How to Get Commercial Roofing Jobs: 11 Secret Methods

You can get commercial roofing jobs through D2D marketing, cold calling, referrals, websites, direct outreach via mail, and multiple other sources. While all of these options are always on the table, utilizing them in the right way is often tricky. Don't worry because we've got the tenets of lead generation and conversions nailed down for you.

In this guide, we'll show you 11 effective ways to get commercial roofing jobs across Illinois and other states. We'll walk you through all the different methods and how you can utilize them to generate commercial roofing leads.

Pre-Requisites to Get Commercial Roofing Jobs

Before you jump off the horse and start looking for commercial jobs, you need to take care of some basic requirements. Here are some things you'll need to get commercial roofing jobs.

1. Commercial Roofing License: According to Illinois state law, you'll need a commercial roofing license to take on projects. You can get this license through the IDFPR after passing the Illinois 105 Roofing Exam. Other states have varying laws about licenses, so please check them out before attempting a roofing project.
2. Building a Brand: Commercial projects are much harder to land than residential projects, mainly because of competition and trustworthiness. You should build your brand authority before attempting to take on commercial projects.
3. Analyze Your Workpower: Commercial buildings and projects come in all shapes and sizes. It's up to you to decide which commercial property lies within your work power. If a project is too extensive for your workforce, you'll either have to up your manpower or skip that project.

 While all three of these pre-requisites are important, having a commercial roofing license is a necessity. You cannot become a commercial roofing contractor without a license. If you want to get your commercial roofing license, join our roofing classes at the Illinois Roofing Institute.

11 Ways to Get Commercial Roofing Jobs

Commercial and residential roofing contractors make over $60,000 per year. However, you'll need to understand the concepts of client attraction to become profitable. We collected the 11 secret and coveted ways to help you get commercial roofing jobs in the US.

1. D2D Market for Roofing Leads

Door-to-Door Marketing (D2D) is one of the oldest ways of getting new commercial roofing leads. In D2D marketing, you go door to door, talk to people, and ask them if they need your services. While D2D marketing has a 2% conversion rate, it still works for physical businesses like roofing.

The direct contact and connection with potential customers build a great relationship. Naturally, your chances of landing that project go through the roof (see what I did there). Another way to make an even greater impact is to look for businesses with dilapidated roofs.

Drive around town, find potential roofs, and knock on the door. Talk to the manager of that establishment and tell them, "I was driving by and I saw this roof needs work." If they're hesitant, offer an inspection or a clear quote for the project. That's usually enough to seal the deal.

2. Cold Calling for Roofing Jobs

Cold calling was once the backbone of every business, and it still is an integral part of the roofing industry. Get numbers from the local phone book and call people. Introduce yourself and the business, ask if they need some roofing work done, and do everything you can to be friendly.

We don't recommend a script for the call because it becomes very robotic. Just make a list of the services and perks you offer, and revise what you want to say. If they're hesitant, tell them you can arrange a free inspection of their roof.

Cold calling is one of the most cost-effective ways to get into commercial roofing. It doesn't take a lot of resources and works like a charm. With the right cold calling strategy, you can get enough commercial work to get your business rolling.

3. Leave Behind Letters

Leave-behind letters are like an upgraded version of door hangers. These are personalized letters with information about what you do and what each person can gain from your service. The letters are designed to help readers understand their roofing needs.

You can target specific businesses with visibly deprecated roofs. Leave Behind Letters increase the chances of commercial client conversions at a minor cost. You can even target potential residential roofing opportunities for maximum coverage.

4. Direct Mail to Potential Customers

Mail plays a crucial part in the marketing of a commercial roofing business. With the right mail, you can connect with your potential client and land a job in less than a week. You only have to design a mail that doesn't look like a roofing sales pitch.

The easiest way to do this is by being direct, to the point, and objectively neutral. List your services, the people you've helped, and ask the reader if they need your services. Another way to do this is "Dedicated Direct Mail."

Look for houses that need roofing work, gutters, or some sort of maintenance. Write a personalized letter that goes over the problems with a specific roof and your solution. This approach makes your efforts more targeted and yields better results for commercial jobs.  

5. Referral Systems for Roofing Business

Referrals are a great way of finding new customers and creating consistent business relationships. There are three ways you can offer referrals:

• Through Customers: Inform your existing customers about the referral bonus. Friends and families of your existing customers are much more likely to hire you than others.
• Complementary Agencies: You can contact different agencies in the construction, design, plumbing, or HVAC fields. You can offer them a bilateral exchange, where you'll refer clients to them and vice versa, in addition to a referral bonus. 

You can also contact property managers for long-term and consistent client contracts. These are more reliable but also much harder to pin down for new contractors.

