The Systems that Took a Restoration & Cleaning Business From 0 to 82 Locations

In this episode of To The Point Home Services, a Rhino Experience Podcast, Chris Yano and Chad Peterman are joined by Dan Claps, CEO and co-founder of Voda Cleaning & Restoration and The Franchise Playbook, to discuss the challenges and strategies behind scaling a franchise business, building a strong brand, and maintaining consistency across multiple locations.

Dan shares insights on the franchise growth process, the role of training and leadership in franchise success, and the importance of finding the right franchise owners who align with the company’s vision. He also discusses the differences between franchisors and traditional business owners, how Voda Cleaning & Restoration stands out in the industry, and the power of building strong internal culture through open communication and training.

Key Takeaways:

The Challenges of Franchising – Growing a franchise isn’t just about selling locations; it’s about finding the right partners, ensuring they follow the system, and helping them succeed.

Building a Scalable System – Dan emphasizes the importance of SOPs (Standard Operating Procedures), technology, and training programs to create a repeatable, scalable business model.

Maintaining Brand Consistency – As the franchise grows, brand consistency across multiple locations becomes one of the biggest challenges. Dan explains how regular communication, training, and leadership development keep owners aligned.

The Power of Leadership & Training – Regular weekly franchise owner calls, ongoing sales training, and leadership development are key to keeping franchisees engaged and improving operational success.

Hiring and Retention in a Franchise Model – Finding the right talent is crucial. Dan discusses the Talent Scout program and how phantom equity can incentivize top talent to commit to franchise success.

The Unique Edge of Voda Cleaning & Restoration – Unlike traditional restoration franchises, Voda combines cleaning and restoration to create recurring revenue streams and establish stronger relationships with property managers and homeowners.

Marketing & Franchise Growth Strategies – Dan explains the importance of multiple vendor options, ensuring marketing support is flexible and effective for different franchise owners.

Noteworthy Quotes:

"Franchising is unique because if someone doesn’t do well, it’s our fault. If they do well, it’s on them. We have to find the right owners who will follow the system and be successful." – Dan Claps

"If you're a franchise owner, you’re not just buying a business—you’re joining a community. And that means working together, following the playbook, and constantly improving." – Dan Claps

"Brand consistency isn’t about forcing owners to do something—it’s about getting them to believe in it." – Dan Claps

"Leadership is everything. A great franchise owner isn’t just good at running the business—they need to be a great leader for their team." – Dan Claps

Key Timestamps:

00:00:00 – Episode Introduction: Franchisor responsibility in franchisee success or failure.

00:04:45 – Introduction of Dan Claps and their meeting at the Franchise Springboard Conference.

00:08:47 – Number of franchisees and locations.

00:09:59 – Dan shares a story about selling his dad’s bourbon collection as a teenager.

00:16:16 – Awards won by Voda Cleaning & Restoration for growth and culture.

00:18:13 – Journey from staffing business to franchising.

00:23:17 – Reason for choosing the cleaning and restoration industry.

00:28:54 – Challenge of maintaining brand consistency with franchisees.

00:33:49 – Importance of regular training