Topic
Installer business, cash flow and tax
89 pages, one place. Start with the quick answers, go deeper with the articles.
In depth 14
- How to become a solar retailer in AustraliaThe steps to sell solar and batteries legally in Australia: business set-up, state licences, accreditation, scheme approvals, insurance and certificat…
- How to choose an STC trader: a five-step methodA five-step method for choosing an STC trader: settlement time, rate transparency, fees, contract terms and claim support, with a scoring table and re…
- Choosing a certificate trader: 12 questionsA practical checklist for installers: settlement time, fees, rate lock, pre-checks, audit support and what happens if a certificate is invalidated.
- GST and STCs: a scenario guide for installersRegistered or not, household or business customer, rate quoted ex or inc GST: a scenario table for how GST meets STCs, plus the quote and invoice habi…
- How long should STC payment take?The industry norm is five to ten business days. Here is why, and what 24-hour STC settlement does for the cash flow of a crew doing 20 jobs a month.
- Improve cash flow as a solar installer: five leversFive cash flow levers for solar installers, ranked by dollars released, with a worked 20-job example covering STC settlement, deposits, supplier terms…
- What to look for in an STC traderWhat to look for in an STC trader: rate lock, payment terms, fees, compliance checks, support and financial standing.
- Solar installer business tips for Australian crewsPractical business tips for solar installers: margin, cash flow, STC discounting, quote discipline, compliance habits and reputation, with worked numb…
- Solar installer cash flow problems and how to fix themWhy solar and battery crews run short of cash: certificate payment lag, supplier terms, deposits and rejected claims. Worked numbers and fixes that ho…
- Solar installer insurance cost in AustraliaWhat solar and battery installers pay for public liability, tools, workers compensation and professional indemnity, what drives premiums and how to cu…
- Solar installer licence in Victoria: Energy Safe VictoriaWhat a Victorian solar or battery installer needs: ESV licence and contractor registration, Certificate of Electrical Safety, accreditation, Solar Vic…
- How to start a solar installation business in AustraliaThe setup sequence for a new solar installer: licences, CEC accreditation, insurance, supply, quoting, certificates and cash flow, in the order to do …
- STC assignment form: fill it in right the first timeA signing-day guide to the STC assignment form: each field, the eight errors that stall claims and a two-minute check to run before the customer leave…
- STC GST treatment for installers: the BAS viewHow GST applies when you take an STC assignment as a discount and then sell the certificates. Two taxable supplies, worked numbers and a BAS checklist…
Quick answers 75
- How do I become a Solar Accreditation Australia (SAA) installer?You need an unrestricted electrical licence, the approved solar training for your accreditation type, and a few supporting documents, then you apply t…
- What is the best app for STC forms, photos and CRM for installers?The best app is the one your crew will actually use on the roof: it captures geotagged, timestamped photos against each job, collects a signed assignm…
- Did CEC accreditation transfer to SAA, and what is the difference?Yes. The Clean Energy Regulator approved Solar Accreditation Australia as the accreditation scheme operator on 29 February 2024, and CEC-accredited in…
- Do I charge GST on STCs?If you are registered for GST, yes, GST generally applies to your sale of STCs, but with a recipient created tax invoice the trader issues the invoice…
- How do I check an SAA accreditation number or search for an installer?Use the installer search on the Solar Accreditation Australia website to look up a name or accreditation number and confirm the status, expiry and cat…
- How to check an STC trader is legitimate (registered agent, ABN, track record)Check the trader's ABN on the Australian Business Register, confirm its status with the Clean Energy Regulator's registered agents information, ask fo…
- What electrical licence do you need to install solar in NSW?In NSW, only a holder of a building or electrical contractor licence can contract to install solar on a roof, and the wiring must be done by a license…
- What licence do you need to install solar in Queensland (QBCC)?In Queensland, anyone doing solar electrical work needs an electrical licence, and a business selling and contracting solar needs a QBCC licence or an…
- Electrical licence for solar installers in SA, Tasmania, ACT and the NTIn every state and territory, solar installation is electrical work and needs a licensed electrician, with the business holding the relevant contracto…
- What electrical licence do you need to install solar in Victoria?In Victoria, solar installation must be done by a licensed electrician, and the business needs to be a Registered Electrical Contractor with Energy Sa…
- What electrical licence do you need to install solar in Western Australia?In Western Australia, you need a WA electrical worker's licence to do the work and an electrical contractor's licence for the business to carry out el…
- GST on STC sales: how it works for installersIf you are registered for GST, the sale of STCs to a trader is generally a taxable supply, so GST is added to the price and reported in your BAS. The …
- GST on STC sales: what installers charge and claimIf you are registered for GST, selling STCs to a trader is generally a taxable supply, so GST applies to the sale and appears on your RCTI or invoice.…
- Is GST charged on the STC point-of-sale discount?Generally, the customer pays GST on the discounted price of the system the installer charges, and a household that is not in business makes no GST sal…
- How can a solar installer improve cash flow and working capital?Improve cash flow by collecting deposits and stage payments, negotiating supplier terms, settling STCs quickly and keeping claims clean so they are no…
- How should installers plan for the January 2027 rebate drops?Two steps land on 1 January 2027: the battery STC factor falls from 6.8 to 5.7 and the solar deeming period falls from 5 years to 4. Install dates dec…
