A roof protects a home and its family from the elements. It’s safe to say that it will always be a necessity, so it’s also safe to say the roofing industry isn’t going anywhere. If you’re looking to start a long-term business, roofing just might be for you. There are three factors you should consider if you’re ready to begin.
Getting The Right Equipment
Hand Tools
Here are a few of the necessary small tools you’ll need.
- Nail guns: To speed up shingle installation.
- Hammers: For areas where a nail gun isn’t appropriate.
- Utility knives: To cut shingles and to open the packaging.
- Pry bars: To remove old sections of roofing.
- Chalk line reels: To make straight lines for your shingles.
- Air compressors: To power the nail guns.
- Tear off shovels: To remove old shingles.
Having all of these in your toolbox will help you get the job done right.
Safety Equipment
Roofing can be a dangerous job when not done properly, here’s what you need to prevent accidents.
- Gloves
- Hearing protection: Industrial earplugs for when loud machines are running.
- Helmets/Hardhats
- Eye protection: Goggles or safety glasses.
- Safety harnesses
- Roof anchors: This is what a safety harness line will be attached to.
- First aid kits
Make sure everyone on your crew has access to these items and knows how to use them. For more safety, check out A guide to OSHA safety regulations on roofs.
Transportation and Disposal
You’ll need vehicles to carry your crew and equipment, and a way to get rid of roofing garbage.
- A 4×4 pickup truck that’s capable of carrying your crew, your equipment, and driving anywhere.
- A large dumpster for wood, shingles, packaging, and other roofing trash to go in.
You may want to rent these when you’re first starting out. They can be quite expensive and you’ll want to find out how much you’ll be using them before making big investments.
The Financial Side
There are a few things you’ll need to consider financially before you start a business.
Find An Expert
A financial expert will:
- Handle your accounting
- Predict your earnings
- Handle tax paperwork
- Manage financial statements
An expert will protect you from costly mistakes.
Determine Your Expenses
Sit down with your financial expert and determine what your average expenses to run the business will be.
- Will you have to lease a building?
- How many team members will you have and how much will you pay them?
- What is the cost of licensing and permits?
- How much will the initial equipment cost be?
- How much will the upkeep be?
- What kind of business insurance will you need and how much will it cost?
Answering these questions is a good place to start when getting your expenses in order.
Your Personal Goals
What matters to you when it comes to this business? There are a few questions you need to ask yourself to determine that.
- How long do you want to run the business?
- Is there a certain amount of clients you’d like to have?
- How much money do you need to make?
- What reputation do you want to have?
- How do you want owning your own business to affect your life?
- Is there anything you’d like to get out of this other than money?
- How large do you want the business to become?
- Is there a motto or mission statement you’d like your company to represent?
Knowing your personal goals will help keep the business on track. It will also motivate you to achieve them while growing your company.
Before starting your roofing business, take some time to consider these three factors. Doing so will help guarantee you start your company on the right foot.
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