Sell Steel Like
You Built It.
Everything a Metal Building HQ rep needs to quote with confidence: what the building is made of, what moves the price, where the hard stops are, and how to answer the customer without guessing. Read it once top-to-bottom, then keep it open on every call.
Start Here
Who we are · what you sellMetal Building HQ is the dealer program of a Florida steel-building factory in Starke, FL — the plant engineers, delivers, installs & warranties every building we sell. You are not brokering from a catalog of mystery manufacturers: one factory, one price book, one install operation. That's your edge on every call.
The dealer side is run by Black Cypress Consulting. Your quoting tool, your price book, and this guide all come from the factory's current published sheets — when the factory updates pricing, the tool updates. You never have to memorize a price, but you do have to understand why a price moves. That's what this guide is for.
Internally you may see the factory referred to by its own name (Carports Anywhere). To the customer, everything is Metal Building HQ. One brand on the phone, on the quote, and in writing. No exceptions.
What you're selling
Carports & Covers
Open-air steel covers for cars, trucks, RVs, boats, equipment. The entry point — fastest quote, fastest install.
Utility Combos
Part enclosed storage, part open carport on one frame. The "best of both" ask you'll hear constantly.
Garages & Shops
Fully enclosed, roll-up doors, walk doors, windows. Where most of your revenue lives.
Barns & Ag
Lean-to barn profiles and agricultural storage. Rural counties love these; ag use can change permit needs.
Wide-Span / Commercial
32′–60′ clear-span buildings. Bigger checks, stamped plans, longer timelines. Different rules — see Module 05.
Custom
Wainscot, lean-tos, cupolas, gutters, frame-outs. Quoted in the full quote builder, not on the fly.
The Three Roofs
The first fork in every quoteEvery quote starts here, because roof style sets the base price table. Same footprint, three prices — and the real difference is panel orientation: horizontal panels lap along the roof and carry water the length of the building, while vertical panels run ridge-to-eave so rain, leaves, and debris shed straight off the side. Teach the customer that mechanical difference and the choice makes itself.
Regular · Rounded Eave
GoodLowest costCurved eaves, panels run front-to-back. The economical classic. Fine for basic covers; water and debris travel the length of the roof.
Boxed Eave · A-Frame
BetterHouse-style lookStraight A-frame lines that match a home's roof. Panels still run horizontal — the upgrade here is the look, not the drainage.
Vertical Roof
BestStandard over 24′ widePanels run ridge-to-eave, so rain, leaves, and debris shed straight off. Includes a ridge cap. Comes standard on buildings over 24′ wide — on 12′–24′ builds it's the upgrade to offer.
Same building, three prices
Take one 20′ × 21′ carport and price it in each of the three roof styles, straight off the tables:
| Roof style | Base price | Cost to step up |
|---|---|---|
| Regular (Good) | $1,795 | — |
| Boxed Eave (Better) | $1,995 | +$200 over Regular |
| Vertical (Best) | $2,395 | +$600 over Regular |
The spread grows with size — always quote the vertical number alongside the base ask so the customer chooses with the gap in front of them.
Always offer the vertical roof style if it isn't already standard for that building. The selling point: with vertical panels the roof lines run ridge-to-eave, so rain and debris shed off the roof and away from the building — which helps prevent leaks.
Building Anatomy
Talk like the factoryCustomers trust the rep who names parts correctly. Here's the frame, bottom to top:
6′–24′ wide buildings ride on roof bows — a rafter pair with no web bars inside. At 26′ wide and up it's an engineered truss, and the truss style steps up with width per the Florida Building Code — the bands run 25′–30′, 31′–41′, 42′–51′, and 52′–60′, with double posts and ladder legs coming in as spans grow. The full style-by-width chart is the internal "Truss Styles — 2023 FBC" engineering sheet — ask your trainer.
The two gauges that matter
Framing — 14 GA standard
14-gauge galvanized tube framing is standard at every size we sell. 12 GA is a heavier-wall optional upgrade — never required by size — priced from a fixed chart by building length (not a percentage of base).
Sheeting — 29 GA walls · 26 GA roof
Standard is 29-gauge sheeting on the walls and 26-gauge on the roof. The upgrade is taking the entire building to 26-gauge — thicker steel on every wall panel.
Lower gauge = thicker steel. When a competitor quotes cheaper, ask the customer what gauge the frame is. If they don't know, that's your opening: "Ours is 14-gauge standard — get that in writing from anyone else you're pricing."
