Five Star Flooring is a premier interior and exterior flooring services solutions brand providing a frictionless, “white-glove” concierge experience for homeowners. Through a signature in-home showroom experience, the company simplifies flooring transformations through expert consultation, precision, transparency, and end-to-end project management. Five Star Flooring, a Five Star Franchising home services brand, is committed to transparency and quality, offering clear upfront pricing, whole-home quotes valid for two years, and a signature 100% lifetime labor guarantee.

“Homeowners want turnkey improvement solutions and floor remodeling is no different,” said Scott Abbott, Five Star Franchising CEO and co-founder. “They are overwhelmed by massive showrooms, unclear pricing, unreliable service and a disconnected experience. From start to finish, Five Star Flooring provides a simplified process. And for driven business leaders, it’s a low overhead, high-margin home service franchise opportunity, backed by the power of our platform.”

Five Star Flooring is led by brand president Dean Hartley, a multi-unit operator who previously partnered with Five Star Franchising to scale sister brand Five Star Bath Solutions from a regional player into a dominant category leader approaching 400 locations nationwide.

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Home Franchise Concepts has strengthened its executive team with two hires:

• Megan Hoyt has joined as vice president, general counsel, overseeing legal, regulatory, governance and compliance functions. Hoyt brings extensive experience guiding franchise organizations through complex regulatory environments and will play a central role in advising the executive team and reinforcing the company’s commitment to responsible growth and strong governance.
• Josh Barker has joined as chief development officer, bringing deep franchise‑sector experience through prior leadership roles at Unleashed Brands, Neighborly, and Christian Brothers Automotive. During his career, Barker has led high‑impact development strategies, executed multi‑brand growth plans and built high‑performing recruitment teams. At Home Franchise Concepts, he will spearhead systemwide recruitment and development, helping guide the company through its next phase of expansion across all brands.

“These leadership additions strengthen our ability to grow thoughtfully and sustainably,” said Corey Benish, Home Franchise Concepts president and CEO. “As we enter our next chapter, investing in experienced leaders is essential to delivering long-term value for our franchise owners, associates and customers.”

Founded in 2006, Home Franchise Concepts marks its 20th anniversary this year. While the Home Franchise Concepts platform itself spans two decades, its franchising foundation dates back to 1992 with the launch of Budget Blinds®, which ignited more than 34 years of category leadership and entrepreneurial success across the home-services industry.

Today, the Home Franchise Concepts portfolio also includes AdvantaClean®, Aussie Pet Mobile®, Bath Tune‑Up®, Concrete Craft®, Kitchen Tune‑Up®, , PremierGarage®, The Tailored Closet® and Two Maids®. As the company enters its next phase, Home Franchise Concepts is guided by a renewed purpose, vision, and mission:

• Purpose: To enhance daily living with every brand, in every home, every day.
• Vision: To be the world’s leading home-services platform where partnership and performance create lasting success.
• Mission: Franchise Driven. Consumer Obsessed.

These principles closely align with the company’s overarching 2026 theme, “Grow. Better. Together.” as a reinforcement for collaboration, innovation and shared success across the system.

In 2025, Home Franchise Concepts delivered strong results driven by rising consumer demand, improving franchise economics and continued investment in platform-level enablement. The company sold more than 180 new territories and opened 177 new territories across its portfolio.

2025 development highlights included:

• Aussie Pet Mobile–leading portfolio growth with strong multi‑unit expansion.
• Kitchen Tune‑Up–continued scalable growth across key markets.
• Budget Blinds–sustained category leadership supported by steady footprint expansion.
• Two Maids–significant territory development driven by both new and existing owners.

Several Home Franchise Concepts brands also earned recognition in the 2026 Entrepreneur Franchise 500®, including Aussie Pet Mobile, Bath Tune‑Up, Budget Blinds, Kitchen Tune‑Up, Two Maids, and The Tailored Closet. Additionally, Budget Blinds was recognized for appearing in the Franchise 500 for 31 consecutive years, while Kitchen Tune‑Up, acquired by Home Franchise Concepts in 2020, marked 37 consecutive years, underscoring enduring brand strength and system stability.

Across the portfolio, brands continued to introduce enhancements designed to improve both franchise operations and customer experiences. Budget Blinds expanded its smart-home automation offerings, including motorization and exterior shading solutions. Two Maids advanced development of Two Maids Online, a new digital portal slated for launch later in 2026. Aussie Pet Mobile introduced new scheduling and communication tools to increase convenience for pet owners.

