Guide · Checked October 22, 2026
Every hail season, “FREE ROOF” wraps appear on trucks in storm markets. The phrase survives because it works on homeowners. It fails on arithmetic — an insurance roof costs the deductible by design — and in ban states it fails on law, because the only way the roof is “free” is if the deductible disappears, which is the offense.
| Bucket | States (per dataset) | What happens |
|---|---|---|
| Absorbing/advertising the deductible is an offense | Texas (§27.02 / ch. 707) | Class B misdemeanor — the ad alone completes it |
| Inducement banned, per-occurrence fines | Florida (§489.147) | Up to $10,000 per occurrence + license discipline |
| Advertising the promise is banned | Illinois, Missouri | The ad itself violates the statute |
| No specific statute | Most other states | Fraud law + deceptive-practice law still govern the claim |
“Free inspection. Written, itemized estimate. We document the damage and meet your adjuster.” Every word is performable, auditable and true. It converts slightly slower than “free roof” and it never converts into a regulator's exhibit. In storm work, the second season belongs to the companies still licensed in it.
The checker gives you the verdict. The kit gives you the paperwork, in filing order: the application walkthrough for your state's class, qualifying-party documentation templates, the bond and insurance spec sheet with your state's exact minimums, the city-registration checklist pack for no-license states, and the contract-compliance pack (deductible language and required contract notices, including Florida's deadlines calendar).
$49 one-time payment
Included in the $49 RoofingLicenseCheck Kit — every item below, for every state, one payment.
