Are you terrified of global warming destroying the planet?
We don’t exactly have a cheerful outlook for the future of Earth. As we approach the point of no return for global warming, most people are getting the sense that we really screwed up by ignoring climate change for so long.
Well, we’re here to tell you that you can still do your part. The solar power industry is growing rapidly and there’s plenty of room to get in on this wonderful renewable energy trend.
In this article, we’ll give you some advice on starting a solar panel business and what you’ll need to know to set yourself apart from the local competition.
Let’s get started.
Starting a Solar Panel Business
When you start a solar panel business, there are things you need to sort out immediately and other things you can sort out long term. Here we’ll look at the logistical side of setting up a business.
Figure Out Your Niche
The first thing you should try to figure out is your niche. Are you a seller of solar panels and equipment? Do you install them? Do you do repairs?
Narrow down your focus instead of promoting yourself as a broad, do-it-all entity. This will help you set yourself apart. If you’re undecided, do some research into other solar panel businesses in your area. Either find a hole in the market that you can occupy or an area that you think you can improve upon.
Licensing & Setup
After you’ve decided on business to move forward with, you’ll probably need to look into licensing. Not every state will require it, but some might need you to have an electrician’s license. More and more states have opted in on a “solar contractors license” instead of the traditional electrician or plumbers license.
If you’re buying a franchise, you’ll have to get a tax ID number from the IRS and look into any seller’s permits that your state might require you to have. If you’re planning on hiring employees, then you need to set up payroll, insurance, and tax paperwork. Check out this create pay stub site for help with payroll.
Promotion
Once you’ve got all of the logistics of starting a new business sorted out, you should look at creating a website and focus your attention on digital marketing and content creation. Using local SEO will help you get noticed if your city is crowded with solar panel businesses.
Do some research and use relevant keywords on all of your landing pages so that searches will point to your site. Make sure to always draw attention to your location, your services, and your rates when optimizing your site.
Once your page is live, use social media and blog posts to bring new users to your site. With a solar panel business, you can gear your social media accounts to people that want to make a difference with global warming but aren’t sure how to do it. You can gain customers for life if you appeal to their inner activist.
Start Saving the Planet
Once your business is set up and your website is live, you can start saving the planet one solar panel at a time. Starting a solar panel business is a great way to make money while being passionate about something positive.