Blog
Know your margin before you send the quote
How Payaca's live profit forecast in the proposal builder helps clean tech installers stop mispriced jobs from going out the door.
Matt Franklin
July 13, 2026
Blog
Insights and guides to help you grow your clean tech business.
Blog
What a pallet of panels really costs your margins
Bulk-bought stock used to land its whole cost on one unlucky project. Payaca's Stock Locations, now live on every account, hold it at real weighted average cost until a job actually uses it.
Matt Franklin
July 13, 2026
Blog
Solar installer capacity: what permitting sprawl really costs your operations
US solar installers don't have one national permitting clock - they have as many as they have AHJs. Here's what that variance actually costs a growing install business, backed by NREL data.
Matt Franklin
July 10, 2026
Blog
Payment terms for installers: how to set them and actually get paid on time
Vague payment terms are why installers wait 60 days for money they earned in a day. Here's how to set terms that hold up, what you can charge for late payment, and how to make getting paid the default.
Felix Rusby
June 15, 2026
Blog
Deposits and cancellation rights: what installers need to get right
Taking a deposit at the kitchen table is normal. Doing it without handling the customer's cancellation rights is how installers end up unable to enforce payment. Here's what to get right.
Felix Rusby
June 8, 2026
Blog
We built an MCP server for Payaca. Here's what it lets your team do.
Connect your AI assistant straight to your Payaca account and ask it to do real work: pull stuck jobs, bulk-update projects, draft follow-ups, build reports. Here's why we built it and the practical things install teams can do with it.
Matt Franklin
June 4, 2026
Blog
We watched 30 clean-energy installers churn off HubSpot. Here's why
HubSpot wins solar, heat pump and EV installers on the way up - and loses them as soon as the install team starts using it. Five patterns we keep seeing in migration calls.
Matt Franklin
May 28, 2026
Blog
Why in-house and bespoke CRMs don't survive growth (US installer playbook)
Mid-sized US solar and clean-energy installers spend two engineers a year keeping a bespoke CRM alive that handles maybe 60% of the workflow. Permits, AHJ inspections, NEM interconnection and ITC handling end up on spreadsheets. Here's the real cost of the build, and what the off-ramp usually looks like.
Matt Franklin
May 27, 2026
How-to Guide
Migrating from HubSpot to Payaca: what actually moves (US installer guide)
Decision-stage migration guide for US clean-energy installers leaving HubSpot. What imports cleanly, what doesn't, what HubSpot stays good at, and how to sequence a 4-week cutover without losing project history or AHJ permit state.
Matt Franklin
May 25, 2026
Blog
Pipedrive vs Payaca for solar and battery installers: where the Pipedrive line stops
Pipedrive is the SMB sales pipeline that lots of US solar and battery installers reach for first. It does the sales side well and stops at deal-closed. A side-by-side workflow walkthrough through permitting, interconnection, ITC documentation, install and PTO.
Jamie Duncan
May 22, 2026
Blog
EV charger operations: running a high-volume install business without the chaos
EV charger install businesses live or die on throughput. A practical operational playbook for teams running 40+ installs a month - scheduling density, quote speed, mobile field completion, and keeping margin tight as volume grows.
Jamie Duncan
April 28, 2026
How-to Guide
How to automate your deposit and payment workflow in Payaca
A step-by-step guide to setting up automated deposit collection, payment schedules, and invoice triggers so nothing falls through the cracks.
Jamie Duncan
April 6, 2026
Blog
Why solar installers are replacing their generic CRMs
Salesforce, HubSpot, and ServiceTitan weren't built for clean tech. Here's what happens when installers switch to a purpose-built platform.
Matt Franklin
April 4, 2026
Blog
ServiceTitan alternatives for growing solar installers - and how to choose
ServiceTitan dominates field service, but it was built for HVAC. Here's an honest comparison of the alternatives for solar installers - including where each one is strong, where it falls short, and how to choose based on your business stage.
Matt Franklin
March 25, 2026
Blog
Why solar companies are leaving Salesforce (and what they switch to)
Ben Clarke, Account Executive at Payaca with 10+ years in field service management, explains why solar businesses keep abandoning Salesforce and generic CRMs - and what actually works instead.
Ben Clarke
March 10, 2026
Blog
Where US solar demand is headed in 2026 - and how installers can prepare
The US is adding a record 86 GW of new power capacity in 2026, led by solar and battery storage. But the residential market is restructuring fast. Here's where demand is headed, which states are hottest, and what growing installers need to do now.
Matt Franklin
March 4, 2026
How-to Guide
How to diversify your solar business: 25+ revenue streams beyond panels
The solar companies that thrive in 2026 won't just install panels. Here's how leading installers are diversifying into home energy companies with recurring revenue, adjacent services, and new business models.
Ben Clarke
February 27, 2026
Podcast
How the best renewable energy companies onboard and scale
Jamie Duncan, Head of Customer Operations at Payaca, shares what separates thriving renewable energy businesses from those that stall out. Structured onboarding, AI tools like Agent Dave, and a willingness to embrace change.
