By Anne Redd, AccuLynx. 

Gain an edge on the competition by winning bids the right way! 

Creating a winning bid for customers on roofing jobs is a surefire way to grow your business. In order to win them though, you have to know your client and the project inside and out. Even when you present a solid bid to a customer, they will still likely turn to your competitors before choosing your company for the job. 

How can you stand out from the competition and secure the winning bid? Below, we’ll share exactly how to bid a roofing job, and the four ways AccuLynx can help. 

How to bid a roofing job 

1. Inspect the roof & note areas of damage. 

2. Generate an accurate roofing measurement. 

3. Calculate the number of roofing squares required. Make sure to account for roof pitch. 

4. Factor in potential waste (typically 10-15%). 

5. Calculate the additional supplies needed to complete the job including vents, nails, labor, and other equipment. 

6. Identify the total cost of the project and your desired margin. 

7. Prepare a formal bid for the homeowner to review. 

8. Close! 

How software can help you bid a roofing job 

Roofing software provides accurate measurements and price projections 

Ensuring your roofing measurements and price projections are up to date and as accurate as possible is one way to help you win more jobs. With software, you no longer have to take estimates by hand, which helps streamline your measurement and estimate process while also leaving less room for human error. 

AccuLynx integrates with two aerial image software providers, Eagleview and SkyMeasure, that can help make your measurements more accurate for your bids. With these integrations, you can order roof measurements directly from AccuLynx, and they will automatically populate your job estimate so that you don’t have to do it manually. 

After you have your accurate measurements, you need to check the supplies necessary for the project. With AccuLynx’s integrations with SRS Distribution and ABC Supply, you can check the availability of specific materials and the prices right from your desktop or mobile device in real-time. This way, you can quickly provide your customers with the most up-to-date cost information and availability throughout the roofing job bid process. 

Roofing software helps you communicate with customers 

When bidding a roofing job, there can be many moving components. You’ll need to communicate with homeowners about timeline, materials, budget and more. Roofing software like AccuLynx improves communication before, during and after a project is completed. It allows roofing contractors to house all customer information in a single database and comes packed with communication tools like automated emails and texting capabilities. 

Roofing software allows you to quickly generate professional estimates and documents 

How long does it take you to turn measurements into an estimate? If the process takes you longer than a few minutes, you’re losing valuable time and potentially the homeowner’s attention. 

After ordering a professional measurement or manually entering this data, AccuLynx allows you to quickly generate a professional, branded estimate. Plus, AccuLynx allows you to immediately collect a digital signature on site or via email, helping you win a roofing job bid. 

Roofing software offers customers easy payment processing and financing options 

Roofing jobs aren’t cheap, and one way to help your customers feel more comfortable about the price is by providing different payment and financing options. You can do this by allowing your customers to pay with card, cash, or check or by providing your customers with the ability to take out loans to help with the cost. 

AccuLynx has two different integrations that can help make payments easier for you and the homeowners. With AccuPay, homeowners can pay for their roofing jobs online, in-person, or over the phone. This process is quick and easy, and it integrates right into your QuickBooks account for easy access. 

With AccuFi, you can provide your homeowners with multiple competitive loan options within minutes. Customers are able to view their project as a monthly payment amount rather than a large, upfront cost. By providing this service, you can help make your roofing jobs more affordable and the price tag less daunting for your customers without eating into your profits. 

Winning the roofing job bid 

Winning the bid is just the start of the project, but it’s important in order to successfully grow your roofing business. By providing fast, accurate estimates, communicating with homeowners throughout the process and providing multiple payment and financing options, you can improve your close rates. See how software like AccuLynx makes learning how to bid a roofing job a much easier process.

Learn more about AccuLynx in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit AccuLynx.com. 

Original article source: AccuLynx

Roofing companies using AccuLynx’s integrated text messaging features experience shorter average sales cycles and project durations.

AccuLynx, the leading provider of all-in-one business management software for roofing contractors, today announced the results of a recent study of its user base, which found that contractors using the company’s integrated text messaging features had a 27% shorter average project duration and a 26% shorter average sales cycle than customers not using the features. The study highlights the impact AccuLynx and its text messaging features can have on a roofing business, accelerating overall job timelines by helping contractors get projects approved faster and reducing production delays.

AccuLynx’s SMS tools, which include two-way and automated messaging capabilities, enable users to connect with team members, customers, insurance adjusters and other vendors through the AccuLynx application instead of their personal cell phone. This way, all messages are automatically logged and stored in the customer job file, keeping information organized and improving visibility into what’s happening with a job.

AccuLynx’s Chief Executive Officer, Mike Stein, said:

"AccuLynx makes it easy for roofing contractors to improve engagement and customer satisfaction through more timely communication. The powerful SMS tools in AccuLynx have been proven to provide significant time savings during the lifecycle of their jobs. Texting through AccuLynx is a simple way for contractors to connect with their customers and team members from the same system they use to run their business.”

About AccuLynx

AccuLynx is the leading provider of cloud-based business management software for roofing contractors. Recognized as a pioneer in the industry, AccuLynx has helped thousands of companies — from rapidly-growing start-ups to multi-location operations — streamline their processes and grow their business. Used by more contractors than any other roofing software, AccuLynx’s simple business management tools include CRM, estimating, production scheduling, project management, aerial measurements, material ordering, photo sharing, payment processing, custom reporting, homeowner financing and more. AccuLynx is a preferred vendor of CertainTeed, GAF and Owens Corning, and has direct integrations with ABC Supply, Beacon Roofing Supply, SRS Distribution, QuickBooks, EagleView Technologies, SkyMeasure by CoreLogic and others. For more information, visit acculynx.com.

