AdvantaClean

Executive Summary

AdvantaClean was founded by Jeff Dudan in 1994 in South Florida. AdvantaClean was originally founded as a large contracting business specializing in restoration and emergency loss mitigation, but has grown to become the leading franchised provider of Light Environmental Services, a niche that Advantaclean defined.



Advantaclean maintains a full suite of offerings for residential, commercial, institutional, and governmental properties that make these buildings clean, safe, healthy, and efficient for the occupants. Offerings include essential services like emergency water removal, mold removal, and air duct cleaning. In the early 2000’s, the company’s services were in high demand, and AdvantaClean began offering franchises to the public in 2008 to better serve its national clientele. Under the franchise model, AdvantaClean grew rapidly, selling over 100 franchises within its first four years of franchising. In 2019, AdvantaClean was acquired by Home Franchise Concepts (HFC) of Irvine, California.

Introduction

When Hurricane Andrew devastated South Florida in 1994, founder Jeff Dudan responded to a call for help and helped people rebuild their lives in the aftermath. Along the way, Jeff and four business partners realized the need for light environmental services in times of need and the idea for AdvantaClean was born. Service lines offered include mold and moisture control, water damage and fire remediation, air duct cleaning, and natural disaster response. 


In 1995, AdvantaClean opened its second location in Charlotte, North Carolina. By 1998, the company was ranked 33rd in Entrepreneur Magazine’s list of fastest growing small businesses in America. Some of the main catalysts for growth for the young company were its National Accounts program and National Emergency Response.


Despite its initial success, the company-owned model struggled to keep up with the rapid growth and demand for services across the U.S. and Carribean. Jeff needed a way to scale effectively and efficiently, so he decided that franchising was best for the company.

Foundation and Growth of the Franchisor

Beginning in 2000, the company began to re-organize under the franchise business model. The company’s existing locations were enrolled as company-owned outlets. Between 2000 and 2006, extensive investments were made in the company’s infrastructure and systems to build out the framework for the franchise network.


In 2008, AdvantaClean sold its first franchises to the general public. Its support systems and overwhelming franchisee satisfaction made AdvantaClean an extremely popular franchise, and the company sold its 50th franchise in 2011, only three years after they were first offered to the public. This milestone was quickly followed by its 100th franchise sold in 2012.

In 2016, AdvantaClean entered into a strategic partnership with St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital in order to help the world understand, treat and defeat childhood cancer and other life-threatening diseases. Through the AdvantaClean Foundation, the company completed countless pro-bono jobs to help sick children recover in a clean, mold- and allergen-free home.


In 2017, Jeff Dudan appeared on Season 8 of the hit television show, Undercover Boss. Through Undercover Boss, Advantaclean was able to display the fantastic culture and franchise network of the company. The show was also life changing for a few of the candidates in the field. Danielle Martin-Edmonds, an Indianapolis employee and single mother facing homelessness, made a lasting impression on Jeff in how she exemplified the AdvantaClean values of Community, Accountability, Excellence, Respect, and Service (CARES). AdvantaClean was able to assist her and her family financially, and offered her a remote position in the AdvantaClean Call Center so that she could take better care of her family. With the weight of her financial burdens lifted and in her new position, Danielle flourished and became the top performer in her department. Ultimately, Undercover Boss gave AdvantaClean the platform to display the consistent value-driven culture that spanned throughout the organization.

Exit

By the end of 2018, AdvantaClean had over 230 locations across 37 states. In January of 2019, AdvantaClean was bought by Home Franchise Concepts (HFC), the parent company of Budget Blinds, Tailored Living, and Concrete Craft, to create a network of more than 1,700 home service franchise territories in 11,000 cities in the US, Canada and Mexico.


HFC is based out of Irvine, California and generated in excess of $40 million in EBITDA in 2019. HFC is a portfolio company of JM Family Enterprises, a diversified group of companies whose other subsidiaries include Southeast Toyota Distributors and JM Lexus.

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