Tax credits, incentives and roofing growth: Turning policy Into opportunity

RCS Influencer Will Lorenz explains how roofing contractors can leverage tax incentives and industry advocacy efforts to help building owners invest in their properties while creating new opportunities for business growth.

Editor's note: The following is the transcript of a live interview with Will Lorenz of General Coatings. You can read the interview below, listen to the podcast or watch the recording.

Emma Richardson: Hi everyone, I'm Emma Richardson here with RoofersCoffeeShop.com and I'm chatting with Will Lorenz of General Coatings. Will, how are you?

Will Lorenz: Wonderful, beautiful day today.

Emma Richardson: Glad to hear it. Well, today we're talking about the RoofersCoffeeShop September Influencer topic, which is tax policy credits and growth opportunities. Any wisdom you want to share with the people, Will?

Will Lorenz: Yeah, I'd like to say that our industry organizations such as the NRCA, ARCA and RCAT in Texas and Western States and MRCA do great jobs getting in front of state and federal legislatures to get the best tax policies for roofers. And one of the things they try and do is get incentives for people to invest into their buildings, whether it's a big bill or a local ordinance or state law that can incentivize people to either add insulation, renew their roofs or upgrade the weatherability of the roof. Our organizations are doing a great job there for trying to get investment opportunities for the building owners and hence work for you as a roofer.

So you should be aware of it and take advantage of it. Take advantage of it by contacting your customers, telling them how they could expense this roof this year, helping out their tax policies and returns, or, you know, maybe next year they can put it in there when they see a better cash flow. But the real opportunity is that you should be aware of the incentives that can build your business and give you an opportunity to grow where a building owner might think, well, the roof's not leaking, I don't see any need to upgrade today. But oh, now there's a tax policy that I'm aware of from you, my roofing consultant, my roofing partner.
And now I can make that investment because the return helps me out in managing my core business.

Emma Richardson: I think that's a wonderful point about making sure you're talking to experts and seeing what's available to you. They're there to help you. There's organizations and folks working for you to make this a little easier.

Will Lorenz: Absolutely. It's best to recognize the fact that we are working with organizations that have the interest in growing roofing, protecting roofing and helping the workers and customers get the best benefits out of great roofing systems.

Emma Richardson: Awesome. Will, thanks so much for your time and we'll catch you next month for October's topic.