By Anne Redd, Acculynx. 

How you can use customer relationship management (CRM) systems to your company’s advantage. 

With only so much time in a day to devote to growing your company, you always want to get the most out of that time. No matter the size of your company, you want to utilize the right technology that will pay off in the long run. Consider investing in customer relationship management (CRM) systems to give your company the boost it needs. 

CRM systems designed for contractors help streamline your tasks and make you more efficient. By incorporating a roofing CRM for contractors into your workflow, you can save time on your day-to-day operations and find ways to grow your company. 

Here are 7 daily tasks that can help you save time right now: 

CRM task 1 - Create estimates using aerial measurements 

Taking measurements by hand can take up a lot of time. Aerial measurements are reported to be 95% accurate and take away the need for manual measuring and entering of information. Instead of having to send someone up on the roof, you can quickly request a report from one of the many aerial measurement companies and have it sent back to you as soon as it is complete. 

Some CRMs for contractors, AccuLynx included, provide integrations with aerial measurement companies like EagleView and SkyMeasure, where you can directly order and receive reports right into your job file. This eliminates any need to jump back and forth between multiple programs and can help you streamline creating estimates and ordering material. 

CRM task 2 - Order your materials directly from your supplier 

Material orders can be a headache, especially with the supply chain delays and material shortages that have continuously occurred since early 2021. You can waste a lot of time going through your distributor’s website, looking for your material or alternatives that could work and manually entering measurements and customer information. 

With AccuLynx, you can automatically upload measurements and easily order materials through either ABC Supply or SRS Distribution without having to leave your AccuLynx account. This eliminates the need to resubmit measurements and helps you create faster, more accurate estimates. A CRM for contractors like AccuLynx helps you dramatically cut down time spent on material ordering. 

CRM task 3 - Request digital signatures 

If the COVID-19 pandemic taught us anything, it was how to conduct business from our homes by interacting virtually with crews and homeowners. Digital tools can help you continue to provide the convenience of virtual service to your customers in a variety of areas, including roofing documentation. 

There are probably many documents passing between you and your homeowners throughout the initial estimation process, some of which require legally binding signatures. By using the SmartDocs feature in AccuLynx, you can create a digital version of any document you have and share it with homeowners through an email or link to request their signature. A copy of the document will then be sent to the customer, and the original file will automatically be saved to their Job File in AccuLynx for easy reference if needed. 

CRM task 4 - Send automatic text message reminders 

Did you know that 83% of customers would like to receive appointment reminders via text? Text messages are an easy way to keep everyone in the loop, no matter where they are. Since everyone has a phone on them almost 24-7, sending a quick reminder can help ensure that a customer’s upcoming appointment is top of mind without the need to play phone tag. 

This doesn’t have to take more time out of your day, either. By automating this type of text message, you won’t have to create a new message every time. Instead, you can set up triggers in your CRM for contractors that will send a text message automatically once the trigger is met — for instance, when a new appointment is scheduled. 

CRM task 5 - Virtually check-in with your crews 

It can be hard to keep track of everything that is happening onsite, especially when you’re in the midst of busy season or have multiple crews working on different jobs. Driving from one job site to another can take a lot of time and doesn’t really allow you to get real-time visibility that you would get if you were on the site throughout the project. 

With the Crew App in AccuLynx, you can have real-time visibility without leaving the office by staying connected to your crews and subcontractors throughout an entire project. In the Crew App, crews can be assigned jobs, view their schedules, access work orders and even get directions to the job sites right from the app. You can also have more visibility about what is happening at a job site by your crews uploading photos, sending messages and utilizing the checklist feature you can create for them ahead of time. 

CRM task 6 - Offer digital payment options 

Everyone loves to get paid, but tracking down payments from customers or doing extensive accounting work for each project can get tiresome and frustrating. AccuLynx came up with a solution by creating AccuPay, a secure payment processing system right in AccuLynx that can help you quickly get paid while providing more payment options for your customers. 

With AccuPay, you can manage all of your payments in one place, without having to go cash checks at the bank. Customers can pay with credit cards, debit cards and e-checks, either in-person, on the phone or online. Once you need to request payment, your customer’s payment information automatically uploads, and you will be notified whenever there is a payment. 

AccuPay also helps to simplify accounting work. You no longer have to transition between different programs or enter payments into multiple places. Instead, our CRM for contractors automatically syncs payments with your QuickBooks account and tracks payment requests right from the Job File. 

CRM task 7 - Manage each job from a centralized location 

Many contractors use spreadsheets to manage everything from lead generation to sales and production. But as your company continues to grow, this process isn’t scalable and can lead to many inaccuracies throughout their business. 

With a CRM for contractors like AccuLynx, everything from a customer’s job estimate to communication that has happened throughout the job, is saved in a customer’s Job File. This file is easily accessible for those who need to view it and helps give you peace of mind knowing that it won’t be lost or accidentally deleted. Not only that, AccuLynx has come up with a new feature, Custom Workflow, which helps you see how the job is progressing right on the homepage of the Job File. 

The #1 CRM for contractors 

AccuLynx is the #1 all-in-one CRM system to help roofing contractors save time, grow their business, and become more profitable. Schedule a custom demo to see how AccuLynx can help your business today. 

Learn more about AccuLynx in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit AccuLynx.com. 

Original article source: AccuLynx

By IKO. 

From measuring roofs to calculating estimates, these roofing contractor apps will help you run your company more efficiently. 

While IKO lists costs for the apps below, and we have made efforts to ensure they are accurate as of January 2021, they are subject to change. IKO does not take responsibility for changing fees or features of the apps. 

