The Roofer Show

Dave Sullivan

If you’re a Roofing Contractor looking to grow your business, make more money, and have more free time this is the podcast for you. Your host Dave Sullivan has been a successful roofing contractor for over 30 years and he shares the good, bad, and the ugly of his experience in contracting. Each week Dave interviews the industry’s top experts to pull out their best business tips and strategies that you can use to take your business to the next level. Get the answers to the questions you have to the day to day problems you face in the “real world of construction” from those that have been there and done it. Whether you have a shop of 1 or 100 there’s something here for you.

  1. 3d ago

    Podcast 488: More Roofing Leads Won’t Fix a Broken Sales System—with Ryan Groth

    Most roofing contractors don’t have a lead problem—they have a sales-system problem. In this episode, Dave Sullivan sits down with sales expert Ryan Groth to explain how roofing contractors can build a sales organization that converts leads consistently, even when the owner isn’t personally involved in every sale. EPISODE DESCRIPTIONHiring salespeople doesn’t automatically fix your sales problems. Without a defined process, training, accountability, and consistent follow-up, adding salespeople can create even more chaos. Dave Sullivan and Ryan Groth break down what roofing contractors need to build a predictable sales organization. They discuss speed-to-lead, booking rates, consultative selling, sales meetings, coaching, and the key performance indicators every contractor should track. Ryan explains why many salespeople rely on “quote and hope” instead of following a repeatable process. Dave shares how he managed his own sales organization, used reports to stay informed while away from the business, and held his team accountable without becoming involved in every sale. The message is simple: before you spend more money generating leads, make sure you have a system that converts the leads you already have. This conversation was originally published in October 2025. We’re bringing it back because contractors are paying more than ever for leads, making sales conversion and follow-up even more important today. YOU’LL LEARNWhy more leads won’t fix a broken sales processHow speed-to-lead affects your booking rateWhy salespeople need a defined, repeatable processThe difference between consultative selling and “quote and hope”How to set realistic individual and team sales goalsWhich sales KPIs every roofing contractor should trackHow to structure an effective weekly sales meetingWhy ongoing coaching and role-playing matterWhen the owner should manage sales—and when to delegate itHow better follow-up increases sales without lowering your price RESOURCESReady to Find Out Where Your Business Is Losing Money? Schedule a free Roofing Business Review with Dave Sullivan. We’ll look at where your company is today, where you want it to go, and the problems that may be holding it back. Book your free Roofing Business Review: https://davesullivan.as.me/free-strategy-call LINKSThe Roofer Coach: https://theroofercoach.com Sales Transformation Group: https://salestransformationgroup.com TRUSTED & VETTED SPONSORSProLine CRM Automate your follow-up, improve speed-to-lead, and close more of the opportunities you already have. Save 50% off your first month with promo code DAVE50. https://theroofercoach.com/proline SMA Support Get roofing-trained support for lead intake, follow-up, scheduling, estimating assistance, customer communication, and the administrative work that keeps your business moving. https://theroofercoach.com/sma GUESTRyan Groth Sales Transformation Group https://salestransformationgroup.com HOSTDave Sullivan The Roofer Coach Dave helps roofing contractors grow more profitable businesses, build dependable systems, understand their numbers, and reclaim their time. https://theroofercoach.com About The Roofer Show The Roofer Show Podcast helps roofing contractors grow their businesses, make more money, and have more free time. Hosted by Dave Sullivan, The Roofer Coach, the show shares practical advice on roofing sales, marketing, operations, leadership, and financial management.

