A roofing exit strategy that works

By Jesse Sanchez.

Why contractors planning to sell should think more like buyers.

In the world of roofing, where sweat equity builds businesses, the next chapter — selling the company — often comes with more questions than answers. On this episode of Roofing Road Trips®, Karen Edwards hosted Maven Group’s Dominik Sachsenheimer and Carson Bombara who offered insight into the under-discussed but critical part of the journey: preparing to sell.

What set this conversation apart was not just the growing trend of roofing mergers and acquisitions (M&A), but the way the Maven Group approaches it — from the buyer’s perspective.

Both Dominik and Carson came from the other side of the table. “Carson and I were buyers for many years,” said Dominik. “We asked all the tough questions. We tried to shoot holes in people's stories, so to speak, so we know exactly what they think like and how they evaluate companies.”

That insight is what now drives Maven Group’s success in advising roofing contractors on exit strategies. According to Dominik, the mistake many sellers make is assuming they’re ready to sell without understanding what buyers actually need to see. That’s where deals stall — or fall apart.

“We do try to dig through those [financials] and kind of try to streamline them,” he explained. “You could, let's say, buy a lot of material in one year, but not bill for it until the next year or vice versa. So, your profit and loss statement could be really misleading.”

This disconnect between what contractors think is relevant and what buyers need to know can lead to missed opportunities, mismatched partnerships or undervalued offers. To solve that, Maven Group works months — sometimes years — in advance to help sellers align their goals, clean up financials and present a clear story to potential buyers.

Carson spoke on the stakes. “It's much more complex than selling your home. And it's not a level playing field... The private equity firms or corporate development firms that are sort of representing the buyer, that's really all they do day in and day out.”

For contractors thinking about retirement — or just the next move — the message is clear: Don’t wait for that unexpected offer. Get educated, get prepared and understand the buyer's mindset before stepping into negotiations.

As Carson put it, “It’s really just a positive development in the sense that it gives people more options.”

Read the transcript or Listen to the podcast to learn more about how Maven Group helps roofing contractors navigate one of the most important transitions of their careers!