Roofing is a highly profitable industry that’s not going away anytime soon. There’ll always be a need for roofing services as long as new developments and buildings are being built. If you’re an experienced roofer, you’ve probably thought of starting an entrepreneurial venture on your own to take advantage of this highly lucrative sector.
It’s one thing to start a roofing business, but it’s an entirely different thing to set it up for success. So many businesses crumble before they even get started but you can significantly reduce the likelihood of this happening to you. By planning for any pitfalls and setting up the business to operate efficiently, you can put yourself in a strong position.
How to start your own roofing business
If you’re prepared to take the leap to starting your own roofing company, you’ll need to learn a lot more than how to build and repair a roof. You quickly need to become proficient at a variety of core business skills in administration, planning and organization.
Assuming that you’re new to running a business, it’s best to begin with the fundamentals. Then you can work your way up to running a profitable company. Here’s how:
- Know which mistakes to avoid
If your goal is to set up your roofing business for success, knowing what mistakes to avoid is critical. Do your research before diving straight in and seek the advice of other experienced entrepreneurs by joining forums and local community business networking groups to see what has worked and not worked for them. By learning from others who have done similar things before, you will be in a much stronger position to make better business critical decisions yourself. Sometimes, a mistake as simple as not having the right internal administrative software such as Jobber can make all the difference between success and failure.
One of the top reasons roofing companies fail is the lack of organization in their processes. The shift from being a contractual roofer to a business owner can be overwhelming. That might lead you to mindlessly overlook administrative aspects such as onboarding new hires or training your sales and marketing staff. Unfortunately, disorganization almost always leads to failure.
Contractors frequently want to hit the ground running and start working on jobs straightaway. This may not always be the best approach. Document a set of procedures and steps that have to be met to take a new lead from start to finish.
- Learn how to market efficiently
Marketing is a critical component for a business, regardless of its nature. It’s critical to get your name out there and bring in leads and contracts. Marketing can be tricky—many business owners are unsure what marketing strategies to use and where to invest their resources. As a result, they waste time and effort with little to no return. (1)
Taking your venture online can be one of the most effective and efficient ways to expand your business. There are numerous ways to promote your company without spending too much. For example, you can use Facebook, Craigslist, and other digital platforms to advertise for free. If you do have the budget, you could use local television or radio stations to advertise as part of a wider marketing campaign. Another option is to go door-to-door and offer flyers to those interested or sponsor local events. (1) (2)
- Invest in the right tools and equipment
The equipment and tools required to start a roofing business will vary depending on the type of services you provide. Commercial roofing requires a higher startup cost in terms of equipment and tools. On the flip side, residential roofing is the cheapest and simplest way to get started. (3)
Most of your startup costs will likely be accounted for by equipment and labor. That means you should buy tools only as needed for jobs and never spend more than necessary during the startup period. For example, you can save on transportation by buying a used truck instead of a new one.
Being a business owner frequently entails wearing multiple hats, from accounting to sales to marketing, which can be exhausting. Thankfully, many online tools are available to help you simplify business processes and tasks. You may want to use industry-specific tools and templates such as this free roofing contractor estimate.
- Create an efficient and professional roofing website
Having an online presence is one of the most critical aspects of marketing in this technological era. A website is one of the most important ways for your business to be found on the internet. A website will lend credibility to your company, which is essentially the same level of credibility that a Yellow Pages listing used to offer.
An organized and well-designed website can help your potential customers navigate your site with ease and familiarity. To start, you can segment the website into several core pages or sections, including contact details, testimonials, areas you service, and the type of roofing services you offer. (2)
Keywords are essential in your website content, particularly your SEO strategy. Ensure that your actual business name, location, and other important information are included and correctly spelled. That way, you’re confident that your website and business name would show up on Google rankings when someone is searching for such services or information. (1)
The bottom line
Roofing is a challenging profession that requires a significant amount of time and dedication and being a business owner is no exception. Taking the time to plan how to launch and expand the trade successfully can greatly help you increase efficiency and your chances of success.
References:
- “How to Start a Roofing Company”, Source: https://stepbystepbusiness.com/business-ideas/start-a-roofing-company/
- “How to start a roofing company: A step-by-step guide”, Source: https://business.yelp.com/start/how-to-start-roofing-company/
- “Guide to Starting Your Own Roofing Business”, Source: https://homebusinessmag.com/business-start-up/how-to-guides/guide-starting-roofing-business/