    Podcast 488: More Roofing Leads Won’t Fix a Broken Sales System—with Ryan Groth
  2. Jul 17

    487: Before You Try to Grow Your Roofing Company, Answer This One Question

    How to build the right roofing business instead of chasing someone else's roadmap. Episode DescriptionEvery roofing owner wants to grow. But before you spend another dollar on marketing, hire another salesperson, or invest in a new CRM, there's one question you need to answer. What are you really trying to build? In this solo episode, Dave Sullivan shares the exact process he uses before working with a new coaching client. Instead of jumping straight to marketing or sales, he starts by understanding the owner's goals, diagnosing the business, and identifying the real constraint that's holding the company back. You'll learn why the problem you think you have is often just a symptom—and how defining the right destination leads to better decisions, better systems, and more profitable growth. In This Episode:Why the problem you call about is rarely the real problemWhy every roofing business needs a different roadmapThe first things Dave reviews before meeting a new clientHow your website and Google reviews reveal hidden opportunitiesWhy "Sell Work • Do Work • Keep Score" is the foundation of every roofing businessThe numbers every owner should understandHow to identify the biggest constraint in your businessWhy profit and freedom often matter more than growth Free ResourceDownload Dave's FREE One-Page Business Plan. Before you worry about more leads, get clear on your destination, your ideal customer, and the business you're trying to build. 👉 https://theroofercoach.com/1-page-plan/ SponsorsSMA SupportNeed help building systems without adding more to your plate? SMA Support provides trained virtual team members for roofing contractors, including inside sales, customer service, production support, bookkeeping, and administrative assistance. Learn more. ProLineOnce you know where you're going, you need the systems to get there. ProLine helps roofing contractors manage leads, estimates, follow-up, customer communication, production, and reporting—all in one place. Check out ProLine. Connect with Dave🌐 https://theroofercoach.com 📅 Schedule a Roofing Business Review https://davesullivan.as.me/consulting-call About The Roofer Show The Roofer Show Podcast helps roofing contractors grow their businesses, make more money, and have more free time. Hosted by Dave Sullivan, The Roofer Coach, the show shares practical advice on roofing sales, marketing, operations, leadership, and financial management.

    487: Before You Try to Grow Your Roofing Company, Answer This One Question
  3. Jul 10

    486: Can Your Roofing Website Pass the 5-Second Test?

    How to turn more website visitors into qualified roofing appointments with Cody Warren. Episode Summary:Most roofing contractors think they have a lead problem. In reality, many have a website conversion problem. If you’re spending money on Google Ads, SEO, referrals, or social media but your website isn’t turning visitors into appointments, you’re leaving money on the table. In this episode, Dave Sullivan sits down with Cody Warren, President of Hook Agency, to discuss what actually makes a roofing website convert. They cover the simple improvements every roofing contractor should make before spending more money on marketing. In this episode you’ll learn:The 5-second test every roofing website should passThe biggest homepage mistakes roofing contractors makeWhy your About page is one of your most important pagesHow to build trust with homeowners before you ever meet themWhy your website should speak to your ideal customer—not everyoneWhy local city pages matter for SEOThe importance of financing, mobile design, and clear calls to actionWhy SEO is a long-term investment, not a quick fix Free DownloadDownload Dave’s FREE One-Page Roofing Business Plan Define your ideal customer, your unique selling proposition, and the message your website should communicate before you spend money on marketing. 👉 https://theroofercoach.com/1-page-plan/ Resources MentionedHook Agency Roof Quote Pro ProLine CRM SMA Support Connect with Dave🌐 https://theroofercoach.com 📅 Schedule a Free Roofing Business Review https://davesullivan.as.me/free-strategy-call About The Roofer Show The Roofer Show Podcast helps roofing contractors grow their businesses, make more money, and have more free time. Hosted by Dave Sullivan, The Roofer Coach, the show shares practical advice on roofing sales, marketing, operations, leadership, and financial management.

