®Give suppliers a clear request
A clear request helps suppliers assess the opportunity. Response times depend on the equipment, availability and participating suppliers.
Sunhub business platform
Sunhub Fulfillment Center
Post an equipment need once and verified suppliers compete for it, with net terms, freight and warehousing arranged on the same order.
Sunhub Fulfillment Center
RFQ engine, financial services, freight and drayage, and warehousing and third-party logistics connected to the same solar equipment order.
Why it matters
Financing and logistics on the order, not a side conversation
Net terms, escrow status and freight details live on the order record itself, which is what keeps an invoice matching the terms a buyer actually approved.
How it works
Post, compare, close
Share equipment specifications, quantities and delivery needs. Review supplier responses and confirm commercial terms before proceeding.
No obligation either direction
Accept a quote, negotiate directly with the supplier, or walk away. Suppliers pay to access the marketplace and compete for the business; buyers post and compare for free.
RFQ Engine
Post a bill of materials once and let verified suppliers compete on landed cost, lead time and terms, typically within a few hours.
One RFQ, normalized supplier bids
One RFQ, every relevant supplier
A single posted bill of materials reaches verified suppliers across the network at once, replacing the usual round of individual calls and emails to four or five distributors for one comparison.
Normalized landed cost comparison
Quotes come back structured for side-by-side comparison on landed cost, availability and terms, not four differently formatted PDFs that each bury shipping and duties in different places.
Free to post, no obligation
Review the current request terms before submitting. Compare responses and confirm pricing, delivery and payment details before accepting an offer.
First quotes in hours, not days
Help suppliers respond
Supplier response times vary with specifications, availability and project complexity. Include quantities, location and required dates to help suppliers respond.
Cut RFQ cycle time on multi-vendor jobs
Normalized, side-by-side quotes can cut RFQ cycle time by up to 70 percent on jobs that would otherwise mean coordinating several separate vendor conversations.
Accepted quotes become orders
An accepted RFQ becomes an order
Accepting a quote moves the deal into net terms, freight and tracking on the same record, so nothing about the original bill of materials needs re-entering.
Net Terms & Escrow
Apply once for reusable trade credit, then use that approved line across every participating supplier, with milestone escrow protecting larger deals.
Reusable trade credit and escrow
Net-30 or Net-60, applied once
A single credit application produces terms usable across every participating supplier on the platform, instead of a separate credit application and approval wait for each new vendor relationship.
Escrow for larger commitments
Milestone-based escrow holds funds until agreed conditions, delivery confirmation or inspection, are met, which matters most on container-scale or multi-phase orders where neither side wants to be first to release money or goods.
Terms that protect cash flow, not just close a deal
Reusable net terms mean a growing supplier relationship doesn't require re-underwriting every few months, and escrow means a large order doesn't have to be paid in full before it ships.
Apply once, take bigger orders
Stop re-applying for credit supplier by supplier
One approved credit line carries across every participating supplier instead of a fresh application each time.
Take on bigger orders with less exposure
Escrow milestones mean capital isn't fully committed before delivery and inspection conditions are actually met.
Terms attached to the order
Terms attach to the order, not a side agreement
Net terms and escrow status show on the order record itself, alongside freight and tracking, so financing terms and shipment status never end up out of sync.
Freight & Drayage
Negotiated lanes, liftgate service and delivery time windows, coordinated for solar equipment specifically, not booked as generic freight.
Solar freight, liftgate and drayage
Lanes negotiated for solar freight patterns
Panel, inverter and battery shipments carry specific packaging, weight and damage-risk profiles that differ from general freight, and lane rates reflect that instead of a generic LTL quote. That specificity keeps a freight line item from becoming the surprise on a project budget.
Liftgate and site-specific delivery
Liftgate service and scheduled time windows get arranged for sites without a loading dock, which covers most active job sites and a fair number of distributor yards. Getting this wrong means a pallet sitting on a truck because nobody on site can unload it.
Drayage from port to warehouse
Container drayage from port of entry to a warehouse or cross-dock facility gets coordinated as part of the same booking, instead of a separate broker relationship a buyer has to manage.
Fewer failed, better-priced deliveries
Fewer failed deliveries
Liftgate and time-window requirements get set at booking, not discovered when a truck arrives at a site with no dock.
Freight priced for what's actually shipping
Lane rates reflect solar equipment's real packaging and handling requirements instead of a generic freight class guess.
One leg of the tracked order
Freight is one leg of the order
Freight status feeds the same order record as warehousing and terms, so a buyer checks one screen instead of a separate carrier tracking number.
Warehousing & 3PL
Forward-stocking and project kitting that position equipment closer to the job site and land as one delivery instead of staggered partial shipments.
Forward-stocking, kitting and 3PL handling
Forward-stocking near active projects
Equipment positions in warehousing closer to where a project is actually being built, cutting the lead time on a rush reorder from a cross-country shipment down to a regional one.
Project kitting, not partial shipments
A full bill of materials for a specific project kits together into one coordinated delivery, instead of modules, racking and BOS components arriving on three different trucks on three different days.
3PL handling without a separate vendor relationship
Warehousing and third-party logistics coordination runs through the same order record as the rest of fulfillment, so a buyer isn't separately managing a warehouse relationship on top of the supplier relationship.
Shorter lead times, one delivery
Cut rush-reorder lead time
Forward-stocked inventory near active project regions turns a rush reorder into a regional delivery instead of a cross-country one.
