Licensing in Florida
Florida uses the 2-20 General Lines agent license for full property and casualty authority, and the 4-40 Customer Representative license for agents working under supervision. Many agency owners start staff on a 4-40 and progress them to a 2-20.
Add the 2-15 Health & Life license if you intend to sell life and health, which pairs well with a P&C book already in the door.
Why the Florida market rewards independence
Homeowners rates in Florida have been volatile for years, and consumers shop aggressively at renewal. Every rate increase is a re-marketing opportunity for an agent with a broad carrier shelf — and a lost client for an agent with one.
This is the practical reason franchise and captive limitations hurt more in Florida than in calmer states: your ability to retain a client is a direct function of how many markets you can quote.
The franchise crowd in Florida
Florida has an unusually dense franchise market. The pitch is brand and support; the cost is a five-figure entry fee, ongoing royalties, restricted territory, and — most importantly — the book usually is not yours.
The alternative is an independent exchange: the same carrier access, no franchise fee, statewide and nationwide writing ability, and full ownership of the customers you bring in.
What to build first
Get licensed, get appointed through a network, and get local search working. In Florida the highest-intent traffic is local and mobile — 'car insurance near me' at 9pm on a phone. An agency with a real website, managed Google Ads and after-hours answering captures business that competitors literally never hear ring.