Allstate Insurance Co. said today that it plans to add 120 new agency owners throughout California this year.

Northbrook, Ill.-based Allstate Corp. also said it is encouraging new and existing California agencies to hire more than 600 licensed sales professionals this year as the company aims to expand its in-state presence.

Allstate signed on 44 new California agency owners in 2010 and 17 in 2009.

"Our recruiters are looking for entrepreneurial professionals with financial and sales backgrounds interested in making a career out of helping people," said William Vasquez, strategic deployment leader for Allstate in California.

Allstate said candidates for agency ownership need a minimum initial investment of $50,000 for operations. Allstate agents own the business and are charged with hiring sales and customer service personnel.

Allstate bills itself as the nation's second-largest auto insurance provider. It currently insures more than 2 million motor vehicles in California and has more than 4,000 agents, support staff and employees in the state.

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