PuroClean, a leader in the property restoration and remediation industry, ascended the ranks of Entrepreneur magazine’s 2018 Franchise 500® to No. 258, jumping 151 spots since 2017. The prestigious list ranks the nation’s top franchise brands annually.

Noted as the world’s first, best, and most comprehensive ranking of the top franchise opportunities in the United States, placement in the Franchise 500 is a highly sought-after honor in the industry. The key factors in Entrepreneur’s evaluation include costs and fees, size and growth, support, brand strength, and financial strength and stability. For the first time since 1993, the magazine received more than 1,000 applicants this year, making it the most competitive in over two decades.

PuroClean, known as the “Paramedics of Property Damage,” earned its 151-spot jump on the most recent list with a 97 percent increase in franchise deals in 2017, signing 40 new deals compared to 23 in 2016. Chairman and CEO Mark W. Davis said, “PuroClean is ‘on the move’ and that is evident by the fact that we sold out or nearly sold out several markets in 2017, including New York City, the Omaha and Council Bluffs area, Oklahoma City, and Seattle. We also expanded into Montana for the first time with a franchisee in Missoula.”

Davis noted that integral to PuroClean’s growing franchise success is the company’s positive relationships with many of the country’s biggest insurance providers. “Large insurance carriers continue to partner with us because of the high standards we have for every franchisee across the country. We train each PuroClean franchise owner to work efficiently and professionally, and excellent customer service drives our success. Prospective franchisees see that they can work on large national accounts, and it’s very appealing to them,” said Davis.

Each year, PuroClean performs thousands of jobs throughout the United States and Canada, providing restoration services from common household mishaps to large-scale disasters. The company currently has a comprehensive network of more than 240 franchise offices around North America that provide fire and smoke damage remediation, water damage remediation, flood water removal, mold removal, and biohazard clean-up, among other services. Many of the offices also offer reconstruction services.

PuroClean predicts another strong showing on the 2019 Franchise 500 list, with the anticipated addition of 75 new franchisees in 2018 and 100 more in 2019. Markets that will see a targeted development push over the next two years include California’s Bay Area; New England; Cheyenne, Wyoming; Boise, Idaho; Denver, Colorado; Salt Lake City, Utah; and Baltimore, Maryland. Additionally, many current franchisees will be expanding their territories in 2018.

“This year’s Franchise 500®ranking features both up-and-comers who bring fresh ideas to an ever-changing industry, as well as savvy stalwarts that have thrived for decades. We are proud to highlight and celebrate them all,” says Jason Feifer, editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur. “Our results show that the industry is strong – and that the most enduring franchisors are those who learn to balance innovation with reliability. That’s how to attract new customers while keeping the old ones happy.”

To view PuroClean in the full ranking, visit www.entrepreneur.com/franchise500. Results can also be seen in the January/February issue of Entrepreneur, available on newsstands now.