Business tips Archives | Smart Ease

Renting your premises? Solar could still be an option

Demanzo Team — Thu, 09 Jul 2026 01:29:18 +0000

One of the biggest misconceptions we hear is:

“I’d love to install solar, but I rent my building.”

The reality is, leasing your premises is rarely a barrier.

Commercial solar is installed on leased properties every day. With the right approvals and the right finance, businesses can enjoy lower electricity costs without owning the building.

At Smart Ease, we’ve funded more than 12,000 energy-efficient projects across Australia, many on leased commercial properties. We’ve seen firsthand that when a project is structured properly, solar can deliver benefits for both tenants and landlords.

Landlord approval is often easier than you think

Many business owners never explore solar because they assume their landlord will say no.

In our experience, most landlords simply want to understand what’s being installed, know the work will be completed professionally and have confidence their property will be looked after.

It’s much like asking permission to install quality signage or fit shelving. You’re making an improvement to the building, so it’s only natural to have the conversation first.

Once landlords understand they aren’t paying for the system or responsible for the Smart Ease Payment Plan, the discussion is often much easier than expected. In fact, many see solar as an improvement that can make their property more attractive to future tenants, encourage longer-term occupancy and add value to the building over time.

Why businesses are making the switch

Installing commercial solar can help your business:

Reduce electricity costs.

Improve cash flow by spreading the cost with a Smart Ease Payment Plan.

Gain greater certainty over future energy costs.

Reduce carbon emissions and support your sustainability goals.

What happens if you move?

Moving doesn’t necessarily mean leaving your investment behind.

Depending on your lease and agreement with the landlord, you may be able to:

Remove the system and restore the roof.

Leave the system in place for the landlord or future tenant.

Transfer (novate) the Smart Ease Payment Plan to the landlord or incoming tenant, subject to everyone’s agreement.

Having these options means installing solar doesn’t have to depend on owning the building.

Don’t let renting stop the conversation

If you’ve ruled out solar because you lease your premises, it might be time to take another look.

With the right approvals and a straightforward conversation with your landlord, installing commercial solar is often much simpler than businesses expect. It’s a practical way to reduce energy costs today while creating long-term value for the property.

Get our Quick Guide for Commercial Tenants, which answers the questions landlords most commonly ask about commercial solar and Smart Ease Payment Plans.

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5 EOFY Questions Every Installer Should Ask

Justine — Sun, 31 May 2026 23:47:32 +0000

EOFY isn’t just a sales period. It’s one of the best times of year to start meaningful conversations with commercial customers.

Businesses are reviewing budgets, speaking with accountants, planning for FY27 and looking closely at operating costs. That makes June the perfect time to discuss solar, batteries, EV charging and energy efficiency upgrades.

The installers generating the strongest EOFY opportunities aren’t necessarily focused on price. They’re asking better questions, understanding customer priorities and creating urgency through smarter conversations.

Here are five EOFY conversation starters that can help turn stalled opportunities into signed projects before June 30.

1.”Are there projects you want installed before EOFY?”

This is one of the simplest and most effective EOFY questions you can ask.

Many businesses already know they need to reduce energy costs, upgrade infrastructure or improve sustainability performance. They just haven’t prioritised the project yet. EOFY creates a natural deadline.

Instead of leading with products or pricing, start with timing:

“Are there any projects you’d like operational before the end of the financial year?”

That conversation can quickly uncover opportunities around:

Commercial solar
Battery storage
EVs and EV charging
LED lighting upgrades
Energy monitoring systems

Customers are often far more ready to move in June than they were earlier in the year.

2.”Have you reviewed your EOFY tax position yet?”

EOFY tax planning remains a major driver of commercial purchasing decisions. For eligible businesses, the Instant Asset Write-Off may allow immediate deductions on qualifying business assets installed and ready for use before June 30. This creates a valuable opportunity to discuss bringing projects forward.

