I Fired My Boss - A Franchise Podcast

In this episode of the I Fired My Boss podcast, recorded live at the inaugural Voda franchise conference, host Dan Claps sits down for a candid one-on-one with Thomas Wray, a top-performing Voda Cleaning & Restoration franchise owner based in Houston. Thomas shares his unconventional journey from investment banking and energy trading in New York City to full-time entrepreneurship in the home services space. He discusses how his partnership with his brother-in-law Holston—and their shared obsession with customer service—helped launch a high-growth business that's already making a major impact in their community. With no prior experience in restoration, Thomas explains how he leveraged his corporate background, followed the franchise system, and went all in to create real momentum.Throughout the conversation, Thomas unpacks the mindset shift required to leave a high-paying job and fully commit to building a service business from the ground up. He highlights the difference between passive ownership and leadership driven by purpose, and shares the importance of community, culture, and constant iteration. From serving hurricane victims to empowering his team with trust and incentives, Thomas gives a raw and inspiring look at what it really takes to scale a mission-driven business in restoration. Whether you’re a corporate escapee or considering your first franchise, this episode is packed with hard-won insights and real-world strategy.

In this special conference episode of the I Fired My Boss podcast, host Dan Claps sits down with three powerhouse women making waves in the home services industry: Nina Hunter and Erica Boutelle, both multi-unit franchise owners with Voda Cleaning & Restoration, and Shannon Hauser, Voda’s Franchise Coaching Manager. Recorded live in Madison, Wisconsin during the company’s annual franchisee conference, the conversation highlights how each woman found her way into business ownership—often after career shakeups or personal pivots—and why they chose franchising as a path to freedom and fulfillment. From launching in the wake of Hurricane Idalia to redefining leadership in the field, Nina and Erica open up about what it means to build trust, community, and confidence as women in a traditionally male-dominated space.The episode also explores the nuanced challenges female entrepreneurs face—from overcoming assumptions in the field to managing work-life integration and building strong team cultures from day one. Shannon adds perspective from the coaching side, while all three women share how they lead with empathy, purpose, and hands-on commitment. Their stories reflect not only resilience and resourcefulness but also a growing movement of women reshaping the future of franchising and restoration. Whether you're in the industry or just dreaming of your next chapter, this conversation is full of honest insights and powerful motivation.

In this special on-location episode of the I Fired My Boss podcast, host Dan Claps sits down with Voda Cleaning and Restoration franchise owners Sean Gilmore and Keith Nash live from Madison, Wisconsin during the inaugural Voda franchise owner conference. Sean, based in the Carolinas, and Keith, operating in Chattanooga, reflect on their unique journeys into franchising—both driven by a desire to escape the limitations of corporate life and build meaningful, impactful businesses. Keith shares a powerful story about a life-changing moment helping a veteran during an emergency cleanup, which affirmed his purpose in the restoration industry. Meanwhile, Sean opens up about the grind of the early days and his long-term vision of building an empire to leave a legacy for his nieces.Together, the three dive into the realities of entrepreneurship—navigating mental and financial lows, creating intentional company culture, and finding harmony between personal and professional life. Dan shares his own transformative moments, including the emotional weight of stewarding a growing franchise brand and staying mentally strong under pressure. This episode is a raw, real, and inspiring look into what it means to go all in—not just financially, but emotionally and mentally—on a business that serves both community and purpose.

In this solo episode of the I Fired My Boss podcast, host Dan Claps dives deep into the topic of company culture—a subject he believes is at the heart of building successful businesses. Fresh off his birthday weekend and just before heading to Wisconsin for the first-ever Voda 1 annual conference, Dan reflects on why culture is so central to his excitement for the event. He shares practical, real-world strategies that he implements at Franchise Playbook and Voda to create a thriving work environment, including promoting psychological safety, fostering healthy debate, and ensuring team members—especially junior ones—are empowered to speak up first in meetings.Dan breaks down the five core responsibilities of a CEO when it comes to building culture: casting a vision, securing buy-in, providing resources, celebrating wins, and holding people accountable. He also emphasizes the value of feedback—calling it a gift—and shares how being "caringly candid" helps cultivate trust and performance across teams. From solving everyday inefficiencies to helping teammates build toward their long-term personal and professional goals, this episode is a masterclass in intentional leadership and the power of putting people first.

In this episode of the I Fired My Boss podcast, host Dan Claps dives into the transformative lessons he’s picked up from a handful of impactful business books. Dan shares insights from titles like Grinding It Out by Ray Kroc, The Outsiders, How to Make a Few Billion Dollars by Brad Jacobs, and That Will Never Work by Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph. The episode zeroes in on the Netflix story, particularly Randolph's revelation that true company culture isn’t about perks like hot tubs and ping-pong tables—but about giving brilliant, creative people the autonomy to solve meaningful problems. Dan connects this idea to his own leadership journey in franchising, emphasizing the importance of crafting a culture of trust, autonomy, and alignment around a common mission.Dan also reflects on broader lessons for entrepreneurs, including the importance of starting before you feel completely ready. Drawing parallels between Netflix’s foresight in pivoting from DVDs to streaming and his own path into water restoration franchising, Dan underscores how being in the business gives you clarity you can’t get from the outside. He encourages listeners not to overanalyze potential future challenges but to dive in, learn, and adapt. Whether you're considering launching a business or are already deep in the game, this episode offers a grounded yet inspiring perspective on leadership, culture-building, and the value of action over hesitation.

