The short answer
With UPA, we never take a penny out of a property or business owner's pocket. Our fee is covered by the overhead and profit built into the insurance settlement itself — not paid by you — and the recovered funds stay in your control. As a 501(c)(3) non-profit public adjusting firm, our interest is aligned with getting you the full settlement your policy owes.
How public adjuster fees usually work
Most public adjusters work on a contingency basis: instead of billing you upfront or by the hour, the fee is tied to the settlement the adjuster helps you recover. State law regulates and limits these fees. The practical effect is that a public adjuster is paid for results — if the claim doesn't recover, there is nothing to take a fee from.
No upfront cost
You don't pay to have your claim or denial reviewed, and you don't pay hourly fees while the claim is worked.
Paid from the settlement
UPA's fee comes from the overhead and profit built into the insurance settlement — not out of your pocket.
You control the funds
The recovered settlement funds stay in your control, throughout the claim and after it resolves.
Why the model matters
When the person working your claim is paid based on what your policy actually recovers, their incentive is the same as yours: document the full loss and pursue everything the policy owes. That is the opposite of the insurance company's adjuster, whose job is to assess your loss on the company's behalf.
Before you sign anything, we'll walk you through exactly how the fee works for your specific claim — in writing, with no surprises.