Blue-Collar Gold

How to Build a Service Business from the Dirt Up

Problem: Most Americans don't realize the potential gold mine in blue-collar business. By "blue-collar business" I mean a business providing a specialized service requiring a trained employee and manual labor. In my case it is chimney sweeping, but it can range from construction to gardening to plumbing and junk removal. There are literally thousands and thousands of opportunities, but many people don’t consider blue-collar work as an option and are missing out as a result... Over 3 million blue-collar and skilled labor jobs went unfilled in America last year! The service industry is wide open in America and this book will open your eyes to a growing opportunity that you probably never thought about. By reading this book you will learn how to:

Think bigger - Don't be scared of starting or growing your existing business. Make a decision and then make the decision right. 

Be a leader - You have to learn to be a leader if you want to have a great business. Leadership is a learned skill and this book can help get you started. Start with a plan and an exit strategy so you can live the life you want without being stuck in your business. 

So come on America, let's get to work doing the "dirty" jobs and make a whole lot of money while you’re at it. 

Mark Stoner of Nashville, TN

Mark Stoner has been in the chimney industry for thirty years. He ran a one-truck company for eighteen years until 2003 when he changed his path and built a multi-million- dollar chimney company only a few years later. Ashbusters Chimney Service currently employs thirty-five people operating sixteen trucks and is currently servicing Middle Tennessee, Southern Kentucky and Charleston, South Carolina.  

In a January of 2017 Mark was featured on season two of CNBCs "Blue Collar Millionaires" hosted by Tim McGraw and his company Ashbusters Chimney Service is featured in 9 episodes of “Property Brothers” on HGTV in the Nashville area. 

Mark has served as the president of the Chimney Safety Institute of America (CSIA), is the past CSIA vice president and treasurer, and has also served as the National Chimney Sweep Guild Ethics Committee Chairman.   Mark enjoys being a keynote speaker for various regional and national organizations and events in service related industries. 

Always an entrepreneur, Mark and three close business partners launched SirVent Chimney and Venting Franchise (www.sir-vent.com) in 2014.   Franchises are available throughout the U.S.. 

In 2015 Mark has also developed, Blue Collar University, an intensive two-day course held in Nashville, designed to help other business owners with their service companies.

Mark was a finalist in the 2012 Nashville NEXT Entrepreneur of the Year award.

In 2016 Mark released his first book, “Blue Collar Gold…how to build a service business from the dirt up” which became an Amazon best seller in 2017.

Marketing & Publicity
  • Endorsements from key influencers.
  • National publicity campaign garnering bookings for the authors on TV, Radio and Print outlets
  • Regular social media management and advertising targeting key demographics to gain further book exposure