Start a Roofing Business
Starting a roofing business is a way to use your skills, be your own boss and make a decent wage. There are a number of services that your business may offer for both commercial and residential properties, which means that you can stay busy all year long.
Instructions
1. Purchase roofers insurance. This is one of the most important aspects of starting up your roofing business. Failure to protect your business against employee or public injury could be the end of your business. You will likely need liability, workers' compensation insurance and equipment insurance.
2. Hire qualified contractors that are both licensed and insured (or covered under your insurance). They should be familiar with many roofing materials such as tiles, slate, wood, asphalt shingles and sheet metal.
3. Purchase your safety equipment. This may include fall protection such as self-retracting cables, self-retracting lanyards, guardrails, roof fall protection kits, roof anchors, water coolers, hard hats, ear plugs, allergy masks, first aid kits, safety harnesses, coveralls, eye gear and gas cans.
4. Purchase your supplies and must-have equipment. This will include hand tools such as hatchets, hammers, shingle and slate cutters, pry bars, scissors, caulking guns and loaders, squeegees and trowels. Purchase hoisting equipment such as hoists, hoisting wheels and gravel buckets. You'll also need ladders of varying sizes, ladder hatches and brackets, as well as must have items such as measuring tape, marking tool, saws, nails, brooms and mops. In addition, you may need air compressors, blowers, paint, primers, sealant, caulk, kettles, roof or deck drains, roofing foam, receipt paper, and spraying systems.
5. Purchase a truck and trailer (if necessary) and truck supplies such as conveyors, winch bars and cargo straps. Then design signs to attach to your trailer.
6. Determine what methods of payment that you will accept. At first, you may only want to accept cash or checks. As your business expands, you may want to accept credit cards. If you will accept credit cards, you will also need to set up a merchant account. To determine your rates, contact other roofers in your area and get quotes.
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