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The Roofer ShowAuthor: Dave Sullivan
If youre 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 industrys 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 theres something here for you. Language: en Genres: Business, Entrepreneurship, Management Contact email: Get it Feed URL: Get it iTunes ID: Get it |
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417: Residential vs. Commercial Roofing: Which Is Best (and Can You Do Both?)
Friday, 26 December, 2025
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/417What you’ll hear in this episode:Residential and commercial roofing require very different systemsTrying to do both often increases complexity and stressFocus leads to better margins and stronger executionCash flow and sales cycles differ dramatically between marketsSpecialization improves marketing clarity and positioningThe right choice depends on your goals, not industry hypeResources:Connect with Dave!Text Dave: (510) 612-1450Free Strategy CallWant to grow a more profitable roofing business? Book a free strategy call with Dave here → davesullivan.as.me/free-strategy-callFree ResourceDownload your FREE 1-Page Business Plan for Roofing Contractors → theroofershow.com/planWatch on YouTubeSubscribe for