    486: Can Your Roofing Website Pass the 5-Second Test?
  4. Jul 3

    Bonus Episode: The Real Test of Your Roofing Business

    Can you leave your roofing business for two weeks and know everything will be okay? I'm recording this bonus episode while on vacation in Europe, and it reminded me of one of the biggest lessons I learned building my roofing company. The real measure of success isn't revenue. It's building a business that gives you choices. I share why taking my family to Europe every summer became one of my biggest goals, how that vision shaped the way I built my company, and why I decided to replay my conversation with my longtime business coach, Rick Dutmer. If you haven't listened to that episode yet, I hope you will. The lessons on profitability, systems, leadership, and building a business that doesn't depend on you are more relevant today than ever. SHOW NOTESFor years, one of my biggest goals wasn't becoming the biggest roofing contractor. It was building a business that would allow me to spend time with my family and travel without worrying about what was happening back at the office. In this short bonus episode, recorded from Italy, I talk about why that goal changed the way I ran my business—and why it's exactly what my recent conversation with Rick Dutmer was all about. In this episode: Why freedom starts with systems—not luck.The real reason most owners can't take time away.Why profitability creates options.How building the right team changes everything.Why every contractor should ask, "Could I leave for two weeks?" If you haven't listened to Episode 485 with Rick Dutmer, go back and give it a listen. I think it's one of the most important conversations I've ever shared. 🎧 Episode 485: Replay | The Business Plan That Took My Roofing Company from Chaos to Cash-Out Resources📥 Download my FREE One Page Business Plan: https://theroofercoach.com/resources 📅 Book a free Roofing Business Strategy Call: https://theroofercoach.com Thanks to Our SponsorsSMA SupportMissed calls, poor follow-up, and stale estimates are costing roofing contractors thousands every month. SMA Support provides trained virtual assistants, inside sales support, lead follow-up, CRM management, and administrative support built specifically for roofing companies. Learn more: https://theroofercoach.com/sma ProLineProLine helps roofing contractors streamline operations, automate follow-up, improve communication, and gain visibility into every stage of the customer journey. From lead management to production and reporting, ProLine helps contractors create the systems needed to scale. Learn more: https://theroofercoach.com/proline About The Roofer Show The Roofer Show Podcast helps roofing contractors grow their businesses, make more money, and have more free time. Hosted by Dave Sullivan, The Roofer Coach, the show shares practical advice on roofing sales, marketing, operations, leadership, and financial management.

    Bonus Episode: The Real Test of Your Roofing Business
  5. Jun 30

    485: Encore | The Business Plan That Took My Roofing Company from Chaos to Cash-Out (With My Coach Rick Dutmer)

    Originally released as Episode 444, I’m bringing this conversation back because the lessons are even more relevant today than when we first recorded it. Most roofing contractors don’t have a business plan—they have ideas, goals, and good intentions. That was me too… until everything changed. In this episode, I sit down with my longtime business coach, Rick Dutmer, to share how a simple business plan transformed my roofing company from chaos and constant firefighting into a profitable business I was ultimately able to sell. If you’re working too many hours, making every decision yourself, or wondering whether all your hard work will ever pay off someday, this episode will show you what’s possible when you stop reacting and start running your business on purpose. SHOW NOTESRunning a roofing company without a clear business plan almost guarantees stress, burnout, and uncertainty—even when sales are strong. In this replay, I sit down with my longtime business coach, Rick Dutmer, to discuss the strategies that helped transform my roofing company into a profitable, systems-driven business that no longer depended on me for every decision. We cover why most contractors avoid planning, why chasing revenue can actually make your business weaker, and how focusing on profitability, leadership, and systems creates a company that’s easier to run, more enjoyable to own, and ultimately far more valuable. Whether your goal is to make more money, take more time off, or someday sell your business, the principles in this episode are just as relevant today as when we first recorded it. In this episode you’ll learn: Why “Volume kills, profit thrills.”Why growth without profit can destroy a business.How a simple business plan creates clarity and confidence.Why profitability matters more than revenue.How to build a management team that doesn’t depend on you.What makes a roofing company valuable to a future buyer.Why planning years ahead gives you more options and more freedom. Resources📥 Download my FREE One Page Business Plan: https://theroofercoach.com/resources 📅 Book a free Roofing Business Strategy Call: https://theroofercoach.com Thanks to Our SponsorsSMA SupportMissed calls, poor follow-up, and stale estimates are costing roofing contractors thousands every month. SMA Support provides trained virtual assistants, inside sales support, lead follow-up, CRM management, and administrative support built specifically for roofing companies. Learn more: https://theroofercoach.com/sma ProLineProLine helps roofing contractors streamline operations, automate follow-up, improve communication, and gain visibility into every stage of the customer journey. From lead management to production and reporting, ProLine helps contractors create the systems needed to scale. Learn more: https://theroofercoach.com/proline About The Roofer Show The Roofer Show Podcast helps roofing contractors grow their businesses, make more money, and have more free time. Hosted by Dave Sullivan, The Roofer Coach, the show shares practical advice on roofing sales, marketing, operations, leadership, and financial management.

