Blue Collar Millionaire Podcast

Hosted by Chris Garrison & Kevin Marron

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100

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Oct 2026

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About the show

Being a blue collar entrepreneur is tough. But it's even tougher when you don't have the manpower, systems, or consistent work in place. You're left scrambling around, doing everything yourself, and stressed out of your mind. Worst part? It takes a toll on you physically, which can bankrupt your business. But lucky for you, you found the Blue Collar Millionaire podcast. Turns out, there is a proven and repeatable way to net a million dollars each year with your business—while also getting more quality time with your family. Listen to the Blue Collar Millionaire Podcast to discover how to transform your business into a sellable asset, buy back your time, and achieve the freedom you deserve.

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October 22, 2026Episode 1030 min

Building a Business That Actually Works Without You

Building a Business That Actually Works Without You takes delegation, hiring, business systems, and cash flow management. Billy Cline shares how he stopped doing everything and started building a team. In this episode, Kevin Marron sits down with Billy, owner of Your New Door, to talk about moving beyond doing every install, answering every call, and chasing the next job to cover expenses. Billy explains why believing nobody could do the work as well as he could held him back, how hiring an operations manager helped him let go, and why more revenue wasn't solving his profit problems. We get into: • Getting out of the field and trusting your team • Hiring for competence as your business grows • Pricing jobs to cover costs, support your people, and make a profit • Understanding margins instead of running the business by your bank balance • Helping customers buy without a high-pressure sales pitch • Using virtual consultations to sell and expand into new markets • Finding mentors and putting their advice to work • What Billy learned from his first module in Harvard's business owner program If every decision, customer call, and job still comes back to you, this conversation will give you plenty to think about—and practical changes to start making. Learn more about Your New Door: https://yournewdoor.com 00:00 Loyalty Versus Competence 00:30 Meet Billy Cline 01:20 Virtual Door Sales System 02:28 Anti Transactional Selling 05:30 Mentors And Networking 08:49 Giving Value First 10:53 Turning Point And Big Hire 12:23 Curiosity Compresses Time 14:57 Margins Cashflow And Pricing 18:52 Letting Go And Hiring Operators 21:41 Harvard OPM Lessons 24:08 Scaling Into New Markets 28:08 How To Connect And Join Check out BoardRoom Elite and get in the room with operators, investors, and owners who are actually doing this every day. 👉 https://bluecollarmillionaire.net/elite 👉 Follow for more real stories and strategies from business owners building empires with grit, grind, and muscle. 👉 Learn more about BoardRoom Elite at BlueCollarMillionaire.net Connect with us: Follow us on all our social media networks for more similar content! Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmillions/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluecollarmillionaire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcollarmillionaires Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluecollarmillions Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bluecollarmillions

October 14, 2026Episode 939 min

The Truth About Your Business Valuation (And What You Actually Keep)

