A homeowner in Ghaziabad asks three installers for a 3 kW rooftop quote. Two send a PDF with a total, a panel brand and an inverter model. The third sends a short WhatsApp message: what the system costs, what comes back as subsidy, what the bill will look like after, and what happens next week. Guess who gets the site survey.
Most solar enquiries are lost at the quote, not at the lead. Here is a format that fixes that.
Start from the numbers the customer cares about
Customers don't buy kilowatts. They buy a lower bill and a fair price. Your quote should answer four questions in this order:
- What size do I need? Based on their bill or monthly units, not your stock.
- What will I pay upfront? The full price including GST, net meter and installation.
- What comes back? The PM Surya Ghar subsidy they may be eligible for, which is paid to their bank account after inspection if the application is approved.
- What do I save? A rough monthly saving and payback period, clearly marked as an estimate.
Get the subsidy right, every time
The central subsidy for homes under PM Surya Ghar is ₹30,000 per kW for the first 2 kW and ₹18,000 for the third kW, so ₹78,000 at most for a 3 kW system or larger (Business Today, July 2026). Special category states and UTs get higher rates, set in MNRE's amended guidelines of July 2025. Some states add their own top-up.
Write "subsidy amounts checked on [date]" on every quote. Rates change by government order, and a quote that overstates the subsidy is the fastest way to lose trust (and invite a complaint). Our earlier guide for installers on following up PM Surya Ghar leads covers the scheme rules in more detail.
The WhatsApp quote, in five lines
An illustrative example (made-up figures, not a price list):
3 kW rooftop solar for Sharma ji, Indirapuram Total price: ₹1,85,000 incl. GST, net meter and installation PM Surya Ghar subsidy: up to ₹78,000, depending on system size; your installer confirms the exact amount Your net cost: about ₹1,07,000 if the full subsidy is approved. Bank loan available for systems up to 3 kW. Estimated bill: from about ₹3,200 to about ₹500 a month (estimate, depends on usage and sun) Next step: free roof survey on Saturday, 11 am or 4 pm?
Then attach the detailed PDF for people who want panel specifications and warranties. Most won't open it until they're close to deciding, and that's fine.
Five things that lose solar quotes
- A price with no subsidy line. Customers then compare your gross price with a competitor's net price.
- No validity date. Prices of panels and inverters move; say "valid for 15 days".
- Brand names without warranty terms. Say how many years on panels, inverter and workmanship.
- No next step. End every quote with a survey slot.
- Slow follow-up. If you don't call within a day of sending the quote, the customer is already talking to someone else.
Let customers work it out themselves
Many homeowners want to check the subsidy before they call anyone. Our free solar subsidy calculator shows the central subsidy and net cost for any system size, and installers can share the link in their replies.
If your team can't call every enquiry the same day, an AI employee can answer and follow up in Hindi and English, and book the survey. Ask for a callback and we'll show you how it works for solar installers.
