ASKED, answered
Every question owners actually ask us,answered the way we'd want to be answered.
NO EVASIONS, NO "IT DEPENDS, CALL US" NON-ANSWERS. WHERE THE HONEST ANSWER REALLY IS "IT DEPENDS," WE SAY WHAT IT DEPENDS ON. GROUPED THE WAY THE DECISION ACTUALLY UNFOLDS — DECIDING, DEALING, AFTER, AND FIT.
19 QUESTIONS · 4 GROUPSThe decision— before you talk to anyone.
.01Is my agency too small for Dark Sky?
NO. SMALL INDEPENDENT AGENCIES ARE THE REASON DARK SKY EXISTS. THE BOOKS LARGER BUYERS WON'T RETURN A CALL FOR ARE EXACTLY THE ONES OUR OPERATION WAS BUILT TO SERVE — SMALL IS OUR SPECIALTY, NOT OUR COMPROMISE.
What if I'm not ready for another year or two?
THEN THIS IS THE IDEAL TIME TO TALK. RUNWAY LETS US PLAN THE TRANSITION PROPERLY, LETS YOU RETIRE ON YOUR SCHEDULE INSTEAD OF A BUYER'S, AND COSTS YOU NOTHING. MANY OF THE BEST CONVERSATIONS START ONE TO TWO YEARS OUT.
Do I have to be retiring to sell?
NO. RETIREMENT IS THE MOST COMMON REASON, BUT HEALTH, FAMILY, A MOVE, OR SIMPLE READINESS FOR A DIFFERENT LIFE ALL BRING OWNERS TO US. THE PROCESS AND THE CONFIDENTIALITY ARE THE SAME WHATEVER YOUR REASON.
Does talking to you commit me to anything?
NO. THE INTRO CALL INVOLVES NO DATA AND NO OBLIGATION, AND YOU CAN END THE PROCESS AT ANY POINT BEFORE A SIGNED AGREEMENT. OUR NO-PRESSURE COMMITMENT IS WRITTEN INTO OUR LETTERS OF INTENT.
You're new. Why should I trust you?
BECAUSE WE TELL YOU WE'RE NEW INSTEAD OF PRETENDING OTHERWISE. WE PUBLISH OUR PROCESS, OUR VALUATION APPROACH, AND OUR CONFIDENTIALITY PROMISE IN FULL — THINGS MOST ESTABLISHED BUYERS WON'T — AND WE'LL CONNECT YOU WITH REFERENCES WHO KNOW OUR WORK. ASK US THE HARD QUESTIONS.
The deal— price, paper, and pace.
.02How is the price set?
FROM YOUR REAL, VERIFIED NUMBERS — COMMISSION STATEMENTS, RETENTION, AND CARRIER MIX, REVIEWED TOGETHER UNDER NDA. THE OFFER ARRIVES IN WRITING WITH THE REASONING SHOWN. WE DON'T QUOTE A NUMBER BEFORE VERIFICATION, BECAUSE A NUMBER WITHOUT VERIFICATION IS A SALES TACTIC.
Will the offer change during diligence?
NOT OFF NUMBERS WE'VE VERIFIED. DILIGENCE EXISTS TO CONFIRM, NOT TO RENEGOTIATE — NO RETRADING IS ON OUR PUBLISHED LIST OF THINGS WE NEVER DO.
How is the payment structured?
PLAINLY, AND ON PAPER. THE WRITTEN OFFER STATES EXACTLY WHAT IS PAID, WHEN, AND ON WHAT CONDITIONS — NO OPEN-ENDED EARN-OUTS, AND NO SURPRISE HOLDBACKS THAT WEREN'T ON PAGE ONE. YOU CAN HAND IT TO YOUR ACCOUNTANT AS IT STANDS.
How long does the whole process take?
ABOUT ONE MORE RENEWAL SEASON FOR A STRAIGHTFORWARD DEAL — SIX PUBLISHED STEPS FROM CONFIDENTIAL INTRO CALL TO CLOSE, WITH THE TRANSITION PERIOD WRITTEN AROUND YOU AFTERWARD. THE FULL TIMELINE IS AT /SELLERS/PROCESS.