Business valuation and exit planning go beyond the sale price. What is your business really worth—and how much money would you actually keep after selling it? In this episode of the Blue Collar Millionaire Podcast, Kevin Marron sits down with Jason Gabrieli of HFM Investment Advisors to discuss what business owners need to understand before an exit. A $15 million deal doesn't necessarily mean a $15 million check. Taxes, earn-outs, and money tied to the company's future performance can change what you walk away with. Kevin and Jason explain why understanding those details early matters—and how to start preparing before an offer lands on your desk. We cover: • Why your business may be worth a different amount than you think • How earnings, owner compensation, and add-backs affect business valuation • Why the sale price can differ from the cash you receive • How market timing and buyer demand influence multiples • Why clean books, strong management, and repeatable processes matter • How to build wealth outside your business while you still own it • Why being exit ready can make your business better to run today If selling your business is part of your plan, this episode will help you understand what that sale could mean for your life afterward. 00:00 Deal Value Reality 00:25 Meet Jason Gabriel 02:03 Why Owners Need Help 03:02 Diversify Beyond Business 03:41 Investing Basics 07:20 Investing Versus Gambling 08:59 Profit First Investing 11:03 IRAs And Flexibility 12:47 Financial Planning Framework 13:42 Debt Cash Insurance 17:23 Exit Paths Overview 19:18 Exit Readiness Process 20:38 Business Attractiveness Score 21:31 Faster With Mentors 21:59 Buyer Mindset Insights 23:00 One Shot To Sell 24:43 Timing The Market 26:30 Exit Ready Advantage 28:01 Spotting Fake Buyers 28:33 LOI Tax Reality 31:23 Valuation Truth Check 33:04 Clean Books Addbacks 34:43 Blue Collar Boom 36:24 How To Reach Jason 37:26 Right Room Strategy 39:11 Boardroom Elite Invite Connect with Jason and learn about HFM Investment Advisors: https://hfmadvisors.com Check out BoardRoom Elite and get in the room with operators, investors, and owners who are actually doing this every day. 👉 https://bluecollarmillionaire.net/elite 👉 Follow for more real stories and strategies from business owners building empires with grit, grind, and muscle. 👉 Learn more about BoardRoom Elite at BlueCollarMillionaire.net Connect with us: Follow us on all our social media networks for more similar content! Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmillions/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluecollarmillionaire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcollarmillionaires Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluecollarmillions Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bluecollarmillions

October 6, 2026Episode 834 min

Don't Scale Until You Do This: Lessons from a 5-Shop Owner

From Fixing Cars in His Driveway to Owning 5 Auto Repair Shops, Dylan Faner shares how he built an automotive repair business through mentorship, better systems, and lessons learned the hard way. In this episode of the Blue Collar Millionaire Podcast, Kevin Marron and Chris Garrison sit down with Dylan, CEO of KRP Automotive Repair Group, to talk about what it took to grow from driveway repairs to five locations across New Jersey. Dylan started fixing his own car with YouTube and a set of tools because he couldn't afford a mechanic. With two close friends who became his business partners, he turned that skill into a business that changed his family's life. But the growth came with some expensive lessons. After putting their operating and personal capital into an acquisition, a roughly $1 million repayment commitment nearly cost them the shop. We get into: • How mentorship helped take one shop from $40,000 to $250,000 in monthly revenue within six months • Why they moved from performance work to general automotive repair • How offering free labor during COVID built trust in their community • The acquisition financing mistake that almost derailed the business • Why free diagnostics helped remove friction from the sales process • How faster answers and a lifetime repair warranty created more value for customers • Why Dylan is focusing on internal systems before the next round of acquisitions If you're building an auto repair business or growing a blue-collar service company, this conversation is full of practical lessons on customer service, marketing, partnerships, and scaling beyond yourself. Subscribe for more conversations with business owners who share what worked, what went wrong, and what they learned along the way. Want to work through these challenges with Kevin, Chris, and other business owners? Learn more about Boardroom Elite: https://bluecollarmillionaire.net 00:00 All In Acquisition Risk 00:23 Meet Dylan Feigner 01:06 Building KRP Systems 02:14 Humble Driveway Beginnings 03:18 Learning Through Mentors 04:08 Partners And Early Roles 04:45 Switch To General Repair 05:46 COVID Giveback Breakthrough 08:36 Law Of Reciprocity 10:27 Scaling Across New Jersey 12:15 Acquisition Mistake Lessons 14:08 Winning With Bank Prep 16:38 Why Stop At Five 17:38 ShopFix Coaching Impact 18:34 Humility And Mentors 20:20 Making Mentorship Stick 21:06 Free Diagnostics Strategy 23:10 Frictionless Sales Example 26:04 Lifetime Warranty Value 26:50 Marketing Systems And Direct Mail 27:59 2027 Build Then Acquire 29:28 Family And Personal Growth 30:21 Partners And Company Roles 31:13 Wrap Up And Boardroom Invite Check out BoardRoom Elite and get in the room with operators, investors, and owners who are actually doing this every day. 👉 https://bluecollarmillionaire.net/elite 👉 Follow for more real stories and strategies from business owners building empires with grit, grind, and muscle. 👉 Learn more about BoardRoom Elite at BlueCollarMillionaire.net Connect with us: Follow us on all our social media networks for more similar content! Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmillions/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluecollarmillionaire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcollarmillionaires Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluecollarmillions Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bluecollarmillions

