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“Because your company is only as STRONG as you are.”
Forward-thinking roofers tune in to get help building STRONG companies, sales teams, leaders, systems, marketing, relationships, culture, and financials.
Whether you own a own a roofing company, manage one, or sell roofs - subscribe to the channel for content that will help you:
1) Close even more roofing sales.
2) Adapt to new roofing industry trends and changes.
3) Take control of your roofing marketing and lead generation.
4) Improve D2D roofing sales.
5) Build the roofing company of tomorrow.
Hosted by Adam Bensman
- Started in D2D roofing sales in 2011
- Former Roofing Company COO (multi-state)
- Creator of the Roof Strategist Sales System (used nationwide for retail + storm)
- Founder of The Roofing STRONG Alliance by TAMKO™ (formerly known as the Roofing & Solar Reform Alliance)
- Author of the #1 Best-Selling Book: The Roofing Sales Survival Guide: Beat the Odds, Overcome Yourself, and Win Big
Content produced on or before 5/13/26 was previously produced by The Roof Strategist, TAMKO makes no representations or warranties regarding the content.
So is roofing sales a good career?
Maybe you found out about
roofing sales through a friend.
You saw an ad online, or you stumbled
on these videos right here on YouTube
or the podcast, and you start wondering
yourself, is this business for me?
Is roofing sales a good career?
Is it a good job?
What are the pros?
What are the cons, and
what should I expect?
Well, that's what I'm gonna cover in this
video, and I also made this video for the
folks who might be questioning whether
or not they're in the right business.
And I wanna highlight these pros
and cons to help you decide.
So join me all the way through to the end
and you will leave this video knowing,
is Roofing sales a good career for you?
Let's get to it.
First, a quick welcome or welcome
back, Adam Mesman here, the roof
strategist and everything I do here
on my channel is designed to help you
and your team smash your income goal.
And give every customer
an amazing experience.
And lately I've been hearing
folks at, uh, training events.
In fact, I was just out in Tulsa,
Oklahoma, and I had someone come up
and say, Hey, Adam, I got into the
business because of your videos.
They, they found them on YouTube, ended
up landing a career with a company.
They're super happy and making incredible
money, life-changing opportunities.
I had another.
Gentleman out in Dallas, Texas come
up to me and say the same thing.
He made the leap, ends up increasing
his income and is super, super
happy, but it's not for everybody.
So I wanna start right before
we get into the pros and cons.
I'm gonna actually start on
the cons and the negatives.
I wanna share with you just
my really quick version of my
story, finding the business.
I drank the Kool-Aid that.
Many of us are, are told this
like poisonous lie, do what
you're passionate about in life.
You'll make money and be happy.
And that's garbage.
And in fact, I ended up doing that.
I, I went to massage therapy school
because I was into natural medicine.
That was my passion.
I had experienced this modality that
changed my life, life and I, I wanted
to give that gift to other people.
So I go to this school.
I become licensed massage therapists.
I study various modalities like core
synchronism and radionics polarity
therapy, reflexology, some herbalism,
and even colon hydrotherapy.
Yeah, close your eyes.
Use your imagination.
And that's exactly it.
And I ended up starting a private
practice, which is really easy
until I was missing one thing.
Clients, which meant I
wasn't making any money.
So to make ends meet, I get a job at a
massage therapy Franci franchise, and
I was earning under $20,000 a year.
I'd have to be on site for
a six hour shift, but I was
only paid if I was booked.
And despite the fact that this massage
therapy franchise was raking in all
this money per massage, I was only paid.
15 bucks a massage.
And I didn't always get tips
cuz not everyone tipped.
So I could work for six hours, have
a 45 minute commute each way and
walk outta there with 30 bucks.
And I was living on $4 and
20 cents a day in groceries.
I never went out to eat.
And my breaking point
was a family holiday.
It was Easter.
I couldn't afford gas to drive
the two hours to see my family.
Had asked my mom for money and
on that drive-in is what sent me
here, called my mom to say thanks.
My stepdad Ron picked up the phone
and my parents divorced later in life.
So I didn't really know a whole lot about
what Ron did or the earning potential I.
And Rod says to me, Adam, if you're
looking to make a change, you know you
can make a hundred thousand dollars
a year selling roofs door to door.
And I sit there and I
was like selling roofs.
