Looking at commercial solar installation companies? Here’s what to ask before you choose one
- Gary Carter
- Jun 9
- 4 min read
Updated: Jun 30
If you’re reviewing commercial solar installation companies, you’re probably being pitched on system sizes, installation timelines, and price per kWp. And while those are important, they’re not the most important.
The truth is, most solar installers are great at installing equipment. But very few can tell you:
How this project will pay for itself
What kind of return you’ll truly get over time
How to structure the most effective funding mechanism that enhances lifetime value
How to align the solution to your business objectives so it ticks all your boxes as a business solution that addresses relevant challenges you’re facing
And that’s where the smartest buyers start asking different questions.
What most solar quotes miss
When solar is approached as a technical project, the commercial side is often overlooked. But for most UK businesses, especially in high energy use sectors, the financial and operational side matters more than the hardware.
That’s what most installation companies miss. They’re not set up to discuss business solutions. They’re very much technical specialists which works just fine in the domestic solar market but that doesn’t translate so well when they’re selling B2B to buyers with pressing business challenges they want to fix.
The Optify approach: ROI-first, not panel-first
Our background is in professional services, delivering transformation projects that have helped clients run their business more profitably, more safely and with better risk management for 25 years.
We’re vastly experienced in providing client-centric solutions that create value and solve pressing problems.
At Optify, we work with trusted commercial installers, but we act for you as your commercial partner so you can achieve the best outcome possible from investing in renewable energy.
We coordinate the right:
Design based on your consumption and goals
Funding structure based on your budget and risk profile
Installation partner who can deliver to spec and maximise your long-term savings
Our optimisation-first model helps clients achieve up to 30% more lifetime savings than traditional install-led projects.
Before you pick an installer, build a business case
Too many businesses choose based on quote alone and miss the chance to structure their project for stronger ROI, greater resilience, and zero upfront cost. There are two negative outcomes from this:
Many projects fail to get off the ground due to lack of commercial alignment to the client’s objectives meaning missed opportunity for significant cost savings and lost sustainability and environmental benefits
Projects that proceed based on technical un-optimised quotes and system design leave potential savings on the table
The 7 key questions to ask commercial solar installation companies
1. Can you model the project’s ROI over 10–25 years?
Not just generation, but actual savings and the point at which it pays for itself.
2. What funding options do you provide (PPA, lease, asset finance)?
If they don’t offer funding, they likely expect you to pay upfront which kills affordability for many. More often than not, if an installer is able to offer funding options, it is likely they’ll have one default funding option only meaning you will not be in a position to establish if that option is best for you. We always look across the green funding market to find the best options based on the client’s project and requirement. We have examples whereby doing this optimisation of best-fit funding options we’ve identified up to £230,000 of additional lifetime savings for clients above and beyond a default funding option.
3. Do you act as a commercial lead or just a technical provider?
Who’s looking after your business case? With so much at stake if the business case isn’t optimised, not having a finger on the pulse about what can go wrong and where benefits can be eroded can seriously cost you.
4. Is your design optimised for savings or installation efficiency?
Some designs are easiest to install. Others deliver the best financial return. Even worse, some can be designed with the installer’s profitability in mind which is seldom in your best interests.
5. Can you demonstrate past success in energy-intensive sectors?
A track record in your sector matters especially if your usage patterns are complex. A data-driven analytical approach to benefits optimisation is the only way to make the most of these opportunity filled projects.
6. What happens after install? Who coordinates funders, compliance and performance?
Post-installation chaos is real; you want a partner who stays to deliver on the potential value the project offers.
7. Are you incentivised to maximise my ROI or just sell hardware?
If the installer only earns from installation, you might be getting a solution that works but not one that performs. We stake our reputation on projects that outperform what others would achieve so we go all in to deliver the strongest possible benefits case for you.
Want help making the right call?
We offer a free feasibility study that models your site’s potential, compares funding options, and outlines how to make the most commercially sound decision before you commit to any installer or proposed solution.
Read our full guide on what most commercial solar installation companies miss and how we ensure your best interests are served.
OR
Speak to us about the importance of thinking carefully about optimising the benefits from renewable energy and aligning the project to your commercial interests.
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