Investing in a commercial rooftop solar system is one of the most impactful decisions a small business can make, offering significant long-term savings and environmental benefits. However, the initial financial outlay is often the first and biggest hurdle. Understanding the cost of commercial rooftop solar panel installation for small businesses requires looking beyond a single price tag to the factors that determine the final investment.

The Average Cost Per Watt

Commercial solar installations are typically priced on a dollars-per-watt ($/W) basis, which accounts for the system’s size (its power generation capacity in kilowatts, kW).

For small to medium-sized commercial systems (ranging from about 25 kW to 100 kW), the average national price before incentives typically falls between $1.80 and $3.50 per watt.

This translates to the following estimated upfront costs for common small business system sizes: