There's no signup wall, no credit check, no payment up front. The conversation with Marcus takes five minutes. The whole process from first chat to system turned on takes 2–4 months — and most of that wait is permitting and utility interconnection, not anything we control.
You start with a conversation. Marcus, our AI solar advisor, asks about your roof, your average electric bill, what's blocking your south-facing exposure (if anything), what you actually want from solar, and how you'd want to finance it. It's not a form — it's a conversation, in your own words.
By the end, he'll have figured out which configuration likely fits (panels-only, panels + battery, etc.), an honest cost range, an estimated payback, and which a vetted solar partner matched to your case would be right for the job.
If solar makes sense, Marcus lays out the configuration, cost range, and payback. If solar doesn't make sense for your situation — renter, very low bill, fully shaded roof, roof needs replacing — he'll tell you plainly and point you to the alternatives that actually fit (community solar, weatherization, demand response programs).
This is the part most lead-gen sites won't do. We will, because telling you "don't bother" today builds the trust that gets you back here in three years when the situation changes.
If you opt to proceed, we send your case summary to a vetted solar partner in our network whose service area, finance options, and tier fit your situation. They follow up — usually within one business day — to schedule a site visit.
We don't sell your contact information to a marketing list. The partner who reaches out is the one we matched you to.
The installer comes to your home — typically a 45-minute visit. They look at your roof, your electrical panel, your meter, and your shading. They take measurements and photos. Then they go away and come back with a custom design and a real quote — itemized, with specific equipment model numbers, production estimates, and incentive credits.
Read the contract carefully. The FAQ has a list of what to look for and what to avoid. If anything looks off, message us and we'll help you read it.
Once you sign the installer's contract, they handle the permitting, HOA approval (if relevant), utility interconnection paperwork, and equipment ordering. This is the slow part — usually 6–12 weeks depending on jurisdiction. The actual install crew is on your roof for one to three days.
You don't pay us during this stage. You pay the installer directly, on their terms — usually a deposit, a payment on installation, and a final payment on Permission to Operate (PTO).
After install, the local AHJ (Authority Having Jurisdiction) inspects the work. The utility runs a separate interconnection inspection and issues Permission to Operate (PTO). At that point, your system is live and you start producing.
The installer's monitoring app shows daily and lifetime production. Your first true-up bill from the utility usually arrives 30–60 days after PTO and is the moment everything becomes real.
A note on what we earn: The Solar Brief is paid a flat fee per qualified introduction we send to our partner network — same fee regardless of which solar partner ends up doing the work or how big the project is. We're not paid at all if you don't proceed. That's deliberate. It means we have no incentive to push you to a bigger system than the one that actually fits your situation.