While many apps out there are for fun and mindless scrolling, there are some that can be used as helpful tools for managing a business. Roofing contractors lead busy lives, so having handy business software apps can really help organize and manage projects. These apps allow you to check on your staff, get measurements for your projects and even send invoices. 

We know that there’s nothing like real-world experience with apps. That’s why we reached out to Sean Collins from Shield Roofing & Construction LLC to ask which apps he uses and what he likes about them. Sean stresses that apps aren’t just good solutions for small companies. Even larger businesses, like his, can find free and paid app solutions that can help them keep their business running smoothly and efficiently. 

Sean’s favorite apps include JobNimbus, DJI apps, Payzer, TSheets, WhatsApp and CompanyCam. We’ll discuss these apps, and many others, to help you download the best apps for your roofing business. Don’t worry: We cover both roofing apps for both Android and roofing apps for iPhone so that we don’t leave out those with either OS. 

Roofing measuring apps 

The most basic apps a roofer might use daily are those designed to help them calculate a roof’s pitch. While there are many of these apps on the market, most don’t work very well. Sean explained that roofers should look for roofing pitch calculator apps that have been recently updated, as many of them stop working and are abandoned by the publisher. 

If you end up choosing an app that makes the measurement based on the position of your phone (instead of by photos), he suggests that you use a clipboard or another large, steady surface to lay against the shingles and then put the phone on. He has found that this helps him get a more accurate measurement from the apps. 

1 - EagleView 

Cost: Free to download; all measurements cost money. 

OS: Android and iOS 

EagleView creates reports on the roof of any property you like from aerial imagery. There is no need to step onto the roof at all when you use this app. Instead, simply put the address of the property you’re interested in measuring into the app. EagleView has aerial imagery for the majority of the United States and Canada, so you’re unlikely to find a property that it can’t create a report for. The report types that the app can generate include: 

• QuickSquares™: QuickSquares determines roof square footage, predominant pitch and outline. The report is completed quickly and relatively inexpensively, even if there are secondary structures on the property. In the United States, this report costs $18, but the price is subject to change. 

• Premium: Premium includes a 3D diagram of the roof and five aerial images. It also includes a waste calculation table to help you order supplies with minimal waste. The cost for this report depends on the property. The current range in Canada is $30-$75, but that is subject to change. 

The app offers several more reports with unique features, including gutter measurements, walls, roof geometry and more. 

IKO ROOFPRO™ members can get more out of the app for less. You can access the ROOFPRO™ Silver pricing level by merely verifying your IKO ROOFPRO™ membership with EagleView. 

2 - HOVER 

Cost: Free to download; all 3D renderings cost money. 

OS: Android 

IKO’s partner HOVER offers 3D renderings of roofs. You take photos of a roof with your phone, and this app translates them into measurements in a few hours. The process is a bit intensive, as you have to take a photo of every side and corner of the property. However, the results are detailed. The app gives you total roof area in squares, predominant pitch, steepest pitch and siding information. Once you have the report for the property stored in the app, you can virtually add a real shingle product to the roof. 

3 - Roof Pitch Factor 

Cost: Free 

OS: iOS 

Roof Pitch Factor is a great roof measurement app if you need a pitch estimation quickly. You simply stand on the ground and look at the roof through your camera, and the app will estimate the pitch for you in factor and degrees. 

4 - Pitch Gauge© 

Cost: Free, pay to remove ads. 

OS: Android and iOS 

Pitch Gauge is another app that offers a simple and quick pitch estimate. It gives you a factor measurement and not a degree measurement. It includes a calculator and allows you to swap between imperial and metric. You can take a picture of the roof, and it will be saved with the measurements that you can easily reference in the future. As Sean mentioned, be sure you have a flat surface to place your phone on above the shingles. Plus, calibrate the app before you start for the best results. 

Roofing estimate apps 

These apps help you create a roofing estimate or quote. Flexibility and personalization are important here, as every roofing company will provide a slightly different quote to their customer. 

1 - iRoofing 

Cost: Monthly and annual plans, currently starting at $129 per month 

OS: Android and iOS 

First, create an account on the iRoofing website. Then, use your credentials to log into the app. The app can create measurements for a property from satellite or drone images, or from building blueprints. It can then create an estimate for you automatically. You can tell the app how you’d like to price and even offer good, better, best pricing through the app. iRoofing also allows you to virtually add any product to your customer’s house so that they can see how it will look. 

There are some customer relationship management features built into the app as well. In the app, you have the option for customers to sign your contract digitally*, some ability to order materials and some ability to connect with customers after the fact. While it is not as robust as other customer relationship management options, the bidding and estimating aspects of this app are great. 

*Please ensure that digitally signed contracts are legally enforceable in your area before using this feature. 

2 - Contractor Estimate & Invoice 

Cost: Monthly subscription to the publisher (Joist) or QuickBooks Sync 

OS: Android 

While not designed for roofers specifically, the Contractor Estimate & Invoice app could be a useful tool for you. Once you set your estimating preferences in the app, you can easily create quotes for your customers. You can even attach photos directly to the estimate. Once you have completed the work, you can turn the estimate into an invoice and even receive payment through the app. 

The app allows you to export your quote information right to your accounting program for simplicity. 

3 - QuickBooks® 

Cost: Monthly plans, currently starting at $35 per month 

OS: Android and iOS 

QuickBooks is a highly popular accounting software. Its app version has a vast range of useful features for roofers. Primarily, it offers an invoicing system that is robust enough to account for the many different materials you use. You can also offer clients partial invoices to help make payment plans more manageable for you to offer. Customers can pay directly from the invoice. 

QuickBooks also allows you to track mileage and expenses, and even attach receipts. There are some functional complaints about the app, but you can always back yourself up using the desktop version on your laptop. 

