What happens when your roofing company no longer has to wait for the next big storm to stay busy?

In this episode of the Roofing Success Podcast, Jim Ahlin sits down with Daniel Cloteaux, founder of Cloteaux Roofing & Construction and a third-generation roofer, to talk about building a business that can succeed with or without a hurricane. Daniel shares how combining retail and insurance roofing changed his approach to growth, along with the leadership, hiring, and financial lessons he learned along the way.

In this episode:

• Building a roofing business that doesn’t depend on storms
• Balancing retail and insurance roofing
• Hiring, leadership, and building the right culture
• Lessons from workers’ comp, taxes, and scaling

Connect with John: 
https://cloteauxroofing.com
https://www.facebook.com/CloteauxRoofingandConstruction
https://www.instagram.com/cloteauxroofing

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (324) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
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Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Chapters:
00:00 How to Present Roofing Estimates to Homeowners
01:39 How Daniel Cloteaux Got Started in Roofing
07:33 How to Train Roofing Sales Reps to Inspect Roofs
09:46 How to Build a Better Roofing Sales Process
15:58 What Successful Roofing Sales Reps Do Differently
22:32 Why Rebranding Can Help a Roofing Company Grow
29:03 How to Hire and Lead a Roofing Sales Team
38:04 How to Grow a Roofing Company Without Storms
47:59 Expensive Roofing Business Mistakes to Avoid

What separates an average roofing company from an elite one? John Eggen, COO of Big League Roofers, believes it comes down to understanding. Listen before you speak. Inspect before you recommend. Educate instead of just sell. And make “above and beyond” the standard. In this episode, John and Jim Ahlin talk about building better salespeople, stronger leaders, and processes that help a roofing company grow without losing quality.

John also shares how Big League Roofers is making the shift from insurance to retail, why losing on price isn’t always a loss, and why trust will beat being the cheapest contractor. As John puts it, “Roofs are what we build, but understanding is what we leave behind.”

Connect with John: 
https://bigleagueroofers.com
https://www.facebook.com/bigleagueroofers
https://instagram.com/bigleagueroofers
https://www.youtube.com/@bigleagueroofers

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (323) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roofingsuccess
Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Chapters:
02:18 From Roofing Supplier to Roofing Contractor
03:32 The Biggest Gaps in the Roofing Industry
07:39 If Your Customer Is Wondering, You’re Losing
09:29 Making “Above and Beyond” the Standard
11:59 How to Build High Standards Across Your Team
15:38 What Average Roofing Companies Get Wrong
17:11 Training Roofing Sales Reps to Be Professionals
19:31 Stop Measuring Only the Sale
23:15 The Leadership “Helicopter” View
27:21 How to Lead Without Becoming the Bottleneck
29:28 Turning Field Experience Into Better Processes
32:46 Building a Healthy Owner-COO Relationship
35:58 Making the Shift From Insurance to Retail Roofing
40:03 Building Trust Instead of Selling on Price
43:36 What to Do When You Lose on Price
48:29 A Leadership Lesson Learned the Hard Way
50:58 What the Roofing Industry Needs Right Now

Every roofing company wants to grow, but scaling without standards can turn small problems into big ones.

Jonathan Baldivino started in roofing doing cleanup, worked his way up to installer, and eventually built Roofscapes Northwest. As the company grew, he learned that hard work alone wasn’t enough. He needed clear standards, better systems, the right numbers, and great people.

In this episode, Jonathan and Jim Ahlin talk about building standards your team can actually follow, using data instead of gut feelings, hiring the right people, and knowing when your company is truly ready to scale.

Learn more about Roofscapes Northwest: 
https://www.roofscapesnw.com
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCCtAlgA8Htp_ugQPZ7OCxeA
https://www.instagram.com/roofscapes_nw/
https://www.facebook.com/Roofscapesnw

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (322) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roofingsuccess
Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Chapters:
00:00 From Homeless to Roofing Business Owner
07:50 Turning a Roofing Career Into a Business
12:09 The Early Struggles of Running a Roofing Company
17:30 Building the Right Roofing Team
22:18 Why Roofing Companies Need Clear Standards
30:32 Building Systems to Grow a Roofing Business
37:41 The Marketing Metrics Roofing Companies Should Track
42:19 Why You Need to Say No to the Wrong Customers
47:32 Using Data and KPIs to Make Better Business Decisions
53:10 Systems, Hiring, and Scaling a Roofing Company

How do you build a roofing company that lasts?

For Trey Hostetler, owner of Titan Roofing in Springfield, Ohio, it started with one simple belief. You're either growing or you're dying.

