Renewable power sources are still struggling for their rightful place in the modern economy, but serious strides have been made over the last few decades. As the consciousness about global warming and its consequences spread across the world, more and more people are adopting “green” lifestyles and technology. Of all the renewable power sources which are promising to make an impact in the immediate future, harnessing solar power seems to be the most promising and the most logical – after all, we are talking about, in human terms, the endless and the most omnipresent type of energy on planet Earth. With that in mind, if you have ambition and your eyes are fixed on the future, here are cost-effective things you need to know about starting a solar energy business.
Start with priorities
If you want to save money when starting any business, you need to sort out your priorities in terms of items you need. For example, if you plan to start a solar panel business, you need to find the most reasonably sized rental space for the best price (try the outskirts of the town for the most opportune price range), small solar displays, as well as solar panels and all the accompanying equipment. Don’t fret about a flashy storefront or an opportune location for your establishment – since we live in the twenty-first century, a good marketing strategy will do most of the “heavy lifting” for you. More on that later down the line…
Tools of the trade
If you want to kick-start a solar panel business, you have to be properly equipped to handle any situation in the field. On the one hand, you need craft-specific equipment, such as apps and devices that will calculate the appropriate information related to magnetic declination and certain power tools which are tailored for solar panel installation. On the other hand, you will also need to create a “toolbox” of your regular tools which are used by repairmen in the field every day. This is the part where you can save a lot of money – as most of these tools can already be found in every household, and more often than not, they simply collect dust. Also, you need to think about terrain logistics – find a properly sized van and a reliable scaffolding rental, some ropes, and always have several exterior light stands packed and ready for use.
The marketing strategies
Once you get all the material stuff you need, you have to think about the most cost-effective ways to promote your trade. For many businesses, a good location used to guarantee success, but the times have changed, especially when it comes to prolific and specific business such as solar panel installation. You do not need to rent an expensive space downtown; instead, you need to fight for your presence in another field altogether – the internet. The great advantage of the digital age is that you can actually create your own “guerilla marketing” campaign on social networks, and the quality of your business practices will feed into it. In other words, you can raise awareness about your solar energy services without spending a dime.
Business at home
Another convenient method to start a solar energy business with a cost-effective strategy is to actually establish it in your home – it has actually become quite a trend lately. Furthermore, you can install solar panels on your house yourself and adopt the green living strategies which you promote. Then, you can actually market “promotional” tours of your home in order to demonstrate the advantages of solar panels and the harnessing of renewable energy sources.
With a bit of money on the side, you can spruce up your household and, essentially, you can have a marketing strategy, a business strategy and the headquarters of your business, all folded into one. The additional upside is that, since you will live in a moderately (if not completely) self-sustained household, you will also save up money on the side from electrical bills. It’s a win-win situation altogether. The only possible downside is that you will lose a certain degree of privacy, which can present an issue if you have a large family.
Solar power is an umbrella term that has many niches, and new technologies which utilize this type of raw energy are springing up every day. It is our best bet for a clean and healthy future, and therefore, many avid entrepreneurs are looking into solar technologies for a way to develop their promising business and have a positive impact on their immediate environment and the world. However, just like with any other business, one has to invest a sizeable capital in order to kick-start it, so it’s quite useful to have at least several cost-effective tricks up your sleeve.
