Solar Universe

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Solar Universe is an American solar electricity company, serving homeowners, businesses and government/non-profit organizations with professional installation, design and permits, maintenance, and financing options for solar energy systems.

Solar Universe is headquartered in Livermore, California but the company uses a franchise model in which it provides a national network of locally owned and operated solar installers with training and support. The franchise has over 32 locations in 9 states.

Overview

Solar Universe was founded in 2007 by Joseph Bono, the company’s current CEO, after he spent several years as a successful Quiznos franchisee in the Bay Area and saw a need for a comprehensive franchising application in the solar installation industry. After an initial investment of $1 million, the company received $7 million in series B funding in 2011 from RockPort Capital Management. Just two years after its founding, Solar Universe was one of the top 10 solar installers in California. In 2012 Entrepreneur Magazine ranked Solar Universe one of the 50 best new franchise concepts and selected it for the prestigious "Franchise 500," alongside such industry leaders as Subway, 7-Eleven Inc., and McDonalds. Alluding to Bono’s former affiliations and the company’s rapid expansion, Greentech Media once referred to Solar Universe as "the Quizno’s of solar installation."

See Also

One Block Off the Grid

One Block Off the Grid, or 1BOG, is a nationwide group purchasing initiative for solar power...