Useful conversation starters include:

“Have you spoken with your accountant about EOFY asset purchases?”
“Are you planning to invest in operational upgrades before June 30?”
“Would bringing this project forward help your FY26 tax position?”
Customers should always seek independent financial advice, but many businesses aren’t aware how timing can influence purchasing decisions.

EOFY urgency often comes from tax timing, not discounting.

3. “What are your energy costs looking like heading into FY27?”

Rising energy costs continue to affect businesses across almost every industry. EOFY is when many companies reassess:

Operating expenses
Profit margins
Energy consumption
Sustainability targets

That makes it the ideal time to shift the conversation away from equipment and towards business outcomes.

Instead of: “Would you like a solar quote?”

Try: “What are your energy costs looking like heading into the new financial year?”

That single question naturally opens discussions around:

ROI
Payback periods
Long-term savings
Energy independence
Future-proofing operations

The strongest EOFY conversations focus on reducing business costs, not simply selling equipment.

4. “Would finance help you bring the project forward?”

One of the biggest EOFY mistakes installers make is waiting for customers to ask about finance. Many businesses want to move ahead but remain cautious about cash flow, particularly late in the financial year. That’s why proactive finance conversations matter.

Questions like:

“Would monthly payments make this easier to implement before EOFY?”
“Are you trying to preserve working capital heading into FY27?”
“Would finance help you complete a larger upgrade now instead of staging it later?”

can completely change the pace of a project.

Finance can help customers:

Start saving on energy sooner
Avoid large upfront costs
Bundle equipment and installation together
Keep cash available for other business priorities

Often, the obstacle isn’t interest, it’s timing and cash flow.

5.”To be installed before June 30, we should lock this in soon.”

EOFY urgency becomes very real in June. Installer calendars fill quickly, equipment availability tightens and scheduling delays become more common. Customers often underestimate how long projects take to complete. That’s why clear, helpful urgency works far better than hard selling.

Try:

“To maximise the chance of installation before EOFY, we recommend confirming projects as early as possible.”

“June installation capacity is filling quickly, so now is the ideal time to secure scheduling.”

These conversations create urgency because they’re real, not manufactured.

The best EOFY sales strategy? Better conversations

EOFY isn’t just about promotions or discounts. For solar and energy efficiency installers, the biggest opportunities come from:

Asking better business questions
Talking about operational savings
Understanding customer timing
Introducing finance earlier
Creating genuine urgency around installation deadlines

Businesses are already thinking about costs, budgets, tax planning and FY27 goals. The installers engaging in those conversations now will be best positioned to convert opportunities before June 30.

Read our cheat sheet: 5 EOFY questions
every installer should be asking

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Federal Budget 2026: What it means for solar, energy efficiency and EV adoption

Demanzo Team — Wed, 20 May 2026 05:37:13 +0000

The Federal Government’s latest Budget included several announcements relevant to businesses across the solar, battery storage, energy efficiency and EV sectors.

Two are of particular note: the permanent extension of the Instant Asset Write-Off scheme and changes to electric vehicle Fringe Benefits Tax concessions.

Both measures continue to support investment in electrification, energy efficiency and lower operating costs for businesses.

Permanent Instant Asset Write-Off extended

One of the key Budget announcements is the Government’s decision to make the $20,000 Instant Asset Write-Off (IAWO) permanent for eligible small businesses.

Businesses with turnover under $10 million will continue to be able to immediately deduct eligible equipment costing less than $20,000. The threshold applies for each purchase of equipment, allowing businesses to purchase multiple eligible assets under the scheme.

With the scheme now permanent, businesses have much more clarity when planning their future equipment purchases.

How will this benefit your commercial solar business?

For smaller commercial projects under $20,000, customers can write off the cost of equipment in the same financial year the system is purchased and installed, reducing tax liability immediately and improving cash flow.

The scheme is particularly suited to smaller solar installations or upgrades, battery storage, HVAC equipment and EV charging infrastructure.

EV Fringe Benefits Tax changes

The Budget confirmed changes to the Fringe Benefits Tax (FBT) treatment of electric vehicles (EVs).