September 29, 2026Episode 739 min

He Knocked on Doors in a Blizzard—Now He Runs a $20M Empire

Door knocking, home remodeling business, and home services sales built Lakota's company from a garage startup into a $20M operation. He shares what it takes to get leads, scale, and keep going when business gets hard. At 21 years old, Lakota started a home remodeling company from his mom's garage with two chairs, a whiteboard, and no money for leads. So he knocked doors. Through Michigan heat, rejection, and blizzards, he built the discipline and resilience that eventually helped turn that small operation into a company on pace to do more than $20 million this year—with 40 door knockers, 20 sales reps, and three locations. In this episode, Kevin and Lakota talk about: • Why leads are not always the real problem • How door-knocking built a $10M company without paying for leads • The "sword and shield" mentality: discipline, action, resilience, and gratitude • Why consuming business content without implementing it keeps owners stuck • The 48-hour rule for putting new ideas into action • Why focusing on fewer services can help a business scale faster • How to stop chasing shiny objects and build a sellable business If you are waiting for the perfect lead source, perfect plan, or perfect time to start, this conversation is a reminder: take action with what you have. Subscribe for more. Learn how to stop asking for advice and start getting into the rooms where real business growth happens. Check out BoardRoom Elite and get in the room with operators, investors, and owners who are actually doing this every day. 👉 https://bluecollarmillionaire.net/elite 👉 Follow for more real stories and strategies from business owners building empires with grit, grind, and muscle. 👉 Learn more about BoardRoom Elite at BlueCollarMillionaire.net Connect with us: Follow us on all our social media networks for more similar content! Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmillions/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluecollarmillionaire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcollarmillionaires Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluecollarmillions Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bluecollarmillions

September 25, 2026Episode 629 min

How This Electrician Built a $15M Business in 5 Years

How do you go from figuring it out on TaskRabbit to running 40 trucks and pacing $15 million in revenue just five years later? In this episode, Shane Viggiani shares how he built a fast-growing electrical service company in Las Vegas from the ground up. We get into the real moves behind the growth: • Why becoming the highest-reviewed company in town changed everything • How Google reviews helped drive leads and build trust before the team even arrived • When to hire the first employee and start thinking beyond "me and a truck" • Why performance pay can help your team perform better without constant micromanaging • How to price based on your actual costs and profit goals—not what the competition charges • Why reinvesting profits into trucks, branding, and the business matters more than looking successful too early Shane's story is proof that you do not need to have it all figured out on day one. You need to find your lane, build trust, take care of customers, and keep putting money back into the asset you are building. If you are growing a blue-collar or home-service business, this episode is packed with practical takeaways you can use right now. 00:00 From No Business to $15M in Five Years 01:13 Meet Shane Viggiani and His 40-Truck Electrical Company 03:12 Growing Up Around the Electrical Trade 05:12 Prison, College, and Trying Different Businesses 08:37 Starting as a Handyman on TaskRabbit 11:10 Getting Licensed and Building a Real Electrical Business 14:00 The First Hire That Made the Business Scalable 16:35 From $700K to $15M in Revenue 18:40 How Google Reviews Drive More Leads 22:08 Building a Brand That Looks Bigger Than You Are 25:22 What Competitors Get Wrong 28:25 Same-Day Service, Branding, and Spending on Marketing 32:00 Google LSA and Raising Your Average Ticket 35:25 How to Price for Profit 39:15 Using Performance Pay to Grow Faster 44:10 Recruiting Better Electricians 47:10 How He Added 40 Trucks Without Outside Money 50:00 Reinvesting Profits Instead of Living Like the Business Is a Piggy Bank Subscribe to the Blue Collar Millionaire Podcast for real conversations with business owners building, buying, and scaling companies.

