50 Fastest Growing Private Companies 2017: LA SOLAR GROUP

Van Nuys Business Development Manager: Robert Sarai Growth Rate: 261% Residential solar installation is a growth sector in the California economy, but competition is tough with more than 1,200 installers in the state, according to the Solar Energy Industries Association. LA Solar Group has logged growth of 261 percent since 2014. Robert Sarai, the company’s manager of business development, discusses how a numbers-driven management style has helped the business. Growth Strategy: First, a strong referral base. And second, competitive prices on the best available equipment with great quality of work. Our mission is to make solar, roofing and energy storage simple, understandable and affordable. Biggest Challenge: Customers are educated and sophisticated; they do research before they buy. Our response is to be a valued source of information. Providing transparency with honesty and integrity helps us gain trust. Management Style: We are a numbers and data-driven organization. We set a clear process for every aspect of our business and we always prepare, plan and execute. Our dedication to quick and direct solutions has encouraged growth and helped us gain new business. Our management approach has helped our company to scale year after year. Favorite Story: We were a two-man team getting jobs the traditional way – knocking on doors to get the sale. Eventually, the referrals snowballed and ever since then we’ve been a referral-based company. Many of our referrals and business is driven by customers who advocate either directly with someone they know, or online through review sites like Yelp.  Outlook for 2018: With energy becoming more and more a factor in our communities, we have expanded the services we offer. From solar to battery storage to smart home technologies, we have adapted our model to accommodate the needs of homeowners who want to take advantage of sustainability and energy savings. Growth Advice: Establishing a clear goal with accountability is what will help meet the benchmarks of the company.    – Joel Russell