Carolina Underwriters

What Carolina Underwriters does

Carolina Underwriters Insurance Agency Inc. is an independent insurance brokerage founded in 1994 by Ann Shaw and Jack Shaw and headquartered in Matthews, North Carolina. The firm operates as a multi-carrier agency representing 34+ insurance companies, including national carriers such as Travelers, Chubb, Liberty Mutual, Nationwide, The Hartford, Zurich, CNA, and Progressive, as well as specialty carriers like Builders Mutual and Hagerty. This carrier portfolio enables the firm to place both personal lines (auto, homeowners, renters, life, disability) and commercial lines (business owners policy, commercial auto, general liability, workers compensation, contractors, hotel, restaurant, nonprofit) across individual consumers and small-to-mid-sized businesses.

The company's technology footprint is limited to standard independent-agency tooling: a marketing website with online quote-request forms across eight product lines, a content blog, social media channels (Facebook, X, LinkedIn), the CSR24 customer self-service portal, and an Applied Pay agency-bill-payment integration. No proprietary underwriting platform, AI-driven pricing engine, or differentiated technology stack is indicated. Customer acquisition is sales-led, relying on direct website quote requests, physical office visits at the Matthews headquarters and Huntersville (Lake Norman) regional office, Trusted Choice referral network affiliation, and educational content marketing.

Revenue is generated exclusively through commissions paid by the carriers the agency represents, with annual billing cadence and quote-based pricing determined by carrier underwriting criteria. The firm employs 1-10 staff, including second-generation leadership (CEO Brandon Younce, CFO Justin Younce) alongside the founders. Customer concentration is dispersed across a long-tail book of personal and small-commercial policies in the Carolinas region, with no disclosed enterprise anchors or large-ticket recurring contracts.

Name

Carolina Underwriters

Legal name

Carolina Underwriters Insurance Agency Inc.

Website

https://carolinaunderwriters.net

Company type

Private

Founded year

1994

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Carolina Underwriters is a family-owned independent insurance agency founded in 1994 in Matthews, NC, representing 34+ carriers to place personal and commercial coverage for individuals and small businesses across the Carolinas.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Independent Insurance Brokerage

NAICS

Insurance Agencies and Brokerages (52421), 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 industries

Construction Specialty (Wrap-Ups/Builders Risk/Contractors) (FSAJAGAH), Professional Liability (Errors & Omissions) (FSAJADAB)

Keywords

• Independent insurance agency
• Commercial insurance brokerage
• Personal insurance coverage
• Multi-carrier insurance broker
• Business owners policy

Headquarters

HQ city

Matthews

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 Commission Revenue: Carolina Underwriters generates revenue by earning commissions from multiple insurance carriers they represent. As independent agents, they offer coverage from several carefully selected, financially sound insurance companies and earn commissions on policies sold to individuals and businesses.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels3 records

Marketing channels3 records

Core offering

Carolina Underwriters is an independent insurance agency that sells personal and commercial insurance policies on behalf of multiple carefully selected insurance carriers. It brokers coverage including auto, homeowners, renters, life, business owners (BOP), commercial auto, general liability, workers compensation, contractors, hotel, restaurant, nonprofit, and specialty insurance products, and earns commissions on the policies placed.

Product overview

Carolina Underwriters is an independent insurance agency offering a comprehensive portfolio of insurance products and services across personal and commercial lines. The agency operates as a multi-carrier brokerage representing multiple insurance companies, enabling them to offer customized coverage solutions. The core product suite includes personal insurance (auto, homeowners, renters, life) and commercial insurance (general liability, commercial auto, workers compensation, BOP). Specialty offerings include bonds, contractors insurance, hotel insurance, nonprofit insurance, and restaurant insurance. Add-on modules include professional liability, product liability, commercial property, disability insurance, and supplemental coverages such as transportation expenses, additional living expense, business income, and liquor liability coverage.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Auto Insurance Vehicle coverage protecting against accidents, liability, and damage. Includes collision, comprehensive, and liability coverage options, offered to individuals and families through multiple carriers.
• Homeowners Insurance Coverage protecting the home structure, personal property, and liability for homeowners, including protection against fire, theft, natural disasters, and additional living expenses.
• Renters Insurance Coverage protecting personal property within a rented dwelling against fire, theft, and specified natural disasters, particularly important for renters and college students.
• Life Insurance Financial protection for families, including term life and permanent (universal) life insurance policies covering death benefits, funeral costs, and debt obligations.
• Disability Insurance Income protection policies including short-term disability (0-14 day waiting period, up to 2 years benefits) and long-term disability (several week/month waiting period, benefits from few years to lifetime).
• Workers Compensation Insurance Coverage covering medical costs, rehabilitation, and lost wages for employees injured on the job, required in North and South Carolina.
• General Liability Insurance Protection against legal issues due to accidents, injuries, and negligence claims, covering property damage, bodily injury, libel, and lawsuit costs.
• Commercial Auto Insurance Coverage for business vehicles including liability protection, collision coverage, and protection for damage to rental vehicles.
• Business Owners Policy (BOP) Combined coverage for small to mid-sized businesses including property, liability, and business interruption protection.
• Business & Commercial Insurance Comprehensive business coverage including general liability, property, commercial auto, inland marine, commercial umbrella, and business income protection.
• Bonds Surety bonds and insurance bonds for contractors and businesses requiring financial guarantees.
• Contractors Insurance Specialized coverage for contractors including general liability, business automobile, property, inland marine, and workers compensation.
• Hotel Insurance Specialized coverage for hotels and hospitality businesses addressing unique industry exposures and liability risks.
• Restaurant Insurance Coverage for restaurants including liquor liability, property protection, and business interruption.
• Non-Profit Insurance Coverage tailored for nonprofit organizations addressing their specific liability exposures and organizational needs.
• Professional Liability Insurance Coverage for service providers against malpractice, errors, and negligence (also known as errors and omissions insurance).
• Product Liability Insurance Coverage for manufacturers, distributors, and retailers against financial loss from defective products causing injury or bodily harm.
• Commercial Property Insurance Coverage for business property including all-risk and peril-specific policies protecting buildings, technology, papers, and income.