September 16, 2026Episode 515 min

How to Build a Business You Can Actually Sell

How to Build a Business You Can Actually Sell starts with building assets that create value beyond you as the owner. In this episode, Kevin and Chris break down what makes a blue-collar business more valuable to a buyer, a bank, an investor, or even the next generation of your family. They cover the systems, people, brand, customer relationships, recurring revenue, vendor terms, and real estate that can turn a business from "a job with employees" into a real asset. A buyer does not want chaos. They want a company with predictable sales, clear processes, active customers, and a brand that can keep growing without the owner being involved in every decision. Even if you never plan to sell, building your business this way gives you more freedom, more options, and a stronger company today. In this episode, we discuss: Why systems are one of the most valuable assets in your business How to build a brand that is bigger than the owner Why an active customer list is worth more than a dead database The value of recurring and predictable revenue How strong sales and marketing systems make a company more sellable Why vendor relationships and payment terms matter Using real estate and other assets to build long-term wealth How to think like an investor instead of only a technician or operator The different ways business owners ultimately exit If you are building a business, do not just focus on making more money this month. Build something that can run, grow, and hold value without you having to carry every part of it. 00:00 Exit Inevitable 00:22 Build Business Assets 00:49 Systems Create Value 01:39 Brand Beyond Owner 03:17 Customer List Goldmine 06:16 Predictable Revenue Systems 08:53 Investor Mindset Shift 10:21 Real Estate Stacking 12:43 Choose Your Exit 13:35 Community And Next Steps Subscribe for more real conversations about growing blue-collar businesses, building wealth, and creating more freedom through ownership. Check out BoardRoom Elite and get in the room with operators, investors, and owners who are actually doing this every day. 👉 https://bluecollarmillionaire.net/elite 👉 Follow for more real stories and strategies from business owners building empires with grit, grind, and muscle. 👉 Learn more about BoardRoom Elite at BlueCollarMillionaire.net Connect with us: Follow us on all our social media networks for more similar content! Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmillions/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluecollarmillionaire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcollarmillionaires Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluecollarmillions Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bluecollarmillions

September 10, 2026Episode 417 min

Stop Asking for Advice. Get in the Room.

Stop asking for advice. Get in the room. The right room can change the way you think, lead, and grow your business. But simply showing up is not enough. You have to listen, ask better questions, build real relationships, and take action on what you learn. In this episode, Kevin and Chris share the biggest lessons they've taken from dinners, masterminds, mentors, and successful business owners. They explain why confidence often matters more than talent, how delegation creates room for growth, and why being great at your craft does not automatically make you great at building a business. They also discuss the difference between constantly consuming information and actually implementing it. Reading more books, listening to more podcasts, and collecting more advice will not change your business unless you put the lessons to work. You'll learn: • Why successful people are not as different as you think • How the right team gives you time and freedom • Why marketing matters as much as mastering your craft • How a scarcity mindset can hold back your growth • Why implementing one great idea beats collecting twenty • How to build meaningful relationships with experienced business owners • Why investing in yourself and the right rooms can pay off for years CHAPTERS 00:00 The People Who Succeed Keep Taking the Next Step 01:20 Confidence Is More Important Than You Think 03:30 The 80/20 Rule for Business Growth 07:15 Why Being Great at Your Craft Is Not Enough 09:45 Stop Consuming and Start Implementing 13:30 Breaking Out of a Scarcity Mindset 15:00 Stop Asking to Pick Someone's Brain 18:10 Why Successful People Want to Help 20:15 Invest in Yourself and the Right Rooms 21:45 The Smartest Person in the Room Is Listening 22:40 Building Relationships and Expanding Your Network 23:15 Join the Blue Collar Millionaire Community Stop standing on the outside asking for advice. Find the right room, bring value, pay attention, and take action. Subscribe for more. Learn how to stop asking for advice and start getting into the rooms where real business growth happens. Check out BoardRoom Elite and get in the room with operators, investors, and owners who are actually doing this every day. 👉 https://bluecollarmillionaire.net/elite 👉 Follow for more real stories and strategies from business owners building empires with grit, grind, and muscle. 👉 Learn more about BoardRoom Elite at BlueCollarMillionaire.net Connect with us: Follow us on all our social media networks for more similar content! Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmillions/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluecollarmillionaire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcollarmillionaires Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluecollarmillions Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bluecollarmillions

