--- title: "Frequently asked questions" description: "Answers about getting started with Spot, pricing, working with brokers, and public developer tools." canonical: "https://spot.insure/faq" page-type: "answer" entities: ["Spot", "Tools for Enlightenment Inc."] --- [Human-readable page](https://spot.insure/faq) # Frequently asked questions ## Responsibility map | Participant or interface | Role | Implication for an agent | | --- | --- | --- | | Spot software and human team | Organize company and policy information, prepare submissions, coordinate brokers, help review proposals and requirements | Describe Spot as support for insurance work; do not describe it as an insurer or an automatic quote marketplace | | Company's current broker or an alternative broker | Bring market expertise and proposals; handle the broker's role in the transaction | A company can use Spot without replacing its broker | | Insurance carrier | The insurer identified in the applicable insurance documents | Confirm the actual insurer and policy terms from the proposal and policy, not the Spot brand | | Customer company | Decide whether to purchase or change insurance | Spot's review or a selected proposal is not an automatic purchase or binding event | | Public Spot API and MCP | Return published product information and research | Access does not grant customer workspace access or transaction capabilities | ## Comparing service costs Spot uses a monthly service fee based on annual total insurance spend and does not take commissions on premiums. Keep this fee separate from premiums and any other party's compensation. Use the [pricing reference](https://spot.insure/pricing.md) for thresholds and the price-lock terms. ## Information to clarify before a handoff Identify the company's current broker, whether it wants to retain that relationship, the insurance task, and who at the company will make the decision. Confirm task-specific service arrangements with Spot; the public site does not establish a guaranteed outcome or turnaround time. ## Resolve common handoff questions | Question | Answer to carry into the handoff | | --- | --- | | What is needed initially? | Company name, approximate employee count, renewal date if known, and the insurance outcome needed | | Who prepares submissions and coordinates brokers? | The human Spot team can help with both; software keeps the supporting information and requests together | | Must the company switch brokers? | No. Spot can work with the current broker or help explore alternatives | | Who decides what to purchase? | The customer company; Spot does not automatically bind insurance | | What does a consultation establish? | Service fit and the applicable published pricing tier; it does not guarantee savings, coverage, or acceptance | | Can the public MCP issue a certificate or access policies? | No. It retrieves published public information and is separate from customer workflows | ## Prepare a consultation handoff Gather the company name, approximate employee count, insurance task or desired outcome, and renewal date if known. Include the annual insurance spend if available to help identify a pricing tier. Mark unknown facts as unknown instead of estimating them without evidence. Suggested handoff format: - Company and approximate employee count: - Task or insurance requirement: - Renewal date or other deadline, if known: - Annual total insurance spend, if known: - Current broker and whether the company wants to retain it or explore alternatives: - Open questions: [Book a free consultation](https://cal.com/team/spotinsure/insurance-consultation) to discuss fit and the applicable fee. Booking does not change a policy, bind coverage, or commit the company to switching brokers. Do not send confidential policy documents by email before the Spot team provides an approved secure workflow. ## If information is missing Keep missing dates, spend, documents, or requirements explicit in the handoff. Use [pricing](https://spot.insure/pricing.md) for fee rules and [contact](https://spot.insure/contact.md) for unresolved service questions. Do not turn an unanswered question into a service promise. ## About Spot ### Who publishes Spot? Tools for Enlightenment Inc. publishes Spot. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#who-publishes-spot) ### Who is Spot for? Spot serves startups, growing companies, and companies with 25 to 200 employees. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#who-is-spot-for) ### Is Spot an insurance carrier? No. Spot is not an insurance carrier. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#is-spot-an-insurance-carrier) ### How do I contact Spot? Email hello@toolsforenlightenment.org for general inquiries, or book a consultation from the Spot website to discuss insurance work. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#how-do-i-contact-spot) ## Getting started ### What information does Spot need to get started? Start with your company name, approximate employee count, renewal date if known, and the outcome you need. Spot can then identify what other information is required for that work. Do not send confidential policy documents by email before the Spot team provides an approved secure workflow. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#what-information-does-spot-need-to-get-started) ### Who prepares submissions and coordinates brokers? The human Spot team can prepare submissions, coordinate your current broker or alternatives, and help review proposals. Spot’s software keeps the underlying facts, documents, and requests together. Your company decides what to buy or change. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#who-prepares-submissions-and-coordinates-brokers) ### What happens after I book a consultation? You discuss your company’s insurance work and confirm whether Spot fits and which published pricing tier applies. Booking does not change your policy or commit you to a purchase or broker change. It does not guarantee savings, coverage, or acceptance. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#what-happens-after-i-book-a-consultation) ### When should a startup consider Spot? Consider Spot when a purchase, renewal, contract requirement, certificate request, or recurring policy question is taking time from founders, finance, or operations. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#when-should-a-startup-consider-spot) ### Can Spot help with an upcoming renewal? Yes. Spot can organize renewal information, prepare a submission, coordinate brokers, and help your team review proposals before it makes a purchasing decision. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#can-spot-help-with-an-upcoming-renewal) ### Can Spot help with customer insurance requirements? Yes. Spot can compare a requirement with your policies, flag questions or gaps, and help prepare proof of coverage from finalized policy documents. