Spring is right around the corner, and with it comes the busy working season for roofing business owners. Roofing professionals who are "reopening" after pausing rooftop work during the winter must now quickly scale up their businesses to take advantage of the higher temperatures, sunny weather and longer workdays.

Here are a few tips to help scale up for the busy roofing season, get ahead of the work to come and make the most of these productive months.

Assemble the Right Team

Do you have enough team members for the busy season? Make sure you have a communication strategy to let your employees know you're starting up again. Also, when it comes to scaling up for the busy season, it's important to identify the right time to hire more staff, if needed. Take a look at the number and types of employees you'll need for upcoming projects and hire strategically. Do an early search for roofing materials and be prepared.

Prepare Employees for Reopening

Training is an important part of preparing both existing and new employees for the busy season. Check that every person's training and certifications are up to date. The National Roofing Contractor Association has training programs available online. Today's roofing also employs a great deal of technology, so make sure everyone on the team is trained and comfortable using any company laptops, smartphones and any proprietary roofing apps. Work with Beacon's financing partners at Financeit to provide industry-leading financing for the next project and close more jobs.

Before you begin your first project of the season, go over safety procedures on and off the jobsite and make sure your employees have the right safety equipment, including proper footwear, reflective vests and fall arrest harnesses. Finally, review the employee handbook and discuss any guidelines or procedures you expect team members to follow — particularly sanitation and cleaning procedures related to the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic.

Get Equipment Ready

If you stored away from any roofing business equipment for the winter, it's time to take it out and make sure it is in good working condition for the upcoming season. Do a thorough inventory of all your equipment, and identify any gaps or needs so you can buy or rent new equipment if necessary. In addition, consider compiling a supply of frequently used items, such as tarps, hammers, nailers, shingle removers and caulk guns, so you'll have them on hand.

Review Your Marketing

Now is the time to get the message out to the community that you are reopened and ready to take on new projects. Ramp up your advertising and marketing efforts, including print and digital advertising. Make sure your company's website is up to date and you are promoting your services with the latest information.

When you take time and effort to prepare your team, equipment and company for the ramp-up to the spring and summer seasons, you are setting up your roofing business for your most productive and profitable period of the year.