Roofing drone apps 

Your roofing drone app should be compatible with the camera that your drone is equipped with or compatible with the drone itself. Sometimes, it makes sense to weigh your app options when choosing the drone or camera that is right for you. While drone footage is useful for roofers, it has to be simple to record and access in order to reduce the time you spend on it. An app can make or break your experience, so choose wisely. 

1 - GoPro app 

Cost: Free to download, in-app purchases, GoPro subscription required. 

OS: Android and iOS 

Sean’s choice for a roofing drone app is the GoPro app. If your drone is equipped with a GoPro camera, you can upload the video to the GoPro app and make the edits you want. If you capture videos of your completed projects to help promote your business, you’ll appreciate the convenience of this app. You can post the edited video right to your website or social media account, making it a convenient option for business owners who don’t want to transfer the footage multiple times. You can still upload it to your desktop and then take the footage where you need from there. You can also operate the camera (but not the drone) from the app. 

2 - DJI apps 

Cost: Free, compatible drone required. 

OS: Android and iOS 

To fly his drone, Sean uses one of the DJI apps. Depending on which drone you use, you may need to use the DJI GO, DJI Pilot, DJI Mimo or DJI Fly app. Each app has a simple user interface that takes the stress out of flying your drone. For example, the DJI GO app has an automated landing and takeoff maneuver, so all you need to do is press a button. And the DJI Mimo tracks the subject that you choose, in this case your roof, to be sure it is always in frame. Others support editing, live streaming, filters and more. 

3 - DroneDeploy 

Cost: Free, compatible drone required. 

OS: Android and iOS 

If you have a DJI app, you can also use the DroneDeploy app. This app automates flight and creates a map from the data that it collects. This automated flight feature is useful for commercial roofers taking images and videos of large roofs. We’d be remiss if we didn’t mention that DroneDeploy has its own app market. Here, you can find apps that will help you share and leverage your footage. 

Roofing photo apps 

Roofers have plenty of use for photo apps, whether you want to show a customer how their roof will look with new shingles or take before and after photos to include in promotions. There is a handful of apps you can consider to help you get the best photos. 

1 - IKO RoofViewer™ 

Cost: Free 

OS: Android and iOS 

IKO’s RoofViewerTM is a simple-to-use tool that can give your customer a glimpse of how a roof will look with a specific IKO roofing product installed. You take a real photo of the home, and the app will let you try on any of the shingle products, so you can see how the other exterior materials will work with the shingle color. The tool is free and is a great tool to help homeowners choose their shingle color. 

2 - CompanyCam 

Cost: Free, in-app purchases. 

OS: Android and iOS 

It’s easy to get overwhelmed with the photos of your work after just a few jobs. CompanyCam allows you to organize photos by job and add notes, keeping you organized. If you need to find photos years later, all you need to do is scroll. The app has unlimited storage. It also supports multiple users, so you can bring issues to other team members’ attention from within the app. Sean prefers CompanyCam because it is convenient and integrates with his favorite app, JobNimbus. It also integrates with other software you might want to use, including DroneDeploy, Contractors Cloud and Salesforce. 

3 - Pic Stitch 

Cost: Free, in-app purchases. 

OS: Android and iOS 

When Sean needs to make small, quick edits and doesn’t want to bother with CompanyCam’s before and after feature, he uses Pic Stitch. It is one of the most popular photo apps of all time because it is simple to use and offers a huge range of features. For roofers, the best feature is probably the app’s ability to very quickly combine before and after photos into one file, so it’s easy to post online. You can add text overlays and filters, and rotate and crop the images as well. 

Customer relationship management apps for roofers 

Customer relationship management is all about closing on leads and providing your customers with a better experience once they have agreed to work with you. Customer relationship management apps should give you and your customers a way to contact one another. Having a record of your communication will help you provide service and reassure your customer that their roofing work is going as planned. Customer relationship management apps usually offer much more than this, bridging into several other kinds of apps. 

1 - JobNimbus 

Cost: Monthly subscription, currently starting at $25 per month. 

OS: Android and iOS 

JobNimbus is Sean’s number one choice for roofing apps overall. He says it, “essentially runs my whole company.” The app is highly customizable, which means there is a lot of setup; but it is efficient once you have it running. It has standout customer relationship management features, including the ability for a customer to check on your job’s progress whenever they want. Sean believes that this is very useful for roofers who are often working on the roof when the homeowner is at work. 

Plus, JobNimbus offers many more functions. With the app, you can collect a lead’s contact information, reach out to them, create an estimate and schedule the job. You can also assign tasks to staff, keep track of the work while your staff is completing it, keep all of your photos and information for the job organized, send your invoice and receive payment. 

Sean loves that JobNimbus syncs up with other apps and software he uses, including CompanyCam, Google Calendar, QuickBooks, EagleView, SalesRabbit and more. 

2- Acculynx 

Cost: To get pricing information, you will have to email Acculynx. 

OS: Android and iOS 

As with JobNimbus, Acculynx offers a huge variety of features designed to support you from the moment you get a lead until the work is done. The lead application programming interface is especially impressive and can automatically import information from your web contact forms. In the app, you can connect with roof measurement apps and create an estimate based on them. Once the customer has signed on, you can directly order materials through the app from ABC Supply if you’re a roofer in the U.S. You can use the app’s calendar to coordinate your delivery and coordinate your staff members’ schedules. You can also track your sales. 

Sean used Acculynx in the past, but found that JobNimbus offered more features he needed for his business and improved integration with other apps he uses. Of course, that doesn’t mean Acculynx can’t be the right solution for you. 

3 - Zoho CRM 

Cost: Free for up to three users or $12/month per user for four or more users. 

