What a Buyer Checks First
- Sales by year, split between storm claims, retail repairs and new roofs
- Backlog of signed jobs and the age of unpaid invoices
- Crew structure, subcontractors and who runs each job site
- Warranty claims, open complaints and online reviews
- Whether the owner sells every job or a team does
Storm Years Distort the Picture
A big hail season lifts sales and profit well above normal. Buyers know it, and they will average several years instead of paying for the peak. If your best year was a storm year, expect them to say so.
A steady base of repairs and replacements outside storm claims supports a higher price. Show that income by year, apart from insurance work.
Where the Work Comes From
Buyers ask how you earn jobs. Door knocking after storms is one model. Referrals, property managers and builders make the revenue steadier and often the margins better. Online reviews also carry weight, because a good reputation stays with the company.
Crews and Subcontractors
Roofing relies on labor that is hard to replace. A buyer wants to know which crews are employees, which are subcontractors and who answers to whom. Written subcontractor agreements and proper insurance matter, since misclassified workers create liability.
Warranties and Backlog
A buyer takes on the warranty promises you made. They will ask for a record of claims, what each cost and how they were settled. Signed jobs not yet built count as backlog, and buyers like to see deposits and a plan to finish them.
Seasonality matters for timing, which is why we wrote about how buyers read seasonal swings.
Getting Ready
Pull together licenses, insurance certificates, crew agreements and three years of job costing before you list. Buyers pay more for a company that can show profit by job type, not just a yearly total.
Many roofing sales are asset deals. See asset sale or stock sale, then ask for a confidential estimate.