In this conversation, Trey shares his journey from installing roofs to building one of the fastest-growing roofing companies in the country. We talk about leadership, hiring, company culture, mentorship, faith, and the lessons that shaped him along the way.

If you're a roofing company owner looking to build a stronger team, become a better leader, and keep growing no matter what challenges come your way, you'll get a lot from this conversation.

Learn more about Trey and Titan Roofing:
https://commercialroofingtitans.com
https://www.instagram.com/titanroofingllc
https://www.facebook.com/tracroofing
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCli6opyMZXlwjMBYQE93EyA

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (321) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roofingsuccess
Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Chapters:
00:00 Why Great Roofing Companies Are Built on Systems
00:36 Meet Trey Hostetler of Titan Roofing
02:55 From Roofing Installer to Business Owner
07:58 The Opportunity That Changed Everything
09:33 The Entrepreneur Mindset Every Roofer Needs
16:47 Why Coaching and Mentorship Accelerate Growth
24:34 Building a Roofing Company Culture That Lasts
33:58 Hiring Great Roofing Employees and Retaining Them
39:00 AI, Skilled Trades, and the Future of Roofing
42:37 Why Your Company Must Be Worth Following
48:44 Collaboration, Competition, and Long Term Success

What separates roofing companies that keep growing from the ones that struggle when the market changes?

Jacob Vanhorn, CEO of Birdcreek Roofing, shares the systems, leadership principles, and sales strategies that have helped his company navigate both record-breaking storm years and slower retail markets. If you want to build a roofing company that lasts, this episode is packed with practical lessons.

In this episode, you'll learn:
- Why storms expose your processes while slow markets expose your people.
- How to protect profit margins and build a stronger sales team.
- The referral system that helped Birdcreek Roofing become the trusted name in its market.

Connect with Jacob: 
https://www.birdcreekroofing.com
https://www.facebook.com/BirdcreekRoofing
https://www.instagram.com/birdcreekroofing

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (320) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roofingsuccess
Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Chapters:
00:00 Revenue Follows Systems, Not Sales
00:27 The Birdcreek Roofing Growth Story
05:41 How Storms Expose Broken Roofing Systems
11:22 Why Profit Matters More Than Revenue
16:18 Values That Build a Better Roofing Company
32:00 How to Win in a Tough Roofing Market
38:20 Building a Sales Team for Retail Roofing
46:11 Protecting Profit Margins During Slow Markets
52:58 How to Build a Referral Machine That Lasts

What does it take to build a roofing company that thrives without relying on storms?

Stephen Lane of Roughneck Roofing shares how he built a strong retail roofing business by focusing on relationships, community involvement, and delivering an outstanding customer experience.

In this episode, you'll learn:
- How referral partners can create a steady stream of high-quality roofing leads.
- Why customer communication is your biggest competitive advantage.
- The lessons Stephen learned about cash flow, marketing, and growing a business the right way.

Connect with Stephen: 
🌐 https://roughneckroofingllc.com

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (319) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roofingsuccess
Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Chapters:
00:00 Why Marketing Put Roughneck Roofing on the Map
00:29 From Oilfield to Roofing Company Owner
05:41 Cash Flow Lessons Every Roofing Business Must Learn
10:23 How Referral Partners Create Year-Round Roofing Leads
16:35 Community Marketing That Builds a Local Roofing Brand
29:00 The Customer Experience That Wins More Roof Sales
40:04 Why Roofers Lose Sales Through Poor Communication
46:59 Two-Call Close vs. One-Call Close for Roofing Sales
53:23 The Biggest Growth Challenge for Roofing Business Owners

Emily May is the owner of M&M Roofing in Texas. After spending 17 years as a nurse, she took a leap of faith and bought a roofing company with no industry experience. Since then, she has built M&M Roofing by focusing on branding, systems, technology, job costing, and creating an outstanding customer experience.

In this episode, Emily shares what it was really like buying a roofing company with no roofing background, the lessons she learned along the way, and how she continues to grow her business. Whether you are looking to improve your leadership, strengthen your brand, or build a more profitable company, this conversation is packed with practical takeaways.

Connect with Emily: 
https://mandmroofingtexas.com
https://www.facebook.com/p/M-M-Roofing-Texas-100088112251340/
https://www.instagram.com/mandm_roofingtexas/

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (318) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roofingsuccess
Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Chapters:
00:00 How a Nurse Bought a Roofing Company with No Experience
01:00 Why Buying a Small Business Beat Starting One
05:49 Buying a Roofing Company Without Financials or a CRM
10:47 Turning a 30-Year-Old Roofing Company into a Real Business
17:34 Job Costing Mistakes That Kill Roofing Company Profits
27:25 Buying a Commercial Roofing Company Through Acquisition
39:24 Roofing Marketing: How Branding Creates Long-Term Growth
46:20 How to Measure Brand Awareness with Google Search
55:40 What's Next for Emily May & M&M Roofing

Most roofing companies have a story, but Ted Sellers has built something truly different.

