Is roofing quote writing killing your profits? Discover 5 simple fixes to boost your bottom line
Every roofer knows that sinking feeling when the job you thought was a sure win goes to a competitor. Worse, you win the bid but later discover your profit margins are paper-thin. Then come the surprises: material costs creeping up, unplanned extras, and labor hours you didn’t count on. It’s not just frustrating—it’s profit slipping away.
Every roofer has been there—watching a project that seemed profitable on paper turn into a financial drain. Maybe you’ve even second-guessed your pricing, wondering if slashing costs to land the job was worth the headache. But here’s the truth: no business can grow, or even survive, on razor-thin margins and surprise expenses. To thrive, you need a quoting process that protects your profits from the start.
The good news? There are fixes. Solutions that make your quotes work for you, not against you. And they don’t just patch the cracks; they overhaul your entire quoting process. Before we dive into the how, let’s expose where those costly mistakes are hiding. You’ll see what’s draining your profits—and the straightforward steps to stop it.
Underestimating Material Costs
Materials are the foundation of every roofing job—shingles, nails, underlayment. But it’s easy to overlook a small item or underestimate quantities, especially when calculating costs on the fly. Maybe you forget the waste factor or don’t account for the roof’s shape. A roofer I know took on a complex roof, skipped the waste calculation, and ended up paying out of pocket for extra shingles. That was an expensive lesson.
Missing even one detail can quickly turn a job from profitable to painful. Shingles might seem affordable until you need a few more squares. Suddenly, a job that looked solid on paper becomes a nightmare, with rising material costs eating into your margins.
The fix? List every single item—shingles, nails, vents, felt, drip edge—everything. Don’t rely on memory. Add a 10-15% waste factor, especially on roofs with tricky angles or dormers. Prices can jump unexpectedly, so build in a buffer to cover cost spikes, especially on long projects. These steps will protect your profits before the job even starts.
Misjudging Labor Costs
Roofing isn’t just about nails and shingles—it’s about time. And time is often underestimated. Roofers forget how long a tear-off might take or overlook weather delays. Rain, wind, and slow deliveries can push a job past its deadline. Another common mistake? Treating all labor the same. A skilled roofer costs more than a helper, but sometimes they’re lumped together, leading to inaccurate estimates.
Underestimating labor eats away at profits. If a job runs long, the extra money comes from your pocket. Or maybe you have to cut back somewhere else to make up for it, wiping out any margin. No roofer wants to pay skilled workers out of their own paycheck. Labor miscalculations bleed profits, especially when overtime kicks in.
The fix? Break the job into phases—tear-off, installation, clean-up—and estimate the time for each. Consider your crew, and charge more for skilled workers. Keep an eye on overtime, and always pad your estimates by 10-20% for delays. Track labor hours from past jobs to fine-tune your estimates. As you refine your process, your quotes—and your profits—will get sharper.
Failing to Include Overhead in Quotes
Roofers often get tunnel vision when preparing quotes, focusing on materials, labor, and maybe waste, but forgetting the bigger picture. Overhead—the costs that keep your business running—often gets left out. Trucks, tools, insurance, and even office rent are fixed costs, always there whether you take a job or not. But if they’re not included in your quotes, you’re not charging enough.
Missing overhead is like running with one shoe tied—you think you’re moving forward, but you’re stumbling. Without factoring it into each job, you’ll work for less than expected, or worse, lose money without realizing it. A job may look profitable, but once you account for keeping the lights on, maintaining trucks, and covering phones, that “profit” becomes an illusion.
The fix? Get a clear view of your overhead. List everything—rent, gas, trucks, insurance, marketing. Add it up for the year and divide that total by the number of jobs you expect to complete. For example, if you handle 50 jobs a year, spread your overhead across those quotes. Want it even simpler? Use quoting software to automate this process and ensure your quotes consistently cover all costs.
Not Setting a Healthy Profit Margin
Many roofers fall into the trap of lowballing to land jobs. You’ve likely been there—worried a competitor will undercut you, so you shave down your price. It seems smart at first, but when you forget to account for all the costs—materials, labor, overhead—things go south fast. Many roofers don’t even know how to calculate a proper margin that covers everything and still allows for growth.
Winning a job means nothing if it leaves you with scraps. A razor-thin margin can choke your business. When unexpected costs pop up—and they will—you’re left scrambling or cutting corners to make ends meet. At that point, growth isn’t just stalled; survival is at risk. Without a healthy margin, one bad job could take you down.
The fix? Set a target profit margin—20-30% works for many but depends on your market and job type. Once you lock down your material, labor, and overhead costs, add your margin on top. Don’t slash prices just to win jobs. Sell the value you bring, and show homeowners why your work stands out. Try raising your prices gradually and see how customers respond. You might be surprised—most people will pay more for quality when you present the case well.
Vague Job Scope and Lack of Clarity
In the rush to get quotes out the door, roofers sometimes skip important details. You might not want to overwhelm homeowners with a long list, or you assume they know what’s included. That’s where things go wrong. Leave out something crucial, and once work starts, you’re fielding questions like leaks after a storm.
Without clarity, misunderstandings creep in. Homeowners expect one thing, but you didn’t plan for it. Suddenly, you’re doing extra work for free or redoing tasks at your own expense. These disputes don’t just hurt your wallet—they hurt your business. When your quotes leave too much to interpretation, your reputation takes a hit, and referrals dry up fast.
The fix? Be thorough. List everything—materials, project phases (tear-off, install, clean-up), and any additional work like gutter repairs. Make sure homeowners know what’s not included. If they want extras, like skylight fixes, spell out the cost upfront. Add a contingency plan for surprises, like rotting wood or mold, so you can charge for extra work without conflict. Finally, include a clear timeline to avoid disputes over timing. When everyone’s on the same page, your profits stay protected.
Bringing It All Together – Creating Profitable Roofing Quotes
Take a close look at your quoting process. You’ve likely spotted at least one of the mistakes covered here: underestimating materials, letting labor costs run unchecked, skipping overhead, or setting margins too low. Now that you know what’s going wrong, it’s time to fix it. Break down your costs with precision, set firm margins, and leave no room for guesswork. Rework your quotes using these steps to make sure every job turns a profit.
Fixing these issues won’t just save you money—it’ll save you headaches. Clear, detailed quotes lead to fewer disputes with homeowners, making jobs smoother. Accurate quotes protect your margins and allow you to reinvest and grow your business. Every quote becomes a tool—not just to win jobs, but to win jobs that pay. When you stop leaving money on the table, your business runs leaner, stronger, and healthier. Nail your quoting process, and you won’t just survive—you’ll thrive.
READ: The Ultimate Guide to Writing Residential Roofing Quotes That Drive Profit
Conclusion
Small mistakes can quietly drain your profits—underestimating materials, misjudging labor, skipping overhead, setting thin margins, or leaving job scopes vague. But now, you’ve got the tools to fix these issues. With a few key adjustments, you can tighten your quoting process, protect your margins, and eliminate those profit leaks.
The next step? Put these fixes into action. Don’t send out another quote without ensuring it’s rock-solid. Review your process, make necessary adjustments, and start quoting with confidence. When you get it right, your business won’t just grow—it’ll thrive. Take control of your profits now, and see how quickly your roofing business transforms. Start today and make every quote count!
Want to stop leaving money on the table? Check out ProLine’s overview video on YouTube to see how our quoting tools can protect your profits from day one.
Ready to streamline your quoting process and boost profits? Book a demo of ProLine and see how we can help you get the numbers right every time.
Looking for more ways to grow your roofing business? Check out our guide to the 8 best roofing CRMs and find out which tools can help you save time and increase profitability.