In this episode of the I Fired My Boss podcast, host Dan Claps dives into the transformative lessons he’s picked up from a handful of impactful business books. Dan shares insights from titles like Grinding It Out by Ray Kroc, The Outsiders, How to Make a Few Billion Dollars by Brad Jacobs, and That Will Never Work by Netflix co-founder Marc Randolph. The episode zeroes in on the Netflix story, particularly Randolph's revelation that true company culture isn’t about perks like hot tubs and ping-pong tables—but about giving brilliant, creative people the autonomy to solve meaningful problems. Dan connects this idea to his own leadership journey in franchising, emphasizing the importance of crafting a culture of trust, autonomy, and alignment around a common mission.Dan also reflects on broader lessons for entrepreneurs, including the importance of starting before you feel completely ready. Drawing parallels between Netflix’s foresight in pivoting from DVDs to streaming and his own path into water restoration franchising, Dan underscores how being in the business gives you clarity you can’t get from the outside. He encourages listeners not to overanalyze potential future challenges but to dive in, learn, and adapt. Whether you're considering launching a business or are already deep in the game, this episode offers a grounded yet inspiring perspective on leadership, culture-building, and the value of action over hesitation.

In this episode of I Fired My Boss, host Dan Claps dives deep into the concept of becoming the Mayor of the Town—a powerful strategy for building a thriving local business, especially in the home services industry. Dan shares how local business owners can establish trust, build strong relationships, and create lasting brand awareness in their communities by being highly visible, involved, and service-oriented. Drawing from his own experiences, he highlights the importance of networking through organizations like BNI (Business Networking International), leveraging community events, and relentlessly promoting your business through strategic branding and partnerships.Dan also emphasizes the long game of entrepreneurship, reminding listeners that true success doesn’t come overnight—it requires consistency, persistence, and an unwavering commitment to growth. He shares personal stories from his early days in business, the challenges he faced when launching Voda Cleaning & Restoration, and the lessons he learned about resilience and adaptability. Whether you're a new entrepreneur or a seasoned business owner, this episode is packed with actionable insights on how to build strong local connections, generate referrals, and ultimately, dominate your market by becoming a trusted leader in your community.

In this episode of I Fired My Boss, host Dan Claps dives deep into lead generation strategies specifically for home service businesses and franchise owners. He shares his evolving vision for the podcast—documenting his journey and providing actionable insights for entrepreneurs looking to scale their businesses. Dan emphasizes the importance of engaged leads, explaining why quality trumps quantity and how irresistible lead magnets can attract high-intent customers. He also introduces the "Rule of 100," a powerful framework involving daily content creation, outreach, and advertising investments to maximize lead flow. Throughout the episode, Dan breaks down the core four lead generation strategies—warm outreach, cold outreach, paid advertising, and content creation—showing how a well-balanced approach can drive sustained business growth.Beyond lead generation, Dan offers a masterclass in sales psychology, demonstrating how to handle objections and close deals effectively. Using his experience in the mold remediation industry, he walks through a proven sales presentation framework that builds trust, establishes authority, and preemptively addresses customer hesitations. He emphasizes the power of strategic partnerships and referrals, explaining how nurturing deep relationships with referral sources—like plumbers for a water restoration business—can significantly impact long-term success. Whether you're a franchise owner, home service provider, or entrepreneur looking to improve your lead generation and sales conversion, this episode is packed with valuable, real-world strategies you can implement immediately. Don't forget to leave a five-star review and stay tuned for more insights from Dan on growing and scaling a business the right way!

In this episode of I Fired My Boss, host Dan Claps breaks down the essential numbers every home service business owner needs to know to measure marketing success. He dives into the critical metrics—Customer Acquisition Cost (CAC), Lifetime Value (LTV), and Closing Rate—and explains how these numbers dictate whether your business is growing profitably or spinning its wheels. Dan shares real-world insights from his own experiences, including past mistakes, lessons learned, and a powerful story about a business owner who didn't realize he was making an 80X return on his marketing spend. If you don’t know your numbers, you’re flying blind—and Dan is here to make sure you see the full picture.With his signature no-nonsense approach, Dan also debunks common misconceptions about marketing ROI, explaining why early-stage businesses often struggle with high acquisition costs and how long-term thinking can transform your bottom line. He challenges business owners to analyze their sales processes, improve their closing rates, and recognize when marketing isn't the problem—operations and customer experience are. Whether you're a franchise owner, an independent operator, or just considering jumping into the home service industry, this episode will give you the tools to approach your business with a data-driven mindset. If you’re ready to stop guessing and start scaling, this one's for you.

In this episode of I Fired My Boss, host Dan Claps takes a deep dive into the art of selling—specifically in the home services industry. Walking and recording on a Saturday morning, Dan shares raw and unfiltered insights into what it takes to build a successful business, drawing from his experience scaling Voda Cleaning and Restoration to over 200 territories across 30 states. He breaks down the psychology of selling, emphasizing the importance of building rapport, asking the right questions, and handling objections like a pro. Whether you’re in home services, fitness, or any other sales-driven business, his step-by-step framework for overcoming resistance and closing deals is invaluable.Dan also reflects on his journey as an entrepreneur and podcaster, offering a behind-the-scenes look at what it takes to build a brand over time. He stresses the power of persistence, authenticity, and creating real value for customers. If you’ve ever struggled with closing deals or want to improve your sales game, this episode is packed with actionable strategies that you can apply immediately. Plus, Dan makes a call to action—if you enjoy the show, leave a five-star review and help him grow I Fired My Boss into a top-ranked business podcast!