AssureStart, the Pacific Northwest-based technology startup that sells small business insurance coverage on the Internet, has opened for business in Oregon.
AssureStart serves small businesses with one to 30 employees, an underserved and often overlooked segment of the commercial insurance market.
With 24/7 online availability, small businesses in Oregon can visit AssureStart.com, get coverage recommendations and a rate quote, purchase a business owner’s policy and download the policy and a certificate of insurance – all in less than 10 minutes.
Buying a business owner’s policy (which combines both general liability and business property coverage) through traditional insurance channels can take several days or more. With AssureStart’s efficient direct sales process, supported by all-new technology, the company is able to pass along savings in the form of lower rates.
"In an industry buried in paper, we offer a streamlined and paperless insurance-buying experience," said Mike LaRocco, president and CEO of AssureStart.
"The emerging demographic of small business owners are working and living in a digital world. We’re meeting them online with affordable insurance solutions they can manage on their own," said LaRocco. "With certificates of insurance available at the point of sale, a small business owner can open for business one day and present the necessary credentials to start working for a client the next."
AssureStart’s proprietary platform and recommendation engine can be accessed via laptop, tablet or smartphone. At any point in the application process, prospective customers can contact a licensed insurance professional by phone, email or web chat to ask questions and receive more information.
AssureStart is backed by the financial strength of American Family Mutual Insurance Company, rated ‘A’ (Excellent) by A.M. Best. Policies are underwritten by Midvale Indemnity Co., a subsidiary of American Family.
The company formed in February 2013 and launched service in its first state in November 2013. In addition to Oregon, AssureStart currently sells business owner’s policies in six other states, including Washington.
It plans to expand to additional states covering 70 percent of the U.S. by the end of 2014, with a national footprint complete by mid-2015. Over time, AssureStart intends to enhance its product suite to include commercial auto and workers’ compensation insurance.