Welcome to the Quoting Commercial Lines workflow, which can only be used for Commercial Lines of Business. Check out our Quoting Personal Lines in and out of the Personal Lines Rater workflow article if you are looking for help with Personal Lines of Business. This is a step-by-step workflow to complete the task of quoting commercial lines of business. 


This workflow is for agencies with full management system access as we will use the Management System, the Submission Center, Client Center, and Sales Center products. If you aren't sure if you have all these products, check out our Glossary of Icons and their Meanings - Left Navigation Bar section for product icons. 


TABLE OF CONTENTS


Check out our video if you'd rather watch and follow along!
EZLynx Term: Applicant is our term for customer, insured, or account and are used interchangeably.

Create the Applicant

  1. Create the Commercial Applicant in the Management System. Fill out as much Business and Contact information as you can, (including NAICS codes, description of operations, address state, mail and email addresses, and mobile phone numbers). 
    Not sure how? Click here!
    1. Hover over the Applicant icon (folder with a person) on the right navigation bar to to open the Applicant menu.
    2. Choose Create Commercial Applicant. This will redirect you to the Commercial Lines Applicant page where you can input all the customer's personal information. Note: If you do not have the Management System you will not see the Create Commercial Applicant option. 


  2. Gather all the required information to complete the quote. CSV template spreadsheets can be used for gathering lists of data for Locations/Buildings, Additional Named Insureds, Vehicles, Drivers, Additional Interests, and Equipment.

Create the Submission


All quotes should be documented inside the Submission Center no matter how you are obtaining the quotes. The Submission Center dashboard is a powerful tool for CSR's, Producers, and Owners.


  1. On the Commercial Applicant's account, navigate to Submission Center Tab to CREATE SUBMISSION.


  2. Add the Submission Details. The "Title" you give the submission will be the name of a Folder created in the Documents Tab. This folder will capture all documents that were generated or uploaded inside of the Submission Center for this submission. SAVE AND CONTINUE to move to the next step. 


  3. Add the Lines of Business for quoting by using the Line of Business drop-down. Click ADD LOB if you need to add multiple lines of business to the submission. 

    • When Tarmika is an option for quoting the line of business, the Tarmika logo will appear with a "Go to Quote" button. Login credentials are required to quote in Tarmika at this time. When Tarmika is not available for the line of business, you will not see the logo. Check out our Connect Marketplace - Tarmika Integration for Submission Center to learn about the Tarmika workflow in Submission Center.

  4. Check the "Bundle App" option and then CREATE APPLICATION. 
    1. If there is an existing Application or Policy in the system for this customer for the lines you are quoting, you will see the ability to pre-fill from it. 

    2. Enter the State and Description (example: NB Quotes 2024 - GL/WC), and choose which LOB will be the primary if you have multiple LOBs, then SAVE. 

    3. Complete all the pertinent information in the entry screens, then SAVE & CLOSE.

  5. Select the Carriers for quoting. 
    1. Based on the NACIS code, the system will display the Carriers the Agency represents who have a Known Appetite for the type of commercial business you are working on. 

    2. If you access the Carrier through the MAP, you will see the Market Access chip indicator. 

    3. Choose all the Carriers the Agency represents with a Known Appetite, along with the Carriers with an Unknown Appetite you would like to use for quoting. SAVE AND CONTINUE to move to the next step.

  6. Add any Documents required for quoting by choosing supplemental type of documents from the list on the left or Uploading them from your computer as needed. SAVE AND CONTINUE to move to the next step.

  7. See the Carrier cards displayed. Open each individual Carrier card and follow the steps below for each Carrier:
    1. Select the Carrier UNDERWRITER by using the dropdown or selecting the Vertical Dots > ADD UNDERWRITER.

    2. Select the lines of business, then up to Actions > ACORD Applications to generate the ACORD forms needed. If an LOB (line of business) is not needed for this carrier, choose the LOB, then from the Actions > Remove Selected.

    3. Provide a Document Name for future reference - click PREVIEW when ready to generate the forms. 

    4. Once the forms are generated, X out to see them displayed under the Documents area of the Carrier Card.

    5. Select the ACORD form and all Documents for quoting with this Carrier.

    6. Choose SUBMIT TO CARRIERS and make the appropriate choice. An email will open where you can include instructions/details and send. 

    7. Create a Note and task reminder from the ACTIVITY button located inside of Submission Center with a task reminder to follow up for the quotes. The number of days will be based on how soon quotes are needed. Attach all documentation, quote Notes, which was used for requesting quotes. Add the proper checklist and label.
      Not sure how? Click here!
      1. On the top-right, select the Activity button. This will open the Agency Workspace pane.
      2. Since you are on a customer's account, it will auto-fill their name in the top field.
      3. The system will also auto-fill the Discussion Title with the Submission Title.
      4. Input your notes in the "Type your note here..." box. 
      5. Select the Add Attachments (paperclip) icon to attach any relevant documents needed for reference. 
      6. Select the Add Task (paper with a checkmark) icon to assign a task or checklist to someone at your agency.
      7. Select Add Reminder to add as many reminders (email, text, and/or notification) as needed for the task or checklist.
      8. Select the Add Labels (price tag) icon to add a label to the note for organization.
      9. Select Save to finish adding the note to the customer's account.