The Government will phase out the current full FBT exemption and move to a permanent 25% FBT discount for eligible EVs.

From 1 April 2027, EVs over $75,000 will receive a 25% FBT discount, while EVs at or under $75,000 will continue to receive a full FBT exemption.

From 1 April 2029, the full FBT exemption for EVs at or under $75,000 will only apply to arrangements that commenced before that date. After this, all eligible EVs will receive the 25% FBT discount.

How will this benefit your commercial solar business?

While the Fringe Benefit Tax concession is being reduced over time, EVs remain significantly cheaper to operate than petrol vehicles.

As a result, demand for EV charging infrastructure is expected to remain strong across commercial and industrial sectors.

The value proposition becomes even stronger when EV charging is integrated with solar and battery storage. Combining onsite solar generation with battery-backed EV charging can help businesses reduce electricity and fuel costs and fleet operating expenses.

The long-term direction remains clear. Businesses are continuing to electrify operations, reduce energy costs, and invest in smarter energy infrastructure, creating ongoing opportunities for solar, storage and EV charging providers.

Find out how to supercharge your conversations with customers by leveraging these latest tax incentives.

Sources: Australian Government Budget – Tax Reform Measures

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If you can afford your energy bills, you can afford solar. Here’s how.

Demanzo Team — Tue, 28 Oct 2025 14:07:44 +0000

With the promise of energy-bill savings, reduced reliance on the grid and a step towards sustainability, most business owners are enthusiastic about the idea of going solar.

That is, until they see the price tag.

For SMEs in Australia, a commercial solar system can cost upwards of $10,000. For larger facilities or businesses adding storage, that figure can exceed $50,000.

So, how can the average business justify that kind of investment?

Simple: you’re already spending the money – just without the benefits of renewable energy.

A smarter way to use your existing energy spend

Smart Ease Payment Plans were designed to remove the upfront cost barrier of switching to solar.

With a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan, your business can enjoy the benefits of solar straight away, paying for the system over time through manageable monthly instalments. In many cases, these repayments are less than the savings on your energy bills, making the investment cash-flow positive from day one.

Instead of a large upfront cost, you simply replace part of your existing energy spend with monthly repayments. The difference is that, with this model, you’re investing in your own clean energy asset rather than your energy provider’s profits.

Example Scenario:

Your business currently spends $1,000 per month on energy bills ($12,000 per year).
You install a $25,000 solar system using a $0 upfront Smart Ease Payment Plan.
Once the system is operating, your monthly energy bill drops by 60% to just $400. Your business is now saving $600 per month.
Your Smart Ease repayments are $556.59 per month.
As a result, each month, your energy-bill savings are covering your repayments. In fact, your overall monthly energy expenditure has actually decreased by close to $50 per month.
Over five years, factoring in electricity price rises, those savings add up to almost $5,000.

The bottom line

If the cost of energy-efficiency equipment is holding you back from decarbonising your operations, remember this: if you can afford your current energy bills, you can afford solar.

And the sooner you make the switch, the sooner you’ll start enjoying the savings!

Find out how Smart Ease Payment Plans could help your business afford solar now

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5 key differences between selling residential and commercial solar

Wed, 28 Sep 2022 05:35:11 +0000

Unless you work in the solar industry, the distinction between the residential and commercial solar markets may not seem apparent, or important. It’s all panels on roofs, turning the sun’s energy into electricity, right?
Not quite. There are key differences between the two markets which make a one-size-fits-all sales approach destined to fail. Here are our top five.

1. Size matters

The size of the systems, the size of the panels and the amount of energy produced by commercial and residential solar systems is an obvious difference. The scale of the installation and the size of the panels themselves also varies, with commercial solar panels featuring 96 cells on average compared to 72 cells for home solar panels.
Commercial panels also produce energy much more efficiently than their resi cousins. This increased efficiency equates to huge savings over time – a fact which appeals strongly to business owners facing cash-flow challenges and enormous power bills.

