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Written by: Carolyn Young
Carolyn Young is a business writer who focuses on entrepreneurial concepts and the business formation. She has over 25 years of experience in business roles, and has authored several entrepreneurship textbooks.
Edited by: David Lepeska
David has been writing and learning about business, finance and globalization for a quarter-century, starting with a small New York consulting firm in the 1990s.
Published on December 22, 2021
Investment range
$1,020,400 - $2,070,700
Revenue potential
$240,000 - $600,000 p.a.
Time to build
3 – 5 years
Profit potential
$216,000 - $540,000 p.a.
Industry trend
Growing
Commitment
Flexible
These are the key elements to think about when starting your solar farm:
Every business has pros and cons that you should consider before deciding if it’s right for you.
High Startup Costs – Building a farm costs $1M and up
Since the US instituted a major tax credit for solar projects in 2006, the US solar industry has grown 100-fold, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association.((https://www.seia.org/initiatives/solar-investment-tax-credit-itc))
In terms of trends, the storage capacity of solar batteries has increased in recent years, which helps stabilize the solar grid on your farm and reduce wasteful production. In addition, a rising number of US households are installing solar panels. Shipments of solar modules for residences increased a stunning 33% in 2020, according to the Energy Information Administration. Homeowners can also sell excess energy from their solar panels to the power company, as 40 states allow homeowners to do so.((https://www.eia.gov/todayinenergy/detail.php?id=49396))
Trends in solar farms include:
Challenges in solar farms include:
Startup costs for a solar farm range from $1 million to $2 million and more. The lower end is for a one-megawatt farm, which is the minimum you need for the power company to be interested, and assumes you already have 6-8 acres of land. The higher-end is for a two-megawatt farm and includes a down payment for the land purchase. If you instead decide to lease your land to a utility company, they will pay for the farm’s development and your costs will be next to nothing.
| Startup Costs | Ballpark Range | Average |
|---|---|---|
| Setting up a business name and corporation | $150 - $200 | $175 |
| Licenses and permits | $20,000 - $30,000 | $25,000 |
| Insurance | $250 - $500 | $375 |
| Land purchase down payment | $0 - $40,000 | $20,000 |
| Solar system installation | $1,000,000 - $2,000,000 | $1,500,000 |
| Total | $1,020,400 - $2,070,700 | $1,545,550 |
The per-acre profit of a solar farm runs between $20,000 and $40,000, with an average of $30,000. After costs your profit margin should be about 90%.
If you have a 20-acre property and you develop only eight acres into a solar farm, bringing in $30,000 per acre. Your annual revenue will be $240,000, and your profit will be $216,000. As you gain more customers, you could fully develop the entire 20 acres. You’ll be earning $600,000 in annual revenue and $540,000 in profit. You could expand your farm over time by using your profits to purchase more land and add to your grid, thus increasing your income substantially.
If you lease your land, you can probably earn $2,000 per acre per year. With 8 acres at $2,000 per acre, you’ll make $16,000 in annual revenue and at least $14,000 in profit. If you lease out the entire 20 acres, you’ll make $40,000 in annual revenue and $36,000 in profit. It’ll be a good source of passive income.
There are a few barriers to entry for a solar farm. Your biggest challenges will be:
Now that you know what’s involved in starting a solar farm, it’s a good idea to hone your concept in preparation to enter a competitive market.
Market research will give you the upper hand, even if you’re already positive that you have a perfect product or service. Conducting market research is important, because it can help you understand your customers better, who your competitors are, and your business landscape.
You should research whether your land is right for a solar farm. You should look for:
You need to determine if you want to lease your land or develop your solar farm. By leasing your farm, you can start with minimal cost, but make far less money. With a farm, your revenue potential is much higher, but your upfront costs are significant.
The price you charge for power will be dictated by how much the power company is willing to lease your land for. A good lease could mean $2,000 per acre per year. Strong revenue for a developed solar farm is $30,000 per acre per year.
Once you know your costs, you can use this our profit margin calculator to determine your mark-up and final price points. Remember, the prices you use at launch should be subject to change if warranted by the market.
Your target market will be power companies and solar developers. You should find them via internet search and contact them directly via phone or email.
The location of your solar farm is a critical factor in its success. Look for a location with plenty of sunlight, minimal shading, and adequate land availability. Consider the proximity to the power grid and transmission lines, as well as any regulatory requirements for solar farms in the area.
