How to Start a Roofing Business 1-2-3
Roofing can be challenging work, but roof construction and repair jobs are hired out year-round. Many
contractors do not enjoy doing roofing projects, so there is a business opportunity for those of who do,
Owning your own roofing business involves more than just constructing roofs. You need to know how to advertise
to get clients, how to bid work, invoice customers, hire workers, handle bookkeeping, taxes, get the proper
licensing and insurance, etc...
Starting a roofing business can seem overwhelming at first, but learning how the whole business management
process works will eliminate many of the questions and frustrations that you have.
First things first. As a roofing business, you'll need to have a contractor's license. You can check
requirements and procedures by state at the Contractor's License Reference Site.
Education
You don't need a college degree to run a roofing business, but online education programs can help you learn
additional skills with minimal cost. You have the convenience of learning on your own schedule. You can take
basic courses or more specialized courses like green roofing methods, which can give your roofing business a
leg up on the competition. The National Roofing Contractors Association offers several training courses online.
Insurance
A roofing business may need several types of insurance, depending on whether you hire employees, drive a
vehicle for business, etc. Online insurance networks are a good way to get an idea of the type of insurance
you'll need and how much it will cost. You can get free insurance quotes here. You
can compare coverage from several different providers and be able to get answers from some quick research
before contacting an insurance agent or stepping foot in an insurance office.
Supplies and Equipment
You'll need a company vehicle to get to jobs. Other supplies for roofing work include items like ladders,
roofing nailers, hammer tackers, roofing shingle removers, knives, adjustable roofing brackets, pneumatic air
hoses, chalk line reels and of course safety gear.
It's a good idea to set aside some of your business budget for office equipment also. A computer, printer
and an internet connection will enable you to manage accounting records, create and print proposals and
invoices for customers, build a website to help market your business and more. You have the option to outsource
these tasks to others rather than doing the work yourself - but if you are starting a business and trying to
cut expenses, doing at least some of the work yourself can save you lots of money.
David Deschaine is a home improvement expert with over 25 years of experience. If you want
to start your own roofing contractor business, you can save yourself countless hours simply by applying his
knowledge into your own business. Click here to get his FREE 25-Page Roofing
Business Manual
David shows you how to set up your office, hire qualified workers, manage client data, how to find new
customers and, of course, proper roof installation and repair guidelines. He also includes pre-made forms that
you can use in his Roofing Business Start-Up Kit .
How to Save Countless Hours Creating Legal Forms, Spreadsheets &
Documents
When you put together your business plan, why not
save time and use a professional template? You can use a generic business plan template, but using one
specifically for a roofing company is better. With the Roofing Business Plan,
you not only get a plan specifically for your line of work - but you also get more than 100 forms and
templates to help you start and manage your roofing business.
You also get 1 year of web hosting free of charge, which you can use to set up a website, attract customers
and grow your business online, saving on marketing costs.
Marketing Your Roofing Business
A quick way to start advertising your roofing services is to list your company on an online contractor's
network like MiNeeds.com. With online networks, you can use their website traffic to your advantage, and you
can get exposure and leads for your business through the internet before you set up your own website.
Advertise Your
Roofing Business with Signs
Use a car magnet to advertise your business while you are on the road, a yard sign to announce a sale or a
banner to promote your store's grand opening. You can design and create your own signs cheaply online using
SignsBannersDecals.com.
Set up a simple website for under $50/year to
advertise your roof services. Help people find you in the search engines: get listed in 20 search engines for free or in
300 search engines for $4.
Local Search
is becoming more and more popular. People are many times using online search instead of the traditional yellow
pages to find local businesses. Local Search sources that are affordable and receive substantial traffic
include: Google Local, Yelp, Super Pages and Insider Pages.
Postcard Marketing - Do a
postcard mailing to introduce your roofing services to property owners in your area. Internet services make
postcard marketing much easier and cost effective. First, decide on a special offer to present to postcard
recipients. Next, create your postcards online using professional postcard templates with VistaPrint
(you can get 50% off here). Lastly,
get pre-qualified leads from a lead generation company like Resource Nation. Simply address your postcards and mail.
Roofing Business Resources:
Roofing Business Associations
