Free solar proposal template
A proposal needs six parts. This template has all six, filled in with a sample solar job so you can see how it reads. Download it, or write your own from a few typed notes.
What is in it
Typed by the solar installer: "8.4 kw system 21 panels 400w, string inverter, roof mount comp shingle, permit interconnection and utility app incl, no battery, roof in good shape confirmed"
- 8.4 kW rooftop system: 21 panels at 400 watts.
- String inverter.
- Roof mount on composition shingle.
- Permit, interconnection, and utility application included.
- No battery.
- Roof condition confirmed good before install.
Warranty: 10 years on workmanship, manufacturer warranty on panels and inverter
Deposit at signing: $2,150
Signature block: typed name, date, and the E-SIGN Act line.
Or fill it in from your notes
Type the job the way you would text it. It comes out in this format in about five seconds. No account needed.
30 days free, then $29 a month. No card to start.
Finished solar estimates to copy from
- Rooftop solar install estimate example, $21,500, 2 days on site, after permit and utility approval
- 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
How to use it
Replace the company block with yours, keep the structure, and write the scope as a short list of what you will do, one item per line. Put one total price on it. Add a timeline and payment terms every time. Date it and give it an expiry, usually 30 days.
The parts most solar installers leave out
- Payment terms. "10% deposit, 50% at equipment delivery, 40% at passed inspection" on the proposal means it is never a conversation at the end of the job.
- A valid-through date. Prices move. Without one, an old bid can be accepted months later.
- A way to accept on the spot. A printed PDF has to be signed, scanned, and emailed back, and plenty of customers put that off. A link they can tap and type their name on takes a minute.
What to fill in on a solar proposal
- System size in kW, panel count and model, inverter model
- Who handles the permit, the interconnection, and the utility paperwork
- Roof condition, and that a roof repair is a separate job
- Production estimate labeled as an estimate, and what it depends on
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.
Questions about solar estimates
What should a contractor estimate include?
Six parts: who it is from and who it is for, the scope of work as a short list, one total price, a timeline, payment terms with any deposit, and a way for the customer to accept. A warranty line and a valid-through date keep it from being argued over later.
Is an estimate legally binding?
Once the customer accepts it in writing, yes, for the scope and price on it. A typed name and e-signature on a phone counts under the E-SIGN Act. A number texted back and forth is much harder to hold anyone to.
Can I use this template as is?
Yes. Download the PDF, replace the company block with yours, and keep the structure. Or type your own job below and it is laid out for you in a few seconds.
Can I offer a battery as an option?
Yes. Add it as a second package on the same proposal. The customer picks and signs.
Can I attach the layout drawing?
Yes. Photos and documents go on the proposal so the customer sees what the permit office saw.
Or skip the template
BidWriter Pro turns notes like "8.4 kw system 21 panels 400w, string inverter, roof mount comp shingle, permit interconnection and utility app incl, no battery, roof in good shape confirmed" into this proposal, sends it by text or email, collects the deposit by card when the customer accepts, and follows up if they go quiet. Free for 30 days, no card. See how it works for solar installers or open the sample your customer would see.
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