Segments2 records

Ideal customer profiles2 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

15 partnerships are on record, tiered minor and core.

• Accident FundminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorWorkers compensation and insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters
• Auto-Owners InsuranceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters for auto and other personal lines coverage
• Builders MutualminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorInsurance carrier specializing in builders risk and contractors coverage, represented by Carolina Underwriters
• ChubbminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPremium insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters for high-value property and casualty coverage
• The HartfordminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters for business and personal lines
• Liberty MutualminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNational insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters
• NationwideminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorMajor insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters for various coverage types
• TravelersminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorLeading insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters for business and personal lines
• ZurichminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorGlobal insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters
• Trusted ChoicecoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerNetwork affiliation of independent insurance agencies that adhere to industry-wide best practices. Carolina Underwriters is identified as a Trusted Choice agent providing assurance of professional standards and access to network resources.
• CNAminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorCommercial insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters for business coverage
• ProgressiveminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAuto insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters
• SafecominorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPersonal insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters
• HagertyminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorClassic car insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters
• Hanover InsuranceminorChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorProperty and casualty insurance carrier represented by Carolina Underwriters

Scale indicators2 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights5 records

Broad incumbents

• Brown & Riding Insurance Services: National wholesale insurance brokerage and underwriting manager. Operates in the same insurance distribution ecosystem as Carolina Underwriters but at a wholesale/specialty scale rather than retail regional agency.
• RPS (Risk Placement Services): Major wholesale broker and managing general agency. Operates in adjacent insurance distribution channels that partner with or compete against retail agencies like Carolina Underwriters for placement of specialty and surplus lines risks.
• AssuredPartners: Large national insurance brokerage backed by private equity, aggregating independent agencies across the U.S. Highly comparable agency model but operates at far greater scale; would be a natural acquirer of agencies like Carolina Underwriters.

Regional players

• Peach State Insurance: Regional independent insurance agency serving the Southeast. Comparable multi-carrier, multi-line independent agency model; does not directly compete in the Carolinas but operates in a similar geography and customer segment.

Direct peers

• Reliance Partners: Independent insurance agency/brokerage providing commercial trucking and business insurance solutions. Comparable independent agency model with multi-carrier representation and specialization in commercial lines.
• Heffernan Insurance Brokers: Independent commercial and personal insurance brokerage operating across multiple regions. Same multi-carrier independent agency model with similar personal/commercial mix as Carolina Underwriters.
• Woodruff-Sawyer & Co. Independent insurance brokerage providing commercial and personal lines through multiple carrier partnerships. Comparable as an independent, multi-carrier agency competing in similar SMB and personal markets.
• Insurica Insurance Brokers: Independent insurance agency placing personal and commercial lines across multiple carriers. Closely comparable in business model, multi-carrier distribution approach, and customer segmentation to Carolina Underwriters.
• Higginbotham: Large independent insurance brokerage offering personal, commercial, and employee benefits across multiple states. Comparable to Carolina Underwriters as an independent, multi-carrier agency serving individuals and businesses.
• Acentria Insurance: Independent insurance agency offering personal, commercial, and life insurance across the southeastern U.S. Same multi-carrier agency model serving individuals and businesses with a similar product portfolio.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat3 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/JewelsCapri
• Facebookfacebook.com/pages/Carolina-Underwriters-Financial-Group/303678679820493
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/carolina-underwriters

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles5 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 Carolina Underwriters