Look where the incentives are. Brooke makes big money from the sale and finance of the franchaise. Brooke has an incentive to see the agent fail because it is an opportunity to sell the agency again. Recycling inventory. Check the number of owners each agency has had. Five owners in seven years pretty much tells the story.
I am an independent insurance broker that have not and will never be with Brooke. And Brooke doesn’t seem to be a good decision to me in the first place. First of all, if you look around the most successful insurance agencies are independent and I mean independent. They are not part of any cluster, franchise group, not even captive. If you want to succeed in this business have to realize it won’t happen overnight, and will require a lot of commitment.
Being committed to pursue education (insurance designations, CPCU, AAI, CIC, etc) plus acquiring managerial skills (seminars in Marketing, HR, etc.) will certainly bring success to your agency. The access to prefer market that Brooke promises to franchisees is something many brokers can obtain with committment to education and improve the other skills.
Secondly, the money invested/debt acquired in Brooke is a lot larger than the money needed if you start alone. We started our agency with $15,000 plus another $10,000 borrowed a few years ago (of course more is needed now). We have struggled but now are in better shape with almost $500k in revenues, growing and no debt other than small expenditures in the co. credit card paid in full every month. Of course requires good money management.
To me getting into Brooke sounds more like someone who wants to run the business from home without much sacrifice. Running an insurance agency is NOT like running a Starbucks shop.
I hope more people realize abouth the risks associated with this Brooke company.
Brooke will keep doing this to people until they are forced to go to court. So far they have not had the wonderful opportunity to see the inside of a courtroom. We will see very soon if they will have there day in court. If so I will personally invite everyone who wishes to attend. I think they have build there house of cards as high as it can go.
Thank you all previous Brooke Franchisees for turning the light on for some of us. Please trust, those of us that are still in the thrust of Brooke, are there because we bet the farm on this business and we don’t know how to get out. We have heard, they ruin you in the industry where no carrier will hire you. Some of us have long tenure in the industry, got in this and NOW don’t know how to get out. This organization is dangerous. They know they have you by the throat and they play on it. Please lead the way and trust, still with Brooke or Gone, we will stand with you. In my short time with them, they have played more games with my statement than Mattel could have developed. Joke is on me for not reading the contract–but doesn’t make their practices ethical (which isn’t illegal) nor some of them Legal (that is the question).
Terrified:
I’m sure all of the Franchisees read there contract. You’re not alone in this situation. We are all trying to get out. It’s a long battle. You can call and talk to Rhonda about all of this 225-268-8171. Just call and leave a message. She seems to be leading the pack. She is the only one with a court date with Brooke. There is alot riding on this court date.
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Look where the incentives are. Brooke makes big money from the sale and finance of the franchaise. Brooke has an incentive to see the agent fail because it is an opportunity to sell the agency again. Recycling inventory. Check the number of owners each agency has had. Five owners in seven years pretty much tells the story.
I am an independent insurance broker that have not and will never be with Brooke. And Brooke doesn’t seem to be a good decision to me in the first place. First of all, if you look around the most successful insurance agencies are independent and I mean independent. They are not part of any cluster, franchise group, not even captive. If you want to succeed in this business have to realize it won’t happen overnight, and will require a lot of commitment.
Being committed to pursue education (insurance designations, CPCU, AAI, CIC, etc) plus acquiring managerial skills (seminars in Marketing, HR, etc.) will certainly bring success to your agency. The access to prefer market that Brooke promises to franchisees is something many brokers can obtain with committment to education and improve the other skills.
Secondly, the money invested/debt acquired in Brooke is a lot larger than the money needed if you start alone. We started our agency with $15,000 plus another $10,000 borrowed a few years ago (of course more is needed now). We have struggled but now are in better shape with almost $500k in revenues, growing and no debt other than small expenditures in the co. credit card paid in full every month. Of course requires good money management.
To me getting into Brooke sounds more like someone who wants to run the business from home without much sacrifice. Running an insurance agency is NOT like running a Starbucks shop.
I hope more people realize abouth the risks associated with this Brooke company.
I need to talk to Elizabeth Brown you have my number because I thought I was taking you to dinner in Vegas for Middle east food.
Brooke will keep doing this to people until they are forced to go to court. So far they have not had the wonderful opportunity to see the inside of a courtroom. We will see very soon if they will have there day in court. If so I will personally invite everyone who wishes to attend. I think they have build there house of cards as high as it can go.
Please send date and time, I would like to attend and see if big Shawn comes.
Brooke I know you are reading this message.
“YOU ARE IN LOUISIANA NOW” See you Nov 2nd.
Thank you all previous Brooke Franchisees for turning the light on for some of us. Please trust, those of us that are still in the thrust of Brooke, are there because we bet the farm on this business and we don’t know how to get out. We have heard, they ruin you in the industry where no carrier will hire you. Some of us have long tenure in the industry, got in this and NOW don’t know how to get out. This organization is dangerous. They know they have you by the throat and they play on it. Please lead the way and trust, still with Brooke or Gone, we will stand with you. In my short time with them, they have played more games with my statement than Mattel could have developed. Joke is on me for not reading the contract–but doesn’t make their practices ethical (which isn’t illegal) nor some of them Legal (that is the question).
Terrified:
I’m sure all of the Franchisees read there contract. You’re not alone in this situation. We are all trying to get out. It’s a long battle. You can call and talk to Rhonda about all of this 225-268-8171. Just call and leave a message. She seems to be leading the pack. She is the only one with a court date with Brooke. There is alot riding on this court date.
What are your thoughts about the article in the Insurance Journal ?
I sent an e-mail to the editor asking them to keep digging on this story.