Some folks might be interested in owning and running a roofing franchise as a side hustle or part-time gig. But is that really possible? In the beginning, probably not. But if you follow the right steps to get the business running and up to standards set by the franchisor, you could be on your way to owning a part-time, stress-free business down the road.
Starting a roofing franchise involves several phases, from initial planning to full operation.
Phase 1: Initial Research and Planning
Choose the Best Franchise
The first thing you will need to do is research the local roofing market to learn what the demand, competition, and potential customers are like. You’ll also want to ask questions to the franchise owners you come across, such as:
What is a typical day in the life of a franchise owner?
What kind of training do you provide?
How has your company grown in the past five years?
What costs can I expect when investing in a franchise?
Get Finances and Contracts in Order
It’s also wise to plan for success from an investment standpoint. You will need to secure the necessary capital for franchise fees, equipment, and initial operating expenses.
Your chosen franchise will provide the legal agreement and paperwork to finalize the deal.
Establish a Location and Purchase Equipment
Finding the best location for your roofing franchise’s headquarters is important. Once you have a set location, you can talk to the franchise about securing the required equipment, materials, and tools.
Phase 2: Operating a Roofing Franchise
Take Care of the Legal Side of Things
Once you are a full-fledged franchise owner, you will want to be sure your operation is legal. It’s important to obtain the necessary licenses and permits to operate a roofing business in your area and secure appropriate insurance coverage, including liability and workers' compensation insurance.
Hiring and Training Your New Team
As a new roofing franchise owner, you may or may not have experience in the roofing industry so it’s important to hire team members who have been around the industry for a while. When you choose reliable workers and experienced roofers they’ll be able to show some new crew members the ropes, and they can teach you a thing or two about the roofing industry as well. To make sure your team is knowledgeable in safety protocols and the franchise's operating procedures, you’ll want to provide the best training possible. By partnering with the right franchisor, you as a franchisee will have access to all the training materials your crew will need.
Marketing and Branding Will Bring You Business
Nobody will know about your business unless you introduce your franchise on a bigger scale. You’ll want to develop a marketing plan to establish your brand, create a website, and promote your services. Established franchisors should have these things set in place so you don’t have to start from scratch. It’s worthwhile to use both online (social media) and offline (billboard ad) marketing strategies to reach your potential customers. It comes down to a simple formula–the more places your business is seen, the more customers you’ll gain.
Learn What Your Customers Like
Setting up a system for managing customer inquiries, appointments, and service requests will give you the feedback you need to continue doing what’s working, or improving the things that aren’t going so well. Providing excellent customer service will build trust and loyalty and this increases your chances of getting referred to their friends and family.
Set Up Operations and Quality Control Methods
Implementing processes for project management, quality control, and safety will help you create a strong foundation. Things like these should be provided by your franchisor. Another important point is to make sure that all roofing projects meet industry standards and customer expectations, and let your crew members know what your expectations are.
Make a Profit with Proper Financial Management
Accounting and financial systems for budgeting, invoicing, and expense tracking are beneficial to set up right away; otherwise, you may get stuck backlogging and that will take up time and energy you won’t want to sacrifice. Also, be sure to monitor financial performance, and make necessary adjustments to ensure your hard work and that of your team are making a profit for your business.
Phase 3: The Transition from a Full-Time Job Running a Franchise to a Part-Time Owner
Transitioning from full-time to part-time in your roofing franchise business is a big change that requires careful planning and execution. You can begin the transition by assessing the current state of your business, considering factors like revenue, staff capabilities, and overall operations. During your transitional phase, you can gradually delegate responsibilities to your team and establish clear lines of communication to ensure that tasks are handled efficiently when you’re not around.
If you have a strong management structure, empower your employees, and provide adequate training to guarantee smooth operations, you can pull back your hours without having to worry about the success of your business. Although you won’t be around as much, you should continuously monitor your business's performance and refine your part-time role as needed, focusing on making the right decisions and what the best growth opportunities are.
Growth and Expansion of Your Business
As your roofing franchise becomes established, it's only natural to consider growth opportunities, which may include opening additional locations. However, If you want to move behind the scenes and start working part-time, while your franchise is still full-time, you can still accomplish this by hiring general managers and more staff to handle operations and leadership for these add-ons.
Choose Your Own Hours with an Honest Abe Roofing Franchise
Starting a roofing franchise is a multi-step process that requires careful planning, investment, and full-time dedication, at first. Join Honest Abe Roofing Franchise to choose your own hours and enjoy the freedom of entrepreneurship.