management, credentialing, commission accounting, and policy document management. The offering is extended through a Solutions Partners Program featuring Applied Systems, Vertafore, and other agency technology vendors, providing preferred terms to members.

The business model is subscription-recurring: agencies pay membership fees on an annual cadence in exchange for carrier access, commission economics, profit sharing, and back-office support. GTM is channel-driven — DAIS recruits independent P&C brokerages through its website, online application, and direct outreach (phone and email), committing to a 48-hour inquiry response. The company is licensed in all 50 states and serves members nationally, with primary customer segments being SMB independent retail insurance agencies offering commercial, personal, employee benefits, and risk management services.

Name

Direct Access Insurance Services

Legal name

Direct Access Insurance Services

Website

https://directaccessins.com

Company type

Private

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Direct Access Insurance Services (DAIS) is a national insurance agency network and cluster that gives over 130 independent P&C agencies direct market access to 40+ carriers, 100% commissions, and profit sharing under an Amwins-affiliated membership model.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Grass Valley

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

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

Revenue model

1. Agency Membership Fees: DAIS generates revenue through membership fees paid by agency partners. Agency partners earn 100% commission on direct access business with profit sharing eligibility from dollar one. The network leverages group size and carrier relationships to secure favorable commission and contingency agreements.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Direct Access Insurance Services (DAIS) is a national insurance agency network that gives independent retail property and casualty agencies direct market access to over 40 admitted P&C carriers in exchange for membership fees. Member agencies retain 100% of commissions on direct access business with profit-sharing eligibility from dollar one, use their own producer codes or DAIS house codes to quote, bind and service carriers, and receive operational support including carrier code management, credentialing, commission accounting and policy document management.

Product overview

Direct Access Insurance Services (DAIS) operates as a national insurance agency network and cluster offering a unified membership program that provides property and casualty insurance agencies with direct market access to over 40 carriers. The core DAIS Membership Program serves as the primary product, enabling agencies to quote, bind, and service insurance directly with carriers while earning 100% commissions and profit-sharing eligibility. This is supported by the DAIS Carrier Network, which aggregates carrier relationships and provides agency-level producer codes or DAIS house codes for direct access. DAIS Agency Support Services rounds out the offering with operational support including carrier code management, credentialing, commission accounting, and policy document management. The Solutions Partners Program provides additional value through technology partnerships with vendors including Applied, AVS, Brightfire, Capital, FIRST, Mach 5, and Vertafore.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• DAIS Membership Program National insurance agency network membership under a cluster model that gives property and casualty retail agencies direct access to over 40 admitted carriers, lets them retain 100% of commissions on direct access business with profit-sharing eligibility from dollar one, and includes agency support services such as carrier code management, credentialing, commission accounting and policy document management.
• DAIS Carrier Network Portfolio of more than 40 national and regional admitted property and casualty insurance carriers accessible through agency-level producer codes or DAIS house codes, enabling member agencies to quote, bind and service carriers directly, often without carrier-level production requirements, in all 50 U.S. states.
• DAIS Agency Support Services Comprehensive operational support for member agencies, including carrier code management, credentialing, commission accounting, policy document management, and DAIS/Amwins carrier support combined with broader Amwins Brokerage, Access and Underwriting offerings.
• Solutions Partners Program Partnership program connecting DAIS member agencies with technology and service solution providers including Applied Systems, AVS (Agency Vehicle Services), Brightfire, Capital, FIRST Insurance, Mach 5 and Vertafore, offering members preferred terms and services to maximize operational efficiency.

Quantifiable outcome

• 100% commission on direct access business with profit sharing eligibility from dollar one
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers2 records

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles1 record

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Applied SystemscoreTechnology or IntegrationSolutions Partner providing technology solutions for agency management. DAIS members can take advantage of preferred terms and services with this technology partner to maximize operational efficiency.
• VertaforecoreTechnology or IntegrationSolutions Partner providing agency management technology. DAIS members can take advantage of preferred terms and services with this technology partner to maximize operational efficiency.

Scale indicators4 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Direct peers

• National Insurance Producer Network (NIPN): NIPN is an insurance agency alliance/network providing independent agents with direct carrier access and profit-sharing. Directly comparable to DAIS in offering and customer base.
• ISU Insurance Services: ISU is an agency network/cluster that provides independent insurance agencies with carrier access, combined business resources, and profit-sharing similar to DAIS. Membership targets the same independent retail agency customer.
• Smart Choice Agents: Smart Choice is a national insurance agency network offering independent agents direct access to multiple carriers and profit-sharing arrangements. Directly comparable to DAIS in model and target market.
• SIAA (Strategic Insurance Agency Alliance): SIAA is a national insurance agency network/cluster that aggregates independent retail P&C agencies to secure direct carrier access and enhanced commissions. It is the closest direct competitor to DAIS in the agency cluster model.
• Coast to Coast Insurance Services: Coast to Coast Insurance is a P&C agency cluster that aggregates independent agencies to gain direct carrier appointments and stronger commission terms. Comparable in scale and member profile to DAIS.
• Insurance Alliance / The Alliance: The Alliance is an insurance carrier alliance that aggregates independent agents to provide direct carrier access and profit-sharing. Operates the same cluster/network model as DAIS.

Broad incumbents

• Hub International: Hub International is a large insurance brokerage that acquires and partners with independent agencies. While not a membership network, it competes for many of the same independent agency partners DAIS recruits.
• Amwins Group: Amwins is the largest U.S. specialty wholesale insurance broker and parent/affiliate of DAIS. It operates Brokerage, Access, and Underwriting divisions at scale, providing the broader ecosystem that DAIS members tap into.

Others

• Brown & Riding Insurance Services: Brown & Riding is a large wholesale insurance brokerage operating in the specialty insurance space adjacent to Amwins. Provides wholesale and MGA services that overlap with the broader Amwins offerings integrated into DAIS membership.

Emerging players

• World Insurance Associates: World Insurance Associates is a growing insurance brokerage aggregator that recruits independent agencies - overlapping with DAIS's target segment, though World is focused on acquisition/partnership rather than membership.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

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 Direct Access Insurance Services