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Rooftop solar install estimate example
The production number is the one customers remember. Label it as an estimate and say what it depends on.
"8.4 kw 21 panels 400w, string inverter, roof mount comp shingle south and west, permit interconnection utility app incl, no battery, roof confirmed good, production est 11,500 kwh/yr"
Example figures for a typical rooftop solar install job. Not a quote. Every line on the estimate came from the notes above. Nothing was added.
What to spell out on a rooftop solar install bid
- System size, panel count and wattage, inverter type and model.
- Who files what: permit, interconnection, utility, and any incentive paperwork.
- That the production figure is an estimate and what it assumes.
- That a roof repair is a separate job and the roof was looked at first.
Do not let the production number read like a promise. Label it an estimate, say what it assumes, and put the equipment warranty terms next to your labor warranty.
The parts of this estimate
- Scope of work. 7 lines, one thing each, in the order the work happens. What is not included is on the list too.
- One price. $21,500. Not a formula, not a range. The scope explains the number.
- Timeline. 2 days on site, after permit and utility approval. Including dry time, cure time, or permit time, so the customer plans around it.
- Payment terms. 10% deposit, 50% at equipment delivery, 40% at passed inspection. The $2,150 deposit is paid by card when they sign.
- Warranty. 10 years on workmanship, manufacturer warranty on panels and inverter.
- A way to accept. The customer types their name and signs with a finger on their phone. Legally binding under the E-SIGN Act, and recorded with the date, time, and the exact estimate they agreed to.
Questions solar installers ask about this bid
Should the production estimate be on the bid?
Yes, with the word estimate next to it and the assumptions under it. Leaving it off invites the customer to use a number from somewhere else.
Why three payments?
Equipment is the big cost and arrives before install. Tie the middle payment to delivery and the last to the passed inspection.
Is this a real quote?
No. The numbers are example figures for a typical job so you can see how a complete estimate reads. Your price is yours.
Can my customer sign this on their phone?
Yes. An estimate sent from BidWriter Pro opens as a link. The customer reads it, types their name, signs with a finger, and pays the deposit by card. You get an alert when they open it and when they sign.
Write your own rooftop solar install estimate
Type the job the way you would text it. It comes out like the one above, in about five seconds. No account needed.
30 days free, then $29 a month. No card to start. Solar estimate template · BidWriter Pro for solar installers
More solar estimate examples
- Battery add-on estimate example, $14,200, 2 days, after permit
- Panel removal and reinstall for a roof estimate example, $4,100, 1 day off, 1 day on, scheduled around the roofer
Guides: what to include in an estimate · how to price a job · how to follow up · how much deposit to ask for · the warranty line
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