Wind & Certification
Florida's whole ballgameCertification comes from the engineered configuration — the drawings, not any single spec. For standard buildings, frame spacing is the lever that sets which wind-certified configuration you're quoting:
| Frame spacing | Certified rating | Availability |
|---|---|---|
| 5′ on-center | Certified to 150 MPH | Standard on 12′–24′ widths only |
| 4′ on-center | Opens certification above 150 MPH — the exact rating is set by engineering for that specific build | Paid upgrade on 12′–24′ (priced by length) · automatic on 26′–60′ |
- Never promise a number engineering hasn't certified for that build. 5′ OC carries the standard 150 MPH certification; tightening to 4′ OC is what allows a higher rating — the exact figure comes off the engineering drawings, not off the sales call.
- On 12′–24′ builds, 4′ OC is the paid upgrade (priced by length). On 26′–60′ builds it's automatic — every build over 24′ wide is framed 4′ on-center, so there's nothing to add or sell there.
- Commercial use ⇒ stamped plans, automatically.
Miami-Dade and Broward are High-Velocity Hurricane Zone counties, and they are outside the service area — we do not sell in either. If a lead's ZIP lands in one, tell them straight that we can't serve their county. Don't quote it — it's a no.
A second tier of high-wind / hi-impact counties (Charlotte, Collier, Duval, Flagler, Indian River, Lake, Lee, Martin, Palm Beach, Pinellas, Sarasota, Seminole, St. Lucie) drives hi-impact door and window requirements. The tool applies this from the customer's ZIP — which is why the ZIP is the first thing you collect.
The Guardrails
Rules the tool enforces — know them coldSize envelope
| Width | What it is | Rules that kick in |
|---|---|---|
| 12′–24′ | Standard | All roof styles, all options. Length tiers 21′ / 26′ / 31′ / 36′ / 41′ / 46′ / 51′. |
| 26′–30′ | Triple-Wide | Own price grids (same length tiers). Vertical roof and 4′ OC framing standard from here up. |
| 32′–60′ | Wide-span | Vertical roof and vertical sides standard. Length tiers in 4′ steps, 21′–53′. |
| 62′–70′ | STOP | No published pricing (a single 70×110 build is the only verified exception). The tool throws a stop flag — escalate, don't improvise. |
| > 70′ | NOT BUILT | We don't build it. Period. |
- Even widths only. A customer's 45′ is built — and priced — as a 46′. Round up, say so out loud, move on.
- Long buildings are section combos. Past 51′ (standard) or 53′ (wide-span), the factory builds two or three sections joined end-to-end; the price is the sum of the sections, and in-between lengths round up to the next combo. That's why 55′ can price like 56′.
- Leg heights run 6′–20′. Base prices include the standard legs; every foot above adds a height charge that climbs with building length — and it jumps hard at 15′+. Quote tall buildings from the tool, never from feel.
Closure rules worth memorizing
- Gable-only sheeting (just the triangle above the opening): $225 per end up to 24′ wide, $300 at 26′–30′; vertical panels add $50–$85 (7/15/26 books).
- Half-closed gable end (triangle + 6′ panel below the eave): $1,015 per end, flat.
- Vertical siding on standard builds is charged per closed side — closing two sides costs twice one side.
- Roof pitch upgrade (4:12 or 5:12): +50% of the base building price. Say that number early — it surprises people.
How a Price Builds
The stack behind every quoteThe tool does the math; you narrate it. Every quote is the same six layers, in order:
Base building
Roof style × width × length tier. Example straight from the sheet: a 22 × 46 vertical-roof carport bases at $5,890.
Leg height
Anything over standard height adds the leg chart. Small money to 12′, real money at 15′+.
Closures
Open → gable ends → half-closed → fully enclosed. Sides and ends price separately; vertical panels upcharge per side.
Openings
Roll-up doors, walk doors, windows, frame-outs — plus the header charge if a roll-up goes on the eave side (see Module 07).
Upgrades
12 GA frame · 4′ OC spacing · 26 GA walls · pitch. Each has a rule from Modules 03–05 — know when it's free, flat, or unavailable.
Plans & tax
Engineered plans by county (Module 08) and county sales tax — both auto-set from ZIP.
The call tool's number is a call estimate. Lean-tos, wainscot, cupolas, gutters, anchors, and split configurations get rebuilt in the full quote builder before anything is signed. Tell the customer the on-call number is "within dollars, finalized on the written quote."
Doors, Windows & Options
Where quotes are won
Certified roll-up doors — current line
| W×H | Price | W×H | Price | W×H | Price |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 8×8 | $1,325 | 10×10 | $1,650 | 14×14 * | $2,350 |
| 8×10 | $1,500 | 10×12 * | $1,825 | 16×10 * | $2,050 |
| 8×12 * | $1,650 | 12×10 * | $1,725 | 16×14 * | $2,600 |
| 9×8 | $1,400 | 12×12 * | $1,950 | 18×12 * | $2,475 |
| 9×10 | $1,575 | 12×14 * | $2,175 | 18×14 * | $2,675 |
| 10×8 | $1,475 | 14×12 * | $2,100 | 18×16 | $4,520 |
* = chain hoist included in the price. Smaller doors take the hoist as a +$325 add-on. Full size run (8×8 through 18×16) lives in the quoting tool — this is the spread to know by feel.