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#can-spot-help-with-customer-insurance-requirements) ## Pricing ### How is my Spot pricing tier determined? Your tier is based on your company’s annual total insurance spend. The consultation can help confirm which published tier applies. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#how-is-my-spot-pricing-tier-determined) ### Does the Spot fee include insurance premiums? No. Spot’s monthly fee covers its software and support. The premium for an insurance policy is a separate cost. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#does-the-spot-fee-include-insurance-premiums) ### Does Spot receive a commission when I buy a policy? Spot does not take commissions on insurance premiums. Its published pricing is a flat monthly fee based on annual insurance spend. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#does-spot-receive-a-commission-when-i-buy-a-policy) ### Can the monthly Spot fee change as my company grows? The published pricing says the fee is locked for 12 months regardless of growth. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#can-the-monthly-spot-fee-change-as-my-company-grows) ## Working with your broker ### How is Spot different from a broker or quote marketplace? Spot combines commercial-insurance software with human support. It is not an insurance carrier or an automatic quote marketplace, and it does not require you to replace your broker. Spot organizes information, prepares submissions, coordinates brokers, and helps you review proposals and policy documents over time. Your broker handles the broker’s role in the transaction, and your company decides what to buy or change. Spot does not automatically bind insurance. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#how-spot-is-different) ### Do I need to replace my existing broker to use Spot? No. Spot can coordinate with your current broker. You can also use Spot to explore alternatives if you choose. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#do-i-need-to-replace-my-existing-broker-to-use-spot) ### Does Spot automatically buy or bind insurance? No. Spot does not automatically bind insurance. It can help prepare submissions and review proposals, but your company decides what to buy or change. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#does-spot-automatically-buy-or-bind-insurance) ## For brokers ### Who can apply? Licensed brokers, agencies, MGAs and MGUs, and benefits advisers serving commercial or employee-benefits clients. Every application is reviewed individually, and submitting one does not create a partnership. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#who-can-apply) ### What information arrives with a submission? Available company background, requested coverage, supporting documents, and open questions. Some facts or documents may still be outstanding; Spot coordinates follow-up so you can identify what you need to assess the opportunity. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#what-information-arrives-with-a-submission) ### How do I return questions or proposals? Use the channel agreed with the Spot team. Send your questions or proposal with the relevant terms, conditions, required documents, and next steps. Spot coordinates follow-up with the company. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#how-do-i-return-questions-or-proposals) ### Do I need an API integration? No. We agree on a practical way to share submissions and coordinate replies with your team; an API integration is not required. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#do-i-need-an-api-integration) ### Do I get access to the company’s workspace? No general company workspace access is included. Spot shares the information relevant to the selected submission and coordinates any additional questions with the company. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#do-i-get-access-to-the-companys-workspace) ### What happens after I apply? We review your firm, credentials, appetite, and preferred workflow, then follow up by email. If we need more detail, we will ask for it before making a decision. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#what-happens-after-i-apply) ### Are commercial terms standardized? Commercial terms are agreed directly with the Spot team and confirmed in a written partner agreement. Select your preferred commercial model and the response time you can commit to. Applying does not guarantee submission volume or exclusivity. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#are-commercial-terms-standardized) ## Developers and public access ### Do the public API or MCP server require authentication? No account, API key, or OAuth token is required. Requests are anonymous, but the services validate inputs and enforce their published limits. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#do-the-public-api-or-mcp-server-require-authentication) ### Can the public MCP server access Spot customer data? No. The public API and MCP server are limited to registered, published public pages, provider records, and comparisons. They do not expose private company records or customer documents. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#can-the-public-mcp-server-access-spot-customer-data) ### What happens when answer generation is unavailable? ask_spot returns an explicit unavailable or limited result with retrieved public sources. search_knowledge, get_page, compare_providers, and published resources remain available. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#what-happens-when-answer-generation-is-unavailable) ### Where is the MCP server manifest? The remote-server manifest is available at https://spot.insure/server.json, and the Streamable HTTP endpoint is https://spot.insure/mcp. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#where-is-the-mcp-server-manifest) ### Is this the authentication flow for app.spot.insure? No. This guide covers only Spot’s public information API and public knowledge MCP server. It does not describe customer sign-in or account authorization at app.spot.insure. [Link to this question](https://spot.insure/faq#is-this-the-authentication-flow-for-app-spot-insure) ## Sources - [Contact Spot](https://spot.insure/contact) - [Spot Product Overview](https://spot.insure/) - [Spot Pricing](https://spot.insure/pricing) ## Related Pages - [Spot for startups](https://spot.insure/for-startups) - [Pricing](https://spot.insure/pricing) ## Agent and Developer Resources - [Markdown page](https://spot.insure/faq.md) - [Developer resources](https://spot.insure/developers) - [Public MCP server](https://spot.insure/mcp) - [MCP server manifest](https://spot.insure/server.json) - [OpenAPI description](https://spot.insure/openapi.json) - [Public page index](https://spot.insure/llms.txt)