Blog Updated: June 2026
Businesses across the country are discovering the benefits of solar energy, including an attractive return on investment (ROI), increased property value, and a clean source of electricity. If you’re ready to see what solar looks like for your commercial property, the first step is to reach out to a local installer like Namaste Solar for a solar consultation. We will be able to provide you with a detailed solar project proposal and answer any solar questions you have.
When you receive indicative solar project proposals, there are many factors to consider. Each solar consultation comes with different assumptions, equipment, and scopes of work. Below are a few considerations to help you evaluate your solar project proposals with tips for how to identify a reliable solar partner.
Key Considerations for Assessing Your Commercial Solar Project Proposal
- Are they a local company with detailed knowledge of local regulations and incentives?
- Experience matters. How long have they been in business? Who has the company worked with?
- A quality contractor uses quality equipment. Look for a solar company that only utilizes tier 1 equipment manufacturers to ensure the quality of your solar system.
- How do they model their financial projections? Are they typically conservative or aggressive in their assumptions?
- What escalation rate was used for modelled utility savings? The lifetime value of your commercial solar system will be strongly affected by the future cost of energy from utilities.
- Are you comparing apples to apples? A cash deal will never present the same as a financed deal. More importantly, return on investment (ROI) is merely a snapshot of economic viability.
- Does the company have dedicated service teams? Are there licensed electricians on staff? Are operations and maintenance services included in your contract?
Experience Matters
How long has the company been in business, and what clients have they worked with? Namaste Solar started in 2005 and has been a Front Range Colorado company ever since. Our project portfolio includes large projects like the Colorado State University portfolio totaling 4.2 MW of solar power across 20 sites down to smaller systems we’ve installed for non-profits, like the 102 kW system we completed for Women’s Bean Project. Our team installed ground-mount arrays, rooftop arrays, and carport systems.
Equipment
A quality contractor uses quality equipment. Namaste Solar only utilizes equipment from tier 1 manufacturers to ensure the quality of your solar system. Also, consider whether the solar contractor is tied to a single solar panel vendor or if they have the flexibility to choose the best panels for your specific project needs.
Project Scope
Carefully review what is included in your solar proposal. A turnkey solar project, like those provided by Namaste Solar, will include design, engineering, permit and utility coordination, procurement, installation, roof warranty coordination, preventative maintenance, and workership warranty. Partnering with a turnkey installer will save you money and hassle in the long term.
Rigor of Modeling
An in-depth financial analysis begins with robust utility analysis, capacity assessments, and solar energy production modeling. While many of these inputs are easily known – like roof space and historic energy usage – others are informed by years of project experience. When talking to a solar company, ask about how they model projections. Are their projections generally conservative or aggressive? Namaste Solar has a reputation for value-engineering systems to provide you with the best ROI.
Where Are They Based?
Are they a local company with detailed knowledge of local regulations and incentives? Namaste Solar only operates in Colorado. We know the ins and outs of the local market. Remember, you are choosing a long-term partner for your two- to three- decade solar asset.
Utility Escalator
The lifetime value of your commercial solar system will be strongly affected by the future cost of energy from utilities. Each kilowatt hour (kWh) of solar energy your system generates is one less kWh that you buy from the utility company, and as utility costs increase, the value of energy from solar increases, too. Namaste Solar uses energy cost projections from the Energy Information Administration, a data set collected in Colorado for over the last 15 years.
Return on Investment Analysis
Are you comparing apples to apples? For example, a cash deal will never present the same as a financed deal. More importantly, return on investment (ROI) is merely a snapshot of economic viability. Complex internal rate of return (IRR) analysis with dozens of variables is needed to properly assess the viability of your solar project, so beware of any simple ROI analysis with only four or five variables.
Service and Maintenance
Does the company have dedicated service teams? Are there licensed electricians on staff? Are operations and maintenance (O&M) services included in your contract? Namaste Solar is known for our experienced O&M team, and we are a local company that will be a stable, long-term partner for your solar project.
Get Your Free Solar Project Proposal
Namaste Solar’s purpose is to transform energy and transform business. Our experienced solar advisers will work with you to understand your project goals, timelines, and milestones. Take a look at our extensive commercial experience and see how we measure up.
Contact one of our non-commissioned solar experts today to start a conversation by clicking the button below or giving us a call at 303-536-8920.
