When Mike Augustine Jr. first started Total Roofing St. Louis in 2020, business started off slowly.
He was working on his own, and sales were around $265,000 that first year.
Augustine, a Waterloo native and Waterloo High School grad, decided early on that building strong partnerships was going to be a key to his success. State Bank was one of those relationships.
"When I officially went into business myself, I opened my business account here. I wanted to develop relationships because I knew I'd be in here a lot, and I wanted to utilize and maybe one day leverage relationships for future loans."
— Mike Augustine Jr., Owner of Total Roofing St. Louis
As of yet, Augustine hasn't had to call on the business lenders at State Bank. Total Roofing has grown significantly in the last three years; he now has three project managers, and his sales were $1.3 million last year.
Banking on Convenience
With his business growing fast, Augustine's schedule is hectic, which means his desire for a simple, seamless banking experience is even more important.
"State Bank has made it very easy," Augustine said. "Any time I have questions or if there's something I want to do between the accounts, the customer service has been great. I'm very, very busy, and the convenience matters. I need somebody else to do it for me - the easier the better. It's been very convenient working with State Bank."
Augustine appreciates the personal touch that comes with banking at State Bank's North Pointe Branch, where Branch Manager Kayce Schaefer and her team have made banking effortless for the busy entrepreneur.
"When I pull up a lot of the tellers will see me pull up and already have the deposit slip in there for me. The service and everybody working here has been great."
— Mike Augustine Jr., Owner of Total Roofing St. Louis
From Athlete to Entrepreneur
Augustine, who played basketball at Southwestern Illinois College and later Georgia College & State University in Milledgeville, Ga., worked for various companies in Florida and Colorado. He learned the roofing trade from his uncle, who ran a roofing company in St. Charles.
The skills he developed as an athlete—discipline, teamwork, and perseverance—have served him well as a business owner. Starting with just himself in 2020, Augustine has built a team that now includes three project managers, allowing Total Roofing to take on more projects and expand their service area.
Augustine recently passed the exam to become an Illinois State Public Adjuster. Public adjusters are policy experts who help customers review and interpret their policies and navigate claims with their insurance companies.
Serving the Community
While Total Roofing is based in Waterloo, the company serves a 60-mile radius around downtown St. Louis.
"We treat your property like it's our mothers and our reviews back that up," Augustine said. "We really enjoy helping other people. I started the business for that reason."
Augustine and Total Roofing also like to support the community.
"I give back a lot," Augustine said. "I'm big into athletics so I support as much as I can locally."
Total Roofing is doing a free roof giveaway through October 31. Anyone in the region can enter through their website or social media platforms.
Building for the Future
In just three years, Total Roofing has grown from a one-man operation with $265,000 in annual sales to a team of professionals generating $1.3 million in revenue. This remarkable growth is a testament to Augustine's business acumen, work ethic, and commitment to customer service.
As Augustine looks to the future, he knows that the relationships he's built—including his banking relationship with State Bank—will continue to be a foundation for his success.
"The relationships I've built at State Bank are invaluable," Augustine says. "Having a bank that understands my business and is ready to support my growth gives me confidence as I plan for the future."
Learn more about Total Roofing at totalroofingstl.com or call them directly at 618-719-6767 or 314-710-3677.
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