Becoming the Mayor of Your Town

In this episode of I Fired My Boss, Voda CEO and Co-Founder Dan Claps explains the idea at the heart of how Voda owners build their businesses: becoming the “Mayor of the Town.” It’s about being so visible, involved and helpful in your community that you’re the first name people think of when something goes wrong at home.

What the episode covers

According to the show notes, Dan covers:

• What being the Mayor of the Town means. How local owners, especially in home services, build trust, strong relationships and lasting brand awareness by being highly visible, involved and service-oriented.
• Networking that works. The value of networking through organizations like BNI, showing up at community events, and promoting your business through branding and partnerships.
• The long game. Why building a business doesn’t happen overnight, and why consistency, persistence and commitment to growth matter.
• Dan’s own early days. Personal stories from his early days in business, the challenges he faced launching Voda Cleaning & Restoration, and what he learned about resilience and adaptability.
• Referrals. How strong local connections lead to referrals and a trusted place in the community.

Why it matters if you’re considering a Voda franchise

“Mayor of the Town” isn’t just a podcast theme; it’s how Voda describes the owner it looks for. Most Voda owners come from executive backgrounds and are strong networkers: people who know their community, build relationships with insurance agents, adjusters, plumbers and property managers, and lead a team.

Here’s why that matters in restoration:

• Referrals bring restoration work. When a pipe bursts or a basement floods, the homeowner often calls their insurance agent, a plumber or their property manager. Voda asks owners to act like the Mayor of the Town and meet those people.
• Insurance is part of the job. Restoration work is often paid for by the homeowner’s insurance, so relationships with agents and adjusters matter. Voda trains you to document every job for the adjuster.
• One brand stays top of mind. Voda owners offer restoration and carpet and upholstery cleaning under one brand. The customer who books a carpet cleaning remembers you when a pipe bursts.

You don’t have to build those relationships alone. Every Voda location has a Franchise Success Coach, a U.S.-based call center that answers and books jobs, the Voda Playbook app, and marketing that brings in emergency calls, including Google Local Services ads. That frees you to spend your time where the Mayor of the Town belongs: out in the community.

And you don’t need restoration experience to start. Voda looks for leadership and relationships; the trade is taught in training before you open. See Can I own a restoration franchise with no experience?

Listen to the episode

For more on this theme, Dan revisits relationships and mindset in Your Network Is Your Net Worth. Listen to the full episode on the I Fired My Boss website, and find more Voda episodes of the show on our podcast page.

Ready for the next step? Check whether a Voda territory is open near you or book an intro call with our franchise development team.