Boring business, big profits

Why home services might be the smartest move you’ll ever make

Think you need a flashy business to be successful? Think again. In this episode of "The Sidekick Life," we sit down with Dan Claps, CEO of Voda Cleaning & Restoration, to explore how "boring" businesses – like water restoration and carpet cleaning – are quietly creating massive wealth and freedom for franchise owners.

If you’ve ever wondered whether you should skip trendy brands and look at something more stable, this episode is for you. Spoiler alert: Boring just might be brilliant.

From lifeguard to industry leader: Dan Claps' story

Dan didn’t grow up dreaming of flood remediation or cleaning carpets, but that didn’t stop him from building one of the fastest-growing franchise systems in America. In 2023, he launched Voda with just one location. Today, he’s grown it to over 200 territories across 30 states in under two years.

The Voda origin story is just as gritty as the industry. The original founder, Dragan, immigrated from Serbia, taught himself restoration through YouTube and slowly built a thriving local business. Dan brought his franchise expertise and together they turned Voda into a national powerhouse.

Why “boring” businesses are booming

Dan says it best:

“Business is about the results, not the day-to-day.”

And the results in cleaning and restoration speak for themselves:

• Recession-resistant: Pipes don’t care about the economy. If they burst, you need help, fast.

• Insurance-paid services: Most jobs are covered by homeowners insurance, meaning customers aren’t footing the entire bill.

• Low startup costs: No need for expensive leases or massive equipment investments.

• Non-skilled labor model: You don’t need licensed tradespeople. Good attitude + training = winning formula.

• Predictable lead generation: Dan’s team cracked the code on driving high-intent leads nationally.

Best of all? It’s repeatable. With systems, branding, and national support, Voda franchisees can scale quickly – even if they’ve never touched a carpet cleaner in their lives.

The secret sauce: Cleaning + restoration = dual revenue streams

Restoration businesses can feel “feast or famine.” But Voda figured out how to smooth the curve by bundling services. In addition to emergency water restoration, they offer recurring cleaning services like tile, carpet and upholstery work. That gives owners a steady income while they build their restoration book.

Dan calls it: Two businesses in one, two revenue streams that feed each other.

The 5 pillars of a winning franchise (according to Dan)

When evaluating any franchise, Dan says there are five key questions to ask:

1. Can the franchise generate leads for me?

2. Can it help me recruit and train a reliable team?

3. What makes it stand out from competitors?

4. Do the numbers make sense (i.e. unit economics)?

5. Does the day-to-day match the lifestyle I want?

Voda checks all five boxes, and their branding turns heads. From slick van wraps to a 24/7 national call center, this is not your average mom-and-pop operation.

The rise of the sophisticated franchise owner

Today’s top-performing franchisees aren’t industry veterans, they’re business pros. Many come from careers in tech, sales or finance. What they share is a growth mindset and a desire to own something meaningful.

“Most of our owners had never even considered restoration,” Dan said. “But once they saw the numbers, the systems and the support, it clicked.”

Why home services are built for the future

Boring businesses aren’t just booming today, they’re set to dominate for decades. Here’s why:

• Aging homes = more repairs.

• Generational delegation = more outsourcing.

• Trillion-dollar industry growth by 2031.

• Fragmented market = opportunity to outcompete legacy players.

Voda’s tech-forward systems give franchisees the tools to run circles around old-school competitors still relying on pen-and-paper.

Grit, growth and the long game

Dan doesn’t sugarcoat the hard stuff.

“It’ll cost more than you think and take longer than you expect,” he admits.

But for those who play the long game, the payoff is worth it.

Just ask his first franchisee, who sold his house to fund his Voda location. That owner is now one of the top performers in the system. And it’s not uncommon. The average Voda franchisee did over $500,000 in year one revenue, with several passing the million-dollar mark.

Should you consider a “boring” franchise?

If you want prestige, freedom and long-term equity – but without the flashy overhead – boring businesses might be your best bet.

Dan’s advice: “Fall in love with what you do.” You don’t have to start with passion for restoration. You just need to love building something that matters – and that works.

Final thoughts: The boring business advantage

There’s a reason investors, advisors and everyday entrepreneurs are flocking to essential services like restoration and cleaning. These businesses aren’t trendy, but they’re timeless.

With strong unit economics, recession resistance and scalable systems, boring businesses like Voda are making big waves in franchising.

If you’re ready to explore a smarter path to business ownership, this episode is your blueprint.