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Free proposal Template

Solar Proposal Template

Solar installation proposal template including system design, savings analysis, and financing options.

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# Residential Solar PV System Proposal

**[Company Name]** — NABCEP Certified Solar Installer
**License #:** [State] | **Insured:** $[X]M GL | NABCEP PV Installation Professional
**Authorized dealer/installer for:** [Tesla, Enphase, SolarEdge, etc.]

---

**Date:** _______________ | **Proposal #:** SOL-[YYYY-MM-NNN] | **Valid for:** 45 days

## 1. Customer Information

**Customer:** _______________________________ **Phone:** _______________
**Service address:** _______________________________________
**Utility provider:** _______________________________
**Net metering policy:** ☐ Full retail credit  ☐ Avoided cost  ☐ Time-of-use  ☐ Other

## 2. Energy Usage Analysis

### Current consumption
- Average monthly usage: _____ kWh
- Annual usage: _____ kWh
- Average monthly bill: $_____
- Annual electricity cost: $_____
- Rate plan: ☐ Tiered  ☐ Time-of-use  ☐ Demand
- Peak rate: $_____ /kWh  | Off-peak: $_____ /kWh

### Future considerations
- [ ] EV purchase planned (adds ~3,500 kWh/year)
- [ ] Heat pump conversion (adds ~3,000-5,000 kWh/year)
- [ ] Pool / hot tub additions
- [ ] System sized to cover: _____% of current usage / _____% projected usage

## 3. Site Assessment

### Roof condition
- **Age:** _____ years
- **Material:** ☐ Asphalt shingle  ☐ Tile  ☐ Metal  ☐ Flat (TPO/EPDM)
- **Remaining life:** _____ years (we recommend replacing roof before solar if <10 years remaining)
- **Pitch:** _____ degrees
- **Orientation:** ☐ S  ☐ SE  ☐ SW  ☐ E  ☐ W  ☐ N (not recommended)

### Shading analysis
- Tool used: ☐ SunEye 210  ☐ Aurora design  ☐ Helioscope  ☐ Solmetric
- Annual TSRF (Total Solar Resource Fraction): _____% (90%+ optimal)
- Shading sources: ☐ Trees (consider trimming)  ☐ Adjacent buildings  ☐ Chimney  ☐ Vents

### Structural / electrical
- Roof rafter spec: _____ × _____ at _____ inches OC
- Engineer letter required? ☐ Yes  ☐ No (depends on AHJ)
- Main panel: _____ amps with _____ spaces available
- Service upgrade needed? ☐ Yes  ☐ No
- Backfeed capacity: per NEC 705.12 (typically 120% rule)

## 4. System Design

### Components

**Solar modules:**
- Manufacturer: ☐ REC  ☐ Q CELLS  ☐ Panasonic  ☐ Silfab  ☐ LG  ☐ Other: _____
- Model: _____
- Wattage: _____ W per panel
- Quantity: _____ panels
- **System size: _____ kW DC**
- Tier 1 manufacturer (bankable, 25-year warranty)
- 25-year linear performance warranty
- 25-year product warranty

**Inverter system:**
- ☐ String inverter (SolarEdge HD-Wave w/ optimizers, Fronius)
- ☐ Microinverters (Enphase IQ8+, IQ8M)
- ☐ Hybrid inverter for battery backup (Tesla, SolarEdge Energy Hub, Sol-Ark)
- Manufacturer: _____  | Model: _____
- 25-year warranty (microinverters) / 12-25 yr (string)

**Battery storage (optional):**
- ☐ Not included
- ☐ Tesla Powerwall 3 (13.5 kWh)
- ☐ Enphase IQ Battery 5P / 10
- ☐ FranklinWH (15 kWh)
- ☐ Sol-Ark + LFP battery
- Quantity: _____ units | Total capacity: _____ kWh
- Backup configuration: ☐ Whole home  ☐ Critical loads only

**Racking:**
- Manufacturer: ☐ IronRidge  ☐ Unirac  ☐ S-5! (metal roof)
- 25-year warranty
- Flashing compatible with existing roof type

### Production estimate

| Period | Production (kWh) | Offset (%) |
|---|---|---|
| Year 1 | _____ | _____% |
| Year 25 (cumulative) | _____ | _____% |

## 5. Financial Analysis

### System cost

| Item | Cost |
|---|---|
| Solar modules (_____ qty) | $_____ |
| Inverter / microinverters | $_____ |
| Battery (if included) | $_____ |
| Racking, wiring, BOS | $_____ |
| Labor & installation | $_____ |
| Permits & inspections | $_____ |
| Engineering letter (if required) | $_____ |
| Interconnection fee | $_____ |
| **Gross cost** | **$_____** |
| Federal solar tax credit (30%) | -$_____ |
| State/utility rebates: _____ | -$_____ |
| **Net cost after incentives** | **$_____** |

### Cost per watt
- Gross: $_____ /W
- Net (after 30% federal credit): $_____ /W

### Savings projection

| Year | Annual electricity savings | Cumulative savings |
|---|---|---|
| 1 | $_____ | $_____ |
| 5 | $_____ | $_____ |
| 10 | $_____ | $_____ |
| 25 | $_____ | $_____ |

