Choosing between an in-house solar designer and an outsourced design team depends on how your business handles its projects.
If you have a steady flow of work, hiring an in-house designer can make sense. But if your project volume changes from month to month, outsourcing can give you the flexibility to take on more work without increasing your permanent team.
Many growing solar installers use a combination of both. They keep an in-house design lead to manage company standards and customer requirements, while an outsourced team helps with additional projects, commercial designs and engineering support.
Let’s look at how both options compare in terms of cost, project volume, turnaround and quality.
What Is Outsourced Solar Permit Design?
Outsourced solar design means working with an external design team to prepare solar proposals, layouts, electrical drawings and other project documents.
Instead of hiring a full-time designer, you pay a design provider for the work you need.
Depending on the provider, services may include:
- Residential solar permit design.
- Commercial solar layouts and electrical drawings.
- Utility application and permitting support.
- Structural and electrical engineering.
- Professional engineering (PE) stamps where required and available.
Outsourcing gives you access to additional design resources without having to build a complete design team internally.
Before assigning projects, make sure you understand the provider’s scope of work, turnaround times and engineering capabilities.
How Much Does an In-House Solar Designer Cost?
Hiring an in-house designer gives you someone who understands your projects, customers and internal processes.
However, the cost goes beyond their salary.
According to the US Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), the median annual wage for drafters was $65,380 in May 2024. Electrical and electronics drafters had a median annual wage of $73,720.
These are general occupational figures, not solar-specific salaries. Actual compensation will depend on the designer’s experience, location and responsibilities.
Additional costs of hiring an in-house designer
| Cost | What to consider |
|---|---|
| Salary and benefits | Wages, payroll taxes, insurance and other employment costs |
| Design software | CAD software, solar design tools and licences |
| Hiring and training | Recruitment and training on company standards and local codes |
| Unused capacity | Salary continues even when project volumes are low |
| Overtime | Extra costs when the workload exceeds the designer’s capacity |
| Engineering support | Access to licensed engineers for projects requiring PE stamps |
An in-house designer can be a good investment when you have enough consistent work to keep them busy.
But when project volumes fluctuate, maintaining a full-time designer can become expensive, particularly during quieter periods.
Outsourcing Solar Design vs. Hiring In-House: Key Differences
The main difference is how you manage design costs, capacity and control.
| Factor | In-house solar designer | Outsourced design team |
|---|---|---|
| Cost | Fixed salary and overhead | Usually per-project pricing |
| Project volume | Better suited to steady workloads | Useful for changing workloads |
| Turnaround | Depends on the designer’s availability | Depends on provider capacity and agreed deadlines |
| Design control | Direct oversight | Requires clear communication and templates |
| Multiple jurisdictions | Knowledge develops internally | May offer experience across more states |
| PE stamping | Requires access to licensed engineers | May be available through the provider |
| Continuity | Can be affected if one designer is unavailable | May benefit from a team-based process |
| Software and training | Managed internally | Usually managed by the provider |
Neither option is automatically cheaper or better. Your decision should reflect your actual project volume, design requirements and total operating costs.
When Should Solar Installers Outsource Design?
Outsourcing is worth considering when your business needs more design capacity or specialist engineering support.
1. Your project volume changes frequently
Some solar installers have a fairly consistent workload. Others may complete 20 projects one month and 70 the next.
A single in-house designer may struggle to manage that increase without overtime or delays.
An outsourced team can help handle additional projects when demand increases, provided it has enough capacity to meet your deadlines.
2. You serve multiple states or jurisdictions
Solar design requirements vary between states, local authorities and project types.
Different jurisdictions may adopt different editions of the National Electrical Code (NEC), and local amendments may introduce additional requirements.
A design provider that regularly works across multiple jurisdictions may already have processes for checking these differences.
This can be useful when expanding into new markets. However, every project still needs to meet the requirements of the relevant Authority Having Jurisdiction (AHJ), which is responsible for reviewing or approving the project.
3. Your projects require PE-stamped drawings
Some commercial, structural and electrical design packages require professional engineering stamps.
There is no single national PE licence that automatically allows an engineer to practise in every US state. Engineers generally need the appropriate state licence for the work they perform, subject to applicable state requirements and exemptions.
If your projects span several states, maintaining access to licensed engineers can become more complicated.
An outsourced design provider with an established engineering network may help manage this requirement.
Before assigning a project, confirm that the engineer is appropriately licensed for the project location and discipline.
4. You need additional design support quickly
When project volumes increase, an in-house designer may not have enough time to prepare proposals, layouts and electrical drawings.
Outsourcing can help you handle additional work without immediately hiring another employee.
However, don’t rely on advertised turnaround times alone. Ask about actual delivery commitments, urgent projects and revision timelines.
How to Compare the Total Cost of Outsourcing and In-House Design
The best way to compare both options is to calculate what each will actually cost your business.
Don’t compare an outsourced per-project price with an employee’s salary alone.
Calculate your in-house design cost
Include:
- Annual salary and employee benefits.
- Payroll taxes.
- Software licences.
- Recruitment and training.
- Management and quality control time.
- Additional engineering costs.
- Overtime or extra staffing.
Then divide the total annual cost by the number of projects completed during the year.
Calculate your outsourced design cost
Include:
- Per-project design fees.
- Additional charges for revisions or specialist services.
- PE stamping fees, where applicable.
- Project management and review time.
- Charges for urgent delivery or additional scope.
Then compare the total cost with your in-house cost per project.
For example: If an in-house designer costs your company $90,000 a year after salary and overhead, and you complete 600 projects annually, the average cost is $150 per project.