Backed by JM Family Enterprises, a $24.7‑billion privately held company with more than 5,500 associates, Home Franchise Concepts is building on its two decades of growth with a continued focus on innovation and partnership, empowering franchise owners with the tools, technology and leadership needed to build strong local businesses while collectively growing better together.

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WalletHub determined the most business-friendly small markets in the U.S. by comparing over 1,300 cities with fewer than 100,000 residents across 18 key metrics. The dataset includes small-business growth rates, financing accessibility, investor access, and labor costs. WalletHub ranks the top 10 best small cities to start a business as:

1. George, Utah
2. Fort Myers, Florida
3. Washington, Utah
4. Bozeman, Montana
5. Greenville, South Carolina
6. Cedar City, Utah
7. Boca Raton, Florida
8. Cheyenne, Wyoming
9. Ocala, Florida
10. Dover, Delaware

St. George, Utah, is the best small city to start a business, ranking among the top cities in the country for both startups per capita and growth in the number of small businesses (nearly 42% between 2017 and 2023). The city also has very cheap office space, costing around US$10.73 per square foot. In contrast, the most expensive city charges nearly $62 per square foot. In addition, St. George has a very high annual job growth rate.

“The benefits of starting a business in a small city include lower overhead costs, stronger relationships with customers and the potential to become a big fish in a little pond. But there are drawbacks, too,” said Chip Lupo, WalletHub analyst. “Entrepreneurs who want to build a large professional network aren’t likely to make as many connections in a town with fewer residents. Other restrictions might include limited industry options, a less diverse customer base, and difficulty attracting and keeping top talent.”

Other key findings from the report include:

• Bozeman, Montana, has the highest number of startups per 100,000 residents, 8.7 times higher than in Austin, Minnesota, which has the lowest.
• Kentwood, Michigan, has the most affordable office spaces, which are 6.8 times lower than in Mountain View, California, the city with the least affordable.
• Isla Vista, California, has the lowest labor costs (according to median annual income), which are 9.6 times lower than in Los Altos, California, which is among the cities with the highest.
• West Odessa, Texas, has the longest work week, which is 1.8 times longer than in Isla Vista, California, the city with the shortest.
• Wellesley, Massachusetts, has the highest share of the population with at least a bachelor’s degree, which is 14.8 times higher than in Immokalee, Florida, the city with the lowest.

To view the full report and the ranking of over 1,300 cities, click .

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The goal of the alliance is to promote the understanding that healthy indoor environments require both professional cleaning and proper mold inspection and remediation. This strengthened alliance will accomplish this through increased legislative and regulatory advocacy and by bolstering public awareness for best practices and an integrated approach to indoor environmental health.

Instead of viewing cleaning and remediation as separate disciplines, the alliance promotes a unified approach to advancing the industries. This next phase of the alliance focuses on leveraging the expertise of both 91��Ƶ and NORMI for the mutual benefit of their respective member bases with a focus on:

1. Education & Training – Shared access to each organization’s cleaning and mold remediation courses, certifications, and joint educational opportunities.
2. Integrated Membership Value – A structured alliance option allowing members of each organization to access select benefits from the other.
3. Media & Branding – Cleanfax will be designated as the official publication for NORMI members, with coordinated editorial collaboration and alliance visibility.
4. Advocacy – Coordinated government and regulatory engagement on issues impacting cleaning, mold remediation, and indoor environmental health.

“The expansion of this strategic alliance between 91��Ƶ and NORMI is an important step toward bringing more attention to the holistic approach to ensuring the health and safety of buildings,” said 91��Ƶ Executive Director Kim Althoff. “This alliance will help both organizations provide increased member value through joint media, advocacy, and training. We are very excited to build upon our incredible partnership with NORMI and expand these benefits to 91��Ƶ members.”

“Expanding our alliance with 91��Ƶ will impact the industry in many positive ways,” said NORMI CEO Doug Hoffman. “Aligning our resources and expertise will allow NORMI and 91��Ƶ to have a broader impact through advocacy and media, the ability to train more professionals, and ultimately to help more people live and work in healthier indoor environments. Our organization is thrilled that we have been able to forge this alliance and know that it will be of great benefit to all of our members.”

Additionally, this agreement will leverage each organization’s technical expertise, training, certifications, and publications while offering the option for an 91��Ƶ/NORMI combo membership.

Member value highlights

• 91��Ƶ members gain access to NORMI technical bulletins on mold and member pricing for mold assessment and remediation education, events, and certifications.
• NORMI members receive Cleanfax as part of their membership, digital access to select 91��Ƶ publications and communities, access to the 91��Ƶ Show North America show floor, and member pricing on 91��Ƶ education, events, and certifications.