Additionally, assess the local demand for renewable energy and the potential market for your solar farm’s electricity. Consider the economic and political climate in the area, as well as any incentives or subsidies that may be available.
When selecting your location, consider factors such as access to water, soil quality, and any environmental considerations. The right location can help optimize your solar farm’s energy production and ensure the sustainability of your operation.
By carefully choosing the location of your solar farm, you can establish a profitable and sustainable business that contributes to the growth of renewable energy and helps combat climate change.
Here are some ideas for brainstorming your business name:
Once you’ve got a list of potential names, visit the website of the US Patent and Trademark Office to make sure they are available for registration and check the availability of related domain names using our Domain Name Search tool below. Using “.com” or “.org” sharply increases credibility, so it’s best to focus on these.
Finally, make your choice among the names that pass this screening and go ahead with domain registration and social media account creation. Your business name is one of the key differentiators that set your business apart. Once you pick your company name, and start with the branding, it is hard to change the business name. Therefore, it’s important to carefully consider your choice before you start a business entity.
Here are the key components of a business plan:
If you’ve never created a business plan, it can be an intimidating task. You might consider hiring a business plan specialist to create a top-notch business plan for you.
Registering your business is an absolutely crucial step — it’s the prerequisite to paying taxes, raising capital, opening a bank account, and other guideposts on the road to getting a business up and running.
Plus, registration is exciting because it makes the entire process official. Once it’s complete, you’ll have your own business!
Your business location is important because it can affect taxes, legal requirements, and revenue. Most people will register their business in the state where they live, but if you are planning to expand, you might consider looking elsewhere, as sunnier states could offer real advantages when it comes to solar farms.
If you’re willing to move, you could really maximize your business! Keep in mind, it’s relatively easy to transfer your business to another state.
Business entities come in several varieties, each with its pros and cons. The legal structure you choose for your solar farm will shape your taxes, personal liability, and business registration requirements, so choose wisely.
Here are the main options:
We recommend that new business owners choose LLC as it offers liability protection and pass-through taxation while being simpler to form than a corporation. You can form an LLC in as little as five minutes using an online LLC formation service. They will check that your business name is available before filing, submit your articles of organization, and answer any questions you might have.
Choose Your State
The final step before you’re able to pay taxes is getting an Employer Identification Number, or EIN. You can file for your EIN online or by mail or fax: visit the IRS website to learn more. Keep in mind, if you’ve chosen to be a sole proprietorship you can simply use your social security number as your EIN.
Once you have your EIN, you’ll need to choose your tax year. Financially speaking, your business will operate in a calendar year (January–December) or a fiscal year, a 12-month period that can start in any month. This will determine your tax cycle, while your business structure will determine which taxes you’ll pay.
The IRS website also offers a tax-payers checklist, and taxes can be filed online.
It is important to consult an accountant or other professional to help you with your taxes to ensure you are completing them correctly.
Securing financing is your next step and there are plenty of ways to raise capital:
Bank and SBA loans are probably the best options, other than friends and family, for funding a solar farm. You might also try crowdfunding if you have an innovative concept.
Starting a solar farm business requires obtaining a number of licenses and permits from local, state, and federal governments.
Solar farms are subject to strict review processes through federal, state, and local regulators. They also require permission from a power company. The process for approvals usually takes 3 to 5 years.
Federal regulations, licenses, and permits associated with starting your business include doing business as (DBA), health licenses and permits from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA), trademarks, copyrights, patents, and other intellectual properties, as well as industry-specific licenses and permits.
You may also need state-level and local county or city-based licenses and permits. The license requirements and how to obtain them vary, so check the websites of your state, city, and county governments or contact the appropriate person to learn more.
You could also check this SBA guide for your state’s requirements, but we recommend using MyCorporation’s Business License Compliance Package. They will research the exact forms you need for your business and state and provide them to ensure you’re fully compliant.
This is not a step to be taken lightly, as failing to comply with legal requirements can result in hefty penalties.
If you feel overwhelmed by this step or don’t know how to begin, it might be a good idea to hire a professional to help you check all the legal boxes.
Before you start making money you’ll need a place to keep it, and that requires opening a bank account.
