To offer customer financing, a solar exit company enrolls with a point-of-sale financing partner, adds a branded application link to its quote or intake, and gets paid upfront while the client repays a lender in monthly payments.
Most homeowners who want out of a solar agreement do not have the cash to pay a buyout, a cancellation fee, or a removal all at once. That is why so many ready clients stall, and why offering a monthly payment is one of the most effective ways for a solar exit company to close more of them. You do not have to become a lender or build your own payment plan to do it.
Offering customer financing means giving your clients the option to pay in monthly installments through a third-party lender, rather than in one upfront payment. You present the option, the client applies, and once a lender funds the loan you collect your full fee upfront while the lender handles repayment. You are never the lender, and there is no in-house billing to run.
Financing lifts your close rate by changing how the cost feels, not the cost itself. A homeowner looking at a $12,000 buyout sees one large number and hesitates, even when leaving solar is clearly the right move. Presented as a few hundred dollars a month, the same amount feels manageable, and more clients move forward instead of putting it off. The price has not changed, only the way it is paid.
This matters more with solar exit clients than with most buyers, because many already feel burned by a solar company and are wary of another large solar-related bill. A monthly payment lowers that resistance. Offering financing tends to do three things: it keeps clients who would otherwise walk away over price, it protects your margin because you no longer discount to win the job, and it lets clients approve the full scope instead of trimming it to fit their cash. You collect the same fee, upfront, on more of your pipeline.
Setup is quick, and once you are enrolled, presenting a monthly payment becomes a normal part of every quote. Here is the full process, from enrolling to your first payout.
1. Choose a financing partner. Start by picking a point-of-sale provider that finances solar exit services and connects you with multiple third-party lenders rather than a single bank. The reason this matters is coverage: when one application reaches programs across every credit tier, from sub-prime to well-qualified, far more of your clients receive an offer. Look for non-recourse programs, a soft-pull application, and a partner who supports your type of business.
2. Enroll and get your link. Complete a short enrollment with your business details and receive your own branded application link and a partner portal, usually within about one business day. The portal is where you will send applications and watch each one move, so there is nothing to install and no software to learn.
3. Present the monthly option. Show the estimated monthly payment next to the total on every quote or engagement agreement, and send the client your link by text or email. Offer it on every job, not only when a client hesitates. Doing so consistently is what makes financing pay off, rather than treating it as a last-minute save.
4. Let the client apply. The homeowner applies directly through your link, which keeps you out of their credit details entirely. They prequalify in about 60 seconds with a soft credit pull that does not affect their score, review the offers, and pick the payment that fits their budget. You never fill out the application for them; you simply hand it off and track the result from your portal.
5. Get funded and begin. Once the client accepts an offer and any closing requirements are completed, you are paid your full fee upfront and can start, while the lender takes over repayment. There is no receivable to carry, no installments to chase, and no collections to run. From here the relationship with the client is about delivering your service, not billing for it.
Less than most owners expect. Because you are presenting a third-party option rather than lending money yourself, the requirements are minimal.
Nearly every cost a homeowner faces when leaving solar can be financed on a monthly payment, whether you provide the service yourself or coordinate it. That includes financing the lump sum to buy out a lease or PPA; cancellation and rescission service fees; panel removal and the roof restoration that follows; clearing a UCC-1 lien and the payoff that releases it; a paid contract review or audit that often starts the whole process; and dispute and settlement services or a legal retainer.
A single approved loan can often cover more than one of these at once. A homeowner buying out a PPA may also need the lien cleared and the panels removed, and financing lets them carry all of it on one monthly payment instead of three separate bills. If your business handles any part of the exit, there is a financing option built around it.
Clients will ask how the loan works, so it helps to understand it yourself. Most of these are personal installment loans, which means the homeowner repays a fixed amount each month over a set term, so the payment never changes and there is a clear payoff date. The CFPB has a plain-language explainer you can point clients to.
Two credit terms come up often. A soft credit pull is the light check used at prequalification; it shows the homeowner their likely offers and does not affect their credit score, so there is no downside to looking. A hard credit inquiry happens only if they choose to move forward and accept an offer, and can have a small, temporary effect on their score. The rate and term on any offer are set by the lender based on the homeowner’s credit profile and the amount financed, never by you, which is why you should always send specific rate and payment questions to the lender rather than quoting numbers yourself.
The companies that get the most from financing treat it as a standard way to pay and mention it early, rather than raising it only after a client balks at the price. Make it visible in a few places and clients start asking about it on their own.
Before the Consultation
During the Consultation
Offering financing well comes down to presenting it clearly and leaving the credit side to the lender. A few habits keep it simple and compliant.
Do
Avoid
If you regularly lose clients who want to leave solar but cannot cover the cost in one payment, offering financing tends to pay for itself quickly. It fits companies across the exit process, and each type has a page built around how it applies, from roofing contractors and solar installers and EPCs to exit consultants and advocates.
See how it fits your process, enroll in about a business day, and start presenting a monthly payment on your next quote.
Ready to start? Request a free demo today.
Important: Solar Exit Financing is not a lender and does not make credit decisions. Financing is provided by participating third-party lenders and is subject to eligibility, underwriting, approval, applicable terms, and provider requirements. This page is provided for general informational purposes only and is not legal, tax, credit, or financial advice.