- How do rejected STCs hit a solar installer's cash flow?A rejected STC claim freezes the money for that job until the problem is fixed and the claim passes again. On a typical rooftop job that is about $1,7…
- Sole trader or company: GST and turnover for solar installersInstallers choose between sole trader and company based on liability, tax and growth. GST registration is required once turnover reaches $75,000, and …
- How do solar installers get wholesaler credit and compare distributors?Distributors extend trade credit based on your ABN history, accreditation, trade references and cash flow. Compare them on stock reliability, warranty…
- Can I install solar in another state on my electrical licence?Often yes. Automatic mutual recognition lets many licensed electricians work in a second state under their home licence after notifying the local regu…
- Do you need an ABN to sell STCs?If you install systems and sell STCs as a business, you need an ABN, and traders will require one to open a trade account. Without an ABN a payer may …
- How do I pick an STC trader and compare them fairly?Compare STC traders on net dollars per certificate, days to cash, written deductions, clawback terms and how they handle problem claims. Check reviews…
- What is an RCTI for STC sales?An RCTI, or recipient created tax invoice, is a tax invoice the buyer of your STCs issues on your behalf. It only works under a written agreement betw…
- RCTIs for STC sales: how they work and how they differ from a tax invoiceA recipient created tax invoice (RCTI) is a tax invoice your STC trader raises on your behalf for the certificates you sell. Many traders issue them u…
- Recipient created tax invoice for STCsA recipient created tax invoice, or RCTI, is a tax invoice that the buyer of your STCs raises on your behalf. It needs a written agreement, accurate A…
- How to record STCs in Xero or MYOBSet up an STC income account and an STC clearing or receivable account, record each trader RCTI as a sale to the trader with the right GST code, then …
- Registered vs unregistered STC price: how traders price eachRegistered STCs have passed CER validation, so they carry less risk and are priced closer to the market. Unregistered STCs are still in the pipeline, …
- Do I need SAA accreditation to install batteries or stand-alone systems?Yes. Installing batteries under the Cheaper Home Batteries Program requires an SAA accredited installer with the right battery accreditation, and stan…
- How do I renew SAA accreditation and how many CPD points do I need?SAA accreditation runs for a fixed term and must be renewed before it expires. Installers and designers earn continuing professional development point…
- SAA designer vs installer: do I need both accreditations?SAA accredits designers and installers separately. For STCs, the system must be designed by an accredited designer and installed by an accredited inst…
- What should I know before selling a solar installation business?A buyer will pay for a clean claims record, a documented pipeline and manageable warranty liability, not just revenue. Accreditation belongs to the pe…
- How much does it cost to start a solar business in Australia?A lean one-crew solar installer can start for a low-to-mid five-figure sum before vehicles, but the real cost is working capital: you pay for panels, …
- What are the advertising rules for solar installers when quoting STCs?Advertising must not mislead. That means STC discounts, rebates and savings have to be accurate, qualified and current, and claims like free solar or …
- Solar installer cash flow and STCsWhen you give customers the STC discount at signing, you carry the value of those certificates until you are paid for them. Cash flow improves by lodg…
- What should a solar installer contract and quote template include?A solar contract should state the parties, scope, products, price, STC treatment, payment schedule, timeline, warranty, variations, cancellation right…
- What CRM, job management and compliance software suits solar installers?A solar business needs one place to follow each job from lead to quote to install to STC claim. Whether that is a CRM, a job management platform or a …
- How should solar installers price jobs after the STC discount?Price from the installed cost and the margin you need, then show the STC discount as a separate line. The installer normally carries the STC price ris…
- What insurance does a solar installer need in Australia?Public liability is the baseline and is required for SAA accreditation. Workers compensation is mandatory if you employ staff, and professional indemn…
- What software do solar installers use for quotes, proposals and design?Solar installers typically use a design tool for layouts and yield, a proposal tool to present the quote, and sometimes one platform that does both. P…
- What consumer law rules apply to solar sales, and what is cooling off?Door-to-door and phone sales of solar are unsolicited consumer agreements under the Australian Consumer Law, with a 10 business day cooling-off period…
- What should the STC clause in a solar contract say?An STC clause should say that the customer assigns the STCs, state the discount applied, say what happens if the rate or eligibility changes before in…
- What do solar installer subcontractors charge in Australia?Subcontract rates vary by state, system size and who supplies materials, and there is no standard published rate. Most are quoted per job, per kW or p…
- Do solar installers need warranty or home warranty insurance?Warranty insurance and home warranty insurance are different things. Home warranty is a statutory scheme in some states that covers residential buildi…
- What are the requirements to be a solar retailer in Australia?There is no single national solar retailer registration, but you need the right state licence to contract for the work, accredited people installing i…
- Do solar salespeople need a licence in Australia?A salesperson employed by a licensed business usually does not need their own electrical licence, but the business selling and contracting the work do…
