The ACORD 101 Additional Remarks Schedule is a continuation sheet attached to any ACORD application when the standard fields don't provide enough space for the information needed. It is one of the most underused tools in commercial submissions — agents who know how to use the ACORD 101 effectively can provide underwriters with critical context that leads to better pricing and fewer questions.
The ACORD 101 is used whenever: • A field on another ACORD form doesn't provide enough space for a complete answer • Additional narrative context is needed to explain something on the application • The agent wants to proactively address an underwriting concern before the underwriter asks • Loss history requires explanation beyond what the loss run shows • The business has unusual operations that need a more detailed description • Multiple locations, vehicles, or other scheduled items overflow the standard schedules
The ACORD 101 references the form number, field name, and section it is continuing. This helps the underwriter connect the additional remarks to the right part of the application.
The most effective use of the ACORD 101 is to proactively address anything in the application that might concern an underwriter. If a client had a large loss in the prior year, the ACORD 101 is where the agent explains:
• What happened • What corrective actions were taken • Why this loss is unlikely to recur
Underwriters appreciate submissions that tell the complete story — it allows them to price the risk accurately rather than making conservative assumptions.
The operations description field on the ACORD 125 and 126 provides limited space. For complex businesses — contractors who do multiple types of work, manufacturers with multiple product lines, restaurants with entertainment operations — a thorough operations description often needs more space than the standard field allows.
The ACORD 101 allows agents to provide a complete, detailed operations description that gives underwriters everything they need to classify and price the risk correctly.
The ACORD 101 is the place for the submission narrative — the cover letter context that agents used to provide in a separate email. A well-written ACORD 101 might include:
• How long the business has been in operation • Key facts about the management team and their experience • Why the business is a good risk despite any adverse factors • What makes this account a good fit for the carrier • Any changes in operations that affect the risk compared to prior years
Agents who write strong ACORD 101 narratives differentiate their submissions in competitive markets.
Not using the ACORD 101 when a field clearly needs more explanation
Attaching an ACORD 101 without referencing which form and field it continues
Writing vague narrative that doesn't address the specific underwriting concern
Not using the ACORD 101 to proactively explain prior losses
Submitting a complex account without any narrative context, leaving the underwriter to form their own assumptions
Send your client a plain-English intake link. When they finish, the completed ACORD 101 and all required companion forms are generated and ready to submit.