Instyle Solar notches up $150m in sales since starting in 2014 and has plans to expand

From a small investment just seven years ago, this Brisbane company now has over 100 staff and notched up over $150m in sales.

From small beginnings seven years ago a Brisbane-based solar installation company has earned the title of one of Australia’s fastest growing companies and expanded interstate, notching up more than $150m in sales.

Instyle Solar recorded about $40m in sales in 2020 and plans to build on that with a greater focus interstate and diversify into other forms of energy technology.

Karl Brown, who founded the company with Jonah Hicks in 2014 with a $2500 investment, said the coronavirus lockdown took its toll on the company in the first half of 2020 but the last six months was the “largest half year we’ve ever had”.

“What COVID has taught us is not to have all your eggs in the one basket and we are diversifying geographically,” he said.

“We are also getting our energy retail licence so we are looking at doing more in that space.

“In the next year or two we will see an explosion in batteries and virtual power plants which is what everyone’s working on now.”

Instyle Solar co-founders Karl Brown and Jonah Hicks.

Instyle Solar last year made a record 2800 plus solar installations.

Mr Brown said they were aiming at 3700 this year with operations now also in NSW, Victoria, South Australia and Western Australia with a bona fide retail partnership with US big box, Costco.

Last year Instyle Solar gained the title of Australia’s third fastest growing company in the Australian Financial Review Fast 100 List for 2020, with an average three-year growth rate of 128 per cent.

With its headquarters in Brendale, Instyle Solar has 114 employees including contractors.

Mr Brown said they have had to “boot strap” the financial side of the business and have not taken out any loans or taken on any investors to grow the company.

He said he and Mr Hill founded Instyle Solar with a simple mission — to make solar simple by putting the homeowner in control of their electricity usage which has helped the company’s growth.

Instyle Solar, founded by Jonah Hiocks and Karl Brown, is one of Australia’s fastest growing companies.

Last month, Instyle Solar launched a ‘pain free guarantee’ to redefine customer perceptions of the solar industry, as part of a major rebrand announcement.

“What sets us apart from fellow operator is that we focus on the financial presentation,” Mr Brown said.

“By telling the customer what they can save by having solar, what their repayments are and how their savings can pay the system off.

“We might not get it perfect every time, but we will do everything we can to rectify and ensure no customer is left with anything other than a product and service that exceeds their expectations and provides certainty, longevity and trust.”

Originally published as Instyle Solar notches up $150m in sales since starting in 2014 and has plans to expand