How to Start a Roofing Company in Florida

To start a roofing company in Florida, you need a state roofing contractor license first. That means documented roofing experience, two exams, and an application to the DBPR with proof of insurance. Then you form an LLC, qualify the license under it, and line up workers’ comp, liability coverage and a supplier account. Plan on 4-8 months for the license and $60,000 or more in startup capital.

Demand isn’t the problem. Hurricane season runs June through November and damages thousands of roofs a year, many roofs are past their expected lifespan, and insurers increasingly want roof updates before they’ll renew a policy. The license is the barrier, and it keeps a lot of competition out.

Which Florida roofing contractor license do you need?

There are two kinds, both overseen by the Construction Industry Licensing Board (CILB):

The certified license is the better target. It’s the one that lets you follow storm work across county lines, and it’s what most serious roofing businesses get.

How do you get a roofing contractor license in Florida?

1. Document your experience. You need at least 3 years of roofing experience. That can be work as a roofer under a licensed contractor, supervisory or management roles in roofing, or military roofing experience. Get it in writing from employers and be ready for it to be verified.
2. Pass the Business and Finance exam. It covers accounting, business law, contracts, safety and financial management: 60 questions, 2.5 hours, 70% to pass.
3. Pass the Roofing Contractor trade exam. It covers materials, installation methods, the Florida Building Code, safety and specifications. It’s open-book with approved references, and you need 70% to pass. Each exam costs approximately $79.
4. Apply to the Florida Department of Business and Professional Regulation (DBPR). You’ll submit the application form, proof of experience, fingerprints and a background check ($54), a credit report, financial statements showing financial responsibility, and the application fee ($249-$399).
5. Show proof of insurance. General liability, plus workers’ compensation or an exemption if you’re a sole proprietor with no employees.

The exams are hard. Most people who pass take a prep course ($500-$1,500) and study for 2-4 months. Since the trade exam is open-book, learn to find things fast in the references: the current Florida Building Code, OSHA safety requirements, the NRCA Roofing Manual and manufacturer specifications.

From the start of exam prep to holding the license, figure 4-8 months.

Why form an LLC for a roofing company?

Your crews work at height with heavy materials, and a homeowner whose roof leaks three years after you finished can still sue. An LLC keeps that claim aimed at the business instead of your house. Commercial insurance and equipment financing are also set up around a business entity.

The steps:

1. Choose a name. Check it on Sunbiz, the Florida Division of Corporations site. It must include “LLC.” Pick something that sounds trustworthy, is easy to remember, fits on a truck door and is available as a domain.
2. File Articles of Organization. Online through Sunbiz for $125. Processing takes 2-3 business days.
3. Write an operating agreement. If you have partners, don’t skip this.
4. Get your EIN. It’s free from the IRS at irs.gov.
5. Open a business bank account. A lot of money moves through a roofing company. Keep every job’s money in business accounts.

Once you have the license, register it under the LLC with the DBPR. You submit the business registration form, link your qualifying license to the LLC, and pay the fee.

What insurance does a Florida roofing company need?

Roofing insurance is expensive, and there’s no way around it.

General liability covers damage and injuries to third parties: your crew wrecks a homeowner’s landscaping, a shingle falls on a passerby, your equipment damages the neighbor’s property. The minimum is $300,000 per occurrence, higher for larger contracts, and $1,000,000 per occurrence is the recommended level. New roofing contractors typically pay $3,000-$8,000 a year.

Workers’ compensation is required in Florida for any construction business with one or more employees, and in some cases that includes subcontractors. Because of fall risk, roofing rates run approximately 20-30% of payroll. Sole proprietors with no employees can file for an exemption, and up to 3 corporate officers can exempt themselves. Even so, most commercial and insurance-claim work requires workers’ comp regardless, so an exemption limits the jobs you can take.

Beyond those two, you’ll want commercial auto for the trucks and inland marine coverage for tools, and possibly builder’s risk, an umbrella policy and pollution liability. Some contracts and municipalities also require surety bonds (performance, payment or license bonds). What you pay for a bond depends on your credit and finances.

What equipment do you need?

Open accounts with distributors like ABC Supply, SRS Distribution or local independent suppliers early. You get credit terms (30-60 days), volume pricing, technical support, and priority on materials during storm season, when everyone wants the same shingles.

For labor, many roofing companies run a mix: an in-house core crew for quality control, and licensed, insured subcontractors for overflow. In-house crews mean higher fixed costs and workers’ comp. Subs are flexible, but their quality and permits are still your responsibility.

What local permits and paperwork apply?

You need a local business tax receipt from your county and/or city. Your local tax collector handles it, and it costs $30-$500 depending on where you are.

Every roofing job except minor repairs needs a building permit from the local building department. As the contractor, you pull the permit, schedule inspections, make sure the work meets code and close the permit out properly. Permit fees vary by project value and jurisdiction.

For jobs over $2,500, a Notice of Commencement must be recorded before work starts. It protects lien rights for everyone on the job.

How do roofers price jobs?

The industry measures roofs in squares, and one square covers 100 square feet. Typical installed rates from 2024, which vary by material and complexity:

Homeowners usually get a total project quote, not a per-square price. Build that number from materials (shingles, underlayment, flashing, fasteners, vents), labor (crew rate times estimated hours), equipment and rentals, dumpster fees, overhead, and a profit margin, typically 15-30%.

Storm damage work runs through insurance claims. You’ll meet with adjusters, estimate in Xactimate or similar software, learn how insurers price work, and file supplements when the first approval comes up short. It can pay well, but there’s a lot of paperwork and the money often arrives late.

Where do roofing customers come from?

Start with what’s free. A Google Business Profile and a steady stream of Google reviews drive local search rankings, so ask every happy customer for one. Every job is also an ad: lettered trucks and yard signs bring in neighbors.

After that, add Google Ads for searches like “roof repair near me,” referrals from real estate agents, adjusters and property managers, and door-to-door canvassing after storms (following Florida’s solicitation laws). Getting on an insurer’s preferred contractor list can bring steady referrals. Manufacturer certifications from GAF, CertainTeed, Owens Corning and others add marketing value and extended warranty options.

What has to be renewed and kept current?

Your contractor license renews every two years, with 14 hours of continuing education that includes workplace safety, business practices, workers’ comp, the Florida Building Code, and laws and rules. Your Florida LLC annual report is due by May 1 each year, with a $138.75 fee.

Keep every insurance policy current, since most commercial and insurance-claim work requires a certificate of insurance. Florida strictly enforces workers’ comp in construction. Penalties include stop-work orders, fines of $1,000 per day, and criminal charges for repeat violations.

How much does it cost to start a roofing company in Florida?

Working capital is the line people underfund. You pay for materials and labor before the homeowner or insurer pays you, and insurance jobs can take a long time to pay out.

Mistakes that cost roofers the business

The expensive ones are predictable. Contracting before you’re licensed (Florida enforces this strictly). Carrying too little insurance, when one serious accident can bankrupt you. Running out of cash on long payment cycles. Treating OSHA training as optional. Forgetting that you’re responsible for your subs’ work and compliance. And skipping permits, which creates liability and can stop a property from selling.

Get the LLC ready before the license comes through

The license takes months. The LLC takes days, so there’s no reason to wait on it. IncCraft can file your Articles of Organization, get your EIN and act as your registered agent, so the entity is ready to qualify the day your roofing license arrives.