Start a Solar Energy Business

You can start on the sales or consulting side with almost no equipment and partner with licensed installers for the labor.

1. 1

   Start on the sales side

   Sign on as a dealer or setter for an established installer before touching crews, trucks, or contractor licenses. You learn the numbers on their overhead.

2. 2

   Learn the money math

   Cost per watt, the 30 percent federal tax credit, your state's incentives, and local net metering rules. Homeowners buy the payback period, not the panels.

3. 3

   Vet your installer partner

   Check their contractor license, install backlog, and reviews before you sell for them. Your commission is often $2,000 to $4,000 per closed deal, but your reputation rides on their work.

4. 4

   Get required sales registrations

   Some states require solar salespeople to register, like California's HIS registration. Check your state's contractor board before knocking a single door.

5. 5

   Generate your own leads

   Door-to-door in high-bill neighborhoods, referral bonuses for past customers, and local Facebook ads. Reps who rely on company leads stay broke.

6. 6

   Close with honest proposals

   Use design software like Aurora or OpenSolar and quote realistic production numbers. Overpromised systems kill the referrals this business runs on.

7. 7

   Scale toward your own operation

   Once sales are consistent, add NABCEP certification, contractor licensing, and subcontracted install crews to keep the full margin instead of a commission.