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 obs...
Jul 09, 2025•34 min•Ep. 142
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 afte...
Jul 02, 2025•39 min•Ep. 141
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 ...
Jun 25, 2025•39 min•Ep. 140
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 environ...
Jun 13, 2025•13 min•Ep. 139
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-p...
May 14, 2025•47 min•Ep. 138
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-p...
Apr 25, 2025•13 min•Ep. 137
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 o...
Mar 05, 2025•31 min•Ep. 136
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 o...
Feb 12, 2025•24 min•Ep. 135
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 ab...
Feb 07, 2025•18 min•Ep. 134
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, an...
Feb 05, 2025•25 min•Ep. 133
In this episode of I Fired My Boss, host Dan Claps dives deep into the power of Google Local Service Ads (LSAs) for home service businesses. Dan breaks down how LSAs have transformed lead generation, explaining why Google introduced the "Google Guaranteed" program and how businesses can leverage it to rank at the top of search results. He highlights the importance of five-star reviews, quick response times, and a well-optimized Google My Business (GMB) profile to maximize visibility and conversi...
Jan 31, 2025•19 min•Ep. 132
In this episode of I Fired My Boss, Dan Claps, founder and CEO of Franchise Playbook dives into the art of lead generation for home service businesses. Reflecting on his mission to help aspiring entrepreneurs "fire their boss" and take control of their futures, Dan shares actionable strategies to optimize your Google My Business (GMB) page, leverage local service ads (LSA), and transform your website into a lead-converting machine. He emphasizes the importance of prioritizing quality and quantit...
Jan 29, 2025•25 min•Ep. 131
In this episode of I Fired My Boss, host Dan Claps sits down with Jason Feifer, the editor-in-chief of Entrepreneur magazine and host of the podcasts Build for Tomorrow and Problem Solvers. Together, they dive into the evolving dynamics of franchising, focusing on how franchisors can stay innovative and responsive to their franchisees. Jason emphasizes the importance of collaboration, noting how some of the most iconic innovations in franchises like McDonald's and Taco Bell originated from franc...
Jan 01, 2025•26 min•Ep. 130
In this episode of the I Fired My Boss podcast, Dan and Christian sit down with Joe Matthews, founder of Franchise Performance Group, to dive deep into the journey of building a successful franchise business. Joe shares his insights on creating long-term value in franchising, emphasizing the importance of a patient, strategic approach over a quick win. Reflecting on Warren Buffett’s advice that the best holding period is “forever,” Joe explains why he believes in taking a five- to six-year view ...
Nov 13, 2024•39 min•Ep. 129
n this episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, Dan Claps sits down with Lexi Weiss, the marketing coordinator for Voda Cleaning & Restoration, at their corporate training and Discovery Day in Wisconsin. Lexi, who hails from a third-generation franchising family, shares her journey from initially pursuing psychology in college to finding her niche in marketing within the franchising world. She discusses how her family's deep roots in franchising, including her father's transition from corpo...
Aug 21, 2024•22 min•Ep. 128
In a special crossover episode, Dan Claps of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast and Tommy Mello of the "Home Service Expert" podcast come together for a dynamic conversation about entrepreneurship, franchising, and personal growth. The episode takes place in Tommy's studio, where both hosts discuss their journeys and share insights from their experiences. Dan talks about his early start in business, selling everything from lemonade to bourbon, and how he transitioned into franchising. He emphasizes t...
Jun 12, 2024•1 hr 29 min•Ep. 127
In this solo episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, co-host Dan Claps dives deep into the intricacies of creating a franchise owner-centric culture as a franchisor, drawing from his experiences at Voda Cleaning and Restoration. Dan emphasizes the importance of active listening and responsiveness to franchise owners, likening them to customers whose feedback is invaluable for continuous improvement. He shares practical strategies such as weekly town hall meetings and a culture of being "quick ...
May 23, 2024•24 min•Ep. 126
In this insightful episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, hosts Dan Claps and Christian Dadulak sit down with Travis Paeth, a Texas-based franchise owner of Voda Cleaning and Restoration. Travis shares his intriguing journey from dreaming of becoming a professional hockey player to venturing into the logistics industry, eventually leading him towards entrepreneurship influenced by his parents' successful business endeavors. His story offers listeners a profound look at career transitions, the...
Apr 24, 2024•46 min•Ep. 125
In this enriching episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, co-host Dan Claps sits down with Jesalyn Johnson, an enthusiastic onboarding specialist from Voda, currently based in Madison, Wisconsin. Jesalyn shares her intriguing journey from a longstanding career in fitness and nutrition coaching into the franchising world, sparked by a serendipitous job posting on Indeed. Her transition highlights a pursuit for new challenges and growth, emphasizing her natural people skills which she adeptly ap...