I dunno anything about roofs, I dunno
anything about sales door to door.
That sounds miserable.
So I brushed it off and before you
know it, I had four hours around
drip time to rethink things.
And I was like, well, I have two choices.
I can either keep going down
this poverty avenue path.
Or I can jump into a career path
that has higher earning potential,
apply myself and make life changing
money, which one do I choose?
And of course, I, I chose this route.
I jumped on Craigslist.
This was in 2011.
Found the, the company that
aligned with my values.
And very quickly in my first eight
months, smashed my income goal.
Made my first six figures, blew my
income goal outta the water by 40%.
So I made 140% of what I set out to make.
I climbed the ranks through the company.
Filled virtually every role except
accounting and installation, and
became chief operating officer
of a company operating in five
states and six cities at the time.
And today, now I've taken all this
knowledge and I've started this
YouTube channel, the Roof Strategist.
Uh, I have a sales system and
sales training being used by many,
many thousands across America.
In fact, it's used in every state
in the US for most storm and retail.
Um, it's even used in Canada,
Australia, and even Sweden.
And I've had an opportunity to
become Owens Corning's official sales
training partner and speak at events.
All across the United States
and train tens of thousands of
roofing salespeople just like you.
And I wouldn't be here without
first starting in, in a bad
place and in the trenches.
And when I say in the trenches, I mean
in that place of worrying how far I
can drive before I need to, to get gas.
Wondering whether or not I can.
Go out to, to see some friends cuz
I can't afford to get there, having
to figure out how to talk my way
out of invitations and people invite
me to eat cuz I couldn't afford it,
to now being able to eat whatever I
want, anywhere I want at any point.
And, and it's even just that little
thing has just been life changing,
but this industry isn't for everybody.
So now that you know my story,
I just wanna share with you the
cons of, of the roofing industry
and then we'll hit the pros.
So let's start with the
cons, uh, con number one.
Is that you will be your own worst enemy.
Uh, in fact, in roofing sales we're
challenged in ways that we just won't
ever have to face in like a cubicle job.
Uh, I was someone who was thin
skinned, sensitive, and didn't like
conflict and I had to face that
head on and it was scary and it was
hard and it was not comfortable.
So that's con number one.
And again, some of these cons you
might be hearing, that's not a comment.
That's a great thing.
And I know, but it was, it was a
pro for me, but it's a con for many.
Uh, number two is this business.
It, it's not consistent.
So if you're someone that, that
needs or wants like this amount of
pay each and every week, you're not
gonna get that in roofing sales.
Your income comes like this and
we'll get to the pros, but those
spikes can be really significant.
So if you're someone that really wants
that consistency, This isn't for you.
All right.
Number three, benefits are really rare,
so some companies are beginning to
offer it, but if you're someone that's
like, I need that benefits plan, the
health insurance, whatever, you're not
likely gonna get it in roofing sales.
Again, some companies are, and I don't
wanna deter you, you should still ask.
There are trends that are changing
and, and some of the more established
companies are in fact offering this.
But the good news is to the cons, teaser,
alert with the amount of money you earn.
If a benefits package is worth like
five grand, it's a drop in a bucket
when you can just get started.
All right, next con number four.
Is finding the right
company can be really tough.
Uh, not for everybody.
Like for me, I, I found the right company.
I stayed there the whole time
until I came on this side.
But for some folks, they jump
in and they find that it's
just not a good culture fit.
So don't be afraid if
you're not in the right fit.
Like watch this video up here, how
to choose the right roofing company.
We'll put a link to that up
in the top of this video.
So take a peek there.
But, um, sometimes people don't have
great success out of the gate, but you
can always switch companies and good
folks are always, always, always hiring.
All right.
Number five.
Roofing sales is not for everybody.
If it was this easy to make a hundred
to $300,000 in your very first year with
no experience, everybody would do it.
And there's five profile
traits that I look for.
Hustler.
Thick skinned, persuasive,
persistent, and confident.
Those are the five that I look for.
And I was not someone
that was thick skinned.
Um, I needed some very deep inner
work to, to get to that point.
So you need to either have those or
be very willing to develop those.
And if you don't fit that it, it's
not gonna be a, a good fit for you.
All right, con number six.
This is a scary one where I might send
some people running for the hills.
Uh, about 66% in my estimation.
66% of roofing salespeople in their very
first year either quit or get fired.
