What do Solar Energy Companies do? (with pictures)

solar energy manufacturing companies

Energy / January 5, 2017

Solar panels can power buildings, cars and businesses.Solar panels can power buildings, cars and businesses.

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Solar cells, which are also called solar panels or photovoltaics, transform natural sunlight into usable energy. Considering the volatile future - and affordability - of fossil fuels and other conventional energy sources, manufacturing solar cells for home or industrial use could prove to be a lucrative business opportunity. Manufacturing solar cells can be a time-consuming process, so initially focus your production on a specific market for solar cells, such as the home, a farm or an industrial setting. Beyond the day-to-day operations and planning of the business, knowledge of how solar cells work and how to most efficiently assemble them in large quantities will also help ensure the future success of your business.

Starting the Business

1. Draft a business plan that defines the target market for your business as well as a description of the style, size and pricing structure of the solar panels you will manufacture. The U.S. Small Business Administration identifies nine sections a business plan must include, such as an executive summary, a market analysis, the company's organization and management and a plan to make the company profitable. Planning your solar-cell manufacturing business allows you to define your goals while realizing the company's parameters, such as who will buy the solar panels and how many you can afford to make.

2. Incorporate your business as a limited liability company - or LLC, which will limit your personal financial liability and will also save money on your taxes. Structuring as an LLC is beneficial to smaller companies because it allows you and any business partners to claim the business' revenue as income and thereby avoid double-taxation. The Internal Revenue Service also limits your personal financial liability in the company to only the amount you have invested in it, which protects your personal assets should the company be sued or face other financial or legal difficulties.

3. Enroll in a training, certification or licensure program and, if you have employees, require them to do so as well. Many of those in the solar-power manufacturing industry have a Bachelor of Science degree in engineering and a professional-engineering license, according to the U. S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Many also seek advanced-engineering degrees or credentials specific to generating solar energy, such as certification as a solar installer, builder and technician or a technical-sales expert. Many community and technical colleges offer certification and associate-degree programs for solar manufacturing and service jobs, according to the BLS, though independent-certification agencies such as the North American Board of Certified Energy Practitioners offer independent solar-energy certification and training programs.

Source: smallbusiness.chron.com