In this interview, Ted shares how he went from working in marketing to building Sellers Roofing, one of the few Black-owned, union roofing companies in Minnesota. Along the way, he opens up about the hard lessons that shaped his business, from cash flow struggles and hiring mistakes to finding the right people and building a company that customers trust.

We also talk about what it really means to be a union contractor, how it has helped his team deliver better work, and why focusing on education instead of high-pressure sales has been a big part of his growth.

If you're a roofing company owner looking to build a stronger business, create a better customer experience, and stand out in a competitive market, you'll find plenty of practical lessons in this conversation.

Connect with Ted: 
https://roofingexpertsstpaul.com
https://www.facebook.com/SellersRoofingCompanyNewBrighton
https://www.instagram.com/roofingexpertsstpaul
https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCY5VMUhnAC5BwIpHym7h-2w

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (317) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roofingsuccess
Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Chapters:
00:00 Why People Didn't Trust Me
00:39 Meet Ted Sellers
01:11 From Marketing to Roofing Business Owner
03:47 How Education Became His Best Sales Strategy
07:19 Growing Too Fast & Cash Flow Lessons
14:09 The Business Mistakes Every Contractor Should Avoid
17:30 Building Trust as a Black-Owned Roofing Company
29:08 Why Going Union Changed Everything
52:08 What Success Really Means

Everyone is talking about AI, zero-click searches, and the death of Google Ads. But is that actually what's happening?

In this episode, Jim Ahlin digs into the numbers behind the headlines and explains why Google isn't walking away from advertising anytime soon. More importantly, he shares what roofing companies should be focusing on today to generate more leads, waste less ad spend, and stay competitive as search continues to evolve.

If you're investing in Google Ads, paying an agency, or wondering how AI will impact your marketing, this episode will help you separate the hype from what's really happening.

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (316) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roofingsuccess
Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Join our Roofing Success Skool community: https://www.skool.com/roofing-success/about

Chapters:
00:00 Is AI Killing Google Search?
03:05 Does Google Still Make Money From Ads?
06:26 Are Google Ads Still Worth It for Roofers?
13:22 How AI Is Changing the Roofing Customer Journey
16:34 Why Speed to Lead Matters More Than Ever
19:18 How to Audit Your Google Ads Agency
29:18 How Negative Keywords Lower Your Cost Per Lead
35:32 The Biggest Google Ads Mistakes Roofers Make
44:27 The Future of AI, Google Ads, and Roofing Marketing

Scott Huffman built GSAS Construction Group to nearly $4M in his first full year of roofing, then hit a wall. Hustle got him there, but it couldn't get him further.

Scott shares what broke through the ceiling, from hiring a consultant to turning a 12-page notes doc into real SOPs, plus how his journey from prison to business owner built a company where second chances create top performers.

What you'll learn:
- The weekly sales metrics that finally got reps to buy in (150 doors, 120 cold calls)
- How to spot when you've hit your ceiling as an owner and what to do next
- Hard hiring lessons: friends and family, trust but verify, and right people in right seats

Connect with Scott: 
https://gsasconstructiongroup.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/gsasconstructiongroup
https://www.facebook.com/p/GSAS-Construction-Group-100092974238646/
https://www.instagram.com/gsasconstructiongroup

Listen to the episode on Spotify & Apple Podcasts (315) 👇
🎧 https://roofingpod.com/spotify
🍏 https://roofingpod.com/apple-podcasts

PODCAST SPONSORS: 
- Coast: https://roofingpod.com/Coast
- JobNimbus Marketing: https://roofingpod.com/jobnimbus-marketing-get-started
- Day 41 Thrive: https://roofingpod.com/day-41-thrive

IG: https://www.instagram.com/roofingsuccess/
FB: https://www.facebook.com/groups/roofingsuccess
Join Our Facebook Group: https://roofingpod.com/facebook

📱 Text Jim @ (612) 512-1812 – Say Hi!
💬 Leave Us a Review: https://roofingpod.com/review

Chapters:
0:00 When hustle stops working (cold open)
1:48 From prison to sign language interpreter to roofing
7:04 Starting GSAS
12:54 The hidden costs of running a business
21:19 SOPs: hustle with no reference points
27:28 The sales metrics that finally stuck
39:03 Right people, right seats
46:27 Red flags and trust but verify
50:19 Redemption and second chances