Fees & licensing
What a public adjuster costs in Texas.
Most people ask this before they ask anything else, so here it is up front. We work on contingency. You owe nothing unless we recover money on your claim. Texas law caps what any public adjuster can charge, and we work under a written contract you sign before anything starts.
IMG-FEES-01 · photo pending
The carrier's estimate and our line-item estimate for the same loss, side by side on a desk.
The ceiling
Texas caps the fee at 10 percent.
The Texas Insurance Code sets a hard limit. A public adjuster's total commission cannot exceed 10% of the amount of the insurance settlement on the claim. That's the ceiling for every licensed public adjuster in the state, and there's no version of this where a legitimate firm charges more.
Our rate is 10% of the settlement — the full amount Texas allows, and nothing above it.
There are no separate inspection fees, file fees, administrative fees, estimate fees, or documentation fees layered on top. Because our rate sits at the statutory ceiling, there is no room for add-ons, and we don't bill any. If a firm quotes you a percentage and then adds service charges, that total has to stay inside 10% too — regardless of what the line items are called.
Tex. Ins. Code §4102.104
Total public adjuster commission may not exceed 10% of the settlement
When you pay
You owe nothing until you're paid.
The fee comes out of the settlement, after it's paid. If we don't recover anything on the claim, you owe us nothing.
That structure exists for a reason. Most commercial property owners calling a public adjuster are already out money — the building is damaged, the tenants are unhappy, and the carrier's number doesn't cover the repair. Asking for a retainer on top of that would be asking the wrong person to carry the risk.
It also means our interests line up with yours in a way that's easy to verify: we're paid a percentage of what you actually receive.
Before any work begins
The contract comes first.
Texas requires a written contract before a public adjuster begins work, on a form approved by the Texas Department of Insurance. That's not a formality we've added — it's a statutory requirement, and it protects you.
Before you sign anything, you should be able to see:
- The fee percentage, stated plainly
- What we're being engaged to do, and on which claim
- Your right to cancel
- Our license number and business address
If any adjuster asks you to authorize work before a written contract exists, that's your signal to stop.
IMG-FEES-02 · photo pending
A numbered photo log from a commercial roof inspection, laid out in order.
Scope
What the fee covers.
The percentage covers the whole file, start to finish:
- Full inspection of the loss, including roof, interior, and building systems
- Drone and photographic documentation, organized and logged
- Moisture readings, test squares, measurements, and material identification
- A detailed line-item estimate built in Xactimate
- Reviewing the carrier's estimate against what the loss actually requires
- Preparing and submitting your proof of loss and supporting documentation
- Communicating with the carrier's adjuster on your behalf
- Re-inspections and supplements as the file develops
You don't get billed separately for any of it, and you don't get billed more because the file took longer than expected.
Scope of the license
What we are, and what we aren't.
We are a licensed public insurance adjuster.
That means we represent you — the policyholder — in a property claim. The adjuster the carrier sends works for the carrier. We work for you. That's the entire distinction, and it's the reason the license exists.
We are not attorneys.
A public adjuster cannot practice law or give legal advice in Texas, and we don't. We document losses, build estimates, and negotiate claims. If your situation needs a lawyer, we'll say so, and you'll choose your own.
We are not engineers.
When we inspect a roof, that's a claim inspection by a licensed public adjuster. If a loss needs a structural or engineering opinion, that comes from a licensed engineer, not from us.
We are not contractors, and we don't do repair work.
Texas prohibits a public adjuster from participating in the repair or reconstruction of a property they're adjusting a claim on. We don't perform repairs, we don't manage them, and we're not paid by anyone who does. Cord Largo spent years in commercial construction before moving to claims, which is why he knows what a repair actually costs — but that's background, not a service we offer.
We are not affiliated with any government agency.
Not FEMA, not the NFIP, not the Texas Department of Insurance. TDI issues our license. It does not endorse us, and neither does anyone else.
On the record
License and disclosures.
Under Paid Claim LLC
You can verify any Texas public adjuster's license through the Texas Department of Insurance. We'd encourage you to — for us and for anyone else you're considering.
Under Paid Claim LLC is not affiliated with, employed by, or endorsed by FEMA or the National Flood Insurance Program. We represent policyholders.
Any settlement figures shown on this site reflect specific claims and specific policies. Results vary.
Common questions
Questions we get about fees.
Is 10% the standard, or is it just the maximum?
It's the maximum allowed by Texas law, and it's our rate. Lower rates exist in the market. Rates above 10% are not permitted for a licensed public adjuster in this state, in any form — including add-on charges that push the total past it.
What if my claim was already paid and I want it reopened?
The fee applies to what's recovered, not to what you've already been paid. On a reopened or supplemental claim, the percentage is calculated on the additional recovery.
Do I pay anything for the initial claim review?
No. The review is free, and there's no obligation after it. If we don't think we can add anything to your claim, we'll tell you that.
Can I cancel?
Yes. Your cancellation rights are stated in the written contract, and Texas provides a cancellation period. Read that section before you sign — we'd rather you understand it than assume it.
Do you take residential claims?
We handle commercial property. Retail, multifamily, warehouse, hospitality, restaurants, churches, medical, and self-storage.
Is a public adjuster worth it on a smaller claim?
Sometimes not, and we'll say so. If the gap between the carrier's number and the actual scope is small, the percentage may not justify the engagement. That's a conversation worth having before either of us commits.
No cost for the review
No obligation. No fee unless we recover.
Send us the policy and the carrier's estimate. We will read the file and tell you what we see in it.
Request a free claim reviewOr call 956-772-4404.