Yeah.
Two thirds of people don't make it in
their first year and before you start
running for the hills, if you're some,
the, the main reasons are, number
one, they weren't prepared mentally.
So the, like, the, they, again,
being, bringing back to con number
one, facing your own enemy, being
your own enemy, facing your own inner
demons, that scares people away.
Uh, number two, they're not prepared for
success, both mentally and tactically.
So if you're watching this
YouTube channel, you're like,
Leagues ahead of everybody else
cuz you're investing in yourself.
And again, the the company's
support is the third element.
So if you can find the right company,
if you know that you're gonna be
facing your own inner demons, and
if you know that, hey, I, I can get
access to these tactics and strategies
here on this YouTube channel.
If you're interested in my
program, by the way, we have an
app, uh, uh, package for reps.
Maybe the company you're using
is already using my program.
You can ask during the interview, but
there's details in the description
below, um, as well for you to check out.
All right.
And then number seven is a big mindset
shift is required to be successful
in this business where you have to
think like a business owner and not
like an employee or a salesperson.
Why?
Because as a business owner, you're
making different decisions cuz you're
kind of writing your own checks,
you're in charge of your own income.
You may be making investments in
yourself, whether it's through training,
investing time, like here on YouTube
or on other resources or in programs.
Again, my sales systems
available beneath, below.
You're investing in,
in, in resources like.
Tools.
Mean tools meaning like tape measure,
clipboard, ladder, your vehicle setting
your vehicle up is like a little office.
So you do have to think more like
a business owner than an employee.
So those are kinda the seven
cons for, uh, for this career.
And now I'm gonna move into the pros.
And I do recommend, by the way, if
you're selling it like her this,
you're like, it's not for me.
Just listen all the way through.
Because some of these cons aren't
cons for some, and some of these pros
like drown the cons out and you're
like, okay, this is totally for me.
So pro number one is my favorite.
You get to set your own pay.
I know it sounds crazy.
You get to set your own pay.
And one of the first things I do with,
with new hires, and it's what I do
in my training program by the way, my
sales system, uh, below is every sales
rep is gonna get a daily sales plan.
So you're gonna literally
enter in your income goal.
I wanna make exactly this much.
And it removes all the mysteries so
you know exactly what you need to do
without the guest worker just trying
to work hard and hope it happens.
Telling you exactly what to do every day,
how to generate your leads, what to do,
the marketing material to use, all the
touches you need, everything is in there.
So when you get to set your own
pay, like the sky's the limit.
And there are roofing sales
reps that have, well, that
leads me to pro number two.
Earning crazy amounts of money.
And I, I, I write in my, in my head,
unreal amounts of money in roofing sales.
That's like the, the mantra that plays
in my mind, unreal amounts of money.
Why?
What other industry can you come in
as a first year sales rep and make a
hundred grand, 200 grand or 300 grand?
And I just trained a 21 year old,
excuse me, he just turned 22.
He just made a quarter
million dollars last year, his
second year in the business.
And the first year, I think
he made just under 200.
I've had another gentleman
that, uh, jumped on board and
using my system made 185,000.
But then sold a massive property that
was another 120,000 on top of it.
So the earning potential is truly,
truly unreal, which is the second
pro, which again, washes out to
me like benefits not being rare.
Not being consistent.
Who cares?
You made 300 grand, you know, um, you
don't, you don't have that stability.
Who cares?
You wanna go buy benefits plan, buy a
better one, cuz now you can afford it.
Uh, it, it, it, the, the.
The money aspect does solve a lot of
the con problems, but not all, but some.
All right, uh, number three is how
fast you can get started and how fast
you can start experiencing success.
Again, your first year, not everyone's
gonna have those wild results, but
in my opinion, if you're, if you're
a good fit and really working a
good system and actually gonna work
every day, there's no reason you
should not earn a hundred thousand.
And at minimum, it's not guaranteed.
I wanna get that crystal clear, but in my
opinion, if you're actually working and
you're working a system disciplined in
the pursuit, you would, you, you, you've
gotta be doing at least six figures.
You have to be.
And if you're not, there's
one or two reasons why.
Number one, you're not working.
And, and you're just being lazy.
You're not putting in a time,
or number two, you're just like
kind of, you're doing it with
like one foot in, one foot out.
Like I'll do a little bit, not a lot.