One delivery, not three
Kitting a full project's bill of materials together means a crew isn't waiting on the last truck of three to start work.
Connects to freight and tracking
Warehousing connects to freight and tracking
Kitted and forward-stocked inventory moves through the same freight coordination and tracking as any other order, so a buyer sees one status, not a separate warehouse update.
Guides for your next decision
Your questions, answered.
How fast can I get quotes through the RFQ Engine?
You post an equipment need once and verified suppliers compete for it, so quotes typically start arriving within hours to a couple of business days depending on the item and quantity. Timing varies with how specialized the equipment is and current supplier availability. Because multiple verified suppliers see the same request, you get comparable offers back without chasing each one individually.
Is there a fee to post a request for quote?
Posting a request for quote carries no obligation in either direction, and there is no charge to put a need in front of verified suppliers and compare what comes back. You only move forward if an offer works for you. For current terms on any transaction fees tied to a closed order, check with the Sunhub team directly.
Does the Fulfillment Center handle freight and warehousing too?
Yes. The Fulfillment Center is built to arrange freight, drayage, warehousing, and 3PL on the same order as the equipment purchase, alongside net terms and escrow. The idea is to close the product, the payment terms, and the logistics in one place rather than stitching separate vendors together after the fact.
How much does it cost?
Nothing for buyers. Posting a request is free. Suppliers pay to access the marketplace, so you get competitive bids with no hidden charges or platform fees.
How are suppliers verified?
We check credentials, licensing and business history for every supplier. Buyer reviews sit alongside the profile so you're transacting with companies that have a real track record.
More questions about these services
How long does it take?
Post in minutes. Most suppliers respond within 24 hours, and you'll usually have multiple quotes to compare the same day.
What can I source?
Solar panels, inverters, batteries and energy storage, mounting and racking, charge controllers, monitoring, EV chargers and complete PV systems, plus balance-of-system.
Is there a cost to post an RFQ?
No. Posting a bill of materials to the RFQ Engine is free and carries no obligation to buy. You submit the BOM once, verified suppliers compete on landed cost, lead time, and terms, and you are under no commitment until you accept a quote.
How fast do suppliers typically respond to an RFQ?
First quotes typically come back within a few hours rather than days, since the RFQ reaches every relevant verified supplier at once instead of you contacting them one by one. Response speed varies with the size and complexity of the bill of materials and supplier availability, but multi-vendor jobs generally see meaningfully shorter quote cycles.
What happens after I accept a quote from the RFQ Engine?
Once you accept a quote, it converts into an order with that supplier, locking in the quoted landed cost, lead time, and terms. From there the order moves into fulfillment, and Sunhub services like logistics or financing can be attached to the same deal if needed. Until you accept, there is no obligation.
Do net terms apply across every supplier or just one?
You apply once for a trade credit line, then use that approved line across every participating supplier on the marketplace. That replaces re-applying for credit supplier by supplier, so a single approval carries across your purchasing rather than being tied to one seller.
What does escrow protect on a large solar equipment order?
Milestone escrow holds funds until agreed conditions are met, so payment releases as the order progresses rather than fully up front. On larger commitments this protects the buyer's cash against nondelivery or a deal that falls apart, while giving the supplier confidence that funds are committed.
How do I qualify for Net-30 or Net-60 terms?
Qualification is based on a one-time credit application, after which the approved line is reusable across participating suppliers. Approval and the specific limit typically depend on business credentials and credit history. Once approved, Net-30 or Net-60 attaches to the order itself rather than requiring a separate side agreement each time.
Does Sunhub arrange liftgate delivery for sites without a loading dock?
Yes, liftgate service is part of coordinating solar deliveries to sites that lack a dock or forklift. Because pallets of modules and inverters are heavy and awkward, specifying liftgate up front avoids a failed delivery and a redelivery fee. Flag the site's access limits when booking so the right equipment is dispatched.
Is port drayage included in freight coordination?
Yes, drayage from the port to a warehouse or staging point is handled as part of freight coordination, not treated as a separate booking. Container equipment arriving by ocean needs that first leg managed so it connects cleanly to onward delivery. Coordinating it alongside the rest of the move avoids gaps between the port and the jobsite.
How is solar freight different from general LTL shipping?
Solar shipments involve heavy, fragile, high-value pallets of modules and inverters that need careful handling, correct lane selection, and often liftgate or time-windowed delivery. Generic LTL booked without that context leads to damage, failed deliveries, and surprise fees. Sunhub negotiates lanes around solar freight patterns and prices freight for what is actually shipping.
What is forward-stocking for solar equipment?
Forward-stocking positions inventory in a warehouse near an active project ahead of need, instead of shipping every order from a distant origin. That shortens lead time when a job needs material quickly and cushions against rush-reorder delays. It is especially useful for fast-moving items and replacement parts where waiting on a long-haul shipment would stall the crew.
Does project kitting combine multiple product categories into one delivery?
Yes. Kitting consolidates the modules, racking, inverters, and balance-of-system items a phase needs into a single coordinated shipment rather than staggered partial deliveries by category. That means the crew receives a complete, ready-to-install set in one drop, cutting the downtime and site congestion that come from waiting on trickled-in parts.
Is warehousing coordinated through the same order as freight?
Yes. On Sunhub, warehousing, kitting, and freight are handled within the same order flow, so storage and delivery stay connected rather than living with a separate 3PL vendor. That keeps tracking and scheduling under one thread, which makes it easier to time a delivery to the job site instead of reconciling handoffs between disconnected providers.
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