Some are drawn to entrepreneurship, while others have to discover it for themselves. Either way, it is never easy to start your own business. For Lance Chandler, it was the rediscovery of an old desire to work for himself.

His entrepreneurship journey started at the age of 13, when he began a DJ company for events and parties. Too young to drive, his mother would haul him around from one gig to the next. Along the way, he learned a lot about sales and customer service. But eventually, he fell into a corporate job in telecommunications sales. After several years in this field, he learned this was not where he wanted to be.

During the COVID pandemic, his mother was diagnosed with breast cancer. Lance took time off from his job in telecommunications to take on the role of caretaker for his mother. After stepping away from work, he could see clearly that he did not want to go back to the corporate life. He sought something more fulfilling. He wanted to find something that would allow him to help others and to provide them something they need, the insurance industry seemed to be the perfect fit.

However, as this writer knows firsthand, anything in the financial services sector is not as easy as the public may think. There are several regulatory requirements, which means a lot of paperwork—perhaps more time on paperwork and compliance than with clients. The hours are long, the income is unpredictable and there are no benefits . . . but there is a lot of rejection. Still, Mr. Chandler thought insurance sales was the scratch for his entrepreneurial itch.

He earned his first professional license and went to work for an agency in town. Though he enjoyed his time at this agency, another opportunity came knocking at the door and he moved on to another firm after just one year. Although Chandler thought he was making the right choice by moving to a corporate brokerage, he soon learned it was not the right fit for him. To him it always felt like he was still considered an employee and not an insurance agent. What he really wanted was an office of his own.

So, with nothing but a few years’ experience in the industry, he figured out what it would take to start a company from scratch. As one may guess, it was even more paperwork and longer hours. But he recalled the advice given to him by a family friend who became wealthy in the entertainment industry.

His friend told him, “Once you decide what you want to do, being successful is like digging a ditch. Keep your head down and work as hard as you can. After a while, look up to see how far you have made it, then put your head back down and get back to work.”

Work ethics aside, there would also be a lot of legal wrangling and initial startup fees. So, he contacted the State to see what additional administrative hoops he would have to jump through. At this point, most would be intimidated about following through on such a dream.

He sought out what startup costs would be through online research and from other agents in the area. He found through this research that it would cost about $10,000 bare minimum. The bare minimum was about all he could afford, so he summoned his courage and took the plunge. That was back in September of 2022.

Hanging your shingle is one thing, but creating a business, out of nothing, is quite another. As anyone with a professional license will tell you, the training and testing one undergoes to earn that certificate will teach you nothing about actually running a business. Fortunately, some colleagues would offer their advice. He was also friends with another agent who was also starting his own business.

The pandemic saw a lot of businesses come and go. For those who wanted to strike out on their own, the timing just seemed right. It certainly was for Lance Chandler. He named the company 615 Insurance Agency, which is a tie to the Middle Tennessee community that he grew up in. He also offers coverage from several carriers in home, auto, life, health, commercial and long-term care.

Recently, he moved into a larger office building just off the Square, which offers him even more room to grow, but growth happens gradually. First, he needs what all great entrepreneurs need—an assistant to help with administrative duties. That’s right, someone to do all the paperwork while he develops the business itself.

Then, he would like to have an agent or two to help grow the company. Marketing is always important for growth, and he was able to get a website address he liked: 615insured.com, which plays into one of his business slogans, “Are you 615 insured yet?” He also just won the 2024 Ruthies Award for the best insurance agency in Rutherford County.

Chandler is not resting on his laurels—he still has his head down and is working hard.

I asked about why the industry has seemed to raise auto insurance premiums by so much. He claims that several carriers actually lowered their prices during COVID but now are steadily raising them. Still, it might be worth a call to see if he can save you some money. Reach out to Lance at 615-809-1225 to discuss how he may be able to help.