When brothers, David and Michael Miller, founded Brightway Insurance 10 years ago, they hoped to grow it into a $10 million business in 10 years. Today, the company has $541 million in annualized written premium.

"When David and I started Brightway, we built a business based on our values, which include producing winning outcomes for all stakeholders. As a result, we've created a company that, in 10 short years, has grown to be one of the largest Personal Lines insurance agencies in the country," said Michael Miller, who leads the company as Chair and Co-Founder and was recently recognized by Franchise Business Review as a Top Franchise Leader. 

As a result of Brightway's alignment on creating Win-Win-Win outcomes for all and the company's focus on empowering its franchisees, employees and customers to achieve their potential, achievements since 2008 has included growing from: 

•  38 franchised locations in one state in 2008 to 170 in 20 states today
•  $36 million in annualized written premium in 2008 to $541 million today
•  155 people in the Brightway system in 2008 to 842 today

The company asked franchisees to share how being a part of Brightway has made futures brighter for them, their families, teams, customers and others. This is what they had to say…

"Coming on in October 10 years ago, two short months after the opening of Brightway, I have become successful in my career and obtaining financial freedom for myself and family. I have been given the ability to offer this to others to succeed as well and have very loyal clients who trust me as their agent." - Charlene Rodriguez, Lakeland, Fla.

"By identifying the real values in life and believing in what I can do, Brightway created an appealing future for me and my family." - Siva Govindarajan, Plano, Texas

"Being a Brightway Agency Owner allows me to fulfill all my career ambitions without limitations. In return, the success I have provides directly for my family and community. It is incredible to bring 15 years of industry experience to making sure my community is adequately protected. For me, it is not just about making a lifestyle for my family, but for bettering my community. I finally feel a sense of purpose with my career." - Maegan Lunte, Wylie, Texas

"Brightway, for me, has been a dream come true. I have a new energy in my step as I go to the office each day. For my team and I, the sky is the limit." - Michele Robicheaux, Youngsville, La.

"Brightway has proven to be the right franchise at the right time for my family.  We could not be happier." - Eric Seuffert, Cape Coral, Fla.

"As Agency Owners, it has freed up time to spend with our family, provide an awesome work environment for our team and allowed us to be active in the community. We are also having great success in educating our customers about their policies and providing them great savings while maintaining great coverage." - Jacqueline Howard and Robin White-Twiggs, Miami Lake, Fla.

"Moving from a captive to a Brightway agency has given us freedom to help more clients and build a better book of business faster than we expected. We appreciate the ability to grow relationships with a variety of carriers and shop from a larger market to find the right policy year after year for our clients.  The service team provided by Brightway has been invaluable to us and our clients, allowing the agents to focus on new business. We also appreciate the ability to be flexible with our work day and look forward to the long-term benefits of an established Brightway agency for our families and for what it will allow us to contribute back to the community in the future." - Michelle Cleveland, Abilene, Texas

"The insurance business has changed so much in the last few years. Working with people who care about our business, our team and clients make things so much better.  We enjoy being a Brightway agency. More importantly, we love being on the Brightway TEAM!" - Rhoda and Brian Murphy, Palm Beach Gardens, Fla.

"My main job as an Agency Owner is to protect my clients' most important assets. Being partnered with Brightway provides me with the tools and the carriers to be able to do just that. This opportunity also allows me to provide opportunities for my employees as well that they may not get elsewhere. Plus, it allows me to build the type of future I want for myself and my family." - Kandie Landers, Glendale, Colo. and Fort Lauderdale, Fla.

"Our Brightway experience has been very positive. We have learned a new business and new business language. We have established ourselves as a Top Performing Agency within the Brightway system, and we have done this with absolutely no background in this industry prior to purchasing our Agency. This speaks volumes as to the system that Brightway has implemented. We were able to take our background in Retail and Retail Sales Training and apply it to our plan here at Brightway. And, the combination of the system and our skill set works beautifully together. This has only served to reinforce what we thought going into this opportunity... it always comes down to providing a better customer experience for our clients. To have the resources available to us through the Brightway infrastructure coupled with our relentless pursuit of providing a world class experience for our clients... this is our daily, sustainable competitive advantage over any other Agency." - Matt Grundwerg, Coral Springs, Fla.

"There is nothing I could have done for the last nine years that would have provided for my family and myself as well as having been part of Brightway." - Mike Hatmaker, Largo, Fla.

"I am happy I went out on my own as an Agency Owner." - Alicia Katz, Sherman Oaks, Calif.

"Wow, 10 years! That is amazing to see the growth, and I am blessed to be a part of it!" - Allison Chaumont, Edmond, Okla.

"Our time with Brightway has seen a lot of growth and we look forward towards the future continuing this association and passing our agency down to the next generation." - Janet Harrington, Palm Harbor, Fla.

About Brightway Insurance
Brightway Insurance is a national property/casualty insurance retailer selling through a network of franchised independent stores throughout the country. With more than $541 million in annualized written premium, the company is one of the largest personal lines agencies in the United States.

Brightway began franchising operations in 2008 and has since grown to more than 800 people in 20 states serving customers in all 50 states. Forbes has recognized the company as America's No. 1 Franchise to Buy. Additionally, the company was named a top franchise three years in a row by Entrepreneur magazine and one of the fastest-growing private companies in America nine consecutive years by Inc. 5000. People wishing to learn more about franchise ownership with Brightway may visit BrightwayDifference.com and find us on LinkedIn. Consumers seeking a better insurance buying experience may visit Brightway.com and find us on Facebook.