- Should I outsource STC admin, paperwork and compliance?Outsourcing STC admin makes sense once claim paperwork eats installer or office time. A trader or agent can lodge claims and pre-check compliance; you…
- STC assignment form for batteries: what to checkA battery STC assignment form needs the owner, address, battery make, model, serial and usable capacity, VPP capability, the transfer of STC rights an…
- STC assignment form for heat pumps: template viewA heat pump assignment form template should capture owner, address, unit model and serial, installation type, the transfer of STC rights and a signed …
- STC assignment form requirementsA valid STC assignment form identifies the owner and system, records the owner's assignment of the right to create certificates, is signed and dated b…
- STC assignment form for solar: what to checkFor rooftop solar, the assignment form must name the owner and address, state the system size and equipment, record the transfer of STC rights and be …
- STC assignment form template: what a good one includesA good STC assignment form template captures the owner, the address, the system details, the transfer of the right to create STCs and a signed and dat…
- How should you present the STC discount on a solar quote?Show the system price, the STC discount as its own line with the number of STCs and the value assumed per STC, then the net price. Be clear that the d…
- STC payment not received or paid late: what to do and how to chaseCheck the claim status in the REC Registry and your terms first, then contact your account manager in writing with the claim IDs and dates. Most late …
- Paid on submission, registration or settlement: when do you get your STC money?Traders pay at different points: on submission before the CER has registered the certificates, on registration, or on settlement when the certificates…
- STC payment terms: same day, 48 hours, 72 hours, 7 days or 30 days?STC traders offer payment terms from same day to 30 days or more. The headline matters less than what starts the clock: lodgement, registration or set…
- How does an STC trading portal work for solar installers?An STC portal is the online front door to a trader: you upload job details, photos and forms, the trader checks and lodges the claim, and the portal s…
- STC rate lock vs spot: which is better and what are the risks?A locked rate fixes what you are paid; spot-linked pricing moves with the market. With STC spot in a narrow band under the $40 Clearing House ceiling,…
- How does an STC rate lock work for installers?An STC rate lock fixes the price a trader will pay for your certificates from a defined trigger, often when you lodge a complete claim. After that, sp…
- What is an STC remittance advice and what should it show?An STC remittance advice is the trader's statement of what a payment covers: which claims, how many certificates, the rate, any GST and any adjustment…
- Do STC traders offer bank guarantees or credit limits?Bank guarantees from STC traders are uncommon, so you judge counterparty risk by other means: settlement history, how fast it pays, who stands behind …
- What are STC trader clawback terms and how do I check them?Clawback terms let an STC trader recover money it paid you if the certificates are later rejected, invalidated or removed from its account. Check the …
- STC trader fees: per certificate, per job and minimum volumesTraders earn through a fee per certificate, a flat fee per job, a spread between buy and sell price, or a mix. Some also set minimum volumes. Compare …
- What is an STC forward contract or 12-month price lock?An STC forward contract is an agreement to sell a set volume of certificates at a fixed price over a future period, such as 12 months. It removes pric…
- What happens to your STCs if a trader goes into administration?Certificates still in your registry account are generally still yours. Certificates already transferred to the trader for payment you have not receive…
- How do STC traders make their margin?An STC trader's margin is the spread between the rate it pays you and the price it gets selling certificates to liable entities or the Clearing House.…
- STC trader with no fees: what is the catch, and what is the spread?A trader with no fees earns from the spread: the gap between the rate it pays you and the price at which it sells certificates. That is fair if the ra…
- What is the onboarding checklist for a new STC trader?To onboard with an STC trader you will typically need your ABN and GST status, bank details, installer accreditation numbers, a signed RCTI agreement …
- STC trader payment dispute: how to resolve it and when to take legal actionGather the agreement, claim records and correspondence, put your position in writing, then send a formal letter of demand. If that fails, the options …
- What should an STC trader portal, API and Xero integration include?A good STC trader portal lets you upload claims with photos, track status per job, download RCTIs and remittances and export data to your accounting s…
- Can an STC trader advance money or finance my STCs?Some traders and finance providers will advance cash against STCs before they clear, but you pay for it in a lower rate or interest. If your trader al…
- Do STC traders need an AFSL?Generally not for buying and selling STCs themselves. Large-scale and small-scale certificates are usually treated as commodities rather than financia…
- How installers account for STCs: balance sheet, inventory or revenueThere is no single required treatment. Many installers treat STCs they hold as a current asset until sold, recognise revenue when the sale to the trad…
- Do STCs count as income for installers? Tax treatment explainedFor an installer, the money received from selling STCs is generally part of business income, assessable like other trading revenue, and GST usually ap…
- How do I switch STC trader mid-month or move STCs between traders?You can switch trader at any point by assigning new jobs to the new one, because assignment is per job. Claims already lodged stay with the old trader…
- Can I use two STC traders or split my STCs between them?Usually yes. STCs are assigned job by job, so you can send different jobs to different traders unless a contract has an exclusivity or minimum-volume …
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