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Managing Your Restoration BusinessAsk the Expert

Ask the Expert

How to Build, Scale, and Future-Proof Your Restoration Business

Voda CEO Dan Claps shares KPIs, culture strategies, and growth habits for long term success

By Kayla McGowan
March 4, 2026

On this episode of Ask the Expert, Kayla McGowan sat down with Dan Claps, CFE, CEO, Voda Cleaning & Restoration. The restoration industry has been anything but predictable lately, and Dan shares his insights on building, scaling, and future-proofing your business, regardless of the trade. 

Dan introduced franchise development in 2023. He’s guided Voda Cleaning & Restoration to grow significantly to almost 100 owners and more than 230 locations across the country. Dan brings over 10 years of franchising experience, including a successful exit from a franchise lead generation company in 2022. Dan is known for his expertise in franchise expansion and lead strategy. 

Key topics of discussion with Dan include:

  • Implement "TIF" (the important few) KPIs like on-time arrivals, 5-star reviews, and upsell opportunities to drive operational excellence
  • Building an extraordinary culture is beyond breaking bread with your team and celebrating them; tailor your employee incentives to metrics they can directly impact, like customer reviews and job profitability, to build a true "people-first" culture
  • Dan shares a story where a reliable employee started missing shifts due to family obligations and Dan worked with him by adjusting his schedule so his employee could meet both his work and family responsibilities, reinforcing a people-first approach
  • Treat every job as an opportunity; even small tasks can lead to larger, more lucrative work down the line if you deliver exceptional service (Dan’s team turned a carpet cleaning job into a $75,000 commercial job from a satisfied customer!)
  • Fun Fact: One of Kayla’s favorite musicians is Kehlani. Dan put her on the spot to share the power of experience in your customer’s eyes
  • Proactively follow up with your customers every 6–12 months and send educational newsletters to stay at the top of your customer’s mind and generate recurring revenue
  • Leverage AI and technology for your back-office functions, and also invest in personalized, human-centric customer service to stand out
  • Adopt an "abundant" mindset — there is often hidden revenue potential right in front of you if you get creative

 

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KEYWORDS: customer satisfaction customer service restoration business growth restoration business marketing restoration business strategy

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Kayla mcgowan author

Kayla McGowan is the SPAR Partner Manager for PuroClean, where she manages and strengthens the company’s vendor partnership ecosystem. In her role, she serves as a key liaison between PuroClean, approved vendor partners, internal stakeholders, and Franchise Owners, helping connect the network with trusted tools, services, and products that support operational success.

With more than 10 years of experience in marketing and communications within the restoration and cleaning industry, Kayla has built her career around connecting people, ideas, and resources that move the industry forward. She is the former Editor-in-Chief of Restoration & Remediation (R&R) Magazine and continues to contribute to R&R as a writer, bringing her industry knowledge and perspective to its audience.

Kayla holds a B.S. in Criminal Science and an M.S. in Public Safety and Emergency Management from Grand Canyon University. She also serves as Co-Chair of the Restoration Industry Association’s Marketing Committee.

Her industry credentials include Microbial Warrior®️, Certified Forensic Operator®️, and High Risk/High Level Decontamination Specialist™️. Passionate about elevating the restoration industry and the professionals within it, Kayla enjoys building meaningful relationships, sharing knowledge, and creating opportunities for collaboration. Outside of work, she is a food lover who enjoys spending time with her family and being outdoors.

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