How to Quote for Solar Installation Work
A professional solar quote does two things: it wins the job, and it protects you from disputes. Solar is a considered, high-value purchase. Customers compare quotes carefully. The installer who sends a clear, detailed, professional quote promptly wins more conversions – not always the cheapest one.
This guide covers exactly what a solar installation quote should contain and how to present it to maximise your close rate.
What Makes a Good Solar Quote Different
Solar quoting has specific requirements that general trades quoting doesn’t. Your customer is making a long-term financial decision – they’re buying an energy system that will affect their electricity bills for 25 years, not just getting a job done. Your quote needs to answer their real questions:
- What exactly am I getting?
- How much will I save?
- When does it pay back?
- What happens if something goes wrong?
- Why should I choose you over the competition?
A quote that answers all of these wins more jobs than one that just shows a price.
Essential Elements of a Solar Quote
1. Your Business Details
- Company name, address, contact details
- MCS certification number
- NICEIC/NAPIT registration number
- Company registration number (if limited company)
- VAT number (if VAT registered)
The MCS and electrical certification numbers are trust signals that distinguish a qualified installer from an uncertified one. Make them visible.
2. Customer and Site Details
- Customer name and address
- Installation address
- Survey date
- Quote reference number and date
- Quote validity period (30 days is standard – material prices can change)
3. System Specification
This is the most important section – be specific:
| Element | What to specify |
|---|---|
| Panels | Make, model, quantity, wattage, efficiency rating, performance warranty |
| Inverter | Make, model, output rating, warranty period |
| Mounting system | Brand, type (in-roof/on-roof), rail material |
| Battery (if included) | Make, model, capacity (kWh), chemistry, warranty |
| Monitoring | App/platform name, type (panel-level or system-level) |
| Generation meter | Required for SEG, specify type |
Vague specifications (“quality panels and inverter”) invite the customer to assume premium products and complain when they receive mid-tier. Specific specifications set clear expectations and allow proper comparison.
4. Installation Details
- Estimated installation date (or lead time)
- Installation duration
- Scaffold requirement and timing
- Electrical connection and commissioning
5. Financial Projection
This is what converts undecided customers. Include:
Annual generation estimate:
Based on your shading analysis and roof orientation assessment. Use MCS-compliant yield calculation methodology. State your assumptions (orientation, pitch, shading factor).
Annual savings estimate:
– Self-consumed generation × current electricity rate (state the rate used)
– Exported generation × SEG rate (state the rate and supplier used for comparison)
– Combined annual financial benefit
Payback period:
Simple payback: total installation cost ÷ annual saving. Current typical range: 6-12 years for residential.
25-year financial projection:
At assumed electricity price escalation (state this assumption). This is a powerful number – a system saving £700/year over 25 years returns £17,500 on a £7,000 investment. Make this visible.
6. What’s Included
- Full installation to MCS standard
- All necessary mounting hardware
- All DC and AC cabling
- DNO G98/G99 notification
- MCS installation certificate
- Electrical Installation Certificate
- Full commissioning and handover
- System monitoring setup
- Scaffolding (if included – some businesses quote this separately)
7. Warranties
| Component | Standard warranty |
|---|---|
| Panels (performance) | 25 years (output guarantee) |
| Panels (product) | 10-15 years (manufacturing defect) |
| Inverter | 5-12 years depending on manufacturer |
| Battery | 10 years typically |
| Workmanship | State your own guarantee period (12 months minimum, 2 years is better) |
Your own workmanship warranty is as important as product warranties. State it explicitly – it builds confidence.
8. Payment Terms
- Deposit required: typically 25-30%
- Stage payment on material delivery (optional on larger jobs)
- Balance due: on completion
- Accepted payment methods
9. Your Credentials and Social Proof
At the end of the quote, include:
– MCS and NICEIC/NAPIT logos
– RECC logo (if member)
– Google review count and rating
– 2-3 recent customer testimonials with job type and location
– Link to your full Google Business Profile
How to Get Quotes Out Fast
In solar, the first professional quote often wins. Customers who request multiple quotes tend to make decisions within 1-2 weeks of receiving them.
Target: quote within 24 hours of the survey. Not the following week.
Building a library of standard line items – panel specs, inverter specs, standard mounting costs, your standard warranty wording – in a quoting app means you pull these into each quote rather than retyping from scratch. A full solar quote should take 20-30 minutes to produce, not 2 hours.
Free calculator by CoreQuote — the quoting app for trades
Frequently Asked Questions
Should I include a competitor comparison in my solar quote?
Not explicitly – don’t mention competitors by name. But you can differentiate by being specific about product quality, your MCS certification, and your warranty terms in a way that implicitly highlights what cheaper quotes may be missing.
How do I quote for a system I haven’t fully designed yet?
A survey must happen before a detailed quote. If you’re producing a preliminary indication before the survey, label it clearly as an indication – not a fixed quote – and specify that it’s subject to a site survey.
Should I offer tiered options in a solar quote?
Yes – a good/better/best approach (e.g. standard panels, premium panels, premium panels + battery) gives customers choice and often results in upsell to a higher-value option. It also anchors the price – the middle option looks more reasonable compared to the premium.
How do I handle a customer who says my quote is more expensive?
Ask what’s different. Specific product specifications, MCS certification, warranty terms, and your track record of installations in their area are all legitimate differentiators. Don’t discount reflexively – understand the comparison first.
CoreQuote is a quoting and invoicing app built for solar installers – build detailed, professional solar quotes with system specs, projected savings and MCS credentials from your phone. Try free for 6 months at kwowta.com.
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