Why I Left Finance to Build a Restoration Business

In this episode of I Fired My Boss, recorded live at the first Voda franchise conference, Dan Claps sits down one-on-one with a Voda Cleaning & Restoration owner in Houston who left a career in finance to build a restoration business. It’s a candid conversation about leaving corporate life, starting with no restoration experience and committing fully to a service business.

What the episode covers

According to the show notes, the conversation covers:

• The career change. The owner’s path from investment banking and energy trading in New York City to full-time entrepreneurship in home services.
• A partnership built on service. How going into business with his brother-in-law, and their shared focus on customer service, shaped the business.
• Starting with no restoration experience. How he drew on his corporate background, followed the franchise system and went all in.
• The mindset shift. What it takes to leave a corporate career and fully commit to building a service business from the ground up, and the difference between passive ownership and leadership driven by purpose.
• Community, culture and iteration. Why they matter, from serving hurricane victims to empowering a team with trust and incentives.

Why it matters if you’re considering a Voda franchise

Many people who look at Voda are corporate professionals wondering whether their experience carries over to a trade they’ve never worked in. This episode speaks directly to that question.

• No restoration experience required. Voda looks for motivated, coachable owners with strong leadership skills. Owners learn the trade in training at Voda University before they open, after completing three industry certifications (water damage, fire and smoke, and mold). See Can I own a restoration franchise with no experience?
• Executive backgrounds are common. Most Voda owners come from executive backgrounds and are strong networkers, the “Mayor of the Town” who builds relationships with insurance agents, adjusters and property managers.
• Following the system. The Voda Playbook app gives you the steps, and owners who use them get up to speed fastest. A Franchise Success Coach works with every location through regular check-ins.
• Customer care is the business. Restoration customers call on a bad day, often after a storm, a burst pipe or a flood, and how you treat them is what they remember.
• Your role is your choice. You must personally supervise the business unless Voda agrees otherwise in writing, and your General Manager, who handles day-to-day management, must have prior restoration experience (2026 FDD, Item 15).

The episode was recorded at Voda’s first owner conference. Owners still meet every year, and the 2027 conference is set for April in Tampa.

Hearing from owners is one of the most useful parts of your research. Before signing, Voda candidates talk with current owners as well as leadership. Financial performance information is in Item 19 of our Franchise Disclosure Document, which we review with you during the process. Read more stories on our owner stories page.

Listen to the episode

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.