Door & window price card
| Item | Price | The rule attached |
|---|---|---|
| Blank walk door 36×80 | $300 | Frame-out only: $90 |
| Hi-impact walk door | $600 | Hi-wind counties push you here |
| Window 30×30 | $200 | Frame-out only: $75 |
| Hi-impact window 30×30 | $590 | FL-code impact glass |
| Roll-up door color | $275 flat | Coal Black $344 · White & Satin White free |
| Chain hoist add-on | $325 | Skip where * already includes it |
| Header seal | $9.85 / ft | Per foot of door width |
| 45° corner cut | $85 / door | Cosmetic angled frame-out |
| Garage door frame-out | $150 | Opening only, customer's own door |
| Double door frame-out 72×80 | $180 | |
| Cupola | $450 | Extras quoted through the builder |
| Skylight | $600 | |
| Gutter (per 10 ft) / downspout | $120 / $85 | |
| Ridge cap / base trim upgrade | $200 / $150 |
A roll-up door on the gable end (the short wall under the peak) needs no extra structure. Put it on the eave side (the long wall) and the factory adds a structural header — that's a real charge the tool surfaces. Ask "which wall do you want the door on?" before you give a number.
Big doors (13′+ wide or 14′+ tall on hi-impact; starred sizes on the sheet) require a lift on site at install. Set that expectation at the quote, not at delivery.
Walk door — $300
36×80 blank steel door. Every enclosed building should leave your lips with one: "you don't want to open the big door every time you walk in."
Window 30×30 — $200
Standard $200, hi-impact $590 where the county calls for it. Windows sell workshops — light is the difference between storage and a shop.
Plans, Permits & Tax
Set timeline expectations hereEngineered plans are set by the customer's county — the tool picks the plan type from the ZIP. Your job is to quote the fee and the lead time in the same breath:
| Plan type | Fee | Lead time | When |
|---|---|---|---|
| Master Files | Free | 1–2 wks | Counties with pre-approved stamps on file |
| Generic Stamped | $250 | 2–3 wks | Most rural / lenient counties |
| As-Built Stamped | $400 | 4–6 wks | Stricter counties — most coastal metros |
| As-Built · Commercial / Risk Cat 2 | $750 | 4–6 wks | Any commercial use; HVHZ |
| No permit required | $0 | — | Customer confirms with their county |
- Commercial or HVHZ always means stamped plans. No exceptions, no "we'll see."
- Sales tax is county-by-county (roughly 6–8% across Florida) and applies from the customer's ZIP automatically. Never quote "plus 7%" from memory — read it off the tool.
- Agricultural use can qualify for exemptions — the tool surfaces the ag-exempt path when the build type is agricultural.
Color Vault
Close-stage ammunitionColor is the fun part — use it to move a stalled call forward: "Let's pick your colors while I finish this quote." Roof, trim, and walls can each take their own color.
Building colors
Roll-up door colors
Door colors are a separate palette. White and Satin White are free; Coal Black is $344; every other color is a flat $275 per door.
FAQ
Answers you'll give dailyCustomer-facing
How long does installation take?
Factory crews install most residential buildings in a single day once they're on site — the schedule driver is the engineered-plan and permitting lead time (see Module 08), not the build itself. Quote plan lead time first, install speed second.
What do I need before you can install?
A level site — concrete pad, asphalt, or graded ground — with clear access for the crew. Anchoring is matched to the surface. If the site isn't level, the crew can't certify the build; say this on call one so nobody loses an install date over a sloped pad.
Is there a warranty?
Yes — a 20-year limited warranty on the building. Pair it with the certification story: 150 MPH standard, and 4′ frame spacing lets the building be certified higher where the customer's site calls for it.
Do I need a permit?
Usually, and we handle the engineered plans for it — the fee and timeline depend on your county (free to $750, one to six weeks). Commercial use always requires stamped plans. Verifying "no permit needed" is on the customer, in writing.
Can you match my house?
Yes — boxed-eave A-frame roof for the house-style lines, plus separate roof/trim/wall colors from the chart in Module 09.
Why is your price different from the big national websites?
Because those are broker sites reselling whichever factory answers. We are the factory's own dealer program — the building is engineered, rolled, and installed by the same Florida plant, certified to Florida wind code. Compare gauge, certification, and who actually shows up to install.
How level does my site really need to be?