2. Price shock

Size also matters when it comes to total project cost.
As a homeowner, setting aside $8,000 to ‘go solar’ sounds achievable. But an organisation facing tens – even hundreds – of thousands for a system which meets their needs could seem an impossible hurdle.
The amount of capital required is unmanageable for many organisations – which is why offering them $0 upfront with a payment solution can make the difference between closing and losing a sale.

3. Buying drivers

Studies show that homeowners install solar chiefly for financial reasons (75%), along with a desire to reduce our carbon footprints (53%) or to live off-grid.
But when it comes to commercial motivation, cash flow tends to be top of mind. Capital is often in short supply, which is where Smart Ease payment solutions can radically change the conversation.
Demonstrating that solar will literally save an organisation money is powerful – add in $0 upfront costs and potential tax benefits and you have a strong incentive to book that solar installation in.

4. Sustainability and ESG concerns

While homeowners installing solar may be sustainability focussed, any environmental goals they have are self-imposed.

In the commercial sector, however, an added factor is brand perception and community goodwill. There is growing pressure on organisations to lead the way on sustainability and installing solar is a highly visible way to do so. Offering free publicity of their solar uptake by sharing their story on your own (and, where suitable, on the Smart Ease) website and social media can be a nice bonus.

5. Saturation point

While we still haven’t reached the stage where every suitable house has solar, most of the prime candidates (i.e. unshaded, north-facing, owner-occupied homes) do. This is especially true in Australia, where solar makes up 30% of the energy market – and New Zealand saw total installs grow by around 36% from 2020 to 2021.
By contrast, in Australia industry estimates suggest that approximately 15% of commercial roofs (versus 35% of residential) have solar panels. In New Zealand, commercial solar penetration sits at around 5%, with residential solar accounting for 70-80% of the market.

With so many more untapped prospects, and larger systems meaning larger profits, commercial is where smart, future-focussed operators are turning.

Transitioning from residential to commercial solar sales? Speak to your Smart Ease Sales Director for insider advice today!

Photo credit Unsplash.

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How to help your customers understand and manage rising electricity costs

Stefanie D — Sun, 04 Sep 2022 23:00:00 +0000

There’s no getting around it: electricity prices are on the up. For Australia, New Zealand and most of the world, energy prices are skyrocketing.

So how can you explain what’s happening to your customers? And how can you help them to keep business costs down?

Why are electricity prices rising?

A combination of economic, political and climate events has led to continuing electricity price hikes. These include:

rising global gas and coal prices, and increasing transportation costs, have increased the cost of generating electricity
unexpected outages have resulted in reduced output at multiple generators
the Russia-Ukraine war has led to further instability and created a supply shortage (due to countries rejecting oil and gas from Russia), and
extreme weather events causing sharp and erratic increases in demand have led to higher wholesale electricity costs for retailers.

Are electricity prices likely to come down soon?

In a word: no.

Retailers’ costs of managing highly volatile prices in turbulent market conditions ultimately get passed on to consumers in their electricity bills. 

In the short to medium term, the best way for consumers to manage their energy costs is to reduce consumption through efficiency measures such as energy-efficient lighting and heat pumps – and to start generating their own on-site electricity e.g. via solar panels.

Show customers how for $0 upfront they could be cash-flow positive

One of the major obstacles to installing renewable-energy infrastructure or other energy-efficient solutions can be the upfront cost. Often organisations don’t have the budget or they prioritise spending elsewhere in the organisation.

But if they purchase energy-efficiency equipment using a Payment Plan, they pay $0 upfront. Their Payment Plan application can be instantly pre-approved – which means they can install energy-efficiency equipment straight away and start saving.

Best of all, Payment Plan monthly instalments are typically lower than electricity-bill savings.

This means your customers can often enjoy a cashflow-positive position.

Which is excellent news for their bottom line.

Chat to your Account Manager to find out more about Smart Ease Payment Plans

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