Open lending marketplace

Acorn Finance prequal widgets for solar contractor websites

Acorn Finance operates as an open lending marketplace whose flagship contractor tool is an embeddable soft-pull pre-qualification widget — built to capture financially verified leads before a salesperson ever calls.

At a glance

Primary offer
Embeddable pre-qualification widget
Funnel job
Top-of-funnel conversion on installer marketing sites
Coverage
All 50 U.S. states (per platform positioning)
Credit pull
Soft-pull exploration prior to sales contact

Widget-first, not enterprise-API-first

Similar to Hearth’s marketplace model, Acorn emphasizes open lending. Its distinctive contractor surface is the website widget: anonymous visitors can explore financing options without waiting for a kitchen-table appointment. Soft-pull results then pass into the contractor CRM with an approved amount attached.

Why installers embed it

Sales teams want certainty about buying power. A prequal widget filters tire-kickers, prioritizes follow-up, and works nationally for developers who operate across state lines. Implementation is typically a snippet or hosted link rather than a months-long Financing API project.

Homeowner tips if you used an Acorn-style widget

Screenshot or save the offers shown, confirm soft vs hard pull language, and still request a cash proposal. Prequal maximums are not a reason to oversize a system — model your roof and bill first in SolarFlow, then finance the right kW.

Questions to ask

  • Which lenders stand behind the offers the widget returned?
  • How long is my prequal valid, and what triggers a hard pull?
  • Can I get a cash price that matches the financed scope exactly?

Red flags

  • Widget that collects full SSN without clear soft-pull disclosure.
  • Installer treats prequal max as the system design target instead of your usage and roof.

Frequently asked questions

Common solar questions for this area — start a project for answers tied to your roof and utility bill.

Does using an Acorn widget lock me into one installer?

Usually the widget lives on a specific contractor’s site, so leads route to that business. You can still shop other installers and lenders independently.

Is Acorn available in my state?

The platform positions itself across all fifty U.S. states; confirm product availability on the disclosure screens for your address.

Related

Sources

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