If your outsourced provider charges $180 per project, outsourcing may cost more at that volume, depending on what each package includes.
If you complete only 250 projects a year, the same in-house cost becomes $360 per project.
These figures are illustrative, not market prices. Your actual costs will depend on project complexity and the services included.
How to Maintain Solar Design Quality When Outsourcing
Outsourcing doesn’t mean you have to give up control over design quality.
A good process starts with clear project information and consistent design standards.
1. Provide complete project information
Give your design team the information it needs to prepare the drawings correctly.
This may include:
- Customer and project details.
- Site address and relevant site information.
- Roof plans or site layouts.
- Equipment specifications.
- Project scope and design requirements.
- Utility and permitting information.
Incomplete information can lead to unnecessary revisions and delays.
2. Use consistent design templates
Share your preferred drawing formats, naming conventions, equipment details and company standards.
This helps ensure that designs from different projects follow the same requirements.
3. Agree on turnaround and revision policies
Before sending projects, discuss expected delivery times, urgent work, revision requests and how design errors will be corrected.
Make sure both teams understand what is included in the design package and who is responsible for communicating changes.
4. Review the first few projects
Check the first design packages carefully before making outsourcing part of your regular workflow.
Review layouts, calculations, equipment information and applicable code requirements.
Once the process is established, continue using a quality checklist before designs are sent to customers or submitted for approval.
A Hybrid Solar Design Model: In-House Lead and Outsourced Team
For many growing solar installers and EPCs, a hybrid model offers a practical balance between direct control and flexible capacity.
An in-house design lead manages company standards, templates, customer requirements and project coordination.
The outsourced team handles additional project volume, overflow work, commercial designs and specialist engineering support.
How the hybrid model works
In-house responsibilities
- Maintain company design standards and templates.
- Coordinate with sales and installation teams.
- Manage project information and priorities.
- Review designs against company requirements.
- Track recurring design issues and revisions.
Outsourced responsibilities
- Prepare additional residential and commercial designs.
- Support projects during busy periods.
- Provide specialist design services.
- Arrange professional engineering support where agreed and appropriately licensed.
This arrangement allows your company to keep important project knowledge internally while accessing additional design resources when needed.
The right balance will depend on your project volume, budget and engineering requirements.
Confusions:
Is outsourcing solar design cheaper than hiring an in-house designer?
Outsourcing may be cheaper for installers with low or inconsistent project volumes because they pay for the work they need rather than maintaining a full-time salary and overhead.
For companies with high and consistent project volumes, hiring an in-house designer or team may reduce the average cost per project.
The best option depends on your actual project volume, employment costs and outsourced pricing.
Will outsourcing solar design affect proposal quality?
It can, particularly if the provider receives incomplete information or doesn’t understand your design standards.
To maintain quality, use consistent templates, provide a project information checklist and agree on revision policies.
The provider should also have a documented quality control process.
Can an outsourced solar design team provide PE-stamped drawings?
Yes. An outsourced design provider may arrange PE-stamped drawings through appropriately licensed professional engineers.
The engineer must hold the required licence for the relevant state and discipline and comply with applicable engineering requirements.
Always confirm the stamping arrangements before assigning the project.
Should a small solar installer outsource solar permit design?
Outsourcing can be a practical option for smaller installers with limited or inconsistent project volumes.
It allows them to access design support without immediately hiring a full-time designer.
However, someone within the company should still be responsible for project information, customer requirements and quality control.
Can I outsource only commercial solar design?
Yes. Depending on the provider, you may be able to outsource only commercial projects, overflow work or specialist engineering requirements.
For example, your in-house team may prepare standard residential proposals while an external team handles commercial layouts and projects requiring additional engineering support.
Confirm the provider’s scope, deliverables and turnaround commitments before assigning projects.
Make Vishtik Your Long-Term Solar Engineering Partner
Managing solar engineering in-house can become a constant challenge as your projects grow. From tight deadlines and design backlogs to permitting requirements and engineering stamps, these challenges can take time away from running your business.
Vishtik helps US solar installers and EPCs turn these ongoing engineering challenges into a reliable, long-term workflow. Instead of constantly hiring, training and managing additional designers, you get a dedicated engineering team that works alongside your business as project demands change.
Whether you handle residential solar, commercial solar, EV charging infrastructure or utility-scale projects, Vishtik provides design and engineering support to help keep your projects moving.
Why Solar Installers and EPCs Choose Vishtik
- Dedicated design team: Ongoing support for residential, commercial, EV charging and utility-scale projects.
- Client-specific templates: Designs that follow your company’s standards and project requirements.
- Dedicated project manager: One point of contact to coordinate projects and keep communication clear.
- Free revisions: Revisions at no additional cost, subject to the agreed project scope and revision policy.
- Three quality checks before submission: Every design package goes through three quality checks to help identify errors and maintain consistency before submission.
- PE stamping support: Structural Engineering (SE) and Electrical Engineering (EE) PE stamping services across all 50 states, subject to applicable licensing and project requirements.
Reliable Turnaround for Your Projects
- Residential solar permit design: Typically delivered overnight.
- Commercial solar permit design: Typically delivered within 24–48 hours.
Turnaround times depend on project scope, the completeness of the information provided and current workload. Timelines for EV and utility-scale projects are confirmed based on their specific requirements.
With Vishtik, you can scale your design capacity without building every resource in-house, reduce the pressure on your internal team and maintain a more consistent project workflow.
Stop letting engineering backlogs slow down your growth. Partner with Vishtik for dependable, ongoing design and engineering support.