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“So far, the 2026 hurricane season is exhibiting characteristics similar to the 2006, 2009, 2015, and 2023 seasons,” said Phil Klotzbach, a senior research scientist in the CSU Department of Atmospheric Science and lead author of the report.

a moderate/strong El Niño being the dominant factor for the upcoming hurricane season. El Niño is a recurring climate pattern characterized by warmer than normal water in the eastern and central tropical Pacific. The weather pattern tends to increase upper-level westerly winds across the Caribbean into the tropical Atlantic. These winds result in increased vertical wind shear which is unfavorable for Atlantic hurricane formation and intensification. Moderate to strong El Niño events generally have a stronger tropical Atlantic vertical wind shear impact than weak El Niño events. In turn, the researchers forecasted a below-average probability for major hurricane landfalls along the continental U.S. coastline and in the Caribbean.

The the following probability of major hurricanes making landfall in 2026:

• 32% for the entire U.S. coastline (average from 1880–2020 is 43%).
• 15% for the East Coast, including the Florida Peninsula (average from 1880–2020 is 21%).
• 20% for the Gulf Coast from the Florida panhandle westward to Brownsville, Texas (average from 1880–2020 is 27%).
• 35% for the Caribbean (average from 1880–2020 is 47%).

Additional CSU forecast updates will be released on June 10, July 8, and August 5. The researchers note that their initial April forecast is historically less accurate compared to those that follow in each season due to the considerable changes that can occur in the atmosphere and ocean between April and the peak of the Atlantic hurricane season from August to October. The entire Atlantic hurricane season runs from June 1 to Nov. 30.

The most significant hurricane of the 2025 Atlantic hurricane season was Hurricane Melissa, which made landfall as a Category 5 hurricane in Jamaica, resulting in nearly US$9 billion in damage and causing 95 fatalities across the Caribbean.

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The Legislative Fly-In represents a major step forward in the IICRC’s commitment to advocacy, education, and industry representation. Attendees will gain valuable insights into key policy issues impacting the cleaning and restoration industry, participate in strategic discussions, and have the opportunity to meet with members of Congress and their staff on Capitol Hill.

“This event is about empowering IICRC-certified professionals and firms to have a voice in the policies that shape our industry,” said James Tole, IICRC president and chairman of the board. “By bringing our community directly to Washington, we are creating meaningful opportunities to advocate for standards, certifications, and the critical role our industry plays in disaster recovery efforts and public health.”

“With IICRC standards and certifications now cited in federal legislation, our industry is firmly on the policy radar,” said Robbie Bradshaw, IICRC director of government relations. “This Fly-In ensures we’re not just part of the conversation but actively helping to engagement with lawmakers.”

The two-day event will include:

• A Certified Firm Roundtable
• Issue briefings on key legislative priorities
• Advocacy training and preparation sessions
• Coordinated meetings with federal lawmakers and their staff

Registration is now open, with Early Bird pricing set at US$149 for a limited time. A discounted room block is also available at the host hotel for attendees on a first-come, first-serve basis.

The IICRC encourages all certified professionals, firms, and industry partners to take part in this inaugural event and help shape the future of the industry through direct engagement with policymakers.

For more information and to register, please click .

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• of Milwaukee is owned by Mark Cyganiak, who just celebrated 50 years with the brand. His operations serve Southeastern Wisconsin, Northeastern Wisconsin and the Upper Peninsula of Michigan.
• is owned by  Ken Neverman, helping businesses recover for 26 years in Columbus, Lancaster, and Newark, Ohio.
• is owned by Jeff Sorenson, serving the Tacoma area for 46 years.

The additions bring SRM’s nationwide network to more than 400 locations, ensuring commercial property owners and managers in these markets have access to large-loss and catastrophic restoration services.

“Adding three new locations marks a significant milestone for the SRM brand,” said Michael Veldman, SRM vice president, commercial operations. “It’s a direct result of the trust our customers place in us and our ongoing mission to scale with purpose while maintaining exceptional service.”

For more than 20 years, SRM has served as a trusted partner to commercial property owners facing their most difficult moments. Each new SRM designation strengthens the network’s ability to deliver that same standard of response wherever and whenever catastrophe strikes.

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For this year’s report, IQAir analyzed data from monitoring stations across 9,446 cities in 143 countries, regions, and territories. Comparing this year’s report to the previous year, 54 countries experienced increases in annual average particulate matter 2.5 (PM2.5), 75 saw declines, two remained unchanged, and 12 were newly represented in this year’s dataset.

