Find the Best Solar Companies Near You

Start by filtering our directory to your state and the service you need, then read verified client reviews. Top Solar Services vets every listed company through a human-led verification process — look for the "Verified" or "Premier Verified" badge. Cross-check the contractor's state license at your state licensing board, confirm their NABCEP certification at nabcep.org, and call two or three of the recent project references we display on their profile page.

A solar installation company designs, permits, and installs solar photovoltaic systems, handles utility interconnection, and typically provides ongoing warranty support. Many also offer battery storage, EV charger installation, microinverter and optimizer retrofits, monitoring portal setup, and main service panel upgrades as part of a complete package. A well-run installer also coordinates with the local authority having jurisdiction on permits and inspections so the homeowner is not stuck managing paperwork.

A typical 6 kW–10 kW residential solar system costs $15,000–$30,000 before incentives, or roughly $2.50–$3.50 per watt installed depending on equipment tier and roof complexity. The federal residential solar tax credit (Section 25D) expired December 31, 2025, so homeowners can no longer claim the 30% ITC on a direct-purchase residential install. Solar leases and PPAs (third-party owned systems) may still benefit from the commercial 48E credit passed through by the system owner. State rebates, utility performance-based incentives, property-tax exemptions, and net-metering credits remain widely available and meaningfully change payback.

Look for NABCEP certification, a valid state contractor license in the relevant trade (electrical or general), proof of at least $1M general liability insurance plus workers' compensation, a 10+ year written workmanship warranty, and recent verified reviews from customers in your area. Ask for a copy of their standard contract before signing — a reputable installer will share it on request, including the production guarantee, the cancellation window, and what triggers warranty service calls.

Physical installation usually takes 1–3 days for a residential rooftop system. From contract signing to utility permission-to-operate (PTO), expect 4–12 weeks total depending on your state, utility, HOA, and whether structural engineering is required. Battery storage and main panel upgrades add 1–4 weeks. Clear weather, an existing roof in good condition, and a cooperative HOA shorten that window significantly.

Installation companies design and mount new solar systems. Removal companies temporarily take down existing panels — typically for roof replacement, home sales, hurricane preparation, or system relocation — and often reinstall them afterward. Removal-and-reinstall is a distinct skill set: it requires careful labeling of wiring runs, safe storage of panels and racking, and re-commissioning of the inverter and monitoring after the panels go back up. Hire a removal specialist if your original installer is no longer in business.

Most reputable installers bundle three warranties: a panel manufacturer warranty (typically 25 years on power output), an inverter warranty (10–25 years depending on whether it's a string inverter or microinverter), and their own workmanship warranty (5–25 years) covering installation defects and roof penetration leaks. Always confirm workmanship terms in writing and ask which warranties transfer to a new homeowner if you sell the property.

Ask for their state contractor license number and verify it with your state licensing board, request their NABCEP certification number and check it at nabcep.org, confirm their general liability and workers' compensation insurance certificates name your address as the project site, and ask for references from at least three recent installs of similar size in your area. A trustworthy installer will provide all of this within a business day.

Cash purchase typically delivers the best lifetime return and is the only structure where you fully own the system and any state-level incentives. Solar loans preserve cash flow and let the loan payment be offset by avoided utility bills, but only work if the interest rate is reasonable (currently 7–10% for prime borrowers) and there is no large dealer fee buried in the financed amount. Leases and PPAs require zero down and shift performance risk to the lessor, but they do not transfer easily on a home sale and the lifetime savings are smaller. Get at least one cash quote so you can compare apples to apples.

Net metering credits the kilowatt-hours your panels send back to the grid against the kilowatt-hours you draw at night. The credit value, the rollover policy (monthly vs. annual), and whether new applicants are eligible at all vary state by state and even by utility. Several states have moved from full retail net metering to net billing or avoided-cost rates in recent years, which lengthens payback. Ask any installer for an honest sample bill projection using your actual utility, not a national average.

A standard grid-tied solar system shuts down during a utility outage to protect line workers — without a battery, you do not have backup power. To keep critical loads running you need a battery storage system or a hybrid inverter with a generator inlet. Most installers can quote either option as part of the original design or as a retrofit; ask whether the battery is whole-home, partial-home (critical loads only), or AC-coupled to an existing system.

A properly installed solar array does not damage a sound roof and most reputable installers warrant their roof penetrations for 10–25 years. The risk is installing solar on a roof with less than 10 years of life left — you would face the cost of a removal-and-reinstall during a future re-roof. Ask the installer to inspect the roof condition before quoting, and if your roof is near end of life, replace it first or use a single integrated contractor who handles both the roof and the install with a unified warranty.