As we head into 2026, many roofing contractors are rethinking how they build their business—focusing less on chaos and top-line growth, and more on profitability, structure, and long-term value.

In this episode, Dave Sullivan sits down with Tim Brown of Hook Agency, who’s doing something unexpected: launching his own roofing company, Owl Roofing. Dave walks Tim through the One-Page Business Plan framework to pressure-test the idea, clarify the strategy, and uncover the real challenges that come with starting a roofing business the right way.

This conversation goes far beyond marketing. Tim and Dave dig into storm work vs. retail, branding and positioning, financing-first selling, leadership depth, production risks, and what it really takes to build a roofing company that can grow without relying on the owner every day.

If you’re planning your 2026 strategy—or thinking about starting, scaling, or eventually stepping back from your business—this episode will sharpen your thinking fast.

What you’ll hear in this episode:

1. Why Tim Brown is launching Owl Roofing and what he hopes to build
2. Using the One-Page Business Plan to create clarity and direction
3. Storm work vs. retail roofing and how to think about the mix
4. Why being “five-mile-famous” beats spreading marketing thin
5. The two biggest homeowner complaints: communication and clean-up
6. Financing-first selling: why homeowners buy payments, not prices
7. Dave’s three-legged stool framework: Sell Work, Do Work, Keep Score
8. The real risks in roofing: hiring, production handoffs, insurance tightening, and cash flow
9. Building a business that creates options—sell it, step back, or keep it cash flowing

Resources mentioned:

1. Free One-Page Business Plan for Roofing Contractors → https://theroofercoach.com/resources
2. Roofing Success Audit → https://theroofercoach.com/resources
3. Hook Agency → https://hookagency.com

Trusted & Vetted Sponsors:

1. Ruby Receptionists – US-based professionals who answer your phones live, create a great first impression, and tee up the sale so you can focus on running your business.
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3. ProLine – The roofing CRM that sells more jobs and helps you make it home for dinner. Automate follow-up, quoting, and...

As we head into 2026, homeowners are still turning to Google when they need a roofer, and local visibility continues to drive high-quality leads. Many contractors spend money on marketing without understanding how local SEO and Google Maps actually work. In this episode, Dave breaks down the fundamentals of local search, what really drives inbound leads, and how to improve visibility without relying solely on paid ads.

If homeowners can’t find you on Google, you don’t exist.

In this episode, I sit down with local SEO expert Dima Sobovoy to break down how roofing contractors can win more jobs by showing up where it matters most, Google Maps and local search.

We talk about why many roofing websites and SEO campaigns fail, what Google actually looks for when ranking local contractors, and how simple changes can dramatically improve visibility without chasing gimmicks or shortcuts.

This episode is about building a strong local presence that consistently generates qualified leads, not just clicks.

Local SEO isn’t optional for roofing contractors; it’s foundational.

In this episode, Dave Sullivan talks with Dima Sobovoy about what actually drives local rankings for roofers and home service businesses. They break down the common mistakes contractors make with SEO, why “set it and forget it” marketing doesn’t work, and how Google Maps has become one of the most powerful lead sources in local markets.

Dima explains the importance of Google Business Profiles, reviews, proximity, relevance, and consistency, and how contractors can improve their local presence without massive ad budgets. The conversation also covers how SEO fits into a broader business system, so leads don’t go to waste once the phone starts ringing.

If you want more inbound leads from homeowners actively searching for a roofer in your area, this episode lays out the fundamentals you need to understand.

This episode is a replay of a previously published episode of The Roofer Show. We’re bringing it back because the message is especially relevant as contractors plan for 2026.

Original episode: https://theroofershow.com/418

What you’ll hear in this episode:

1. Google Maps visibility is critical for roofing contractors
2. Local SEO drives higher-intent leads than many paid ads
3. Google Business Profiles must be actively managed, not ignored
4. Reviews, consistency, and relevance matter more than tricks
5. SEO only works when paired with strong follow-up systems
6. Long-term local visibility beats short-term marketing hacks

Resources:

Connect with Dave!

Text Dave: (510) 612-1450

Free Strategy Call

Want to grow a more profitable roofing business? Book a free strategy call with Dave here → davesullivan.as.me/free-strategy-call

Free Resource

Download your FREE 1-Page Business Plan for Roofing Contractors → theroofershow.com/plan

Watch on YouTube

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As contractors move through 2025 and begin planning for 2026, many are rethinking the type of work they want to focus on. Residential, commercial, storm work, or a mix of everything — each path comes with tradeoffs that aren’t always obvious. In this episode, Dave walks through the real pros and cons of residential and commercial roofing and explains how to make strategic decisions that reduce chaos and improve profitability.

One of the biggest decisions roofing contractors wrestle with is whether to focus on residential, commercial, or try to do both.

In this episode, I break down the real differences between residential and commercial roofing, the hidden challenges of each, and why trying to do everything often leads to confusion, thin margins, and burnout.

This isn’t about which is “better.”

It’s about choosing the right lane for your business, your goals, and your lifestyle — and building systems that actually support it.

Many roofing contractors believe that doing both residential and commercial work will diversify risk and increase profits — but in reality, it often creates complexity, cash flow problems, and operational strain.

In this episode, Dave Sullivan walks through the pros and cons of residential vs. commercial roofing based on decades of real-world experience. He explains how sales cycles, margins, staffing, systems, and customer expectations differ between the two — and why contractors often underestimate what it takes to run both successfully.

Dave also introduces the idea of focus as a growth strategy, explaining how specialization can improve marketing, operations, profitability, and even business value. The goal isn’t to limit opportunity, it’s to build a business that runs cleanly, predictably, and profitably without constant firefighting.

If you’ve ever felt torn between chasing bigger commercial jobs or sticking with residential work, this episode will help you make a clearer, more confident decision.

This episode is a replay of a previously published episode of The Roofer Show. We’re bringing it back because the message is especially relevant as contractors plan for 2026.

Original episode: https://theroofershow.com/417

What you’ll hear in this episode:

1. Residential and commercial roofing require very different systems
2. Trying to do both often increases complexity and stress
3. Focus leads to better margins and stronger execution
4. Cash flow and sales cycles differ dramatically between markets
5. Specialization improves marketing clarity and positioning
6. The right choice depends on your goals, not industry hype

Resources:

Connect with Dave!

Text Dave: (510) 612-1450

Free Strategy Call

Want to grow a more profitable roofing business? Book a free strategy call with Dave here → davesullivan.as.me/free-strategy-call

Free Resource

Download your FREE 1-Page Business Plan for Roofing Contractors → theroofershow.com/plan

Watch on YouTube

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