SOVE7GN
Solar company marketing in 2026: the claims to drop, and owner-led video that sells on honest numbers
Updated 27 October 2026 · Written by Reyansh Juneja and Naman Dhiman, the co-founders of SOVE7GN, who run the campaigns and review the clips
Solar company marketing in 2026 has to start by deleting old claims: the IRS says the residential clean energy credit is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025, so a clip still promising homeowners "30% back from the federal government" is out of date. What sells instead is the owner explaining real numbers on camera: what a system costs, what it does to a bill, what it does not do, and how owning differs from leasing.
Short answer: Drop the federal 30% homeowner credit from every caption and old clip, never call a lease or power purchase agreement "free solar" without stating every condition up front, and show savings estimates with their assumptions. Then film the owner answering the questions homeowners ask before they sign. In California, the contract must open with the CSLB solar disclosure document, so clips that match it build trust before the sales visit.
Which solar claims are out of date in 2026?
The IRS page on the residential clean energy credit (checked October 2026) describes the credit as 30% of the cost of new, qualified clean energy property for your home, and says it "is not available for any property placed in service after December 31, 2025."
| Old claim | Status in 2026 | What to say instead |
|---|---|---|
| "Get 30% back with the federal tax credit" (for a system a homeowner buys now) | Out of date, per the IRS page | State the incentives that apply in your state and utility, with a source |
| "The tax credit pays for a third of it" | Same | Show the full price and the payment |
| "You get the tax credit with our lease" | The FTC says credits are not available if you lease or have a power purchase agreement (FTC) | Explain who owns the system and who gets the incentives |
Go back through your pinned posts, highlights and evergreen ads. An old clip that still circulates is still an ad. Tax questions belong with the homeowner's tax adviser; this is general information, not tax or legal advice.
Can you advertise "free solar"?
Only with every condition stated up front, and only if it is true. The FTC's guide on the word "free" (16 CFR 251.1) says the conditions of a free offer should be "set forth clearly and conspicuously at the outset of the offer", so a footnote or an asterisk is not enough. The FTC's consumer page on solar power for your home explains that with a lease or power purchase agreement the homeowner does not own the system, cannot claim the tax credits, and pays for the power or the lease.
Our cautious reading: "No upfront cost" with the monthly payment and term on screen is accurate for many leases. "Free solar panels" is not, because the homeowner pays for them through the agreement. Never suggest a government program gives panels away unless you can name the program.
How should a solar clip show savings?
With the assumptions. The FTC's consumer page warns homeowners that it is hard to predict future utility rates and that they still pay the utility's fixed charges with solar. In California, the Solar Energy System Disclosure Document must be given before a sale, financing or lease is completed, sits on the front page of the contract, and covers anticipated savings plus "the assumptions and inputs used to estimate the savings" (CSLB).
A clip that matches that discipline:
- Show one real bill (with the homeowner's written permission and the account number hidden).
- State the system size, the price and the payment.
- State the assumed rate change and say it is an assumption.
- Show the fixed charges that stay.
- Give the range, not the best case.
That clip is harder to make than "slash your bill to zero", and it is the one a careful buyer can check against the contract.
What should a solar company film?
| Clip | First line on screen | Who talks |
|---|---|---|
| Own vs lease vs PPA | "Three ways to pay for solar, and who owns the panels in each." | Owner |
| What changed in 2026 | "The federal homeowner credit is gone. Here is what is left." | Owner |
| A real bill, before and after | "This customer's bill, line by line." | Owner, with permission |
| Roof check | "Why we sometimes tell people to fix the roof first." | Owner or lead installer |
| Install day | "What happens on install day, hour by hour." | Lead installer |
| Who should not buy solar | "Four homes we turn down." | Owner |
| Battery questions | "When a battery makes sense, and when it does not." | Owner |
| Reading a quote | "Five lines to check on any solar quote, including ours." | Owner |
The "who should not buy" and "reading a quote" clips show a viewer you will turn work down. One hour of talk usually gives 12 to 20 clips, so a single recorded session covers most of a month. If your installers work under a contractor license, check whether your state wants the number on posts: our contractor license number advertising page covers California, where the CSLB requires it in all advertising, and five other states. Owners in related trades should see HVAC video marketing and remodeling contractor marketing.
Who cuts and posts the clips?
We do, from footage you film. You approve 2 example clips first, and we go live within 48 hours on your own accounts. Entry is $2,000 a month for 2 clips a day; Growth is $4,000 a month for 4. A 3-month plan on Entry or above comes with 1,000,000 views guaranteed; if we fall short, we keep posting at our own cost (Terms). It guarantees views, not signed contracts. See how we work with founder-led businesses or book a 30-minute call.
Questions people ask
Is free solar a scam?
Not always, but the word is misleading when the homeowner pays through a lease or power purchase agreement. The FTC's guide says the conditions of any free offer must be stated clearly at the outset.
Is there still a solar tax credit in 2026?
The IRS says the federal residential clean energy credit is not available for property placed in service after December 31, 2025. State and utility incentives vary; check them for your area and ask a tax adviser.
How do you market a solar business?
Put the owner on camera explaining costs, ownership options and savings with their assumptions, and post short clips of that daily. Drop out-of-date credit claims first.
Do solar companies need a license number in their ads?
In some states, yes. California's contractors board requires a license number in all advertising, and several other states have similar rules for contractors.
Want a straight answer for your videos?
Book a 30-minute call. Send us a link first and we'll tell you which plan fits and how many clips we can make.
Book a call See plans and pricing- Contractor license numbers in social media adsSix state rules on license numbers in ads, and where to put the number on a reel.
- HVAC video marketingService-call and seasonal clip map, filming in customer homes, and claims to get right.
- Short-form video for custom home buildersBuild-stage clip map, license number rules and homeowner consent for builders.