Jamie Duncan
February 26, 2026
Blog
Meet Agent Dave: AI that actually does the work inside your CRM
In a conversation with Digital Tool Bag, Payaca CEO Matt Franklin demos Agent Dave, the AI assistant built into Payaca that can set up automations, analyse pipelines, create templates, and configure accounts through simple chat.
Matt Franklin
February 20, 2026
Blog
What software do EV charger installers need?
A practical guide to the software options for EV charger installation businesses. Covers the difference between charger management and installer management, compares tools from spreadsheets to purpose-built platforms, and explains what to look for as you scale.
Jamie Duncan
February 14, 2026
Blog
What CRM do heat pump installers use?
A practical comparison of CRM and business software options for heat pump installation companies. Covers generic CRMs, HVAC field service tools, and purpose-built clean tech platforms.
Joe Gravestock
February 13, 2026
Blog
What job management software works for battery installers?
Battery storage installers have unique operational needs that generic field service tools don't address. We compare the software options available, from spreadsheets and solar-specific tools to purpose-built clean tech platforms.
Jamie Duncan
February 12, 2026
Blog
What software do solar installers use to manage their business?
A comprehensive guide to the software solar installation businesses use, from CRMs and field service tools to design platforms and compliance systems. Covers what to look for at every stage of growth.
Ben Clarke
February 11, 2026
How-to Guide
How to grow your HVAC business: 12 actionable steps
A practical guide to scaling your HVAC business. Covers marketing, operations, hiring, customer retention, and the systems you need to grow sustainably.
Ben Clarke
February 10, 2026
Blog
The future of solar energy in the UK and beyond
Where is solar energy headed? From perovskite cells to agrivoltaics, we cover the technology, policy, and market trends shaping the future of solar power in the UK and globally.
Felix Rusby
February 6, 2026
Blog
String inverter vs microinverter: a guide for solar installers
String inverters vs microinverters: which should you recommend? An installer-focused comparison covering cost, performance, shading, monitoring, and when to use each.
Felix Rusby
February 5, 2026
How-to Guide
HVAC lead generation: best practices for growing your customer base
Proven HVAC lead generation strategies for contractors. Learn how to attract more customers through local SEO, PPC advertising, content marketing, and referral programs.
Ben Clarke
February 3, 2026
How-to Guide
Heat pump lead generation: how to attract quality customers
A complete guide to generating leads for your heat pump installation business. Covers digital marketing, referrals, partnerships, and strategies specific to the heat pump market.
Ben Clarke
January 22, 2026
How-to Guide
Solar marketing strategies that actually generate leads
Proven solar marketing strategies for installation businesses. Learn how to generate quality leads through SEO, social media, referrals, and content marketing.
Ben Clarke
January 15, 2026
Blog
2025: The year Payaca grew up
Enterprise wins, profitability, and why we're betting big on AI that actually does things.
Matt Franklin
December 19, 2025
Blog
Design for simplicity at Payaca
This value represents our commitment and focus to remove complexity for our clients. In order to achieve this, it needs to be adopted across the whole organisation.
Joe Gravestock
December 18, 2025
How-to Guide
Create easy forms for collecting on-site job info
Stop messy paperwork! Learn to create simple digital forms in Payaca for your team to use on-site. Get accurate job info straight to your mobile app, every time.
Jamie Duncan
May 31, 2025
News
Payaca achieves ISO 27001 certification: reinforcing our commitment to data security
Payaca has achieved ISO 27001 certification, the internationally recognized standard for information security management, demonstrating our commitment to protecting customer data and privacy.
Matt Franklin
December 30, 2024
Blog
Stop trying to fit a square peg: why generic CRMs are hurting your renewables business
Ben Clarke, an Account Executive at Payaca with over a decade of field service management experience, argues that renewable energy businesses suffer when using generic CRM software designed for other industries.
Ben Clarke
December 19, 2024
Podcast
Accelerating net zero: a conversation with Payaca's CTO, Matt Bessey
Join Matt Franklin, CEO of Payaca, as he sits down with the company's new Chief Technology Officer, Matt Bessey, to discuss how software innovation is driving the adoption of low-carbon technologies.
Matt Franklin
October 15, 2024
Blog
Best types of solar panels for domestic properties
This article compares different types of solar technology that are available to choose from.
Felix Rusby
August 8, 2024
Blog
Can solar panels be recycled?
Breaks down how solar panels are recycled and some of the challenges involved in the recycling process. This article covers specific examples from the UK as well as predictions about where the industry is headed.
Felix Rusby
July 26, 2024
Blog
Where are solar panels made?
Understanding the global solar panel supply chain - from raw materials to final assembly. Learn where components originate and what this means for the industry.
Felix Rusby
June 24, 2024
Blog
Is a quote a contract? A guide for skilled trades
Understanding when quotes become legally binding agreements. Learn the five essential elements that create enforceable contracts and how to protect your business.
Felix Rusby
March 6, 2024
Blog
Do I need a CRM for my business?
This article weighs up the reasons why you should consider investing in a CRM, including signs that you need it and what type of solution to look for.
Felix Rusby
January 20, 2024