Roofing startup costs include a truck and trailer or dump trailer, ladders and safety equipment, nail guns and compressors, tear-off tools, insurance (often a large line), licensing and marketing. Materials are usually purchased per job. Track job costing carefully: materials, disposal, labor, and permit fees per roof.
Job costing sheet
| Line | Notes |
|---|---|
| Materials | Squares of shingles, underlayment, flashing |
| Disposal | Dumpster or trailer fees |
| Labor | Crew hours or sub price |
| Permit | Local fee |
| Overhead and profit | Your target margin |
Worked example
A roof measured at 25 squares, with materials priced per square from your supplier, plus disposal, labor and permit, gives a direct cost. Add overhead and profit to set the bid. Always measure or use a measurement report, then add waste for hips and valleys.
Itemized budget
| Line | What it covers | How to get the number |
|---|---|---|
| Trucks and dump trailer | Crew transport and tear-off disposal | Dealer quotes |
| Fall protection | Harnesses, anchors, lifelines, guardrails | Supplier quotes |
| Ladders and hoist | Access and material lifting | Supplier quotes |
| Nail guns and compressors | Installation tools | Supplier quotes |
| Hand tools | Shovels, pry bars, snips | Supply list |
| Insurance | Liability and workers' comp | Agent quotes |
| Licensing and permits | State and local fees | Agency schedules |
| Software | Measurements, estimates, CRM | Monthly plans |
| Website | Projects, inspection form | From $399 plus $30/month Website Care |
Disposal and dumpster costs
Tear-off debris is heavy. Price dumpsters or landfill fees per job, and protect driveways and landscaping with tarps and boards. Magnetic sweepers for nails are a small cost that prevents complaints.
Worked example: costing a reroof
Kim measures the roof (or uses aerial measurement reports), calculates squares including waste for cuts and hips, and lists materials: shingles, underlayment, ice and water barrier where required, starter, ridge cap, flashing, vents and nails. She adds tear-off labor by layers and pitch, disposal, permit, crew labor for installation, equipment and overhead, then margin. She includes a per-sheet price for any rotten decking found after tear-off.
One-time costs
| Item | Your quote |
|---|---|
| Equipment and safety gear | $ ______ |
| Truck and trailer | $ ______ |
| Licensing and bonding | $ ______ |
| Website build and domain | $ ______ |
Monthly costs
| Item | Your quote |
|---|---|
| Insurance | $ ______ / month |
| Fuel | $ ______ / month |
| Disposal | $ ______ / month |
| Marketing | $ ______ / month |
| Software | $ ______ / month |
| Website care | $ ______ / month |
Free tools
Common questions
What is a roofing square?
100 square feet of roof area, the common unit for materials and pricing.
Why is roofing insurance expensive?
Work at height carries higher injury risk.
Should I buy a dump trailer?
It can save disposal costs once you do steady tear-offs.
How much waste should I add?
It depends on roof complexity; simple gable roofs need less than roofs with many hips and valleys.
Sources
Sources checked October 6, 2026. Rules, fees and forms change; confirm details with the agency or provider before you act. This guide is general information, not legal, tax or insurance advice.
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