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Independent insurance agencies see revenue gains and wider AI use
The 2026 Agency Universe Study estimates about 37,000 independent agencies operate in the US, and AI adoption rose to 46% from 15% in 2024.
Three in four independent insurance agencies reported revenue increases between 2024 and 2025, while the share seeing revenue declines fell from 12% to 8%, according to the 2026 Agency Universe Study released by Future One, a collaboration of the Big "I" and leading independent agency companies.
The study estimated roughly 37,000 independent insurance agencies are operating in the US, broadly stable over the past decade, though slightly down from 2024. Average agency headcount rose from 8.2 employees in 2024 to 9.9 in 2026, and one in three agencies said they increased their employee count over the prior two years.
Revenue growth was reported across both major lines, with about 70% of agencies citing personal lines increases and roughly two-thirds reporting commercial lines growth. Marketing budgets also climbed, from $14,300 in 2024 to $20,600 in 2026, with social media and digital marketing the top activity, cited by 47% of agencies.
AI use expanded sharply, with nearly half of agencies, 46%, reporting AI adoption in 2026, up from 15% in 2024. Common uses included marketing content generation (49%), coverage form analysis (43%), and contract reviews (35%), but 60% cited a lack of knowledge about AI capabilities as the biggest barrier, along with 48% flagging security and privacy concerns.