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Commercial Solar Finance UK · Independent
Engagement model

Pricing

Transparent fixed-fee advisory engagement. No commissions from manufacturers, installers, or lenders. No success-fee structures. Initial finance review free; subsequent engagement at agreed fixed fee.

Why fixed-fee advisory

Commercial solar finance advisory is a small market with several different fee models — installer-funded "free" advice, lender-funded broker fees, success-based percentages, and fixed-fee advisory. We chose fixed-fee because it removes the structural conflict-of-interest in recommending one finance structure over another. A lender-funded broker is paid to place lender debt; an installer-funded advisor is paid to sell systems; a success-fee advisor is paid when projects close. Fixed-fee advisors are paid for the work whether the project closes or not — which keeps our incentive aligned with recommending the right structure for your specific situation, including recommending you don't do the project at all where economics don't support it.

Engagement tiers and fees

SME-scale advisory

£4k–£8k

Projects under £200k capex; single-site businesses; sub-100kWp systems

Discovery, demand modelling, multi-structure financial comparison, structure recommendation, lender/PPA process where applicable, procurement support through commissioning, capital allowance documentation. Typical engagement timeline 4–6 months.

Mid-market advisory

£8k–£18k

Projects £200k–£1m capex; mid-market commercial; 100kWp–500kWp systems

All SME-scale deliverables plus: half-hourly demand modelling with multi-size sensitivity analysis, competitive lender process across full panel, full procurement competitive tender, structured payment terms negotiation. Typical engagement timeline 6–9 months.

Large / portfolio advisory

£18k–£35k

Projects £1m+ capex; multi-site portfolios; 500kWp+ systems; complex tax positions

All mid-market deliverables plus: full FYA/AIA/special-rate-pool optimisation across the portfolio, multi-site DNO strategy, blended capital structures (cash + debt + lease), and engagement with the customer's tax adviser on capital allowance optimisation. Typical engagement timeline 9–18 months.

Modelling-only

£3k–£12k

Financial modelling without procurement/lender process

Discovery, demand modelling, multi-structure comparison, recommendation. No lender process, no procurement support. Suits businesses with established procurement capability or pre-engagement assessment of project viability. Typical engagement timeline 2–4 weeks.

Public-sector / charity engagements

Per-project quote

PSDS-eligible bodies, NHS Trusts, schools and academies, charities

Engagement scoped to the specific public-sector procurement context. Typical fees lower-band of equivalent commercial scale to reflect different commercial dynamics. Often combined with PSDS application support and Salix loan facility structuring.

What's included in every engagement

  • Discovery and demand modelling using your half-hourly data
  • Side-by-side after-tax comparison across all 6+ finance structures including battery storage where relevant
  • Worked-numbers indicative case within 5 working days of enquiry
  • Full audit trail of analysis, assumptions, and sensitivity scenarios
  • Structure recommendation in writing with explicit justification
  • Engagement letter with fees, scope, and deliverables agreed before any chargeable work begins

What's not included

  • Tax advice — we work alongside your accountant who provides formal tax advice on capital allowance treatment
  • Legal advice — your solicitor reviews contracts and lease provisions
  • Insurance arrangement — we provide reference but procurement and arrangement is via your insurance broker
  • Direct DNO engagement — we work alongside the installer's DNO consultant
  • Implementation oversight beyond initial commissioning — long-term O&M monitoring is via the installer's O&M contract

Pricing FAQs

How are advisory fees structured?
Initial finance review is provided at no cost. Subsequent advisory engagement is charged on a fixed-fee basis tied to project scope. Typical engagement fees: £4k–£8k for SME-scale projects (under £200k capex); £8k–£18k for mid-market (£200k–£1m capex); £18k–£35k for large or portfolio projects (£1m+ capex). Public-sector and charity engagements typically lower band reflecting different procurement contexts.
Why fixed-fee rather than success-fee?
Success fees create alignment problems. A success-fee advisor benefits from any project completing rather than the right project completing. Fixed-fee advisory keeps our incentive aligned with recommending the structure that wins on your numbers — including recommending you don't do the project at all where economics don't support it. We turn down 12-15% of advisory enquiries because economics don't support the project; success-fee structure makes that recommendation harder.
Do you accept commissions from lenders, manufacturers, or installers?
No. We do not accept manufacturer commissions, installer commissions, or lender introducer fees that are contingent on us recommending a specific counterparty. Our fee model is disclosed in the engagement letter — fixed advisory fee plus a small implementation fee on financial close. Where we receive any payment from a lender or PPA provider during an engagement we will disclose it in writing before close.
What does the engagement deliver?
Standard advisory engagement delivers: (a) discovery and demand modelling using half-hourly data; (b) side-by-side after-tax comparison across all 6+ finance structures; (c) competitive lender/PPA-developer process where debt or PPA is the recommended route; (d) procurement support through to commissioning; (e) capital allowance documentation for the relevant tax filings. All deliverables in writing with full audit trail.
Can we engage you just for the financial modelling?
Yes — we offer modelling-only engagements at the lower end of the fee range (£3k–£5k for SME-scale modelling, £5k–£12k for mid-market). Modelling-only engagements deliver the after-tax comparison and recommendation but exclude lender/PPA process and procurement support.
How long does an engagement take?
Standard engagement timeline: 5 working days from enquiry to indicative model; 4–6 weeks from formal engagement to confirmed structure recommendation; ongoing through procurement and commissioning (typically 6–12 months total). Modelling-only engagements complete within 2–4 weeks.

Initial finance review is free

Send postcode, project profile, and accounting year-end via the contact form. We respond within one working day. Indicative finance review provided at no cost; subsequent engagement at agreed fixed fee per the bands above.

Request a finance review