Honest scope first: what we do and don't do
We do small commercial. Shops, offices, workshops, farm buildings, storage units and small business premises — typically 10–50kWp systems on three-phase supplies. The same survey-first, fixed-price approach we use on homes, scaled up.
We don't do large industrial. Big warehouse and factory roofs need structural engineering sign-off, detailed grid studies and principal contractor arrangements — that's a different kind of company, and we'd rather tell you that upfront than learn on your roof. If your project is at that scale, we'll say so at the first conversation and point you in the right direction.
Why solar makes more sense for a business than a house
Most homes use their electricity in the evening, when the sun's gone. Most businesses use it 9–5, exactly when the panels are generating. That means a far higher share of what you generate gets used on-site rather than exported — and self-used electricity is worth roughly double exported electricity. Payback periods on commercial systems are typically shorter than domestic for exactly this reason.
Three-phase supply: the first thing we check
Most commercial premises have a three-phase supply, which comfortably supports larger inverters and bigger arrays. But not all do — and supply capacity is the single most common thing that changes a commercial solar design. It's the first thing we check at survey, before anyone talks system sizes, and we handle the DNO application (G98 or G99) as part of every job.
The money side, honestly
- VAT: the 0% VAT rate applies to residential installs only — commercial installations are standard-rated. If your business is VAT registered, you'll typically reclaim it as input VAT in the normal way.
- Capital allowances: solar equipment generally qualifies for capital allowances, which can significantly reduce the net cost. Your accountant will confirm what applies to your business — we'll provide the itemised invoice they need.
- Export income: surplus generation earns export payments, though for most businesses the bigger win is simply buying less daytime electricity.
What a job looks like
- Site survey — roof condition, supply capacity, usage profile from your bills or half-hourly data.
- Fixed quote — system design, realistic generation figures against your actual daytime usage, and payback maths you can hand to your accountant.
- Installation — scheduled around your trading hours where we can; most small commercial installs take 2–5 days.
- Handover — certification, DNO paperwork, monitoring set up, and export registration guidance.
Farms and rural businesses: agricultural buildings are often ideal — big unshaded roofs, daytime loads, and space for future battery storage. If that's you, mention it when you enquire.