6. Social Media Accounts

Social media is a free and effective way to build your brand and land good jobs. According to Meltwater's research, 73% of people find leads through social media. Create accounts and pages on Facebook, Instagram, Reddit, Quora, and other forums like Roofing Talk. Talk to people on these forums, post your successes, and explain what you do.

A good social media account attracts new customers. Furthermore, you can run ads using these accounts to attract more clients and boost visibility. It doesn't take much effort, and it's fun for new roofing contractors.

7. Customer Shoutout

Customer shoutout is a social endorsement from past customers. When you finish a job, ask the client or customer if they can post about the job on their Facebook or other social media accounts. It's usually a Facebook review post that lists the user's experience and your contact information.

This is one of the best ways to get referrals from friends and peers. For example, most business owners are often friends with each other on social media. They might see the post of your current customer and contact you via the post for their roofing needs.

8. Forum Engagement (Facebook)

Facebook is one of the most effective ways to build valuable connections in the local market. There are thousands of home renovation, improvement, and repair groups on Facebook. Join and interact in as many groups as you can, offering insight on projects.

Doing this will help you interact with other commercial roofing companies, local roofing contractors, and customers. You can even land jobs if you've already built a good Facebook page for your business. The keyword here is "consistent and effective engagement" to give your profile and business the right visibility.

9. Nextdoor Efforts

Nextdoor is an application for people and companies who want to land gigs in the local market. The application works like Facebook, but offers free advertising and outstanding benefits. You interact with over 100+ million people across the states, including people from your local municipality.

The best part is you won't have to pay a single dime to set up an account. Download the application, sign up using your email, and enter your business details. Make your page presentable and interact with people from your neighborhood on the application.

If someone needs your service, they can contact you directly via the application. It's a great way of breaking into commercial roofing without any costs.

10. Website

In 2025, building a brand is about gaining visibility through words and the internet. Creating a website for your business helps you gain visibility and new clients through organic conversions. You can use different SEO strategies and forum posts to increase the visibility of your website and business.

However, setting up a website is a costly endeavor. For newer roofing businesses, we always recommend focusing on D2D, Social Media, Mail outreach, and other forms of lead generation.

11. Google LSA

Google Local Service Ads (LSA) is an underrated gem that roofers ignore. LSA targets local users searching for your services and generates leads accordingly. These ads show up when someone searches for things like "roofers near me" or "local roofing service."

You can set up LSA easily by creating your account, filling out the relevant contact information, and topping up your ad wallet. You only pay according to the number of people who contact you via your local service ad. Furthermore, you can limit your spending by specifying the number of leads you want in a specific period.

Free Inspections and the Art of Persuasion

Many people ignore free roof inspections because of their hit-or-miss nature. However, free inspections can land you good commercial roofing projects and build long-term connections. There is an upfront investment of time and effort, but there's a high payoff when the customer's roof needs work.

Even if the customer doesn't need roof work, you can still leave behind a business card. It gives the customer a point of contact for future opportunities. You can even contact the customer after 6 or 8 months and offer another free inspection.

The possibilities are limitless, and you won't ever lose from this setup. If you're willing to invest your time, free roofing inspections can land you good commercial and residential jobs.

FAQs on How to Get Commercial Roofing Jobs

How to get roofing clients?

You can get roofing clients through D2D marketing, online presence, referral schemes, direct mail outreach, and applications like Nextdoor. The best way to boost your sales and client value is to diversify your outreach, for example, by using all these methods.

Do you need a license to do commercial roofing in Illinois?

You need an Unlimited Roofing License to become a commercial roofer in Illinois. You can get this license from the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation (IDFPR). To get the license, you need to apply for the exam on the Continental Testing website and pass the exam with a score greater than 70%. 

How can I get roofing leads?

The most effective way to get roofing leads is through referrals, direct outreach, and door-to-door marketing. These methods are cost-effective and require very little input from the roofing contractor. Other less effective, but notable, lead generation methods include cold calling.

What is the best way to market a roofing company?

The best way to market a roofing company is through letters, flyers, local referrals, and social media. Roofing companies have limited operational areas, which makes traditional methods very effective. The important part is to get the right strategy for the right market.

Bottom Line on How to Get Commercial Roofing Jobs

The best way to get commercial roofing jobs is through D2D marketing, social media, referrals, and cold calling. Our favorite setup is combining social media, referrals, and cold calling with free inspections. This gives you direct contact with potential customers and long-term sustainability.

While all of these options work, you'll need to combine them in a unique way to get the best results. Furthermore, you'll need to understand commercial roofing laws, practices, and marketing tactics. Unfortunately, you can't learn these three things even if you have hands-on experience and skills.

At Illinois Roofing Institute, we help you understand all of these concepts and more. You learn client relationship management, laws, and safety protocols. Our post-graduate opportunities help our students make valuable connections in the industry. Join our roofing classes today and make your mark in the roofing industry.