Like, you just gotta go all in.
You go all in, you're
gonna kill it all right?
Uh, number four is doing the fast
paced nature of this business.
How fast you get results.
The whole industry is fast paced.
Like you are bouncing from
appointment to appointment.
You are fielding phone calls
and, and for some people they're
like, whoa, pump the brakes, bud.
I don't want fast paced.
I want smooth, steady.
It's slow and easy.
And if that's, you don't
get into this business.
But if you're someone who likes a fast
paced environment, bam, bam, boom,
always rocking and rolling and moving,
you're gonna love this business cuz
it is no shortage of of fast paced.
Super fun.
Alright, number five is
that there's no cubicle.
So for people that have come from
an office job and they're like tired
of sitting in an office like I am
in my little office chair here.
Because now I kind of have an
office job, and it's the part
that I struggle with these days.
I loved being out at customer's homes,
on the road, on roof, seeing new places,
seeing new scenery, being outside,
which again, some people are like, I
don't wanna be outside, i's hot here.
I loved it.
I loved it.
I loved it.
There was nothing more enjoyable than
like, Not having an office and just
being out in the great outdoors on
people's roofs and plus seeing the
world from roofs is like really cool.
All right, number six is this
industry is totally addicting.
You get to set your own pay, you
get unreal amounts of money and,
and because it's fast paced, it is
like boom, boom, boom, boom, boom.
So instead, in the past, and remember as a
massage therapist, I've watched the clock
tick, tick, tick, tick in like slow motion
and be like, when's the day over please.
And in roofing sales, I never felt that.
It was, I, I, I feel like at the end
of the day, I was wishing that there
was more time because I knew that
if I could just do this a little bit
more, I'd earn more money and I'd
advance and I'd learn these new skills.
And at like nine o'clock at night,
I'm like, I wish there was more time.
So if that kind of ex thing excites
you, you're, you're gonna love it.
And I've saved the best for last,
which is tip number se, or excuse me.
Pro number seven, which is that roofing
sales is personal development in disguise.
I repeat roofing sales is
personal development in disguise.
If you're someone who loves self-help
books, who loves being the best version
of you, you're going to love roofing
sales because the byproduct of bettering
yourself, whether it's your mindset,
Your discipline, your focus, your
organization, your sales skills, your
communication skills, your conflict
management skills, how you plan your
day, all of those pieces, when you get
better, what follows is your income.
So you get better here and
then your income follows.
So think of it like gamifying your
personal growth, but then the, the
like reward instead of like a trophy
is like a whole bunch of money.
And when we talk about money, I
look at money as a thank you note.
Cause in this business, customers,
when you do a good job, will literally
say, thank you for serving me.
Thank you for helping me.
Thank you for taking the time
to explain all of this to me.
Thank you for helping
me make a big decision.
Thank you for helping
me solve this problem.
Thanks for helping me get my roof done.
Thank you.
And they're handing you a $20,000 check,
which have you ever had in a salary job?
A boss that says thank you.
Every single time your
direct deposit comes in.
My guess is probably not.
And in roofing sales, I look
at this as collecting thank you
notes as of being of service.
So there you have it all the
cons of the roofing business.
And then right next to it, all the pros.
And to me, the pros outweigh the cons.
And specifically number seven is
that roofing sales is personal
development in disguise, which is
my deepest love for this business.
And I hope this video helped you
determine whether or not roofing
sales is a good career for you.
Cause that's all that matters.
It doesn't matter.
It's a good.
Career for anyone else.
What matters is it's a good career for
you and I hope this helps you prepare
your mind, get your tactics set and
help you blow it outta the water so
you can smash your income goal and give
every customer an amazing experience.
And if you are new to this whole thing,
uh, jump inside my free training center.
There's a link below.
Or maybe consider it taking a
peek at my programs to get a sales
system and a daily plan just for
you with all the material you need.
Self-generate your own leads
and close deals confidently.
And, um, I hope you're wildly successful
and if you choose that this roofing is
business isn't for you, that's also a win.
Uh, now just cuz our time here
is about to wrap up doesn't
mean your and my time has to.
So again, jump in the free training
center right here and there's a
playlist inside that you're gonna love.
It's specifically for new roofing sales.
Be able says start here.
You'll see it and hop in there.
And if you wanna hang with me
on YouTube, hop right here and
I'll see you on the next one.