How to start a roofing business
A plain checklist: learning the trade, licensing, insurance, equipment and suppliers, pricing by the square and finding your first customers — without the income promises.
Who it suits
Roofing suits people who already know the trade and can sell as well as build. Jobs are large and infrequent per customer, the work follows the weather, and the business is won on trust — a homeowner is handing you the most expensive part of the house.
1.Learn the trade first
Work on a crew before you run one. Knowing how long a tear-off really takes is what keeps your first quotes honest.
Learn the systems your area uses — asphalt shingle, metal, flat roofs — and the manufacturer installation rules that warranties depend on.
2.Check licensing where you work
Roofing licensing varies by state: some license roofers, some require a general contractor licence, and some leave it to cities. Check your state board and your city.
3.Register the business
Pick a structure — sole proprietor or LLC — register the name, get an EIN and open a separate business bank account.
4.Insurance
General liability, commercial auto and, once you hire, workers’ compensation. Roofing is high-risk work, so price insurance before you price jobs.
Homeowners and general contractors will ask for a certificate of insurance before you start.
5.Equipment and suppliers
A truck with racks, ladders, harnesses and fall protection, tear-off tools, nail guns, a compressor, tarps, and a plan for disposal.
Open accounts with a roofing supplier so materials can be delivered to the roof.
6.Price by the square
Roofers quote by the square (100 sq ft), with tear-off, underlayment, flashing, ventilation and disposal as their own lines. Add waste for cuts and hips.
Take a deposit before ordering materials, and say on the quote what happens if you find rotten decking.
7.Find your first customers
Claim a free Fixerlane listing so homeowners searching for a roofer nearby can find and message you.
Repairs and inspections lead to replacements. Photograph every job and ask each customer for a review.
8.Plan for the season
In northern states the winter is short on roofing work. Decide early whether you will do repairs, gutters or other exterior work in the slow months.
The trade in numbers
166,900 people work as roofers in the US; 20% are self-employed.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025
BLS notes that in northern states roofing work may be limited during the winter months, and roofers may work overtime in the busy summer months.
Source: U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Outlook Handbook, 2025
25,519 roofing contractor businesses with employees (NAICS 238160); 16,661 of them have fewer than five employees.
Source: U.S. Census Bureau, County Business Patterns, 2023
Your first customers, free
List your roofing business on Fixerlane at no cost. Homeowners searching for roofing in your area can find you and send enquiries, and replying is free. When the work picks up, the tools to quote, schedule and invoice are a 7-day free trial away.
Common questions
- Do I need a licence to start a roofing business?
- It depends on the state, and sometimes the city. Some states license roofers directly, others fold roofing into a contractor licence. Check before your first paid job.
- How much does it cost to start a roofing business?
- We do not publish a figure. A truck, safety gear, tools and insurance vary by state and by what you already own, and insurance for roofing is a large share. Price each locally.
- Should I take insurance claim work?
- Storm work can bring a lot of jobs at once, but it comes with adjusters, supplements and slower payment. Many new roofers start with retail repairs and re-roofs.
- How do I get my first roofing customers?
- A free listing where homeowners already search, repairs and inspections that lead to replacements, and a review and photos from every job.
- How much do roofers earn?
- We do not promise earnings. The Bureau of Labor Statistics publishes real pay figures for roofers in the Occupational Outlook Handbook.