    8. Update the Status for each Carrier as your submissions move through the quoting process.
      Not sure how? Click here!
      • Inside the Submission
        1. Navigate to the Carrier Submission step. 
        2. Click on the Carrier card. 
        3. Under the Carrier's name you can use the Status dropdown to choose for the overall submission with this carrier. 
        4. If you have multiple lines of business (LOBs), you can expand the LOB line and find it's own respective Status dropdown if you want to track at an LOB level. 
        5. Note: If you change the Status at an LOB level it will also update the status of the overall submission with this carrier. However, if you update the overall submission status, it will not update the individual LOB line statuses. 
      • Navigated away from Submission and need to find again
        1. Hover over the Applicant icon (folder with a person) on the left navigation bar. 
        2. Choose Submission Center.
        3. Select the Submissions tab.
        4. Use the Search bar to find the Submission Title for the customer's submission. 
        5. Click on the Submission Title and you will be redirected to the Carrier Submissions step of that submission. 
        6. Follow Steps 2-4 in the Inside the Submission section above to update the status.


Create the Proposal

  1. When the status of QUOTED is chosen for a line of business in a Carrier card, update the Writing Company, how it was Rated (Online or Manual by email), Premium, MEP (Minimum Earned Premium), Fees/Taxes.

  2. The Proposal details will be pulled from the Application entry screens. It is especially important to update the screens to match the quote BEFORE generating a Proposal. 
    Not sure how? Click here!
    1. Expand the line of business line.
    2. Under the line of business, click on the Application title. This will open a new browser tab and take you into the application entry screens where you can update the application.
    3. Once you have updated the application, SAVE AND CLOSE. You can then X out of the new browser tab that was created. 
    4. Back on the browser tab with Submission Center, refresh your browser tab.



  3. Now that you've updated the application, CREATE PROPOSAL using the button in the top right of the screen.
    Not sure how? Click here!
    1. Inside the submission, click Create Proposal in the top right of the screen.
    2. Choose the Quote(s) for the Proposal. Note: Only the lines of business whose, status has been set as Quoted will display.
    3. Click Generate Proposal.
    4. This will open a new window that contains the Proposal. Review and edit depending on your agency's standard operations. 
    5. Once you are done, click File > Save & Close. This will close out the new window. 
    6. Navigate to the Documents tab on the customer's account.
    7. Choose the Submission Folder with the matching Submission title. There you will find the generated proposal.
  4. If not meeting personally in the office, email the quote (or share the Proposal with the Client Center), and talk through the quote with the prospect. The successful quotes will be contained in the Quotes Tab for later reference if needed.
    Not sure how? Click here!
    • To email the proposal:
      1. Navigate to the Documents tab on the customer's account. 
      2. Choose the Submission folder with the matching Submission title. There you will find the generated proposal. 
      3. Select Actions > Email. This open a new browser tab and take you to the Compose Email page. 
      4. Compose your email to your prospect and select Send on the bottom of the page. 
    • To share proposal via Client Center:
      1. Navigate to the Documents tab on the customer's account.
      2. Choose the Submission folder with the matching Submission title. There you will find the generated proposal.
      3. Select Actions > Share. This will open the Send Shared Document Notification window.
      4. Use the dropdown to select a notification delivery method for your customer to be notified that the document is now accessible to them via Client Center.
      5. Select Send to send the notification to your customer and close the window.



  5. Edit the Discussion Note to document the details discussed with the Prospect, complete the checklist and Close the Open Note. Your Prospect may not buy this year, but if they come back next year for quotes, your Notes will be there.
    Not sure how? Click here!
    • Update the Note via Submission tab:
      1. Navigate to the Submission tab of the customer's account.
      2. Click on the respective Submission title. This will redirect you to the Carrier Submission step.
      3. Click Activity in the top right of the screen.
      4. Since you are on a customer's account, it will auto-fill their name in the top field.
      5. The system will also auto-fill the Discussion Title with the Submission Title.
      6. Input your notes in the "Type your note here..." box. 
      7. Select the Add Attachments (paperclip) icon to attach any relevant documents needed for reference. 
      8. Select the Add Task (paper with a checkmark) icon to assign a task or checklist to someone at your agency.
      9. Select Add Reminder to add as many reminders (email, text, and/or notification) as needed for the task or checklist.
      10. Select the Add Labels (price tag) icon to add a label to the note for organization.
      11. Select Save to finish adding the note to the customer's account.
    • Update Note via Activity tab:
      1. Navigate to the Activity tab of the customer's account.
      2. Search for the already started discussion using the Search Activities search.
      3. Select the discussion. This will expand it so you can see all the notes included.
      4. Select the Add to Discussion (paper with plus) icon on the discussion banner. This will open the Agency Workspace pane with the customer's name, discussion title, and previously added notes.
      5. Follow steps 6-11 from the Update the Note via Submission tab section.
    • Update Note via Add Note icon: 
      1. On the top-right, select the Add Note (paper with a plus) icon. This will open the Agency Workspace pane.
      2. If you are on the customer's account, it will auto-fill their name in the top field. If you are not, then you will need to search for the customer's account.
      3. Search for the previous discussion title by typing into the Discussion Title field. Suggested options will display. Select the correct one. This will add the discussion title and the previously added notes to the pane.
      4. Follow steps 6-11 from the Update the Note via Submission tab section.


  6. Update the Sales Center lead with the proper status.
    Not sure how? Click here!
    1. Select the Sales Center (briefcase) icon under the customer's name on the Applicant pane This will open a new tab and take you to the Sales Center Opportunities page. Tip: If you can't see the customer's card, try resetting the filters and searching for them.
      1. Not seeing the Sales Center (briefcase) icon? Check with your Agency Admin if your agency has our Advanced or Standard EZLynx package. Sales Center is only included in our Advanced Packages.
    2. Click and drag the customer's card from the status column it's currently in to the new status column it should be in.

We hope this workflow article was helpful in learning how to quote Commercial Lines. Please let us know if this article was helpful by answering the question below. Check out our related articles on the right-side of the page to learn more about EZLynx!