Do I need a broker or an attorney?
THAT'S YOUR CALL. WE ENCOURAGE YOU TO BRING YOUR OWN ATTORNEY AND ACCOUNTANT. THE PROCESS WAS WRITTEN TO BE READABLE WITHOUT THEM, BUT YOU SHOULD NEVER TAKE A BUYER'S WORD ALONE ON A DECISION THIS SIZE — INCLUDING OURS.
After the sale— clients, staff, name, and you.
.03What happens to my clients?
THEY'RE SERVED ON PEARL, THE OPERATIONS PLATFORM PROVEN INSIDE OUR OWN DENVER AGENCY — EVERY RENEWAL REVIEWED, EVERY CALL ANSWERED, CERTIFICATES SAME-DAY, AND A HUMAN ESCALATION PATH. THEY'RE INTRODUCED PROPERLY, WITH YOU, BEFORE ANYTHING CHANGES.
What happens to my staff?
THEY HEAR THE NEWS FROM YOU FIRST, ON YOUR SCHEDULE. WE SIT DOWN WITH EVERY PERSON WHO WANTS TO STAY, AND THE PEOPLE WHO KNOW YOUR ACCOUNTS ARE TREATED AS PART OF WHAT MADE THE AGENCY WORTH BUYING. THOSE RETIRING ALONGSIDE YOU LEAVE WITH THE SAME RESPECT YOU DO.
What happens to my agency's name?
IT STAYS ON THE DOOR THROUGH THE TRANSITION, YOUR DBA IS RETAINED RATHER THAN RETIRED, AND YOUR AGENCY KEEPS ITS OWN PAGE ON OUR SITE WITH ITS FOUNDING STORY — FOR AS LONG AS WE OPERATE THE BOOK.
Do I have to stay on after closing?
ONLY AS MUCH AS YOU WANT TO. STAYING INVOLVED AND A CLEAN BREAK ARE BOTH RESPECTED. YOUR TRANSITION ROLE — AND ITS END DATE — ARE DEFINED IN THE AGREEMENT BEFORE CLOSE, NOT IMPROVISED AFTER.
What is Pearl?
PEARL IS THE OPERATIONS PLATFORM BUILT AND PROVEN INSIDE CAA FINANCIAL, A DENVER INDEPENDENT AGENCY. TO YOUR CLIENTS IT ISN'T SOFTWARE — IT'S THE REASON RENEWALS GET REVIEWED, CALLS GET ANSWERED, AND PROMISES GET KEPT AFTER YOU RETIRE.
The fit— what kind of agencies belong here.
.04What kind of agencies fit Dark Sky?
SMALL INDEPENDENT PROPERTY AND CASUALTY AGENCIES WITH RETIRING OR TRANSITIONING OWNERS — BOOKS BUILT ON RETENTION AND REFERRALS, SERVING HOUSEHOLDS AND SMALL BUSINESSES. COLORADO FIRST.
Where do you buy?
COLORADO FIRST — FRONT RANGE CITIES AND MOUNTAIN AND PLAINS TOWNS ALIKE. NEIGHBORING STATES WILL FOLLOW AS WE GROW, AND IT COSTS NOTHING TO TALK EARLY IF YOU'RE OUTSIDE COLORADO.
What lines of business do you look for?
PERSONAL LINES AND SMALL COMMERCIAL P&C ARE THE CORE. BOOKS WITH SPECIALTY CONCENTRATIONS ARE CONSIDERED CASE BY CASE — THE HONEST ANSWER ARRIVES AFTER A LOOK AT THE BOOK, NOT BEFORE.
What does Dark Sky actually do with the agencies it buys?
WE OPERATE THEM — PERMANENTLY. THE BOOK MOVES ONTO OUR PLATFORM, THE SERVICE STANDARDS RISE, THE NAME AND STORY STAY PUBLIC, AND THE AGENCY BECOMES PART OF A GROUP BUILT TO HOLD, NOT FLIP.