PuroClean President and COO shares how he transformed a struggling brand into one of franchising’s strongest success stories
PuroClean’s President & COO Steve White was recently featured on The Franchise Leaders Forum podcast in an episode titled “Turning a Failing Franchise Around with PuroClean’s Steve White.” Hosted by industry veterans Tracy Panase and Shannon Wilburn, the podcast explores what it really takes to build and scale a successful franchise brand, and Steve’s story is a powerful case study in franchise leadership and values-driven growth.
When Steve joined PuroClean, the brand was facing steep challenges, including Franchise Owners dissatisfaction and decline. His first six months were dedicated to listening and rebuilding trust with Franchise Owners, laying the groundwork for a franchisee-first culture. By making profitability and collaboration the top priorities, he set the stage for the turnaround that continues to fuel PuroClean’s growth today.
Inside the Episode: Lessons in Franchise Leadership
What does it take to turn around a struggling franchise system and keep it thriving for more than a decade?
In this episode, Steve shares the leadership principles that transformed PuroClean into one of franchising’s strongest franchise growth stories.
Here’s what you’ll learn in this episode:
- Rebuilding trust as the foundation for lasting change
- Driving growth by prioritizing Franchise Owner profitability
- Building teams by hiring for cultural fit and Servant Leadership values
- Lessons from Domino’s Pizza that shaped his leadership values and expectations, forming the foundation of his approach at PuroClean
This episode is a must-listen for anyone leading or scaling a franchise system. Steve’s steady, principled approach to leadership demonstrates how putting Franchise Owners first not only strengthens a brand but also ensures long-term growth and resilience.
🎧 Listen now: Steve White on Turning Around a Franchise System
From Turnaround to Thriving: The Impact on PuroClean
Steve’s appearance on Franchise Leaders Forum underscores the values that continue to define PuroClean’s success: franchisee-first leadership, operational excellence, a culture of trust, and proven franchise leadership at the highest level. These principles have propelled the company to more than 500 locations across North America and positioned PuroClean among the top restoration franchises in the industry.
By sharing PuroClean’s turnaround story on a national stage, Steve highlights the brand’s commitment to empowering Franchise Owners, driving profitability, and serving communities with compassion during their most difficult moments. This visibility not only strengthens PuroClean’s reputation in the franchising world but also assures customers and partners that the brand is guided by proven, principled leadership.
About PuroClean
PuroClean is a leading, world-class service brand that specializes in water damage remediation, fire and smoke damage mitigation, mold removal, and biohazard clean-up, serving both residential and commercial customers across the U.S. and Canada. Founded in 2001, PuroClean is a fast-growing franchise network of over 500 independently owned and operated locations. Call PuroClean today at (800) 775-7876 or click here to find a location near you.
With a commitment to respond within two hours, PuroClean professionals are thoroughly screened, insured, and trained to use the latest restoration technology to deliver high-quality results with speed, compassion, and care.
PuroClean has earned numerous honors across the franchise and business world, most recently recognized in 2025 as one of Entrepreneur’s Fastest-Growing Franchises, Franchise Times’ Top 10 Brands to Buy, and a Franchise Business Review Top Franchise for Women.