OS: Android and iOS 

If you have a dedicated sales team for your roofing business, then you may want to consider using Zoho’s dedicated CRM app. It helps salespeople predict leads, determine which are the best leads and alerts them in real time when a potential customer interacts with the business online whether by opening an email or visiting your website. Unlike other CRM app options, Zoho “gamifies” the sales process to help motivate salespeople and get better results. 

Accounting and payroll apps for roofers 

Payroll and accounting are necessary for every business, and an app can make the process easier for you. 

1 - TSheets 

Cost: Monthly TSheets subscription starting at $10 per month. 

OS: Android and iOS 

TSheets is Sean’s preferred time-tracker app. He asks his staff members to download it, and they can use it to clock in and out of work. If you use the app, you can also change employee shifts, and the app will send them a notification to let them know. If they don’t clock in, the app will let you know with a notification. Plus, the app uses a GPS to confirm the employee’s location. Once the staff member has logged their hours, you can then see how much they’ve worked or how many hours a specific job took. TSheets is a great app to use if you’re trying to track and improve your roofing efficiency. 

Also, TSheets integrates with QuickBooks and other accounting apps. 

2 - QuickBooks 

Cost: Monthly plans, currently starting at $35 per month. 

OS: Android and iOS 

We covered it in the invoicing section above, but the QuickBooks app offers some of the software’s accounting and payroll features as well. 

Small business transaction apps for roofers 

Investing in a point of sale (POS) machine isn’t necessary anymore. Many apps work as phone-based POSs that can allow you to collect payment from your clients in various forms as soon as you’re done their roof. 

1 - Payzer 

Cost: Monthly subscription starting at $60 per month per user. 

OS: Android and iOS 

Sean uses Payzer as his POS because it conveniently allows him to both receive money from his customers and send payments to his employees. While he doesn’t use this feature, Payzer also allows you to schedule your employees and reach out to your customers. Also, the app has a built-in credit tool that you can use to offer your customers financing for their roof replacement or repair. 

2 - Contractor Estimate & Invoice (also called Joist App for Contractors) 

Cost: Monthly subscription to the publisher (Joist) or QuickBooks Sync. 

OS: Android and iOS 

We also mentioned this app in the invoicing list above, but it is worth mentioning that you can collect payments through this app and send the information about it to your other accounting software. 

3 - QuickBooks 

Cost: Monthly plans, currently starting at $35 per month. 

OS: Android and iOS 

We covered it twice above, but it is worth noting that the QuickBooks app can also accept payments. You’ll need the mobile card reader, but once you have it, your payment and accounting process will be more efficient. After the payment, QuickBooks will automatically record the payment in your books. 

4 - Square® Point of Sale 

Cost: App is free, $299 for Square terminal, 2.65% for credit cards, 10 cents per Interac and 3.4% + 15 cents for every time you manually enter a card number. 

OS: Android and iOS 

It is simple, and relatively inexpensive, to collect payments in person with your phone and your Square POS reader. Every credit card is the same rate through Square, and the company handles the fees for disputes for you. In the app, you can always see the rates you’re paying on your dashboard. The app also includes free reporting and analytics and a directory of your customers. 

Apps for roofing business communication 

1 - WhatsApp 

Cost: Free 

OS: Android and iOS 

While not originally intended as a business-specific tool, WhatsApp is a simple and effective option to use to keep in touch with your staff. Sean uses it and says that 90% of his team’s communication is done over the app. The app allows you to send encrypted texts to anyone else who has the app. You can share your other contacts with your employees, send group messages about specific projects and send an identical message to all employees like, “We have a new job for Saturday, let me know if you’re available.” 

2 - Slack 

Cost: Free, two paid versions at $6.67 per month and $12.50 per month with additional features. 

OS: Android and iOS 

This communication app is specifically made for businesses and is a great alternative if you need a solution to send files. Slack allows you to create channels, potentially one for each job. You can add relevant staff to the channel, send files and make calls. You can also direct-message an employee on the app just as you would in WhatsApp. There’s no built-in encryption, but it’s a great replacement for email. 

3 - Facebook Messenger 

Cost: Free 

OS: Android and iOS 

Facebook has some huge advantages in the communication world. It’s completely free and ubiquitous. Everyone you hire will know how to use Facebook, and staying active on your business account can help you respond to customer inquiries in a timelier manner too. However, it could be challenging to keep employees focused when they can be on Facebook while working. Also, Facebook is not encrypted. 

4 - Viber Messenger 

Cost: Credits are required for phone and video, a monthly U.S. subscription is $1.99, or credits can be purchased at various amounts. 

OS: Android and iOS 

There is some business communication that should really be done in voice, not over text messages. Viber is a great secure option for voice and video calls, even in groups, that your team members can have on their phones. It uses end-to-end encryption even for video calls, so you know that your conversation is secure. Plus, the app offers other business features that may be useful for you, including ads and promotional stickers. 

Free roofing apps 

Are you just starting your roofing business and not quite ready to invest in an app subscription yet? Here’s our list of free roofing apps that you may find useful. You can find more details about the specific apps above: 

• Roof Pitch Factor 

• Pitch Gauge 

• IKO RoofViewer™ 

• CompanyCam 

• Pic Stitch 

• WhatsApp 

Learn more about IKO Industries in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit www.iko.com. 

Original article source: IKO

By Anne Redd, AccuLynx. 

How providing financing options to homeowners increases revenue and strengthens relationships with customers. 

Many homeowners want to invest in a new roof project, but are often hesitant due to the high cost. When customers feel like they cannot manage to pay for a roof repair or replacement, they put it off longer than they should. By providing them with financing and payment options, customers are more likely to make an investment in a project from your business. 

