How SolarGrade Works
Built to protect reviewers, be fair to companies, and bring transparency to an industry that needs it.
What Is SolarGrade?
SolarGrade is a review platform where solar professionals rate the companies they work with. Installers, lead vendors, CRMs, call centers, financing companies, and software tools — all rated by people in the industry who have real experience.
Think of it as Glassdoor for the solar industry. Instead of employees rating employers, solar professionals rate the companies they partner with, sub for, or buy services from.
Who Can Leave a Review?
Anyone with real experience working with a company in the solar industry. That includes subcontractors, installation crews, sales reps, dealers, homeowners, and other industry professionals.
When you leave a review, you select your relationship to the company (subcontractor, sales rep, homeowner, etc.) so readers can understand the perspective it’s coming from.
How Are Reviews Verified?
Stage 1 — Manual Review
CurrentEvery review goes through a manual approval process before it’s published. Nothing goes live automatically. Obvious spam, fake reviews, and bad-faith submissions are filtered out.
Stage 2 — Authenticated Reviews
Coming SoonReviews will be tied to a verified login. Your email won’t be displayed publicly, but it adds a layer of accountability and prevents duplicate submissions.
Stage 3 — Verified Reviews
The GoalReviewers will be able to privately submit proof of their relationship with a company — a subcontractor agreement, an invoice, a dealer contract. That information stays private, but verified reviews earn a badge and carry more weight in the rating system. Real credibility without exposing your identity.
For Companies: Why SolarGrade Is Good For You
If you’re running a good operation, SolarGrade is an asset, not a threat. Here’s why:
Your reputation becomes searchable and permanent.
Right now, your reputation lives in Facebook groups and word of mouth. Posts disappear, context gets lost, and one bad anonymous post can define you. On SolarGrade, a strong track record of positive reviews is documented and visible to anyone evaluating whether to work with you.
Structured reviews show the full picture.
SolarGrade doesn’t give companies a single score. Reviews break down into specific categories like Payment Reliability, Communication, Install Quality, Warranty Support, Transparency, and Install Speed. One bad score in communication doesn’t tank your profile if everything else is strong. Nuance matters and the rating system reflects that.
Volume favors good companies.
One negative review is one data point. Twenty positive reviews from long-term subcontractors who’ve done 50+ installs with you is a pattern nobody can argue with. Good companies benefit from review volume because the truth trends in their favor.
Context is visible.
Every review shows the reviewer’s relationship to the company, how long they worked together, and how many projects they completed. A one-star review from someone who did a single job carries visibly less weight than years of five-star reviews from experienced subs.
Company responses are coming.
We’re building the ability for companies to respond to reviews publicly. If someone posts something you disagree with, you’ll have a voice.
Can Companies Pay to Change Their Rating?
No. Ratings and reviews are based entirely on what real people submit. Companies cannot pay to improve their scores, remove negative reviews, or influence their ratings in any way.
We may offer optional features in the future like enhanced company profiles or visibility, but the scores can never be bought. The moment that changes, the platform is worthless. We know that.
Have a Question?
SolarGrade is a work in progress and we’re building it in public. If you have feedback, questions, or ideas, reach out at hello@solargrade.com.