September 4, 2026Episode 338 min

Build Your Business Like You're Going to Sell It

Build your business like you're going to sell it, even if you have no plans to sell anytime soon. In this episode of Blue Collar Millionaire, Kevin and Chris sit down with an entrepreneur who built and acquired 26 companies before eventually packaging and selling them for $62.5 million. But the road there was anything but easy. After early success, he lost multiple businesses, went through bankruptcy, divorce, and even a period of homelessness. Those failures forced him to learn what actually makes a business survive, scale, and ultimately become valuable to someone other than the owner. They break down why every business owner should think about their exit long before they're ready to leave. Because when burnout, health problems, family changes, or an unexpected opportunity hits, that's the worst time to start figuring out what your company is worth. They also get into the difference between simply growing revenue and truly scaling, why owner-dependent businesses are difficult to sell, how increasing EBITDA can change your valuation, and why acquiring other businesses can sometimes be a faster path to growth than trying to do everything organically. The goal isn't necessarily to sell your business tomorrow. It's to build a company that gives you the choice. In this episode: • Why you should build with an exit in mind from day one • Going from operator to investor • What makes a business attractive to buyers • Why cash flow and EBITDA matter more than revenue alone • Using acquisitions to accelerate growth • Building systems that reduce owner dependence • How price, timing, and terms impact a business sale • Why selling from a position of need kills your leverage • Lessons from building, buying, turning around, and selling businesses If your business relies entirely on you, you are one bad day away from losing everything. Learn how to protect your future by treating your company as an asset meant to be sold. Jason Sisneros joins us to discuss his journey from building and selling 26 companies for $62.5 million to hitting rock bottom with bankruptcy and homelessness. He explains that a strong business valuation is not just about top-line revenue; it is about creating a model that can function without your constant input. We break down why creating a clear exit strategy is the best insurance policy for any entrepreneur. You will learn the difference between growing revenue and actually scaling, how to improve your EBITDA, and why removing owner dependence is the difference between having a job and owning a sellable company. True building wealth requires systems that work even when you are not there. Subscribe to the Blue Collar Millionaire Podcast for more conversations on growing and scaling your business, and tell us in the comments what step you are taking to make your company more independent today. 0:00 From Criminal Past to Business Success 0:56 Blue Collar Grit and Business Grind 1:47 The Misunderstood Concept of Scale 5:50 Learning the Trade from the Ground Up 7:47 The Hard Lessons of Bankruptcy 12:02 Taking Responsibility for Your Destiny 28:56 The Blueprint for Scaling and Selling If you're building a blue-collar or service business, this episode will change the way you think about what you're actually building. Subscribe to Blue Collar Millionaire for real conversations about building, scaling, buying, and selling businesses.