Not only that, but by offering financing options, contractors can gain up to 30% more revenue. With AccuLynx, you can offer your customers these features without any extra work on your end. AccuLynx has recently partnered with Acorn Finance, providing AccuLynx users an easy way to help their customers finance their roofing projects. 

Here are four best practices on how to approach financing and electronic payment options during your next roofing sale: 

Best Practice #1: Incorporate financing into your pitch 

When you’re pitching your company and its services, instead of just telling your customers how financing and electronic payment are features within your service, talk to them about how these features can benefit them. By leading with the benefits of financing, you can help homeowners understand how it will help them in the long run. 

For example, when you first bring up the idea of financing their roofing project to a customer, be sure to tell them how they would have access to multiple loan options. These options are broken down into manageable monthly payments without the need to go to the bank or through another service provider. This will help explain how their roofing job can be paid for over time instead of just one big payment, without any extra hassle on their end. By seeing how financing can make their roofing job more affordable, your customer might want to look into upgrades or decide to use more durable materials. 

Best Practice #2: Cut out the middleman 

Typically to apply for financing, contractors or homeowners would have to apply independently to different financing lenders. With AccuLynx, you have access to AccuFi, a simple way to offer your customers financing without having to go to a bank or find a lender. AccuFi cuts out the middleman so you can provide a way for your customers to apply for financing right from the job estimate. 

For example, you can bring up financing and how easy it is to do right from the job estimate. Let your customers know that the application process will take under a minute and without any effect on their credit score. From there, they receive competitive loan options that they can choose from, and funds will be deposited into their accounts quickly after providing lender documentation. 

Best Practice #3: Offer options 

Customers like options, especially when it comes to paying for a big project. Providing flexible payment options to your customers can help you stand out from competitors and win more jobs without any extra charge or paperwork for your staff. 

With AccuLynx’s AccuPay, you can provide multiple options for how your customers can pay for their jobs, including credit cards, debit cards and e-checks. They can even pay online, over the phone or in-person, depending on what is most convenient for them at the time. The process is secure and done through one platform so that there won’t be any transitioning between different systems or reentering of information for you. 

Best Practice #4: Invest in a CRM 

A customer relationship management (CRM) system helps you manage and streamline many areas of your roofing business from start to finish, including how you receive and track payments. Additionally, you can easily track what is happening with a loan by receiving an automated message once your customer is approved and viewing the status right from the main AccuLynx navigation. You can also view a summary of all financing activity in the company and refine the view with filters, such as application date, sales representative and job status. 

Start using financing to win more sales 

Financing helps not only the homeowner but you as well. When customers have more options for funding a roofing project, there will be less possibility of a delay in receiving a payment. By investing in a CRM such as AccuLynx, you won’t have to worry about going through separate companies to offer such a benefit; it all can be done right from your AccuLynx dashboard. Learn more about AccuLynx by setting up a quick demo. 

Learn more about AccuLynx in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit AccuLynx.com. 

Original article source: AccuLynx

AccuLynx will debut new functionality that will provide even more capabilities for roofing contractors

AccuLynx, the leading provider of all-in-one business management software for roofing contractors, today announced it will unveil major updates to its software at the International Roofing Expo in New Orleans, Louisiana, February 1-3, 2022. These updates will provide users with more options for system customization, as well as add new capabilities to the invoicing, labor scheduling and material ordering processes.

AccuLynx's Chief Executive Officer, Mike Stein, said, "As the leading business management software provider for roofing contractors, it's important that our software continuously evolves to support the growing needs of our customers. These most recent updates will give our users even more tools, which will not only improve their experience with AccuLynx but also result in greater time savings."

Additional capabilities will include:

• Organization and editing options for contact records to improve activity tracking and allow for greater flexibility around how users associate contact records to jobs.

• Automated and manual linking of received payments to jobs in order to further streamline the invoicing process.

• The ability to assign multiple crews to a job, and better management of shared assets directly from the job file.

• Product recommendations when browsing SRS Distribution's material catalog to simplify the ordering process.

In addition, AccuLynx will unveil plans for new integrations, including even more options for accessing materials and placing orders to distributors.

About AccuLynx
AccuLynx is the leading provider of cloud-based business management software for roofing contractors. Recognized as a pioneer in the industry, AccuLynx has helped thousands of companies — from rapidly-growing start-ups to multi-location operations — streamline their processes and grow their business. Used by more contractors than any other roofing software, AccuLynx's simple business management tools include CRM, estimating, production scheduling, project management, aerial measurements, material ordering, photo sharing, payment processing, custom reporting, homeowner financing and more. AccuLynx is a preferred vendor of CertainTeed, GAF and Owens Corning, and has direct integrations with ABC Supply, SRS Distribution, QuickBooks, EagleView Technologies, SkyMeasure by CoreLogic and others. For more information, visit acculynx.com.

AccuLynx surpasses SaaS industry guaranteed uptime benchmarks measured by third party infrastructure monitoring providers

AccuLynx, the leading provider of all-in-one business management software for roofing contractors, today announced that its platform exceeded industry standards for SaaS program uptime * over the past twelve months.

AccuLynx surpassed the industry's guaranteed average, establishing our uptime to be among top SaaS providers. AccuLynx's performance is measured by third party cloud infrastructure monitoring providers, New Relic and DataDog, which set industry benchmarks for premium internal network providers.

In addition to exceeding industry standards for the past 12 months, Google's Core Web Vitals report shows that the majority of AccuLynx's pages load in less than 2.5 seconds. By comparison, Core Web Vitals reports that other major roofing software providers only load 20-32% of their pages in under 2.5 seconds, making AccuLynx one of the fastest roofing software providers for page rendering time.