    485: Encore | The Business Plan That Took My Roofing Company from Chaos to Cash-Out (With My Coach Rick Dutmer)
  6. Jun 19

    484: Why Good Roofing Contractors Stay Stuck: The 7 Problems I See Over and Over Again

    Most roofing contractors think they have a lead problem. After working with hundreds of roofing companies over the years, I've learned that's usually not the real issue. The contractors who stay stuck are often dealing with the same challenges: No clear vision for where they're goingWorking in the business instead of on the businessBad financial informationNo scoreboard or KPIsNo sales systemNo clear identity or storyChasing shiny objects instead of focusing on fundamentals In this episode, I break down the seven most common problems I see in roofing companies and share practical insights from my own experience building and selling a roofing company, as well as working with contractors across North America. If you're working harder than ever but feel like you're not getting ahead, this episode is for you. Whether your goal is more profit, more freedom, a better team, or building a business that can run without you, these lessons will help you identify what's really holding you back. WHAT YOU'LL LEARNWhy more leads usually aren't the answerThe Two Week Vacation Test and what it reveals about your businessThe difference between financials and scorekeepingWhy most contractors leave money sitting in their CRMHow your story impacts sales and pricingWhy shiny object syndrome keeps contractors stuckThe Sell Work, Do Work, Keep Score framework SPONSORSSMA Support Missed calls, poor follow-up, and stale estimates are costing roofing contractors thousands every month. SMA Support provides trained virtual assistants, inside sales support, lead follow-up, CRM management, and administrative support built specifically for roofing companies. Learn more: https://theroofercoach.com/sma ProLine ProLine helps roofing contractors streamline operations, automate follow-up, improve communication, and gain visibility into every stage of the customer journey. From lead management to production and reporting, ProLine helps contractors create the systems needed to scale. Learn more: https://theroofercoach.com/proline RESOURCES The Roofer Coach https://theroofercoach.com Free Roofing Business Resources https://theroofercoach.com/resources Roofing Business Success Audit https://theroofercoach.com/resources Facebook: https://facebook.com/theroofercoach YouTube: https://youtube.com/@TheRooferCoach About The Roofer Show The Roofer Show Podcast helps roofing contractors grow their businesses, make more money, and have more free time. Hosted by Dave Sullivan, The Roofer Coach, the show shares practical advice on roofing sales, marketing, operations, leadership, and financial management.

    484: Why Good Roofing Contractors Stay Stuck: The 7 Problems I See Over and Over Again
  7. Jun 12

