What Member Insurance Agency Inc does

Member Insurance Agency Inc, doing business as American Hardware & Lumber Insurance (AHLI), is a specialized commercial insurance agency founded in 1972 and headquartered in Barrington, United States. The firm is positioned as the single largest insurance supplier to independent hardware stores in the United States and operates as a subsidiary of Member Insurance Ltd. Its target market spans independent hardware retailers, lumber dealers, building material dealers, paint retailers, nursery and garden centers, rental dealers, and wood products manufacturers, with stated intent to extend coverage to "any independent business" beyond those core verticals.

AHLI distributes two product lines — Business Insurance (commercial property, casualty, and liability coverage tailored to retail and wholesale hardware operations) and Benefits Insurance (group health and welfare products for small business employers) — priced through custom quotes rather than published rate cards. Distribution combines direct agency sales, a web-driven quote process, and embedded partnerships with the dominant U.S. hardware cooperatives and wholesalers: Allpro, Orgill, True Value, Do It Best, House Hasson, and the National Hardware Packers Association (NHPA). Governance is provided by the Member Insurance Ltd. Board of Directors, and the agency returns surplus to eligible policyholders through annual dividends, a mutual-style mechanism uncommon among commercial insurance distributors.

The revenue model is commission-based on recurring insurance premiums across Business and Benefits lines, distributed nationwide through the cooperative channel. The agency employs 51–100 people, operates an active website at memberinsurance.com, and has no disclosed funding rounds, acquisitions, or material leadership changes in the input data.

Name

Member Insurance Agency Inc

Legal name

Member Insurance Agency Inc

Website

https://memberinsurance.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

1972

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

51–100 employees

Short description

Member Insurance Agency Inc, doing business as American Hardware & Lumber Insurance (AHLI), is a 1972-founded U.S. insurance agency that distributes Business and Benefits Insurance to independent hardware retailers, lumber dealers, building material dealers, and related SMBs through partnerships with major hardware cooperatives.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Headquarters

HQ city

Barrington

HQ country

United States

HQ region

North America

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Personnel, Operations, Marketing or Sales

Revenue model

1. Insurance Premiums: AHLI acts as an insurance agency providing customized insurance solutions. Revenue is generated through insurance premiums collected from policyholders across their target market segments.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels1 record

Marketing channels1 record

Core offering

American Hardware & Lumber Insurance (AHLI) is a specialized insurance agency that provides customized business and benefits insurance solutions to independent hardware stores, lumber dealers, building material dealers, paint retailers, nursery and garden centers, rental dealers, and wood products manufacturers throughout the United States. The company partners with financially strong insurance carriers to deliver coverage and has a history of paying annual dividends to policyholders.

Product overview

American Hardware & Lumber Insurance (AHLI) operates as a single unified insurance agency offering two core insurance products: Business Insurance and Benefits Insurance. These products are customized for independent hardware stores, lumber dealers, building material dealers, paint retailers, nursery and garden centers, rental dealers, and wood products manufacturers throughout the United States. The company provides comprehensive insurance solutions through partnerships with financially strong insurance carriers, with a history of paying annual dividends to members since 1972.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• Business Insurance

Segments6 records

Ideal customer profiles3 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Partnerships

Six partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• AllprocoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorAllpro is a partner company in the AHLI network, providing insurance solutions to the hardware and building supply industry. Listed as one of the industry partners proudly collaborating with AHLI.
• OrgillcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorOrgill is a partner company in the AHLI network, providing insurance solutions to the hardware and building supply industry. Listed as one of the industry partners proudly collaborating with AHLI.
• True Value CompanycoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorTrue Value Company is a partner company in the AHLI network, providing insurance solutions to the hardware and building supply industry. Listed as one of the industry partners proudly collaborating with AHLI.
• Do It BestcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorDo It Best is a partner company in the AHLI network, providing insurance solutions to the hardware and building supply industry. Listed as one of the industry partners proudly collaborating with AHLI.
• House HassoncoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorHouse Hasson is a partner company in the AHLI network, providing insurance solutions to the hardware and building supply industry. Listed as one of the industry partners proudly collaborating with AHLI.
• NHPA (National Hardware Purchasing Alliance)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorNHPA (National Hardware Purchasing Alliance) is a partner company in the AHLI network, providing insurance solutions to the hardware and building supply industry. Listed as one of the industry partners proudly collaborating with AHLI.

Scale indicators3 records

Recent moves5 records

Expansion highlights4 records

Direct peers

• Federated Insurance: Mutual insurer specializing in P&C coverage for hardware stores, lumber dealers, and building supply retailers. Most direct competitor to AHLI in the same niche vertical with similar industry-specific expertise.
• Westfield Insurance: Super-regional P&C insurer with specialty expertise in hardware/home center, lumber, and building supply risks. Closely comparable industry vertical and product offering.
• Sentry Insurance: Mutual specialty insurer offering commercial P&C products to small and mid-sized businesses including hardware and building supply operators. Closely comparable target market and product mix.

Broad incumbents

• Cincinnati Financial: Property/casualty insurer with a heavily agency-distributed model and emphasis on small commercial accounts. Similar agency-distribution approach but broader industry exposure than AHLI.
• Auto-Owners Insurance: Mid-sized mutual P&C carrier distributed through independent agents to small commercial and retail customers. Comparable agency channel and small-commercial product set.
• The Hartford: Large national insurer with a strong small-business commercial lines franchise serving retailers and contractors. Comparable business insurance buyer profile, but vastly broader portfolio beyond AHLI's niche.
• Erie Insurance: Regional mutual insurer with significant small-commercial and agency-distributed operations. Comparable mutual-cooperative governance and small-business customer mix.

Regional players

• Acuity Insurance: Regional mutual P&C carrier with strong small-commercial franchise including hardware and contractor risks. Comparable customer profile though concentrated in the Midwest.
• Central Insurance: Mid-sized regional mutual P&C insurer serving small and mid-sized commercial accounts through independent agents. Comparable mutual model and small-business focus, with narrower geographic reach.

Emerging players

• Hiscox: Specialty insurer focused on small business and commercial niche risks with a digital-first agency/broker experience. Comparable small-commercial target customer but with stronger digital UX.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat5 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Xx.com/MemberInsurance

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

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 Member Insurance Agency Inc