In every person’s life, there are certain choices that can change the trajectory of their future.
For some, it’s choosing which college to attend, deciding where to live, or accepting a job offer.
For Dustin Bower, his life reached a pivotal crossroads in a more serious and consequential way. At 15, his family faced a difficult time, leading his mother and sister to check into a homeless shelter.
Despite his challenging circumstances, Bower knew he wanted to control his destiny, even if following his family’s path might have offered temporary relief.
“I knew if I went down that route, that’s what my life would be,” Bower told The Hamiltonian. “So I chose not to do that. I have a no-excuse mentality.”
Eventually, Bower secured a job as a car salesman and was making good money. One day, a customer came in to buy a car, and while reviewing the man’s finances, Bower discovered the customer had poor credit but was earning $16,000 a month as a roofer.
“I asked him, ‘Do you make this every month, or just in good months?’ He said, ‘It’s been three months, and I’ve made it almost every single month,’” Bower said.“That was intriguing to me, making $7,500 a month at the time, sometimes $10,000, selling cars.”
Bower decided to try his hand at roofing. Fast forward to today, and he owns one of the largest roofing companies in southwest Ohio, Reputable Roofing, which projects mid-seven figures in revenue for 2025.
The journey to becoming the founder of a successful company was rocky, as with any entrepreneurial endeavor. Bower faced moments when his ethics were challenged, forcing him to decide whether he was prioritizing his interests or his customers’.
While working for a larger roofing company, Bower visited an elderly woman to provide a quote. Without his pricing sheet, he estimated what he thought was a fair price but later learned his company charged significantly more.
Two weeks later, his cousin requested his help with a roof, but the quote was far beyond what she had saved or could finance.
“Some people can save almost their whole life to get a roof. I’ve been super poor. I was homeless twice, so I understand that,” Bower said.
He decided to take matters into his own hands. Bower went to a local distributor, purchased materials, and with the help of a crew he had come in contact with, completed the job himself, saving his cousin $2,500 and earning more than he would have through his company.
At the next company meeting, Bower didn’t feel great about selling the job and not going through his company. Even though his bosses didn’t know about it and there were no repercussions, something in him told him it wasn’t the right thing to do. The same conscience that justified helping his cousin also left him feeling guilty for not acting in his employer’s best interest.
That feeling prompted Bower to submit his two weeks’ notice. In his first year, he went door-to-door selling roofs, generating more than $800,000 in revenue. By year two, he hired his first employee. Today, Reputable Roofing employs more than 20 people.
Bower credits his success to simple, consistent philosophies: do right by your employees, show up when you say you will, avoid excuses, and understand that no favor goes unnoticed. Those values inspired the name Reputable Roofing.
“You’re going to show up and do what you say you’re going to do. I’ve lived by that,” he said. “That name — Reputable — every day when I wake up and I’m in the truck, I’m Reputable Roofing. It’s not Dustin Bower Roofing. We have to stay reputable.”
“My guys absolutely love me. I took a pay cut for them, and I’m really transparent with my guys. I told them, ‘I can make as much as I made this year by myself. That’s not my goal. I just got a big pool installed at my house. I want pools to be at your guys’ houses. I want you to drive a nice truck. I want you to be able to go on vacation whenever you want. You guys have to work to have that. I can’t do the work for you.’”
His wife has been a big driving force as the “domestic engineer of the house” while Bower continues to grow his business.
Bower’s faith has also been a guiding principle. Sundays are sacred for him, and he remains unreachable on that day. He also leads a men’s coaching group emphasizing faith, fitness, family, and finances.
“You could be a seven-figure earner, but first you need to become a seven-figure father,” he said.
He believes he’s always had a servant’s heart. A mentor once told him that making more money only magnifies who a person already is — it doesn’t change them. That advice has proven true in Bower’s life.
The next step for Reputable Roofing is consistent growth, with plans to expand into Indiana, Kentucky, and Tennessee, as well as other parts of Ohio. Bower’s goal is to open five new locations over the next five years, establishing one new site each year.
It’s a far cry from the days when Bower didn’t know where he would sleep at night. His determination and generosity have fueled his success over the past five years. If that’s any indication of the future, Reputable Roofing will soon be a household name throughout the Midwest.
If you’re in need of roofing, remodeling, or any other home repair services choose Reputable Roofing & Remodeling. Visit their website reputableroofingremodeling.com for more information.