Troy Peterson Traded His Corporate Career for a Business With Support and Flexibility
After years of traveling for a corporate job, Troy Peterson was ready for a major change. “I was looking for a new challenge that kept me home more,” he says, and he found the answer in the home services field. He opened a Mighty Dog Roofing franchise in 2022 in Knoxville, Tenn., even though he had no previous experience with the roofing business. But what he did have was a drive to succeed plus the ready support of Mighty Dog Roofing. The guarantee of assistance as he launched his business convinced him to partner with Mighty Dog Roofing, which is part of the portfolio company HorsePower Brands. “I was very impressed with the HorsePower team,” Peterson says. “The level of support and vendor relationships they have built area huge asset to the franchisees.”
A critical component of the company’s support is thorough training that begins with a weeklong academy, which is especially important for franchisees who are just learning to navigate the roofing business. “This was a completely new industry for me,” Peterson says, “so learning the ins and outs of the roofing industry has been the biggest challenge.” The corporate team also helps franchisees with other challenges once the business is up and running, with ongoing marketing assistance and opportunities for professional development.
Starting the Business
Initially Peterson took a hands-on approach to running his business — he went on sales calls, wrote up estimates, and handled project management. “I wanted to be a part of every aspect of the process to better understand everything from start to finish,” he says. “Today, I’m not in the field as much, and I spend more time either networking or working in the office on business development.”
He is aiming to scale up his business this year, hoping to add a production manager and a few salespeople. He also plans to focus more on the commercial side of the business and to emphasize the other home improvement services that Mighty Dog Roofing offers, including repairing and replacing siding, windows, and gutters. The company also installs and repairs skylights, offers emergency repair services, and utilizes the most current technology, such as visualization tools and roof inspections via drones.
Peterson’s diligence and success has impressed fellow franchisees within HorsePower Brands, as he was honored recently as Franchisee of the Year at the annual HorsePower Brands convention. “This was very humbling,” he says. “We put a lot of time and effort into growing this business and our team. We put a lot of emphasis on our team and our culture. To have that be recognized and voted on by our peers was a tremendous reward.” Growing a new business requires a clear vision, he says, along with “goal-setting, perseverance, communication and a great team. We are creating a culture that is not only fun but gives people the opportunity to grow within the company. We give our people the ability to control their schedules and create an income for themselves based on their work ethic.”
Corporate Culture
The positive corporate culture of Mighty Dog Roofing was also a major selling point when Peterson was deciding whether to join forces with the company. “It’s a national franchise that is highly focused on customer service,” he said. “Roofing has one of the worst reputations in the home services industry, and having a company that is focused on integrity and transparency was very important to us.” “HorsePower has been great to work with. The level of support has been outstanding,” Peterson said. “I truly believe they have the franchisee’s best interest in mind when making the decisions that directly affect our day-to-day business.”
HorsePower Brands
Mighty Dog Roofing is part of the HorsePower Brands portfolio of complementary home services franchises. All HorsePower Brands franchises have in-demand services and simple business models. Other concepts in the HorsePower Brands portfolio include Bumble Bee Blinds, iFOAM, Stand Strong Fencing, Blingle!, Groovy Hues Painting and Heroes Lawn Care.
Roofing Industry Statistics
Mighty Dog Roofing franchise owners operate within the expansive $56 billion roofing industry. More than 300,000 roofs are installed daily in the U.S., according to the National Roofing Contractors Association (NRCA). This trend has been on an upward trajectory since 2004, with projections suggesting it could escalate to 500,000 daily installations by 2030. Moreover, the roofing industry saw a growth rate of 3.8% in 2021, and demand for roofing services is expected to increase further as the housing stock ages.
For more information about Mighty Dog Roofing, visit www.mightydogroofing.com.
