Roofing Resource List

A roofer starting out needs a few things in place before the first job: whatever license or registration the state and city require, liability insurance plus workers' compensation where it applies, and an account with a roofing supplier. Just as important are a written estimate and contract for every job and one place where each customer's details, photos and invoices are kept.

Our Official List of The Best Roofing Websites

There are a lot of fantastic roofing related websites out there for home owners, contractors, roofing business owners, manufacturers, and suppliers. We thought that it would be really helpful if we created a complete resource list of all these websites so that you didn't have to go and find them yourself. If you know of a high quality website that you think would go well on this website, please let us know.

Roofing Contractors

Roofing Products – www.abcsupply.com

ABC Supply Co., Inc. is the largest wholesale distributor of roofing in the United States and one of the nation’s largest distributors of siding, windows and other select exterior building products, tools and related supplies. Since our start in 1982, we’ve grown to become a national organization with more than 600 branches and other facilities in 49 states.

Customers, quotes, invoices and a website for roofers – Papalocal

Papalocal is where roofers keep their customers, quotes, invoices and website in one place, and where people reading Roofpedia find them.

BBB – www.bbb.org

The BBB is a great way to gain credibility as a local roofing company. Once accredited it is advised to show your accredited seal to give customers peace of mind and gain trust in their eyes.

Roofing Forum – www.roofingtalk.com

Roofing Talk is a good forum for roofers to network and learn from other fellow roofers in the industry. If you love participating on forums than this is a good one for you.

Roofing Contracts – www.actcontractorsforms

These guys help with providing roofers with custom roofing contracts that they can use. They do contracts for other industries as well. They are worth checking out if you need a roof contract.

How To Start A Roofing Business – www.theroofershelper.com

This is a great site that gives valuable information. This particular page gives some basic steps to starting a roofing business.

Roofing Salesman Salary – www.roofingsalesman.com

This is a great website to help roofing companies better understand that salesman side of their roofing business. It is also a great website for roofing salesman.

Home Owners

Here is a brief list of some great websites to go to when you as a home owner need answers to basic roofing questions.

Youtube – www.youtube.com

Youtube has so many fantastic videos that don’t just answer questions but show you step by step the answers. We couldn’t give Youtube a better recommendation when it comes to providing high quality roofing related videos.

Some other good DIY websites that contain roofing related information are Roofpedia, Bob Vila, Family Handyman, This Old House,

How to start a roofing business

Most roofing owners learned the trade first, on a crew or as a foreman, and that experience is hard to skip. Knowing how long a tear-off really takes, what goes wrong on steep or old roofs and how to run a crew safely is what keeps the early jobs from losing money.

The business side comes next. Choose a business structure and register it, get a tax ID, open a separate bank account, and find out what licensing your state and city require. Get general liability insurance, and workers' compensation if you will have employees or your state requires it. Open an account with a roofing supply house and ask about rooftop delivery.

Price every job to cover materials, labor, disposal, permits, insurance, vehicles, your own time and a profit. Many new roofers price only materials and labor and find out at tax time that the business lost money. Start with a written estimate template, a written contract and a simple way to track leads, and use them the same way from the very first job.

Roofing contractor license: what varies by state

There is no single national roofing license. Some states license roofing contractors directly, with an exam and proof of experience. Others cover roofing under a general or residential contractor license, sometimes only above a certain job value. Some leave licensing to cities and counties, and a few have little or no licensing for residential roofing at all.

Where a license is required, expect some mix of a trade exam, a business and law exam, proof of insurance, a bond and documented experience. Many places also require registration as a home improvement contractor, a local business license, and a permit pulled by the licensed party for each job.

Rules change, and they can differ from one town to the next within the same state. Before you bid, check with the state licensing board and the local building department for each place you work. That matters most for storm work: a crew that travels to another state after a hail storm has to meet that state's rules, and homeowners there are told to ask for proof.

What a roofing estimate template should include

A clear estimate answers the homeowner's questions before they are asked. At the top: your business name, license number where one is required, contact details, the customer's name, the property address and the date. Then the measurements: the number of squares, the pitch of each slope, and how many layers are coming off.

Then the scope, line by line: tear-off and disposal, deck inspection and the price per sheet for replacing rotten decking, underlayment, ice and water barrier and where it goes, drip edge, flashing replaced or reused, pipe boots, ventilation, starter strip, the shingle line and color, and hip and ridge caps. Include a waste allowance for hips and valleys, and say who pulls the permit.

Close with the money and the promises: the total price, the deposit and payment schedule, what the manufacturer's warranty covers, what your workmanship warranty covers, what is not included, how long the price holds, and a place for both signatures. Use the same template on every job so nothing gets left off when you are busy, and attach photos of the roof as you found it.

Roofing CRM: keeping customer records that pay off

A CRM, short for customer relationship management, is simply one place where every customer and every lead lives. For a roofer that means the first call or web form, the inspection appointment, the photos, the estimate sent, the follow-ups, the signed contract, the job dates, the invoice and payment, and the warranty registration, all attached to the same name and address.

That record pays off in ways a notebook or a phone full of texts cannot. You know which estimates went quiet and need a call back. You can see how many leads turn into jobs, and where they came from. After a hail storm, you can pull up every customer in the affected area. Years later, when a roof you installed nears replacement or the house is sold, you still have its history.

A spreadsheet can carry a small business for a while. What matters is the habit: enter every lead the day it comes in, attach photos to the job, and log every payment. Whatever tool you use, make sure you can export your customer list, so your records stay yours if you ever switch.

Questions people ask

Do you need a license to be a roofer?

It depends on where you work. Some states license roofing contractors, some fold roofing into a general contractor license, and some leave it to cities and counties. Check with your state licensing board and the local building department before you bid a job.

What insurance does a roofing company need?

General liability is the baseline, and workers' compensation is required in most states once you have employees. Commercial auto covers work vehicles, and some states or customers also ask for a bond. An insurance agent who works with contractors can match coverage to your state.

How do you write a roofing estimate?

Measure the roof in squares and note the pitch and layers, then list every part of the job: tear-off, decking, underlayment, flashing, ventilation, shingles, ridge caps, disposal and permits. Add the price, payment terms, warranties, exclusions and how long the price holds, then have both sides sign.

What is a roofing CRM?

It is software or a system that keeps every lead and customer in one place, with contact details, photos, estimates, jobs, invoices and follow-ups. For roofers it shows which estimates need a call back and keeps each roof's history for future work.

How much does it cost to start a roofing business?

It depends on whether you start alone or with a crew, how many ladders, tools and vehicles you buy, and what your state requires for licensing, insurance and bonding. Insurance is often one of the larger early costs, so get quotes before you set your prices.

This guide was updated in October 2026 with new sections and the questions people ask most.