Fire and smoke restoration has seen the largest percentage increase in women-owned businesses of any restoration specialty over the past five years, with the number of women-led firms in the sector growing 31 percent since 2019, according to Census Bureau data analyzed by the Restoration Industry Association.
The growth outpaces water damage restoration (22 percent), mold remediation (18 percent), and general reconstruction (14 percent) over the same period.
Industry analysts attribute the trend to several factors specific to fire restoration: the work is highly technical and documentation-intensive, requiring detailed photo evidence, air quality testing, and written scope-of-work narratives that align with the strengths many women bring to the field. Fire restoration jobs also tend to be larger in scope and revenue than water damage jobs, making them more attractive to business owners seeking growth.
"Fire restoration is where the big jobs are," said RIA President Erin Sherrill. "It requires technical expertise, strong insurance relationships, and the ability to manage a complex project over weeks or months. Women who have those skills are finding that fire restoration is a very good business."
The average revenue per fire restoration job in 2024 was $28,400, compared to $8,200 for water damage and $6,800 for mold remediation, according to RIA data.
