starting a photovoltaic business

[danny7299]

so then chaps , i am currently looking at the options in setting up a photovoltaic business.

if I'm right in thinking , i have to go and do a course I.e with the NICEIC to learn how to install commission etc. then become Registrar with the MCS , Also Possible to do thorough the NICEIC.

What i am wondering , is , does any one on here install photovoltaic systems? if so could you tell me a bit more about the business, How much are the panels , what amount of staff do you need to install, what is the profit margins? how much is an average domestic Job? Is there any specialist equipment needed ? Scaffold , Cherry Picker? etc

Any info would be great

Many thanks

 

[binky]

Simple enough to set up kit etc etc, but be warned the barstewards want a full ISO9000 type document system - which is firkin annoying for a small business like mine, for which this level of Quality mangement is completly inappropiate - I should know I am a certified ISO9000 lead Auditor from my previous career in engineering.

I am in the process of re-doing Quality plan etc etc over the next week or so. If you decide to go ahead, PM me and cross my palm with beer vouchers Guinness

Other than that shop around, ther'splenty of info on internet.

 

[danny7299]

Cheer for that Binky , So basically there is a hell off a lot of paper work that goes with it? ha ha Something for the Mrs to do then he he... I think what i am trying to determine more than anything is set up costs , and the amount of return per job, How easily assessable the products are. and staffing , i.e employing a Roofer , Scaffolding etc

 

[steptoe]

danny, seems quite a few/some people are simply setting up businesses as supply chains and job generators and getting MCS reg sparks to do the installs,

dunno if this interests you in either department,(either install or supply), but it would kinda half your paper workload until it is all up and turning over a perhaps decent income in its own right.

 

[danny7299]

cheers Steptoe ... Thats certanly worth looking into , i guess its just trying to find a company that is doing that... you know of any ?

 

[steptoe]

I thought in OP you were wanting to set one up????????

 

[danny7299]

i am ... but im just looking at all the options , it may be worth working under another company first providing the labour, seeing how they do things then setting one up myself....

 

[steptoe]

are you going to do MCS then first?

if you are just providing labour chances are you are never going to find out about the paper trail side of things, they will most likely just give you a vanload of gear and send you to an address.

you may also hit some difficulties in intellectual property somewhere if you are found to be doing this with intent.

 

[danny7299]

yes i was going to become MCS bit first then get the ball rolling , I think you would be right with the IP bit, i would set somthing like that up if that we me, so i guess the other company would as well.

Its just hard trying to find out costings for the jPV Job and trying to work out how much labour and profit is on the job , it may be worth going on the MCS course and trying to get all the info off that ....

 

[WarrenG]

I jumped through the hoops last year, doing the competent course, research and started to create a divison of my business.

Its really not rocket science but the hurdles are finding customers that are willing to part with their cash in order to present a job for your MCS accreditation. Bit of a catch '22'.

Either way it will be an expense, even if you bought kit for your own property for the MCS bit.

I started to produce the mountain of paperwork for the MCS assessment whilst trying to get some customers to part with some cash.

Thats is as far as I have personally took it because to my surprise the interest didn't seem to be there as much as I thought it would be. And I have been following PV for a long time.

I have a good set of customers but the responces I got back from the ones who I really though would be excited about PV switched off straight away at the inital outlay or the length of period for the payback.

One commercial catering customer of mine who has an ideal big unit for PV quoted 'I'm 60 years of age, by the time the payback comes, I'll be in the south of France'.

So to sum it up, I believe the PV market is more a niche targeted audience between set age groups, with a big disposable incomes.

If you are interested in having a go at PV, I would certainly recommend dangling a few carrots first to gauge the feedback.

I would like to think that it will kick off eventually, but thats all I have heard for a long time. :yawn

I recently read that the FIT's are going to be reviewed sooner than planned. headbang

 

[danny7299]

Cheers All for the information , it somthing to mull over, ....

 

[steptoe]

outlay should be returned in <10years on a decent domestic system,

not many banks will give that sort of return guaranteed for 25 years,at the present rate of generation units + FITs it stands at +8%.

 

[binky]

Danny, I don't know what your background is, but if you are a sparky, then there is a good market for PV with good margins for installing. As far as supplying gear goes, there are so many chancers jumping on the bandwagon that I wouldn't go there. It's over supplied all ready. The paperwork isn't unsurmountable, just a pain. I am very much promoting my business as an established outfit and not a fly-by-night start-up, having already established a good business over many years. I believe this will hold me in a better position than 'others' and makes for better marketing and hopefully returns on my investment. Currently this runs at about