Apr 20, 2024•30 min•Ep. 124
In this insightful solo episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, co-host Christian Dadulak dives deep into the pivotal role of franchise professionals during the franchise ownership journey. As a franchise advisor himself, Christian emphasizes the importance of assembling a skilled acquisition team to ensure prospective franchisees are well-prepared for every aspect of their venture. He outlines the key members of this team, including a franchise advisor, funding professionals, franchise attorn...
Apr 11, 2024•28 min•Ep. 123
In this insightful episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, co-hosts Dan Claps and Christian Dadulak dive into the intriguing world of AI technology and its revolutionary impact on sales and operations in the franchising industry. Broadcasting live from a franchise conference, Dan shares his experience of utilizing AI tools for sales enablement, emphasizing the importance of recording and coaching every aspect of the business to drive improvement and achieve perfection. Highlighting real-world ...
Mar 28, 2024•32 min•Ep. 122
In this episode of "I Fired My Boss," hosts Dan Claps and Christian Dadulak dive deep into the entrepreneurial journey of Barrett, a recent franchise partner with Voda. Barrett shares his extensive background, beginning with his early hustle selling faux Ed Hardy sunglasses in high school, his service in the US Navy, a notable career progression at Amazon, and finally his leap into franchise ownership with Voda Cleaning & Restoration in Nashville. Barrett’s story is a testament to the relent...
Mar 13, 2024•48 min•Ep. 121
In this intriguing episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, co-host Dan Claps is thrilled to introduce a very special guest, Arthur Sturgis, the VP of Operations within the Voda organization. Sturgis, a significant figure and leader within the restoration industry, shares his unexpected journey into the world of restoration, transitioning from a career in the insurance and financial industry to leading business development for West Coast franchises at ServiceMaster, then moving on to various si...
Mar 06, 2024•17 min•Ep. 120
In this episode of "I Fired My Boss," co-hosts Dan Claps and Christian Dadulak engage with their guest, Ellen, in a conversation that transcends the usual entrepreneurial discourse. Ellen's introduction to the episode is unorthodox yet refreshing, as the hosts prefer guests to introduce themselves. The episode quickly unfolds into a profound reflection on personal and professional growth, sparked by Dan's life-changing experience with Tommy Melo. This encounter, highlighted by a day spent learni...
Feb 29, 2024•32 min•Ep. 119
In this episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, co-host Christian Dadulak engages in an insightful conversation with Nick DiFatta, a seasoned professional with extensive experience in the franchise industry. Christian expresses his excitement about delving into Nick's remarkable story, highlighting his impressive career trajectory within franchising. The two were introduced through a mutual friend, and Christian is eager to uncover Nick's journey and the secrets behind his successful franchise...
Feb 15, 2024•40 min•Ep. 118
In this episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, co-host Christian Dadulak interviews Chase Dalton, the Founder and CEO of Silicon Signs. The episode kicks off with gratitude as Christian acknowledges Silicon Signs' sponsorship and support for the show, emphasizing the importance of partnerships in making the podcast possible. Christian and Chase delve into the complexities of franchise ownership, highlighting the challenges and crucial considerations for both franchisees and franchisors. Chase...
Feb 08, 2024•1 hr 1 min•Ep. 117
In this episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, co-hosts Dan Claps and Christian Dadulak sit down for an insightful interview with Tracy Stapp Herold, a Special Projects Editor at Entrepreneur. Tracy, with 20 years of experience, delves into the world of franchising, emphasizing the significance of the Entrepreneur 500 list. The hosts express excitement about Tracy's expertise and how Entrepreneur contributes to the industry. They discuss the multifaceted nature of franchising, touching on the...
Jan 31, 2024•34 min•Ep. 116
In this episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, hosts Dan Claps and Christian Dadulak discuss the intricacies of franchising. Two two share their recent adventures of moving to different states and the process of setting up a new podcast space. The co-hosts banter about the makeshift studio setups, with Dan humorously describing Christian's surroundings as a mix between a boring office and an insane asylum. The main focus of the episode revolves around the importance of conducting a competitiv...
Jan 24, 2024•12 min•Ep. 115
In this episode of the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, Dan Claps, CEO of Voda Cleaning and Restoration, takes the reins solo to share invaluable insights from his decade-long experience in franchising. Dan focuses on the crucial aspects of investing in a franchise business, outlining a comprehensive playbook for potential buyers. The episode zeroes in on five key considerations, starting with the vital importance of customer acquisition and the need for a franchisor's support in lead generation and c...
Jan 17, 2024•18 min•Ep. 114
Welcome to the first episode of 2024 for the "I Fired My Boss" podcast, where hosts Dan Claps and Christian Dadulak kick off the year with a lively discussion. Dan, currently in Miami, and Christian, on the brink of a move to Scottsdale, Arizona, share their excitement about new adventures and the perks of their respective locations. As they navigate the challenges of running businesses remotely, the hosts delve into the intricacies of managing taxes, the franchise landscape, and the importance ...
Jan 10, 2024•35 min•Ep. 113
