What do you do when new customers are hard to find?
High interest rates and a slowing economy are limiting the number of jobs available to bid on. However, savvy entrepreneurs know when and how to find new opportunities; which, for tradesmen, sometimes means expanding the business into new areas.
Over the last few years, many roofing contractors have taken the plunge into solar installation; and it makes a whole lot of sense why. After all, roofing contractors are incredibly qualified for the job and have most of the needed infrastructure already in place.
They also know how to analyze the quality of the roof and determine if it can sustain the weight of solar panels over its remaining life expectancy.
But most importantly, they already have the customers; prior customers who all could potentially be in the market for solar. Those customer lists acquired over the years are extremely valuable. For instance, if you installed my roof and I had a good experience working with you, why wouldn’t I hire you to install solar panels instead of finding another company and HOPING that their handiwork is of a similar quality?
Forbes estimates the average customer conversion rate of existing clients is 60-70%; more than double the rate for a first-time prospect. This alone is strong evidence that expanding your business into solar is a smart move.
If you’re a roofing contractor who has started taking on solar installs–or are thinking about it–there are a few tools you should know about.
Solar Panel Hoists
Most roofers are already familiar with the term “laddervator.” While in a traditional roofing sense they are mainly used to lift shingles to the roof, Safety Hoist Company has developed the industry’s highest quality solar panel hoists. These proven machines have been used by solar installers for years and are the preferred choice for getting panels to the roof, especially since rooftop delivery is neither widely available or safe for the panels.
Safety Hoist’s all-electric models can easily handle 3+ solar panels at a time. Today’s panels vary in size and weight, so carrying them by hand, or even getting them roof delivered, is a recipe for disaster. Using a Safety Hoist to lift these panels to the roof is the safest course of action for your customer’s property, the panels themselves, and your team.
“[Our Safety Hoist] saved us,” Greg Wickes, a director at Econo Air, said at InterSolar 2024 in San Diego, California. “It saved us so much time and made us so much more efficient.”
These tools start at $3,700 and easily pay for themselves in a handful of jobs.
If you’re interested in learning more about solar panel Safety Hoists, click here.
The SteepSlope Scaffold
For jobs on steep residential roofs, especially in the Northeast with solar hot beds like Massachusetts and New Jersey, this new product has been critically acclaimed in the solar industry since its launch in 2023.
The SteepSlope Scaffold allows solar installers to work with more efficiency and safety on steep pitches from 8/12 to 14/12. This system gives you a configurable working platform without damaging the roofing system. After all, you are there to install a solar system, not to cause damage to your customer’s property like you would with roof jacks and cleats.
With the SteepSlope Scaffold, you can create an area to store tools, stage materials & fasteners, and even install from, all while working on those steep pitches.
Whether it’s an asphalt shingle roof, a metal roof, or any other material, you can use this all-new product and increase not just your job efficiency, but the overall quality of your work.
If you’re interested in learning more about the SteepSlope Scaffold, click here.