**Payback period:** _____ years
**25-year ROI:** _____%

### Financing options
- ☐ Cash (best ROI, no interest)
- ☐ Solar loan: _____ years @ _____% APR (Sunlight Financial, Mosaic, GoodLeap)
- ☐ HELOC (use your existing equity)
- ☐ PPA/Lease (we recommend OWNERSHIP for tax credit + max ROI)

## 6. Project Timeline

| Phase | Duration |
|---|---|
| Contract signing → Design finalization | 1-2 weeks |
| Permit submission | 2-6 weeks (varies by AHJ) |
| Equipment delivery | 2-4 weeks |
| Installation | 1-3 days |
| Inspection (city/county) | 1-2 weeks |
| Utility interconnection | 2-8 weeks |
| **Total timeline to "Permission to Operate" (PTO):** | **6-20 weeks** |

## 7. Warranties

| Component | Warranty |
|---|---|
| Solar modules | 25-year product + 25-year linear performance |
| Microinverters | 25-year (Enphase) |
| String inverters | 12 years standard, extendable to 25 |
| Battery | 10-year warranty (typical) |
| Racking | 25-year limited |
| Workmanship (us) | 10-year roof penetration warranty + 10-year system workmanship |
| Roof tie-in | Roof leak repair if caused by our installation |

## 8. What's Included

✓ Site survey and engineering
✓ Permitting (city + utility interconnection)
✓ All equipment listed above
✓ Installation labor
✓ Inspection scheduling
✓ Utility application coordination
✓ Monitoring system setup (lifetime free monitoring)
✓ Customer training on system + monitoring app

## 9. What's NOT Included

- Roof replacement or repairs (recommend separate roofing contractor if needed)
- Electrical service upgrade (if required, priced separately)
- Tree trimming for shade reduction
- Battery additions after initial install
- EV charger installation (offered as add-on)

## 10. Signatures

**Customer:**
Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
Printed: _________________________

**Solar Contractor:**
Signature: _________________________ Date: __________
NABCEP Certification #: _________________________

---

*30-year warranty workmanship available — ask about premium service package.*
*All systems include lifetime free monitoring via Enphase Enlighten / SolarEdge mySolarEdge.*

What's Included

This solar proposal template includes 7 pre-built sections:

  • 1. Energy usage analysis
  • 2. System design & specs
  • 3. Production estimates
  • 4. Financial savings projection
  • 5. Equipment specifications
  • 6. Installation timeline
  • 7. Warranties & monitoring

How to Use This Template

  1. 1
    Download the format you prefer.

    Word (.docx) for desktop editing, PDF for printing, Google Docs for cloud collaboration.

  2. 2
    Customize with your business info.

    Add your logo, business address, license number, and insurance information.

  3. 3
    Fill in project-specific details.

    Each section has placeholders showing what to include. Replace with your actual project info.

  4. 4
    Get signatures and store.

    Always get both parties to sign and date. Keep digital and printed copies.

How to use a proposal that actually works

A proposal is your first impression and your price defense in one document. The contractors who win more bids aren't always the cheapest — they're the ones whose proposal makes the scope, the exclusions, and the payment schedule impossible to misread. Vague proposals invite the "I thought that was included" fight later; a specific one prices the job and protects the margin at the same time.

Filling it out — what matters

  • Spell out the scope AND the exclusions. What you're not doing is as important as what you are — list it explicitly so change orders are obvious, not arguable.
  • Break out labor and materials separately. Lumping them into one number makes customers negotiate the total; itemizing lets you defend each line.
  • Put an expiration date on the price. Material costs move — "valid for 30 days" protects you from honoring a quote three months later.
  • Attach a payment schedule tied to milestones, not the calendar. Deposit, progress draws, and final payment on completion keep cash flow ahead of cost.

Common mistakes on a proposal

  • ✗ No exclusions section — the single biggest cause of scope disputes.
  • ✗ A total with no line-item breakdown, which turns every conversation into a haggle.
  • ✗ No expiration date, leaving you exposed to material price swings.
  • ✗ Missing signature and date blocks, so an accepted proposal isn't actually documented.

💡 Pro Tip: Graduate to Software

Templates work great for low-volume contractors. Once you're handling 10+ jobs/month, software like ServiceTitan or JobNimbus will save you 5-10 hours per week by auto-generating proposals from your project data.

See best Solar software →

Frequently Asked Questions

Is this Solar Proposal Template really free?

Yes — completely free, no email signup or paywall. Download in Word, PDF, or Google Docs format.

Can I customize this template?

Absolutely. Open in Word or Google Docs and edit all sections to fit your specific Solar business.

Is this legally binding once signed?

This is a general informational template, not legal advice. A properly completed, signed, and dated agreement can be enforceable, but contract law varies by state and trade. For any significant project, have a licensed attorney in your state review and adapt it for your business.

What software should I pair with this template?

Most Solar contractors graduate from templates to software like ServiceTitan when their volume exceeds 10-20 jobs/month.