Trade
Roofing
Articles for roofing shops running 1-10 people. Pricing, hiring, customer disputes, and the parts of the business they never teach you.
Your Business Number Is You — And That's a Crisis Waiting
If your shop's main number is your personal cell, you don't have a business — you have a job with overhead. Here's what to fix before it's too late.
Your Install Jobs Pay Less Per Hour Than You Think
Divide your last 5 install totals by real hours including drive, permits, and callbacks. The number is probably ugly. Here's how to fix it.
Your Replacement Jobs Have Worse Margins Than You Think
Big ticket doesn't mean big margin. Here's why replacement work is quietly your lowest-margin job type — and how to fix the math.
Retainage Is a Cash Flow Killer — Price It Like One
Retainage looks standard until it's 90 days past substantial completion. Here's how small shops get buried — and how to price for it.
Your Break-Even Number Is Wrong (And It's Killing Your Prices)
If you're pricing jobs off last year's overhead, your break-even is already wrong. Here's how to calculate the real number before you quote another job.
How to Collect When a Customer Won't Pay Final Invoice
Stop chasing calls that go nowhere. Here's the exact sequence small contractors use to collect on unpaid final invoices — including when to file a mechanics lien.
Your P&L Shows Profit. So Why Is Your Account Empty?
If your books show profit but your bank account is always tight, your P&L isn't lying — it's just not built for running a business. Here's what's missing.
Your Business Runs on You. That's the Problem.
If every customer calls your cell and asks for you by name, you don't own a business — you own a job. Here's how to fix it before it costs you.
You're Not Bad at Estimating. You're Bad at Closing the Loop.
Most trade shops lose money on jobs they thought were profitable. The fix isn't better quoting — it's a 10-minute post-job review you're skipping.
Stop Using Multiple Phone Numbers to Track Your Marketing
Call tracking numbers hurt your Google rankings and confuse customers. Here's how to track lead sources without fracturing your phone presence.
Your Gross Margin Is Lying to You Without Job Costing
Your P&L shows profit but your account is empty. Job costing reveals which service lines are bleeding you dry — and most owners are afraid to look.
Word of Mouth Isn't a Marketing Strategy. It's a Risk.
Relying on referrals feels safe until the phone goes quiet. Here's why word of mouth is a liability — and how to build a system that doesn't depend on you.
Cost Per Lead Is a Vanity Metric. Track This Instead.
Your Google Ads dashboard shows cheap leads. Your bank account disagrees. Here's the marketing math small shops actually need to run.
Hiring Family in Your Trade Business: Set Rules or Pay Later
Family hires can save your shop or blow it up. Here's what no one tells you before you put a relative on payroll.
Why Your Overhead Allocation Is Lying to Your P&L
If you split overhead evenly across jobs, you're flying blind. Here's how to allocate correctly — and which jobs are quietly losing money.
The Big Job Trap: Why Large Contracts Kill Small Shops
That big contract looks like a breakthrough. It might be a cash flow death spiral. Here's how to know before you sign.
Your Labor Burden Rate Is Wrong — Reprice Before You Hire
Hiring your next tech will break your pricing unless you recalculate labor burden first. Here's the math most trade owners skip.
Your Cash Flow Problem Isn't Collections — It's Your Draw Schedule
Chasing invoices won't fix your cash flow. The real problem is when you ask for money. Here's how to restructure deposits and draws before you start the job.
Markup vs. Margin: Why Your Pricing Math Is Wrong
You priced at '40% margin' but you're broke. The markup vs. margin confusion is costing small shops thousands. Here's the one formula that fixes it.
Why That Big Builder Account Will Bankrupt You
One builder account saved your schedule and killed your cash flow. Adam Smith learned this in October 2008. Here's what he wishes someone had told him.
1099 vs W-2 for Trade Workers: What It Really Costs You
Most small shops default to 1099 subs to save money. A former plumbing contractor explains why that math is usually wrong — and risky.