    483: How He Built a $13M Roofing Company in Just 3 Years

    Most roofing contractors think growth comes from more leads. John Starry took a different approach. In just three years, he built Steadfast Roofing into a $13 million company while earning nearly 800 Google reviews, creating a strong company culture, and building systems that support sustainable growth. In this episode, John shares how his team generates referrals from every project, follows up with leads faster, creates a consistent customer experience, and tracks profitability as the company grows. If you’re looking to grow your roofing company without creating more chaos, this episode is packed with practical lessons you can apply immediately. WHAT YOU’LL LEARNHow John built a $13M roofing company in just three yearsHow Steadfast Roofing earned nearly 800 Google reviewsThe review process that creates consistent 5-star customer experiencesWhy speed-to-lead is critical for converting expensive leadsHow to generate referrals from every job siteThe systems and processes that support sustainable growthHow company culture impacts accountability and performanceWhy job costing and profitability tracking matter as you scale CHAPTERS 00:00 Introduction 05:13 Starting Steadfast Roofing 08:36 Growing to $3.7M in Year One 12:00 Neighborhood Marketing and Referrals 13:42 How They Earned Nearly 800 Google Reviews 16:47 Lead Generation That Works 18:40 Speed-to-Lead and Follow-Up 23:39 Building a Website That Converts 25:40 Growing to $13M 30:45 Managing a Growing Sales Team 33:13 Building Company Culture 34:29 Production Systems and Communication 42:00 Job Costing and Profitability 47:24 Managing Growth and Cash Flow 51:32 Lessons Learned 53:19 Final Thoughts SPONSORSSMA SupportMissed calls, poor follow-up, and stale estimates are costing roofing contractors thousands every month. SMA Support provides trained virtual assistants, inside sales support, lead follow-up, CRM management, and administrative support built specifically for roofing companies. Learn more: https://theroofercoach.com/sma ProLineProLine helps roofing contractors streamline operations, automate follow-up, improve communication, and gain visibility into every stage of the customer journey. From lead management to production and reporting, ProLine helps contractors create the systems needed to scale. Learn more: https://theroofercoach.com/proline RESOURCES The Roofer Coach https://theroofercoach.com Free Roofing Business Resources https://theroofercoach.com/resources Roofing Business Success Audit https://theroofercoach.com/resources CONNECTIf you enjoyed this episode, subscribe to The Roofer Show and leave a review. It helps other roofing contractors build more profitable businesses with less stress and more freedom. About The Roofer Show The Roofer Show Podcast helps roofing contractors grow their businesses, make more money, and have more free time. Hosted by Dave Sullivan, The Roofer Coach, the show shares practical advice on roofing sales, marketing, operations, leadership, and financial management.

    483: How He Built a $13M Roofing Company in Just 3 Years
  8. Jun 5

    482: Tommy Mello: Build a Roofing Business That Works Without You

    What separates a roofing business from a roofing job? In this replay episode, Dave Sullivan sits down with Tommy Mello, founder of A1 Garage Door Service and one of the most influential entrepreneurs in the home service industry. Tommy shares lessons learned while building a highly valuable company, including how to create a business that works without you, why profit must come before growth, how to hire and retain great people, and why most contractors never build a company that can actually be sold. Whether you’re trying to grow your roofing company, improve profitability, or build a business that gives you more freedom, this episode is packed with practical insights. In this episode you’ll learn: The difference between owning a business and owning a jobWhy most contractors struggle to build a sellable companyHow EBITDA impacts business valueThe importance of profit before growthWhy hiring A-players changes everythingHow to create accountability with KPIs and scorecardsThe power of delegation and building systemsWhy culture is one of your greatest competitive advantagesHow successful contractors build teams that operate without themLessons from scaling a home service company Resources Mentioned:Tommy MelloA1 Garage Door ServiceHome Service MillionaireThe E-Myth RevisitedRocket FuelThe Dream ManagerThe One Thing Sponsors:ProLine CRM: theroofercoach.com/proline Built specifically for contractors to help manage leads, sales, production, follow-up, and customer communication. SMA Support: theroofercoach.com/sma Virtual team members for lead management, appointment setting, customer follow-up, CRM management, and administrative support. Connect with Dave Sullivan:Website: https://theroofercoach.com YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/@DaveSullivanRooferShow Subscribe to The Roofer Show for weekly conversations focused on the business end of the roofing business About The Roofer Show The Roofer Show Podcast helps roofing contractors grow their businesses, make more money, and have more free time. Hosted by Dave Sullivan, The Roofer Coach, the show shares practical advice on roofing sales, marketing, operations, leadership, and financial management.

    482: Tommy Mello: Build a Roofing Business That Works Without You
4.9
out of 5
142 Ratings

About

If you’re a Roofing Contractor looking to grow your business, make more money, and have more free time this is the podcast for you. Your host Dave Sullivan has been a successful roofing contractor for over 30 years and he shares the good, bad, and the ugly of his experience in contracting. Each week Dave interviews the industry’s top experts to pull out their best business tips and strategies that you can use to take your business to the next level. Get the answers to the questions you have to the day to day problems you face in the “real world of construction” from those that have been there and done it. Whether you have a shop of 1 or 100 there’s something here for you.