Selling or retiring from your roofing company
If you've asked yourself how to sell my roofing company, start here: plain answers on what it could be worth, who buys roofers your size, and what to fix first, from people who are not brokers.
What roofing companies sell for
Illustrative estimate- Owner-run, valued on SDE
- 1.9x to 3.2x
- times seller's discretionary earnings
- Managed, valued on EBITDA
- 3x to 6.5x
- times adjusted EBITDA
These two bands are our illustrative ranges, not market prices. The first is for owner-run roofers valued on seller's discretionary earnings (SDE). The second is for larger companies with managers in place, valued on adjusted EBITDA.
Roofing has a real data gap, and we would rather say so. There is no published sold-deal multiple benchmark for roofing companies. BizBuySell only publishes asking prices for roofers: a median of 3.16x SDE on 147 listings, and asking prices run above what businesses actually sell for (in BizBuySell's own HVAC data, sale prices came in at about 92% to 94% of asking). On the larger side, Axial reports letters of intent for roofers at 2.8x to 7.0x EBITDA, and those are offers, not closings. Our SDE band sits below the asking median for that reason.
How we calculate value (engine config 2.0.0).
This is an educational estimate, not an appraisal. RetireFromTrades gives an illustrative range based on what you told us and on general market information. It is not a formal business valuation or appraisal, and it is not an offer to buy your business. We are not a business broker, M&A adviser, CPA, lawyer or financial adviser, and nothing here is legal, tax, accounting or investment advice. Real offers depend on your actual financial records, buyer diligence, deal terms and market conditions, and can be higher or lower than this range. Before you make any decision, talk to a licensed professional. If you ask, we can introduce you to an independent licensed business broker; we do not broker, negotiate or take part in any sale.
The 5 things buyers check first
Buyers pay a multiple on what the business earns in a normal year, and bigger, documented earnings draw more buyers and higher multiples.
Storm and insurance revenue can vanish in a quiet weather year, so buyers average it down and pay more for retail reroof and repair work.
How much the business needs you
If you sell every job and meet every adjuster, a buyer is buying a job, not a company, and will pay less or tie money to an earnout.
Inspection and maintenance agreements that renew each year are revenue a buyer can count on, and buyers pay extra for it.
When one builder, GC or property manager sends a big share of your work, buyers worry it leaves after the sale and cut the price to match.
Who buys roofing companies
Roofing is consolidating fast. Private equity backed roofing platforms went from 17 at the start of 2023 to 56 at the end of 2024, and those platforms bought 106 roofing contractors in 2023 and 134 in 2024. On Roofing Contractor's 2025 Top 100 list, 7 of the top 10 roofers are PE affiliated.
That is the headline. The day to day reality for a company doing $1M to $15M is different. In the IBBA's latest survey, first-time buyers made 46% of Main Street acquisitions and serial entrepreneurs another 32%, and in the lower middle market individuals did 44% of deals with private equity at about one fifth. So the most likely buyer for a company your size is still a person, often with an SBA loan, or a local competitor. See who buys roofing companies for every buyer type side by side.
Every way out, not just a sale to private equity
- Private equity add-onA platform buys you and folds you in.
- Local or regional competitorSomeone who already knows your market.
- Individual buyer with an SBA loanStill the most common buyer at Main Street size.
- Your employeesA foreman, GM or group buys you out over time.
- Your familyA real sale at a fair price, with a plan.
- ESOPAn employee stock plan buys some or all of the company.
- Orderly wind-downFinish the work, sell the equipment, close well.
Roofing guides
What makes a roofing company worth more?
What moves roofing company valuation multiples. The 5 drivers buyers weigh most, the claim practices that kill deals, and 15 red flags with fixes.
Who buys roofing companies?
Private equity roofing companies get the headlines, but most roofers your size sell to individuals and local competitors. Every buyer type, side by side.
Will buyers discount my storm work?
Selling a storm restoration roofing company? How buyers average storm years, what storm work is worth next to retail, and claim practices that end deals.
How do I sell my roofing company, step by step?
How to sell a roofing company in nine steps, from deciding what you want to the handover. Buyers, the LOI, due diligence, closing and what to ask.
How do I get my roofing company ready to sell?
A checklist to prepare your roofing company for sale: books, revenue mix, crews, licenses, customers, fleet and warranties, with what to fix first.
Which add-backs count when I sell my roofing company?
The roofing company add-backs owners miss, the proof buyers ask for, and the ones they throw out. Free add-back finder, no email needed.
SDE or EBITDA, which number will buyers use on my roofing company?
Roofing company SDE vs EBITDA in plain words, with a made-up worked example, what counts as owner pay, and where the line between the two falls.
How long does it take to sell a roofing company?
How long it takes to sell a roofing company, from cleaning up your books years ahead to going to market, due diligence, closing and the handover.
Selling a roofing company by state
- ArizonaRoofing in Arizona
- CaliforniaRoofing in California
- ColoradoRoofing in Colorado
- FloridaRoofing in Florida
- GeorgiaRoofing in Georgia
- IllinoisRoofing in Illinois
- North CarolinaRoofing in North Carolina
- OhioRoofing in Ohio
- PennsylvaniaRoofing in Pennsylvania
- TexasRoofing in Texas
More states are coming as we finish the local research for each one.
Free tools, no email needed
If I sell for $X, what do I actually walk away with?
Net proceeds calculatorHeadline price in, cash at closing, later payments and an after-tax range out.
Is what I would get enough to retire on?
Retirement gap calculatorCompare sale money and savings with what you spend each year, as a range.
Would my business run for a month without me?
Owner dependence testTen trade-specific questions buyers ask, scored, with what to fix first.
What costs can I add back to my profit?
Add-back finderA checklist of common add-backs and how much of each a buyer is likely to accept.
Questions owners ask
How much is my roofing company worth?
Most owner-run roofers are valued at a multiple of seller's discretionary earnings, and larger managed ones on adjusted EBITDA. There is no published sold-deal benchmark for roofing, so any number you see, including ours, is an estimate. Our free calculator gives an illustrative range built from your own answers.
Do roofing companies sell for a multiple of revenue?
Not in any serious way. Two roofers with the same revenue can have very different margins, so buyers price on earnings. Revenue matters as context, mostly how it splits between storm, retail reroof, commercial and new construction work.
Will private equity buy my roofing company?
Maybe, if you are big enough and run without you. Platforms and their add-on companies usually want managers in place and steady earnings. Most companies with under about $1M of earnings sell to individuals or local competitors instead, and that can be a good outcome.
How long does it take to sell a roofing company?
Plan on a year or more from deciding to closing, and two to three years if you want time to fix what lowers your price. The biggest fixes, like stepping out of sales and building retail and maintenance work, take the longest.
Does my roofing license transfer to a buyer?
It depends on the state. Texas has no state roofing license, while California, Florida and Illinois tie the license to a qualifier who must be replaced soon after leaving. Minnesota bars transferring or selling a license. Check with your state board before you list.
Are you a business broker?
No. We do not list, market or sell businesses and we do not negotiate deals. We publish free tools and guides, sell an optional $99 report, and if you ask, we introduce you to an independent licensed broker.
See what your company could be worth
Answer about 20 quick questions and get a free, illustrative range, a readiness score and the things holding your number back. About 5 minutes. No phone number, no sales calls.
Start the free estimateWant to know what it asks first? Read how the roofing company valuation calculator works.
About once a month
What trade businesses are selling for
A plain letter, usually once a month: what buyers are paying attention to, new guides and what changed in our numbers. No sales calls, and we never pass your address to a buyer or broker.