Solar contracts run 10-25 years on financing and warranties — which means the company's staying power matters almost as much as their price.
Verify active licensing directly
Every state requires some form of contractor or electrical licensing for solar installation. Don't take a company's word for it — look up their license number directly on your state's contractor licensing board website, which will show license status, any disciplinary actions, and bonding/insurance status.
Check how long they've operated locally
National solar brands sometimes operate through a rotating cast of regional subcontractors or dealer networks, meaning the "installer" name on your contract may have only existed locally for a short time even if the parent brand is well known. Ask directly: how many systems has this specific local branch installed, and for how many years has this entity been operating under this name?
Read warranty-claim reviews, not just installation reviews
Installation-day reviews tend to be uniformly positive across the industry — the real signal is in reviews specifically describing what happened when something needed a warranty fix months or years later. Search review platforms with terms like "warranty," "repair," or "still waiting" alongside the company name.
Ask about the workmanship warranty backstop
If a smaller regional installer goes out of business, your equipment warranties (from the panel and inverter manufacturers) generally still apply since they're backed by the manufacturer, not the installer. Your workmanship warranty — covering the installer's own labor — typically does not survive the company closing, unless they participate in a manufacturer-backed installer protection program. Ask directly whether they do.
Get everything in writing before deposit
- Exact panel and inverter make/model
- Written first-year production estimate in kWh
- All three warranty terms (product, performance, workmanship) with specific year counts
- Total price broken out from any financing terms
- Estimated permitting-to-completion timeline specific to your city
A legitimate installer will have no hesitation providing all of this in writing before you commit.
Not financial, tax, or legal advice. Figures on this page are 2026 estimates based on industry aggregator data (EnergySage marketplace medians, SEIA/Wood Mackenzie market insight, and regional installer data) and are provided for general informational and comparison purposes only. Actual pricing, incentive eligibility, and payback periods depend on your specific roof, usage, equipment, and local program rules. Confirm current incentive details at dsireusa.org and consult a licensed tax professional and local installers before making a purchase decision.