You want to make 100k in roofing sales, right?
You’re thinking about selling roofs for a living, but you’re scared… scared to quit your crappy current job, scared of working on commission and scared of knocking on doors. Am I right?
Don’t do it! You’re too scared.
Quick Summary
- Overcoming Fear: Many individuals are hesitant to enter roofing sales due to fear—fear of leaving a stable job, working on commission, or the prospect of door-to-door sales. The article emphasizes that success in this field requires overcoming these fears, as prospects can sense fear and this affects sales negatively.
- Trust Issues with Employers: Skepticism towards roofing companies that recruit salespeople is common. These companies often make attractive promises about potential earnings, leading to trust issues, especially if they seem too good to be true.
- Reality of Earnings: While some salespeople can earn significant amounts ($50k to $100k) in a few months, many quit due to high expectations and low initial results. The disparity in success rates is notable.
- Importance of Proper Training: The level and quality of training provided by roofing companies vary significantly. Proper preparation and training are crucial for success, and individuals are advised to seek companies that offer comprehensive training programs.
- Door-to-Door Sales Challenges: One of the biggest hurdles is the rejection faced during door-to-door sales. The article suggests reading specific resources to combat the fear associated with this aspect of the job.
- Commission-Based Work: The commission-based structure can be daunting, especially for those who have tried and failed before. However, roofing sales commissions are relatively higher compared to other fields, offering more substantial potential earnings.
- Financial Advances on Commissions: Some roofing companies offer a draw against future commissions, providing some financial stability. Understanding the exact payment structure before starting is essential.
- Sales Skills Over Roofing Knowledge: While knowing about roofing is beneficial, the primary skill needed for success in roofing sales is the ability to sell. Those without natural sales abilities or unwilling to learn might find this career challenging.
- Peer Perception: The fear of entering roofing sales is often exacerbated by friends or family who might view this career move as risky or irrational, adding to the emotional challenge of making such a transition.
- Practical Concerns: Some practical barriers to entry include the inability to afford necessary expenses, like gas, or not owning a vehicle. These logistical concerns are crucial considerations before pursuing a career in roofing sales.
Why? Well, you’re really going to stink in this business if you’re scared. Prospects can smell the fear as soon as they open their door. Sometimes they won’t even open the door after they look through their peep-hole and see your frightened face on the other side.
You’ll go broke. At least you have a steady paycheck right now. It may not be much, but you make enough to pay the bills… barely. You’ve heard the stories about big commission checks, but you’re still scared. Frankly, the thought of working on commission makes you nauseous.
“Can I Make a Living Selling Roofs?”
Here’s a better question… WHY are you so scared?
Here’s my Top 7 list of why people are afraid of roofing sales:
#1 You don’t trust the roofing company recruiting you.
#2 You can’t imagine knocking on doors for a living.
#3 You’ve worked on commission before and failed.
#4 You don’t have any sales training.
#5 Your friends tell you you’re crazy.
#6 You can’t afford the gas to drive around.
#7 You don’t have a vehicle.
Let’s take this list one-by-one.
Some of my answers to these most common fears may surprise you.
#1 You don’t trust the roofing company recruiting you.
This is absolutely the #1 reason why people refuse to get into the business of selling roofs for a living.
Remember, if it sounds too good to be true, it probably is. Roofing companies will make all kinds of claims about how much money you can make when they’re trying to get you in the door.
While it is true that some salespeople make $50k, $75k up to $100k and even more working just 6-7 months out of the year, there’s so many more who quit after two or three weeks of big talk and no results.
With most roofing companies, you might get a couple days of inside training, watch a video or two and then go out knocking with a more experienced salesperson before they cut the strings and see what you’ve got. Some make it just fine, most don’t.
I’m not saying you should give up on the idea of selling roofs for a living if you get that impression with the roofing company recruiting you, I’m just saying that maybe you should look for a different roofing company.
Some companies are a lot better at training and preparing you for success than others. Make a wise choice.
#2 You can’t imagine knocking on doors for a living.
I talk a lot about the rejection you’re bound to face when knocking doors.
There’s a whole category on this website dedicated to it. I suggest you read this article about knocking doors (and this one too) if you think you’re scared of door knocking.
#3 You’ve worked on commission before and failed.
No doubt, straight commission is a tough gig. In some roofing companies, you don’t make a dime until you collect a check.
One reason people fail so often with straight commission jobs is because the commission checks are so small.
Commission checks in roofing sales are large in comparison to most commission sales jobs. Some of the more established roofing companies will give you a draw against your future commissions when you turn in a contract along with the paperwork from the insurance company.
For instance, at some companies, they’ll often allow a draw on the total contract. 4% is the usual draw amount. For instance, if the average contract is $10,000.00, that’s a $400 draw when you bring in a signed contract with the insurance papers. $400 is just the front-end money on a contract.
You should make more when the job is paid in full and all the bills are paid. An average job with average profit will pay about 8%-12% of the total contract. Assuming you make 10% total, you could make another $600 ($400 Draw + $600 Back-End = $1k).
With a $400 draw and another $600 on the back-end, that’s more money than most of you reading this website are currently making in 1 week… and that’s with only selling 1 average job a week with average profit.
These numbers are an illustration only. For exact commission numbers, you should talk to the roofing company and ask them EXACTLY how they’ll pay you… and when they’ll pay you.
#4 You don’t have any sales training.
Unless you’re one of those rare people with a natural sales ability, you’ll want to think long and hard before getting into this business. Roofing sales is about prospecting and selling… not roofing.
Sure, you need to know about roofing and it would certainly help if you had real-life roofing experience, but the primary skill you need is sales skill.
#5, #6 and #7 are covered in Part 2 of “How to make 100k in roofing sales.”
Peace,
Mike
P.S. If you can handle this Top 7 list, this is how to make 100k in roofing sales.
Mike Coday
Mike started selling roofs in '95 while working as a youth pastor at a small church in North Texas. A decade later he transitioned to speaking at industry conferences and training outside sales teams. Today, he works exclusively as the premier consultant to roofing company owners who are driven for growth.
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