From 0 to $8 Million Putting People First to Generate Referrals | Mike McDaniel | Ep 7

What mindset and actions do you think are most important when launching an agency from the ground up?

Mike McDaniel, owner of McDaniel Insurance Agency, began from a kitchen table with a single phone and family support led him toward a multi-million-dollar agency serving thousands today. Longevity, authenticity, and a deep commitment to service play pivotal roles in developing a reputation strong enough that most new clients arrive through word-of-mouth referrals and personal recommendations rather than just traditional marketing methods.

Don’t overlook the power of asking for referrals, tracking how clients discover your agency, and leveraging automation and modern website tools to streamline lead capture—while continuing to deliver a personal touch. Hiring staff who complement strengths and investing in community involvement sets agencies apart in competitive markets, while maintaining a healthy balance between hard work and personal fulfillment ensures sustainability and genuine enjoyment of agency ownership.

Overcoming Challenges in Insurance: Carrier Access, Referrals, and Building a Trusted Brand
(00:06:42) In the Weeds and Hustling Hard from Scratch
(00:17:28) Building a Referral Pipeline Beyond Incentives
(00:24:13) Challenges of Staying Competitive
(00:27:40) Unexpected Satellite Office Expansion
(00:38:14) Work-Life Balance: Agency Ownership Plus Fitness and Family
(00:43:11) Prayer, Ministry, and Insurance

“What I mean by visible is, I take a lot of my commercial policies, instead of mailing them, I take them and hand them to people. Sometimes they say, how in the world can you do that being an eight-million-dollar agency? Well, believe this or not, I get up at 5 o’ clock every morning, I’m here at my office by 6 o’ clock every morning, and I work to sometimes 6 and 7 at night, you know, and some people may not want to hear that.” – Mike McDaniel

Building a People-First Insurance Agency: Lessons From a 27-Year Journey
– The real definition of success for an independent insurance agency—and why reputation matters more than size.
– The biggest challenges new agency owners face (like finding carriers and getting customers) and how to overcome them.
– The role of genuine relationships, referrals, and customer service in driving long-term, sustainable growth.
– Why work-life balance, faith, and loving what you do are just as important as traditional business strategies.

Connect with Eddie Price and Jenesis Software:
LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/eddierprice/
The Perfect Insurance Agency Book: https://www.amazon.com/Perfect-Insurance-Agency-Changes-Success/dp/0578485753
Agency Management Software: https://www.jenesissoftware.com/
Book Your Demo of Jenesis Software today: https://www.jenesissoftware.com/request-demo-2/
YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@JenesisSoftware

Connect with Mike McDaniel:
Email: mike@mcdanielinsuranceagency.com
McDaniel Insurance Agency: https://www.mcdanielinsuranceagency.com/