podcast ·May 26, 2026

How to Start a Service Business With No Money | Chris Garrison

In Episode 171, Drewbie sits down with entrepreneur Chris Garrison to unpack the gritty reality of building a business from the ground up—starting with nothing but hustle, consistency, and the willingness to say yes to opportunity.

Chris shares the story of launching his cleaning business while completely broke, knocking on commercial doors, and learning new services on the fly—including watching YouTube tutorials on how to clean windows on the way to his first job.

What started as a small door-to-door pitch turned into a $40,000 recurring contract with Rent-A-Center locations, creating the foundation for what would eventually grow into a thriving restoration company.

But the conversation goes far deeper than one scrappy sales story.

Chris and Drewbie explore the evolution from "say yes to everything" entrepreneur to strategic business owner, the dangerous myth of passive income businesses, and the real mindset shift required to build scalable companies.

Chris also shares how learning from mentors, building systems, and surrounding yourself with the right community can accelerate your path toward business ownership and financial independence.

If you're a sales professional, entrepreneur, or blue-collar operator looking to grow your income and your impact, this episode delivers a powerful reminder:

Success doesn't start with perfection—it starts with action.

Episode Highlights

Chris's humble start knocking on commercial doors with zero marketing budget
How a simple window-cleaning job turned into a $40K contract
Learning new services in real time using "YouTube University"
Why being a "yes man" early in business can accelerate growth
When entrepreneurs must start saying no to protect their time
The trap of chasing shiny-object businesses and passive income myths
Why entrepreneurship requires obsession and discipline
The difference between entrepreneurship and intrapreneurship
Why mentorship prevents expensive business mistakes
How communities like Blue Collar Millionaire help operators scale faster

Guest Contact Information

📘 Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/chrisgarrison
👥 Community: Blue Collar Millionaire Facebook Group
📸 Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/chrisgarrison

Chris leads one of the largest online communities for blue-collar entrepreneurs, helping business owners scale service companies through systems, mentorship, and collaboration.

Call The Damn Leads

"By sales professionals, for sales professionals — Tales of your wildest sales stories and tactics to succeed in your sales career across various industries."

Join Drewbie Wilson, a sales veteran with over 20 years of experience, as he brings you insider stories, humor, and actionable strategies to excel in your sales journey.

Your weekly dose of:

Wild Sales Stories: Engaging tales of real-life sales adventures.
Proven Tactics: Actionable strategies to boost your sales game.
Humor: A fun and energetic perspective on the world of sales.
Expert Insights: Learn from seasoned professionals in various industries.

Don't miss out on the insights, humor, and strategies that can take your sales career to new heights.

If you'd like to be a guest on the show, leave your contact information and a brief message telling us why your story needs to be heard: https://callthedamnleads.com/pages/podcast

Follow Drewbie: https://www.facebook.com/drewbierides

Follow Call The Damn Leads: https://www.instagram.com/callthedamnleads

Also from the show: Sean Bellerby on the Hidden Rule of Sales. Going deeper: Small Business Ideas That Can Make Tons Of Money. New here? Start with what Call The Damn Leads is.

Back to Episodes

Frequently Asked Questions

How do you start a service business with no money?

Chris Garrison started a cleaning business completely broke by knocking on commercial doors with zero marketing budget. He said yes to work he did not yet know how to do, including watching YouTube tutorials on cleaning windows on the drive to his first job. The capital he did not have was replaced by willingness to show up and learn in real time.

How did a window cleaning job become a $40,000 contract?

It started as a single door-to-door pitch and turned into a $40,000 recurring contract across Rent-A-Center locations. That contract became the foundation for what eventually grew into a restoration company. The scale did not come from a bigger pitch, it came from being the person physically standing there when the need came up.

Should you say yes to every opportunity in business?

Early on, yes. Chris credits being a yes man for how fast he grew, because every yes taught him a service he could then sell. The turn comes later. At some point saying yes to everything stops being growth and starts being a tax on your time, and Chris is direct about needing to make that switch deliberately.

Is passive income from a service business realistic?

Chris calls it a dangerous myth. Businesses sold as passive still need systems, people and attention, and the owners who believe otherwise end up with a job that pays worse than the one they left. His framing is that scalable and passive are different things, and only one of them is actually available.