Most roofing companies talk about growth. Few actually build something sustainable.
In this episode of the Roofing Success Podcast, Nick Branon of Hero Roofing shares how he and his dad started with just $1,700 in 2018 and scaled to a $13 million retail-dominant roofing company before partnering with private equity in 2024.
But this isn’t a “storm-chaser-to-millionaire” story.
It’s a masterclass in relationships, retail discipline, systems, and consistency.
If you’re a residential roofing contractor trying to grow the right way, this episode hits every angle of the Seven Ps framework.
Purpose: Build Something That Lasts
Nick didn’t start Hero Roofing just to sell claims.
He started it to create something meaningful for his family and community.
“My goal is for you to remember me for the next 10 years.”
That mindset shaped everything. Instead of focusing on short-term transactions, Nick focused on building a brand people actually remember.
He tells the story of a customer, Miss Bosco, who comments on every social media post and still keeps a Hero cutting board on her dining table a year after installation. That’s not marketing. That’s relationship equity.
And relationship equity turns into referrals, loyalty, and long-term growth.
Profit: Retail First, Storms as Bonus
Hero Roofing is retail-first. Storms are icing on the cake.
Nick made it clear:
- Retail residential roofing is the bread and butter.
- Storm revenue is a boost, not a foundation.
- You cannot build a sellable business on unpredictable weather.
In years with no major storms, many companies suffer. Nick saw how markets flooded with storm chasers eventually became hyper-competitive and margin-driven.
Instead of panicking, Hero doubled down on:
- Community involvement
- Social media consistency
- Networking masterminds
- Referral partnerships
Retail stability is what made them attractive to private equity. PE firms want predictable revenue, not storm volatility.
If you’re banking on hail to hit your revenue targets, that’s not strategy. That’s gambling.
Product: Be a Roofing Construction Company, Not a Sales Company
Nick draws a sharp line between roofing “sales companies” and roofing construction companies.
“If you just sell claims and replacements, you’re really a sales business. A real roofing company can do everything from the gutter up.”
Hero does:
- Repairs
- Full replacements
- Gutters
- Flashing
- Chimney caps
- Rejuvenation
Repairs are especially powerful.
Most contractors ignore repair work because it’s smaller ticket. Nick sees it differently.
Repairs:
- Build trust
- Generate repeat business
- Convert into full replacements later
- Increase referral volume
He calls it “crumbs turning into cookies.”
And he’s right.
If you can’t sell a repair properly, you likely don’t understand roofing deeply enough to scale.
Promotion: Omnipresence Wins
Hero didn’t grow because of one marketing channel.
They did:
- Door knocking
- Digital marketing
- Yard signs
- Events
- Community sponsorships
- Social media
- SEO
- Radio
- Networking groups
Nick understands the omnipresence rule. It takes multiple impressions before homeowners call.
They might say, “I saw your billboard.”
But in reality, they:
- Heard you on the radio
- Saw your Facebook ads
- Googled your reviews
- Noticed yard signs in the neighborhood
You must look bigger than you are before you become bigger than you are.
Persuasion: Sell the Experience, Not Just the Roof
Nick is blunt about pricing.
Yes, price matters.
But how you make customers feel matters more long term.
The best question he asks homeowners:
“When you replaced your roof 10 years ago, who did it?”
Most can’t remember.
That’s a problem.
Hero builds:
- Gifting processes
- Follow-up systems
- Social engagement
- Structured close-out experiences
They’ve also developed a “Rapid Retail” model for storm homeowners who already have insurance checks in hand.
Instead of arguing over scope, they:
- Provide a clean retail estimate
- Let homeowners manage their claim if they want
- Close jobs quickly
- Protect cash flow
That’s adaptive persuasion. They listened to customer behavior and built a system around it.
People: Community Is a Growth Engine
Nick created a local business mastermind group. Realtors, tree companies, other local businesses.
One realtor alone sends 15+ roofs per year.
That doesn’t happen from Facebook ads.
It happens from intentional relationships.
“It’s the most important part of business.”
If you aren’t embedded in your community, you are replaceable.
Smaller markets especially reward involvement. Sponsoring a local 5K means more than sponsoring a major metro race where no one knows you.
Community marketing compounds.
Operations: Systems Protect You at Scale
Scaling from $1.6M to $13M brought surprises.
Big ones.
- Workers’ comp audits increased dramatically once revenue passed certain thresholds.
- Overhead grew fast.
- Payroll expanded.
- Insurance scrutiny intensified.
Nick emphasizes:
- Master service agreements with subcontractors
- Verifying insurance status regularly
- Clean accounting
- W2 employees over 1099s (especially for valuation)
- Accrual accounting for enterprise readiness
If you want to grow, your backend must mature.
Otherwise growth creates stress instead of freedom.
Prestige: Why Private Equity Came Calling
Nick didn’t chase PE blindly.
He studied it.
Retail stability, clean processes, strong margins, and community reputation made Hero attractive.
Key factors PE looks for:
- Retail-heavy revenue
- Clean financials
- Accrual accounting
- W2 sales team
- Repeatable sales systems
- Leadership team in place
He also negotiated carefully and chose a firm that kept the Hero brand intact.
If you ever want to sell, build your company like it’s already under due diligence.
The Final Lesson: Stay Consistent
Going into 2026, Nick’s advice is simple:
Stay consistent.
- Negotiate supplier pricing
- Tighten operations
- Solve inefficiencies
- Protect standards
- Do not deviate from your sales process
He referenced Kobe Bryant’s consistency in standards. Whether you win or lose, the standard stays the same.
That mindset builds long-term brands.
And long-term brands win.