PM2.5 refers to fine inhalable particles,��with diameters that are generally 2.5 micrometers and smaller, that can cause serious health problems when they are inhaled.

In 2025, 130 out of 143 countries/territories (91%) exceeded the World Health Organization’s (WHO) annual average PM2.5 guideline value. The world’s 25 most polluted cities were all located in India, Pakistan, and China, with India home to three of the four most polluted.

Only 14% of the world’s cities met the WHO standard in 2025, down from 17% a year earlier, with  driving up PM2.5 across the United States and as far as Europe.  was the most polluted country in Northern America for just the second time in this report’s eight-year history, as its second-worst wildfire season on record affected air quality across Canada, the U.S., and parts of Europe.

In the , annual average PM2.5 levels increased to 7.3 micrograms per cubic meter (µg/m³). Smoke from wildfires in both Canada and the U.S. raised averages across parts of the Great Lakes states in the summer and in the Pacific Northwest in the fall.

The most polluted major U.S. city was El Paso, Texas. Historic dust storms triggered a 46% increase in PM2.5 levels to 11.4 µg/m³ as the city recorded the highest number of major pre-summer dust storms since the 1930s.

The Southeast Los Angeles region (,��,��), heavily impacted by wildland-urban interface fires, ranked as the most polluted area in the country.

 remained the cleanest major U.S. city for the second consecutive year, with an annual average of 4.5 µg/m³.

Only thirteen countries/territories met the WHO annual average PM2.5 guideline: French Polynesia, Puerto Rico, U.S. Virgin Islands, Barbados, New Caledonia, Iceland, Bermuda, Réunion, Andorra, Australia, Grenada, Panama, and Estonia.

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Year over year, Yelp searches for pest control increased by 34%. The data highlights major metropolitan areas actively seeking pest management. While coastal cities dominate, every region is represented.

Los Angeles and San Francisco lead the nation in pest control searches, reflecting unique West Coast challenges. The Golden State’s mild winters and dense urban environments create year-round conditions for pests to thrive, while spring warmth accelerates breeding cycles and demand for professional services.

On the East Coast, New York lands at No. 3, and Washington, D.C., which previously ranked No. 1 in Yelp’s inaugural Infestation Index for roach, mosquito, and bed bug searches, remains a top metro at No. 7.

Texas also ranks highly, with Dallas and Houston both in the top eight. Pacific Northwest cities like Seattle and Portland are also represented, reflecting how moisture-rich springs foster environments for ants, wasps, and other pests.

While spring brings a variety of unwanted visitors, several pests draw particular attention. Project requests for bee control spiked 197% on Yelp from February 2025 to March 2025, while wasp and hornet extermination requests rose 212%, indicating that concerns about stinging insects are top of mind in warmer months. Mosquito extermination requests were up 157% during the same period. Preventive pest control requests rose 57% in March 2025 and continued to climb throughout the summer.

Learn tips for .

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These engagements continue to expand strategic relationships with insurance carriers, TPAs, and industry partners, helping ensure PuroClean remains aligned with how restoration professionals and insurance partners work together throughout the claims process.

“Being visible and engaged across the industry is a deliberate priority for PuroClean,” said Steve White, PuroClean president. “Showing up, leading conversations, and staying connected to the broader community ensures we remain at the forefront of where restoration and franchising are headed.”

Throughout the year, PuroClean leadership will continue maintaining a strong presence at key industry events, including:

• (April 9)
• (April 27-29)
• (May 3-6)
• (May 18-21)
• (June 27-30)
•  (November 3-4)

Notably, Chairman and CEO Mark W. Davis is scheduled to speak at the RIA Convention, contributing to industry dialogue around advancing standards, strengthening partnerships, and supporting the continued evolution of the restoration industry.

“[PuroClean’s] leadership and participation benefit not only their franchise owners, but the broader network of restoration professionals, helping the industry innovate and grow,” said Saima Hedrick, RIA CEO.

Earlier in the first quarter, PuroClean was proud to host the , bringing together restoration professionals for a day of connection, candid conversation, and forward-focused learning.PuroClean also maintained an active presence at several major industry gatherings in the first quarter of 2026, including ,��,��the ,��, the , and more. These engagements reflect PuroClean’s focus on fostering meaningful dialogue and sharing perspectives across restoration professionals, insurance carriers, and industry organizations.

“Industry events create valuable opportunities to collaborate with partners across the restoration and insurance industries,” said George Hernandez, PuroClean chief operation officer. “By staying actively engaged, we strengthen the relationships and knowledge sharing that ultimately support our franchise owners and the communities they serve.”

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