We are living in a time of energy transition where the commitment to renewable energies has become one of the priorities of both governments and citizens. And among these energies, photovoltaic solar energy stands out.
The prospects for this sector are of enormous growth in the coming years. For this reason, solar panel installation businesses are a great opportunity. If you are thinking of entering this sector, in this article we offer you some tips.
Is it a good idea to create a solar panel installation business?
Yes, we are talking about one of the most promising businesses at the moment. Almost any study that talks about energy places solar photovoltaic as one of the fastest growing.
According to IRENA (International Renewable Energy Agency), by 2050, solar photovoltaic energy will be the second largest source of electricity generation worldwide, covering 25% of global electricity demand. For this to be possible, the installed solar capacity will have to be multiplied by 6 in the next 10 years.
If we look back, the numbers confirm this trend. The year 2021 saw a record-breaking year in Spain in terms of installed plants, with a growth of more than 100% compared to 2020, according to data from the UNEF (Spanish Photovoltaic Union).
What steps do I have to follow to create a solar panel installation business?
The process of creating a solar panel business is not very different from other entrepreneurial processes, although it is important to know the particularities of the sector. First of all, let's talk about general aspects.
Tips for creating a solar panel business.
1.Be clear about the business model.
It is important to make a business plan where to reflect all the operations that you will perform to create value and therefore, economic benefits. We are referring to the design of installations, installation of solar panels, connections to the grid, maintenance and repair tasks, processing of permits and subsidies, etc. You will also have to make a good cost study to know what investment you will need to make.
2.Define a market niche.
Specializing is always a good idea. Within the installation of solar panels you can opt for self-consumption installations for homes, for companies, for public buildings, solar pumping, rooftop or ground installations, large solar parks, etc. This will also define who will be your main customer: homeowners, business owners, administrations, etc.
3.It is not all about installing, you also have to sell.
Getting customers is as important as installing. You will have to define your marketing strategy and a clear and efficient sales process when generating budgets, as this is something that in this sector can make the difference, as we explain below.
4.Surround yourself with the best team.
And we are not only referring to technicians and installers. This also applies to suppliers, engineers, administrative staff, etc. The success of any business to the public comes from the quality of its workers and its service. If you are starting your business now, you must take this into account from day one. Incorporate management tools that allow you to save time on paperwork so you can focus on what is important: your customers.
Do you know the solar panel installation industry?
As we said above, it is important to know some special characteristics of this sector when defining your business.
It is a highly competitive sector.
This is a very competitive industry, as both large companies and small entrepreneurs compete to win customers. For this reason it is important to have a differentiating value proposition.
This differentiation has to come from something beyond the panels themselves. Think that solar panels are similar for all installers, which makes it difficult to differentiate by the quality of the products (even if you use high quality material). Therefore, it is important that you bet on a good service, shorter attention times, personalized advice, etc.
In the eyes of customers (and even if you don't like to hear it) an installation is an installation, no matter who installs it. So if you want to stand out you need to offer another kind of value beyond price or quality.
Reduce time and improve your competitiveness.
When there is so much competition it is important to reduce lead times. Conducting a study and submitting a quote before the competition can be the difference between getting that customer or not.
For this you need to have a good sales process and a system that streamlines the preparation of both quotations and other documentation. Preparing a good customized proposal can take several hours, but having a specialized software can reduce this task to minutes and give you an important advantage.
Do you need a software for solar panel installation business?
Don't waste time using spreadsheets, rewriting every bid or programming your own tool that you will have to update every few months. There are specialized programs that from day one can help you reduce budgeting time, define efficient sales processes and generally offer a better service than your competition.
At Wattwin we offer the most complete software solution for solar panel installation businesses. If you want to try it just contact us to book a demo.
Grow your business with Wattwin
Request a free personalized consulting session and demo. Tell us more about your business and your challenges, we will do the rest.