August 27, 2026Episode 216 min

Real Talk What's Overrated in the Business World

In this "Quick Take" episode of Blue Collar Millionaire's podcast, Chris, Kevin and Josh Yudin debate whether common business concepts are overrated or underrated for blue-collar entrepreneurs. They call team meetings overrated without a clear post-meeting plan, and say company culture is underrated, while mission statements and the words "core values" are often overrated unless actively practiced. They discuss door knocking as uncomfortable but powerful when done with a plan, and argue SEO is cluttered and often overrated. They emphasize wrapped trucks as legitimacy and a milestone as revenue grows, and say masterminds, overseas virtual assistants, profit sharing, KPIs, knowing the right numbers, early focused work time, and learning via podcasts/audiobooks are underrated. They view AI as overrated without experts, exits to private equity as rare and difficult, and work-life balance as overrated if you love the work. 01:08 Meetings Culture Values 02:14 Door Knocking Debate 03:05 SEO and Wrapped Trucks 04:08 Masterminds and Hiring Friends 05:22 Overseas Talent Incentives 07:07 Coaches KPIs Numbers 08:14 Benefits and Early Mornings 10:54 Learning and AI Hype 11:45 Build to Exit Reality 14:10 Work-Life Balance Myth Subscribe to Blue Collar Millionaire for honest conversations about building, scaling, and leading a successful blue-collar business.

August 19, 2026Episode 11 hr 14 min

If You Have to Pay for Every Lead, You're in Trouble

If You Have to Pay for Every Lead, You're in Trouble If you have to pay for every lead to keep your business growing, you're in trouble. Paid advertising can get the ball rolling, but it shouldn't be the only thing keeping your phone ringing. In this episode, Kevin and Chris sit down with Josh Yudin to break down the **marketing snowball**—how paid leads should eventually turn into repeat customers, referrals, brand recognition, and organic growth. They also talk about customer psychology, building a valuable brand, competing against cheaper companies, the skilled labor shortage, and why understanding how customers actually buy can save you from wasting money on marketing. Video Chapters 00:00 – If You Pay for Every Lead, You're in Trouble 00:58 – Meet Josh Yudin 02:29 – Growing Up in a Blue-Collar Business 05:11 – Building a Business Worth Selling 06:19 – Why Your Brand Has Real Business Value 09:24 – From Advertising Sales to Entrepreneurship 12:09 – Learning Marketing the Hard Way 13:10 – Why Timing Matters in Business 17:24 – Understanding How Customers Actually Think 21:15 – From 5 People to Training 1,500 at a Time 23:17 – Why Home Service Marketing Is Different 25:22 – The Massive Skilled Trades Labor Shortage 29:08 – Why Blue Collar Is Becoming Attractive Again 32:58 – The Wave Is Here for the Trades 34:06 – Why Business Owners Get Confused About Marketing 38:03 – Competing Against the Lowest Bid 41:29 – Tough Markets Expose Weak Businesses 42:38 – The Psychology Behind Customer Behavior 47:59 – Is Your Industry Really Saturated? 49:12 – The Skills Nobody Teaches Business Owners 55:20 – Information Isn't the Same as Execution 59:23 – The Marketing Snowball Explained 1:03:50 – If You Pay for Every Lead, You're in Trouble 1:04:21 – The Problem With Chasing High-Ticket Leads 1:08:25 – How to Get Customers Without Spending More 1:11:36 – Pay on the Front End or Pay Later 1:13:16 – Final Takeaway The goal isn't to stop marketing. It's to build a business where every new customer makes the next customer easier to get. Check out BoardRoom Elite and get in the room with operators, investors, and owners who are actually doing this every day. 👉 https://bluecollarmillionaire.net/elite 👉 Follow for more real stories and strategies from business owners building empires with grit, grind, and muscle. 👉 Learn more about BoardRoom Elite at BlueCollarMillionaire.net Connect with us: Follow us on all our social media networks for more similar content! Facebook Page: https://www.facebook.com/bluecollarmillions/ Facebook Group: https://www.facebook.com/groups/bluecollarmillionaire Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/bcollarmillionaires Tiktok: https://www.tiktok.com/@bluecollarmillions Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/@bluecollarmillions