"These results over the last twelve months prove that AccuLynx continues to be the premium software product for the residential roofing industry," said Mike Stein, CEO of AccuLynx. "Meeting the industry standard guidelines for uptime is not enough for us — contractors rely on AccuLynx to manage every aspect of their business. Our software development teams go above and beyond to ensure a consistently reliable experience for our customers."

About AccuLynx
AccuLynx is the leading provider of cloud-based business management software for roofing contractors. Recognized as a pioneer in the industry, AccuLynx has helped thousands of companies—from rapidly-growing start-ups to multi-location operations — streamline their processes and grow their business. Used by more contractors than any other roofing software, AccuLynx's simple business management tools include CRM, estimating, production scheduling, project management, aerial measurements, material ordering, photo sharing, payment processing, custom reporting, homeowner financing, and more. AccuLynx is a preferred vendor of CertainTeed, GAF and Owens Corning, and has direct integrations with SRS Distribution, ABC Supply, QuickBooks, EagleView Technologies, SkyMeasure by CoreLogic and others. For more information, visit acculynx.com.

By HOVER.  

Gold nuggets of advice from the Navigating the Storm Season with HOVER webinar. 

Industry leaders Jason Martin of Island Roofing and Cory Williams from Beaver Home Services share tips and stories about how they use HOVER to handle more claims during storm season in a recent webinar with HOVER.  

The two experienced contractors spoke to how they have used HOVER to streamline their process and save money, ultimately recommending HOVER for the decisiveness that the efficiency of the measurements gives you. 

Topics covered in the webinar: 

• Doing more with less to maintain profits margins when a storm hits. 

• Engaging smarter with carriers throughout the claims process. 

• Building credibility with homeowners. 

Cory and Jason spoke at length about how they use exportable HOVER files like the .esx file readable by Xactimate and the .xml file readable by Acculynx to eliminate manual entry and speed up the process of creating estimates. Simplifying this step means more time for their expert estimators to focus on work others cannot do so the business can run at optimal efficiency. 

“We’re getting estimates pumped out at record speed. It used to be three to four days and now we’re getting them in 24 hours on a regular basis. HOVER has certainly streamlined our process and made everything quicker,” says Cory. 

Island Roofing mandates the use of HOVER on every job because it saves them money in the long run. Jason walked us through his rationale, starting with how much he saves by eliminating unnecessary waste. “The most costly thing you have to do is multiple site visits. We dropped $100K on additional site visits so the value of HOVER in alleviating that cost is unsurpassed,” says Jason.  

He also shared the math on what his team saves by minimizing the need for repeat site visits, stating that by taking photos of the damage and ordering the robust measurement report, the estimators and production specialists have everything they need accessible in one place, every time. 

Both Jason and Cory use HOVER measurements to validate the scope of work in their discussions with adjusters; it enables them to back up the real costs that their companies need to incur to effectively service the damage.  

Cory shared his HOVER report with the adjuster to build a friendly rapport and align on a single source of truth for measurements at the onset. This is especially effective as more carriers begin to use HOVER as well.  

Jason spoke in detail about the importance of the gutter & downspout measurements, elevation detail and length and depth of overhangs in being able to quickly assess the actual cost of a project, which is virtually impossible to get from the other vendors he’s worked with. “There’s nothing more powerful with a carrier than to know that I’m right because of the accuracy of HOVER’s technology. It allows for a much more meaningful conversation,” says Jason. 

Learn more about HOVER in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit Hover.to. 

Original article source: HOVER

By Cass Jacoby, RCS Reporter.  

IRE promises to be one of the biggest events of the year, check out who will be at the expo! 

This year’s International Roofing Expo (IRE) promises many exciting events, products, classes and more. The expo will take place February 1-3 in New Orleans at the Ernest N. Morial Convention Center.  

RoofersCoffeeShop® will be on the beat, sharing information and broadcasting live on YouTube. Additionally, you will find President Heidi J. Ellsworth moderating a panel on how to work with young people who are interested in roofing. The session takes place Tuesday at 7:45 a.m. - 9:15 a.m. CT 

The Coffee Shop will join many great manufacturers, distributors and associations as they share new ideas with roofing contractors. Make sure you stop by our booth, number 249, and visit our RoofersCoffeeShop partners too:  

