WOMEN
ENTREPRENEUR PROFILE
MAY 8, 2008

Health at your hands
Kelly Moore wants to keep your company healthy.
By Kristen Schott

Walking into Kelly Moore’s Irvine office felt comfortable. From her relaxed greeting and firm handshake, to the cozy furniture, I knew I had stepped into a place that’s unique. That’s what Moore tries to bring to each of her clients: comfort and benefits.

She knows a thing or two about each. Moore, originally from Odessa, Texas, had her first child while she was still a dependent on her mother’s insurance plan, but the pregnancy wasn’t covered. She may not have known it at the time, but the experience – and her professional experience that followed – served as an inspiration for the founding of her own company.

In 2001, after working as an employee benefits consultant for large corporations, she established Moore Benefits Inc., a company that offers employee benefits brokerage, consulting and administration to small companies in all industries (finance, restaurants, manufacturing) throughout Orange County, Los Angeles and the Inland Empire.

She didn’t take out loans to start the company. Instead, she waited until she had her first client, then she bought those cozy supplies for her office. She calls it “sweat equity.”

And it was worth it. Moore loves what she does – it allows her to work closely with clients as they learn about benefits. “I wanted a different point of contact. … Marketing, referring clients and networking is (now) more fun,” she says.

The process isn’t always easy, though, and it’s not always fun. Because many small businesses don’t realize how simple it is to cover employees – insurance companies with employer-sponsored health care plans must provide coverage to all employees, even ones with conditions – they are hesitant to take a step toward a particular plan. Yet, all the work pays off, because employees are then more likely to want to work for that company and have a better grasp of the available benefits.

Moore says she is proud of every company that signs up for a health plan.

“The No. 1 cause of bankruptcy in America is a large medical bill. The No. 1 reason why is not enough knowledge,” Moore states. And that lack of knowledge concerns Moore. Often, it’s the result of misconceptions or flimsy excuses – like not having the time to learn about the plans available. Most people are willing to devote hours to setting up an Xbox, she says, but they might not read the health care literature offered to them.

Moore wants to educate legislators and others about the benefits of health care. She provides information through face-to-face meetings, her website, and speaking in seminars about individual and company responsibility.

Her enthusiasm is evident; in January, Moore Benefits Inc. was one of 10 awardees of the Make Mine a Million $ Business. She worked diligently for three days and crafted a three-minute business pitch that she presented to a panel. “I was on a really big high for a month,” she says.

Now, she has a support system that spans the country – mentors who are helping her grow to the $1 million mark. And she is well on her way; Moore Benefits works with more than 100 companies and is poised to double over the next year. She is thrilled about her success and wants to continue moving at her current speed.

Next on the horizon: She hopes to open offices in L.A. and the Inland Empire, so she won’t have to drive to these locations several times a week. She wants to acquire agencies in San Diego, and absorb the clients and staff into her company, driving her reach even farther. And, finally, Moore wants to continue delivering comfort with health care to her clients, every day. OCM

moorebenefitsinc.com