Keeping your business finances separate from your personal account makes it easy to file taxes and track your company’s income, so it’s worth doing even if you’re running your solar farm as a sole proprietorship. Opening a business bank account is quite simple, and similar to opening a personal one. Most major banks offer accounts tailored for businesses — just inquire at your preferred bank to learn about their rates and features.
Banks vary in terms of offerings, so it’s a good idea to examine your options and select the best plan for you. Once you choose your bank, bring in your EIN (or Social Security Number if you decide on a sole proprietorship), articles of incorporation, and other legal documents and open your new account.
Business insurance is an area that often gets overlooked yet it can be vital to your success as an entrepreneur. Insurance protects you from unexpected events that can have a devastating impact on your business.
Here are some types of insurance to consider:
As opening day nears, prepare for launch by reviewing and improving some key elements of your business.
Being an entrepreneur often means wearing many hats, from marketing to sales to accounting, which can be overwhelming. Fortunately, many websites and digital tools are available to help simplify many business tasks.
You can use industry-specific software, such as quickbase, 3 megawatt, or enact, to manage your solar installation and measure energy generated.
Website development is crucial because your site is your online presence and needs to convince prospective clients of your expertise and professionalism.
You can create your own website using website builders. This route is very affordable, but figuring out how to build a website can be time-consuming. If you lack tech-savvy, you can hire a web designer or developer to create a custom website for your business.
Your clients are unlikely to find your website, however, unless you follow Search Engine Optimization (SEO) practices. These are steps that help pages rank higher in the results of top search engines like Google.
Here are some powerful marketing strategies for your future business:
Unique selling propositions, or USPs, are the characteristics of a product or service that sets it apart from the competition. Customers today are inundated with buying options, so you’ll have a real advantage if they are able to quickly grasp how your solar farm meets their needs or wishes. It’s wise to do all you can to ensure your USPs stand out on your website and in your marketing and promotional materials, stimulating buyer desire.
Global pizza chain Domino’s is renowned for its USP: “Hot pizza in 30 minutes or less, guaranteed.” Signature USPs for your solar farm could be:
If you’re starting out small from a home office, you may not need any employees. But as your business grows, you will likely need workers to fill various roles. Potential positions for a solar farm business would include:
At some point, you may need to hire all of these positions or simply a few, depending on the size and needs of your business. You might also hire multiple workers for a single role or a single worker for multiple roles, again depending on need.
Free-of-charge methods to recruit employees include posting ads on popular platforms such as LinkedIn, Facebook, or Jobs.com. You might also consider a premium recruitment option, such as advertising on Indeed, Glassdoor, or ZipRecruiter. Further, if you have the resources, you could consider hiring a recruitment agency to help you find talent.
Solar power is the future of energy and it’s good for the planet since it’s clean and renewable. By starting a solar farm, you’re doing your community a service and making money at the same time.
The US solar market is worth more than $11 billion and growing rapidly, which means your solar farm should provide sizable profits with little effort once it’s up and running. Alternatively, leasing your land for a solar farm costs essentially nothing but will add a nice stream of passive income. Now that you have the information you need, you’re ready to start building your solar empire!
If you develop a solar farm, once it’s up and running, you should make $30,000 per acre per year. If you lease your land for a solar farm, you can make $2,000 per acre per year.
You will need to contact federal, state, and local regulators to start the permitting and approval process, which can take 3 to 5 years. You will also need to contact the local power company for approval.
The general rule is 6 to 8 acres at minimum. This is enough to develop a 1-megawatt solar farm.
Conduct a thorough site assessment to determine the optimal location for installation, considering factors such as sunlight exposure, shading, and structural integrity. Follow manufacturer guidelines and industry standards for the installation process, including proper mounting, wiring, and electrical connections. Regularly inspect and clean the solar panels to remove dirt, dust, or debris that can reduce their efficiency.
Solar farms provide several environmental and sustainability benefits, including:
Best practices for managing and monitoring solar farm operations include regular maintenance and inspection of solar panels and equipment, monitoring energy production and system performance, implementing remote monitoring and control systems, establishing a preventive maintenance schedule, conducting periodic performance assessments and analysis, and providing staff training and education.
To assess the potential solar resource and energy production of a solar farm, you can conduct a solar resource assessment using historical solar irradiance data, perform a feasibility study including a site visit, and utilize solar modeling software or online tools that consider parameters like panel type, tilt angle, and shading.
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