There is a movement in the roofing industry to change how we recruit and train our workforce.  With the shortage of skilled labor starting to have a huge impact. Its far past time we as an industry did something about it. Listen to this conversation. Its good and covers pretty much the entire movement to standardize training in the roofing industry.

Steps to Starting a Business in Arizona Choose a business name Search the Arizona Corporation Commission, the U.S. Patent Office, and the internet to see if your name is already being used.

Purchase a web domain Domain names are separate from registration with the Arizona Corporation Commission or the Secretary of State. Create your business entity Reserve your business name at ecorp.azcc.gov. (optional)

Choose an entity type (corporation, nonprofit corporation, or LLC) Submit Articles to create a corporation or LLC Go to www.azsos.gov to register a trade name (optional) Contact the Arizona Deparment of Revenue & Internal Revenue Service

Check with the Arizona Department of Revenue for transaction privilege tax application information.

Contact the Internal Revenue Service to obtain an employer identification number or tax identification number. Licensing and Financing Check with your city and county for licensing requirements.

​Open a business bank account. Arizona Corporation Commission 1300 W. Washington Street Phoenix, AZ 85007 602-542-3026 www.azcc.gov For more information on forming your business, visit eCorp at www.azcc.gov. This is a general guide. You may need to seek legal advice for your particular situation.

Ten Steps to Starting a Business in AZ | Arizona Corporation Commission (azcc.gov)

SOME STEPS TO HELP ENSURE THE WORK YOU CONTRACT FOR IS THE WORK YOU GET

• Review the contractor’s license record at: https://roc.az.gov/contractor-search
• Make certain the contractor’s license class allows for the work listed in the contract.
  
• 
  
  • Please contact the ROC License Department with questions.
  
  
• Request a list of references and check them.
• Verify the person you are negotiating your project with is an authorized representative of the licensed contractor by calling the contractor’s number listed on the ROC license record.

• Ask for written estimates from at least three (3) contractors.
• Make sure a detailed list/description of the project, including the price, the responsibility to obtain building permits, and any other relevant terms, are spelled out in the estimate.

DETAILS, DETAILS, DETAILS: Only sign a contract agreement WITH A PROPERLY LICENSED CONTRACTING PROFESSIONAL.

• Review the written estimate and reconcile it with your written contract prior to signing – make sure the costs match.
• Make sure a detailed list/description of every aspect of the project is included in the contract.
• Ensure the price, the responsibility of obtaining building permits, and any other relevant terms are spelled out in a written contract.
• Be specific about the responsibilities of all parties involved and spell these responsibilities out in the contract document:

Some Examples:

• Permits – Permits are the responsibility of the property owner. However, many contractors include the cost of obtaining and fees in the contract.
• HOA notification and approvals – A property owner is responsible for notifying the contractor of CCR restrictions, requirements, and construction policies before the signing of a contract.
• Temporary power and water.
• Trash and debris removal.
• Sanitary facility details.

• Determine a payment/draw schedule.
• Make sure you understand the process for ensuring a properly executed change order:
  • How does it increase/decrease your total project cost?
  • How does it affect your project completion timeline?
  • It MUST BE SIGNED by both parties.
• Make clear, in writing, any other relevant terms or considerations you wish to include in your agreement with the properly licensed contracting professional.

• Never make a hurried decision. – REMEMBER – IF YOU AND THE CONTRACTOR DO NOT INTERPRET THE WRITTEN DOCUMENTS THE SAME WAY……DISPUTES ARE TO BE EXPECTED.
• Some payment guidelines to consider:
  • Never pay in cash.
  • Make checks payable to the name of the company/contractor listed in your signed contract. o Never make a check payable to individuals or companies not listed in your contract.
  • Do not allow payments to get ahead of the work.

§ NOTE: Special order materials, permits, and fees may need to be paid-for in advance.
1700 W. Washington Street ● Phoenix AZ 85007-2812
602.542.1525 ● Within AZ 877.692.9762 ● Fax 602.542.1599 ● www.roc.az.gov 

Its FREE! I say that right away for a good reason.  When you really understand what ADOSH is offering. You will know how money you can spend to get the same training and consultive services in the public sector. Or you can get training and consultation services directly from ADOSH.

​Arizona Division of Occupational Safety and Health - Upcoming Events (ezregister.com)

The Registrar of Contractors is out there looking for criminals, pretending to be contractors. Why do I say prepending? If you are not licensed in Arizona as a contractor. If you do not have an active ROC number. You are committing a crime. If you are out in public representing yourself as a contractor. And doing work as a contractor. You in violation of the law. 

The Handyman exemption is an often-misunderstood rule. In short, the handy man exemption is for work that does not alter the structure. And the work has to be under $1000 labor and materials.  Pretty much the basic household-maintained stuff. Replacing a doorknob, putting new piece of furniture together, cleaning celling fan blades, and so on.  I ran two handyman companies by the way, and its pretty good business for a guy or gal, who likes to get it done and move to the next job. 

However, if you go past that $1000 cost or start doing stuff like roofing, electrical, plumbing, framing, etc. Stuff that alters or requires some demolition work. You better check and make sure you are OK. A little job is not worth getting fined. Or even landing yourself in jail. 

(b) In any case in which the work or construction is only a part of a larger or major operation, whether undertaken by the same or a different contractor, or in which a division of the operation is made in contracts of amounts less than $1,000, excluding any electrical fixture or appliance that was designed by the manufacturer, that is unaltered, unchanged or unmodified by any person, that can be plugged into a common household electrical outlet using a two-pronged or three-pronged electrical connector or that has internal batteries that do not exceed twelve volts in a single, series or parallel configuration and that does not use any other form of energy, including natural gas, propane or other petroleum or gaseous fuel, to operate or is attached by a nail, screw or other fastening device to the frame or foundation of any residential structure, for the purpose of evasion of this chapter or otherwise.

Read the entire law here

Our mission here at The Arizona Roofer, LLC is to keep you informed. Whoever you are. The owner, the contractor and especially the hard workers in the field. Please take your time to learn and understand the best means and methods for doing good business. 

The roofing industry is hiring for all positions. Even so it is hard to find workers, which is true of all the trades. In our collective efforts to find new workers. Some roofers are taking to the air waves. Will it work? Will we find more workers by being on the radio? 

Are you looking for a job? Don't discount roofing too fast. Thanks to new technology and ironically the labor challenge we face. Roofing is easier and safer that it has been before. And get this, you don't have to work on the roof. 

The industry is hiring for all positions.
From the rooftop to the desktop.

www.arizonacareersinroofing.com