Level enough that the crew can set and certify the building — a sloped or unprepared site means cut legs or a return trip, and a re-trip is billed. Set the expectation on call one: "have the pad or ground level before the crew arrives, and it goes up same-day with no surprise charges." If they're pouring concrete, the engineered plans include the pad spec — pour to the plans.
How is the building anchored?
Anchoring is matched to the surface — concrete, asphalt, or ground each get the anchor system the engineered plans call for, and the certification assumes those anchors are installed. That's also the honest answer to "will it blow away?": the cert and the anchoring are one package. Don't free-style anchor specifics beyond that — the plans govern.
Should I upgrade to 12-gauge framing?
Standard is 14 GA framing with 29 GA wall / 26 GA roof sheeting; the upgrades are 12 GA framing (priced by building length) and taking the whole building to 26-gauge sheet. Frame the upgrade around what the customer's county and use actually require, not fear — the standard building already carries the certification for its configuration.
Which roof style should I get?
Three styles: regular (rounded, horizontal panels), boxed-eave A-frame (house-style lines, horizontal panels), and vertical roof (A-frame with vertical panels that shed rain and debris down the slope). In Florida the vertical roof is the right answer on almost every quote — it's standard at 32′+ wide anyway, so offer it every time.
What if I want to change my order after I've placed it?
Changes are doable before manufacturing, but they're tiered: $150 / $250 / $500 depending on how far along the order is and how big the change is. Sell it as a reason to nail the recap step on the call — "let's get every door and window placed right now so you never touch a change fee."
What if I need to cancel?
There's a 72-hour grace window after ordering, plus an exception if the county denies the permit for the building. Outside those, cancellation terms come from the order paperwork — don't ad-lib refund promises on the phone.
Internal — rep-only
Customer asks about financing or rent-to-own. What do I say?
Every big competitor pushes financing and RTO hard, so you will get this question. There is no confirmed MBHQ financing or rent-to-own program to quote — say "let me check what options we have for you right now" and escalate to Alex or Joshua. Never name a lender, term, or "no credit check" promise that isn't in this guide.
"Is the price locked in? How long is my quote good?"
Quotes come from the factory sheet in force the day you build them, and the factory revises sheets. Don't promise a lock or a validity window on your own — the honest line is "this is today's factory pricing; the sooner we get your order in, the sooner it's protected." Confirm the current lock policy with Alex or Joshua before putting anything in writing.
What sizes make me stop and escalate?
62′–70′ wide (no published pricing — 70×110 is the lone verified build) and anything over 70′ (not built). Also stop on any missing base price — the tool shows a STOP flag instead of a number for a reason. (Miami-Dade / Broward leads aren't an escalation — we don't sell there; decline them.)
The customer wants an odd width. What do I say?
"We build in even widths, so your 45 becomes a 46 — you get the extra foot." Price it as the even width; never interpolate a price.
Can I quote lean-tos / wainscot / cupolas on the call?
Ballpark only. Those components price in the full quote builder — rebuild the config there before anything is signed. The call estimate covers the main building, closures, openings, upgrades, insulation, and plans.
Where do prices come from, and can I adjust one?
Prices are extracted line-for-line from the factory's published sheets into the tool. You never retype or hand-adjust a price. If a number looks wrong, flag it to Alex or Joshua — a factory update goes into the tool once, for everyone.
Who am I talking to when the factory comes up?
Internally the factory is Carports Anywhere in Starke, FL. To the customer, every building, quote, and email is Metal Building HQ. One brand, always.
Dos & Don'ts
The rules of engagement- ZIP first. County drives plans, tax, wind flags, and hi-impact requirements — collect it before you talk price.
- Quote from the tool, every number. It exists so no rep ever eyeballs a price.
- Round odd widths up and tell the customer they gained a foot.
- Offer the vertical roof on every 12′–24′ quote — it's standard over 24′ wide anyway, and it's the right answer in Florida.
- Ask which wall the door goes on before pricing (eave side = header charge).
- Quote plan fee and lead time together. "$400 and four to six weeks" prevents the angry week-five call.
- Log every call in the CRM note the tool generates. If it isn't written down, it didn't happen.
- Never quote 62′–70′ wide or anything past 70′. Stop flag → escalate.
- Never promise a wind rating engineering hasn't certified. 150 MPH standard at 5′ OC; 4′ OC allows higher — the drawings set the number.
- Never sell 4′ OC on wide-span, or 26 GA walls on wide-span — neither exists there.
- Never say "Carports Anywhere" to a customer. The brand is Metal Building HQ.
- Never retype, discount, or "adjust" a price outside the tool. Discounts have an approval path.
- Never promise an install date. Promise the sequence: plans → permit → schedule → one-day install.
- Never quote Miami-Dade or Broward. HVHZ counties are outside the service area — decline the lead.
- Never invent a spec. If it's not in this guide or the tool, the answer is "let me confirm with the factory."