• ABC Supply Co., Inc. - Booth 1301 

• Angi - Booth 1455 

• A.C.T. Metal Deck Supply - Booth 3037 

• AccuLynx - Booth 637 

• Art Unlimited - Booth 3425 

• ATAS International, Inc. - Booth 3036 

• Beacon Building Products - Booth 231, 325 

• Bitec - Booth 2519 

• Breakthrough Academy - Booth 954 

• Castagra - Booth 2754 

• Cotney Attorneys & Consultants - Booth 2131 

• CertainTeed - Booth 2244 

• Chem Link, Inc. - Booth 2411 

• Duro-Last Roofing, Inc. - Booth 2837 

• DaVinci Roofscapes - Booth 1737 

• DECRA Metal Roofing - Booth 2019 

• Equipter - Booth 1801 

• Estimating Edge - Booth 3505 

• FlashCo - Booth 1845 

• Florida Roofing and Sheet Metal Contractors Association (FRSA) - Booth 3429 

• FiberTite Roofing Systems - Booth 2001  

• GREEN LINK  - Booth 2954 

• Hunter Panels - Booth 1601 

• HOVER - Booth 2719 

• ICP Building Solutions Group / APOC - Booth 1627 

• IB Roof Systems, Inc. - Booth 1325 

• IKO Manufacturing  - Booth 1909 

• Ingage - Booth 755 

• Jobba Trade Technologies - Booth 719 

• JobNimbus - Booth 1319 

• Johns Manville - Booth 1119 

• Karnak - Booth 1113 

• Leister - Booth 1133 

• Leap - Booth 337 

• Malarkey Roofing Products - Booth 2319 

• Metal Roofing Alliance - Booth 3055 

• MARCO Industries - Booth 2647 

• Midwest Roofing Contractors Association - Booth 1360 

• MFM Building Products - Booth 2613 

• National Roofing Contractors Association - Booth 1359, 2119 

• NRCA ROOFPAC - Booth 2119 

• National Women in Roofing - Booth 3523 

• New Tech Machinery - Booth 2901 

• Owens Corning® - Booth 1619 

• OneClick Code - Booth 848 

• PABCO Roofing Products - Booth 2031 

• Polyglass - Booth 1413, 1419 

• Podium - Booth 1655 

• Quarrix Building Products - Booth 1037 

• Roofmaster - Booth 1331 

• Roof Hugger - Booth TBD 

• Roofing Alliance - Booth 2119 

• SOPREMA - Booth 2209 

• SRS Distribution, Inc. - Booth 2437, 2761  

• SkyMeasure™ by CoreLogic® - Booth 636 

• S-5! - Booth 2527 

• SIKA Corporation  - Booth 2401 

• Sherwin-Williams -Booth 1831 

• Sales Transformation Group, Inc. - Booth 746 

• Sashco Inc. - Booth 850 

• TAMKO® Building Products - Booth 3129 

• Titebond/Franklin International - Booth 2748 

• Topps Products - Booth 3439 

• Watts Removal Products  - Booth 1831 

• 4C's Spray Equipment  - Booth 1260 

Don’t miss out, register today for IRE 2022!

By Kathryn Brill, AccuLynx. 

Stop wasting time building all your documents from scratch and use editable estimate templates. 

Every step of the sales process is documented in the roofing business, from getting estimates to drawing up a contract, the paper trail is a huge part of your work. However, this level of documentation is time-consuming. Being able to work quickly without sacrificing accuracy when you are creating so many documents is a sure way to give your business an advantage. Save time by using editable templates for your roofing documentation. Read on for more reasons to start using editable templates within your company. 

1 - Standardized documents 

Every member of your roofing team has their own unique approach to their work. If they’re creating new documents from scratch every time, this might mean that Bob’s estimates look different than Susan’s. And this can make it difficult to capture important customer information and deliver the consistency that homeowners are looking for. 

But with editable roofing templates, all of your team members will be creating documents using the same pre-approved source. Your estimates, contracts, and more will have a consistent look and set of information to fill in. Templates help standardize your documentation so nothing falls through the cracks. 

A roofing software system like AccuLynx can help with the standardization process as well. You can store your editable templates in our cloud-based platform so you and your teams can access them from anywhere. It’s easy to make adjustments to the templates if needed so your documents are always up to date. And every document created is stored in the associated job file, so you always know where your documents are. 

2 - More efficient work 

Creating an estimate, proposal or contract can take up significant time, especially during your busy season. Rather than cutting corners to save time, editable roofing templates allow your business to create professional, accurate documents more efficiently. Documents can be created in minutes with just a few clicks of your mouse. Efficient documentation using templates means time savings throughout the sales process, freeing up hours so you can reach out to more homeowners and pursue more leads. 

With a roofing software system like AccuLynx, you can increase the efficiency of this process even further. SmartDocs allows you to automatically populate your templates with customer information stored elsewhere in AccuLynx, saving you even more time on each document. And since you can access the information in AccuLynx from anywhere, you can build documents while on the go and get them in front of homeowners even if you’re spending all day in the field. 

3 - Consistent professionalism 

Your documents are a key part of how your roofing company is perceived. Professional, well-branded documents go a long way towards impressing potential customers and cementing your reputation as the right roofing company for the job. This is especially important for documents early on in the sales process, such as estimates and proposals. 

Editable roofing estimate templates help ensure that your branding is consistent across all your documents. You can set up each template with your company logo, contact information and colors so that every document you create will automatically include this branding. With templates, it’s easy to guarantee that your estimates, contracts, proposals and other documents will look as professional as possible, every time. 

4 - Better customer service 

Project delays are a major contributor to customer dissatisfaction. In order to deliver outstanding customer service, your roofing business needs to find ways to keep your work moving forward. 

Editable roofing estimate templates will help you get important documents in front of customers more quickly. This will reduce the amount of time it takes to get an approval and help ensure your projects will start on schedule. With AccuLynx, you can email your customers these documents and receive a legally binding electronic signature, speeding up the approval process even further. 

5 - Improved accuracy 

Some human error is an inevitable part of doing business. But when you have to create a document over and over again, it can increase the chances of something going wrong. Templates help you reduce the number of errors in your documentation by removing the need to create each document from scratch. If you put time and effort into building an accurate, comprehensive template, you can have confidence that the documents created using that template will have fewer mistakes. 

Using a roofing software system like AccuLynx can also help improve the accuracy of your documents. With AccuLynx, you can pull in customer information from elsewhere in the system to populate your documents. This eliminates the need for double data entry, another major cause of human error. As long as the customer details stored in the software are accurate, the information in your documents will be accurate as well. 

Creating your documents from scratch every time can make the sales process more challenging than it needs to be. Editable roofing templates for your estimates, contracts and more will help you work more efficiently, deliver better customer service, standardize your processes and produce accurate, professional roofing documents. Try out these 5 free templates to help you get started. 

Learn more about AccuLynx in their RoofersCoffeeShop® Directory or visit AccuLynx.com.

Original article source: AccuLynx