2001
150
$60,000
$24,600
$508,850
No
Certified Restoration DryCleaning Network (CRDN) is a premier franchise that specializes in restoring items damaged by disasters — fires, floods, smoke, mold, electronics damage, and more. CRDN combines cutting-edge restoration techniques with strong relationships in the insurance, restoration contracting, and contents cleaning industries to deliver services that are both emotionally meaningful and technically expert. When catastrophe strikes, homeowners and businesses want trusted, reliable experts; CRDN positions itself as that trusted partner. With a strong brand reputation, steady demand driven by insurance claims, and a model built for resilience (because disasters don't pause), CRDN franchises have the potential to deliver stable growth, meaningful margins, and solid ROI for the right investor.
Ever-present demand & recession resistance: Disasters like floods, fires, storms happen everywhere, and the need for contents restoration (textiles, clothing, electronics) is relatively constant and often covered in insurance. This insulates the business from many of the ups and downs that purely retail businesses face.
Strong industry relationships: CRDN has established programs and contracts with insurance carriers, restoration contractors, and third party administrators (TPAs). These relationships generate referral work, volume, and help reduce marketing burden for individual franchisees.
Brand recognition & credibility: With more than 150 locations in the U.S. (plus operations in Canada and the UK), CRDN is well known in the restoration industry. Its reputation for quality, consistency and professionalism is a key differentiator.
Scalable business model: The franchise doesn’t just rely on local walk-in business; much of the revenue can come from insurance work and large contracts. As you build local capacity, you can leverage the CRDN network, processes, software, and know-how to scale.
Operational support & training: CRDN provides structured training, ongoing support, marketing assistance, proprietary tools, and established operating procedures. All these reduce the learning curve and help a franchisee establish operations more rapidly.
Territory protection & exclusivity: Many franchisees benefit from exclusive territories, which helps avoid intra-brand competition and allows for clearer marketing and growth planning.
Founding & History:
CRDN was founded in 2001.It evolved out of earlier work in drycleaning, particularly by the Wudyka family and associated partners (including Houston Cleaners / Huntington Cleaners). The founders saw a gap in consistent, high-quality textile restoration work for insurance claims and contents loss. Over time they created a franchise model.
Growth in Units / Market Presence:
As of recent FDDs, there are ~ 127 to 150+ franchised units in the U.S. (plus some corporate units) and additional presence in Canada & the UK.
Ownership & Brand Journey:
The Wudyka family (Wayne Wudyka, Jeffrey Snyder, Edwin Wudyka) acquired full ownership of CRDN from partners, consolidating its leadership. CRDN also features a central lab (“The Lab”) and training facility, which is used for both textile and electronics restoration training.
Industry Category & Competitive Position:
CRDN operates in the disaster restoration & textile restoration industry, sometimes overlapping with drycleaning, contents restoration, water / fire damage restoration, and insurance services. Its specialization in restoring textiles, fabrics, and now electronics puts it somewhat niche, which gives it competitive advantage vs. general restoration businesses.
CRDN places considerable emphasis on training, support, operational consistency, and marketing support. Key components include:
Initial Training:
A mandatory program (classroom + on-the-job) for franchisees before opening. Coursework covers restoration methods (textile, smoke, water), standards, quality control, insurance industry interface, operational best practices. The classroom portion is ~26.5 hours, the on-the-job training ~7 hours.
Refresher & Follow-up Training:
Franchisees are required to attend refresher/follow-up training within ~24 months, and likely periodic training every 2 years. Annual conventions or regional meetings are part of ongoing support.
Operational & Pre-Launch Support:
Assistance with site selection, lease negotiation, equipment specifications, setup of plant and machinery, technology / software tools, etc. CRDN’s central infrastructure helps drawing up the workflows and response protocols. Grand opening assistance is often included.
Marketing Support:
Use of national branding, marketing materials, advertising templates, regional campaigns, social media and sometimes national media. There is usually a marketing or advertising “ad royalty” fee.
Ongoing Operational Support:
Toll-free support line, field operations, corporate oversight of quality, updates of methods, safety / regulatory compliance (especially when dealing with mold, electronics, fire / water damage), and incidentally software or management systems to track jobs, claims, customer interactions.
Innovation & Specialty Extensions:
For example, recent addition of electronics restoration (“e-Certified” status) as a service line, with diagnostic & decontamination training through “The Lab.”
To succeed as a CRDN franchisee, one should ideally meet the following profile:
Business / Entrepreneurial Background:
Someone with experience in operations, service industries, or restoration / cleaning / textile care is advantageous. Experience interacting with insurance carriers, contractors, or in claims processing is a plus. Even if not, willingness to learn the technical side (restoration, decontamination, etc.) is necessary.
Passion & Values:
Must care about service quality, customer empathy (since clients are often going through trauma or loss), attention to detail, honesty, and reliability. Disaster restoration requires professionalism, timeliness, and sensitivity.
Financial Capacity:
Must have sufficient liquid capital, net worth, ability to invest into the necessary facility, equipment, employees, and survive until cash flows steady in. Because insurance payments may lag, and volumes may fluctuate, financial strength is important.
Location Preference & Territory:
Preferably in a region with sufficient population base, with risk of disasters (weather, storms, floods, fires) so that demand is present. Proximity to insurance carriers, contractors. Also areas with underserved restoration / textile restoration service. Applicants who want exclusive territories are often favored.
Operational Commitment:
Running a CRDN franchise generally requires full-time commitment; you cannot run from home, absentee ownership is usually not allowed, part-time operations are not feasible. Requires oversight of processes, employees, quality, safety.
Growth Mindset:
Willing to leverage referrals, build relationship with insurance companies & TPAs, adopt new services (e.g. electronics restoration), invest in marketing, keep up with training and evolving standards.
| Category | Details / Range (USD) |
|---|---|
| Total Initial Investment | $63,650 – $508,850 |
| Minimum Liquid Capital Required | $60,000 – $100,000 |
| Net Worth Requirement | $300,000 – $500,000 |
| Initial Franchise Fee | $24,600 – $64,600 |
| Royalty Fee | 6% – 9% of gross sales |
| Advertising / Marketing Fee | ~1% of gross sales |
| Working Capital (3–6 months) | $10,000 – $100,000 (varies by location size & staff) |
| Infrastructure / Facility Setup | $20,000 – $150,000 (depending on size, leasehold improvements, machinery, restoration lab setup) |
| Equipment & Supplies | $15,000 – $120,000 (cleaning systems, electronics restoration tools, vehicles, storage, etc.) |
| Technology & Software Systems | $2,000 – $10,000 |
| Training & Initial Support Costs | Often included in franchise fee; additional travel/lodging $2,000 – $5,000 |
| Ongoing Support / Renewal Fees | Renewal fee ~10–20% of original franchise fee (upon contract renewal, typically 10 years) |
| Estimated Revenue Streams | Textile restoration, electronics restoration, insurance contracts, contents cleaning, odor removal, specialty restoration |
| Break-Even Time | Typically 2 – 5 years (varies by territory & insurance contract volume) |
| ROI Potential | High for well-placed locations due to recurring insurance-based demand & disaster restoration needs |
| Franchise Units (U.S.) | ~127 – 150+ units |
