Compare Local Pros
Five Star Solar vs Go Solar Now
Sacramento General Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
Five Star Solar brings five additional years of experience and workers compensation coverage, with substantial customer feedback documenting performance.
| Five Star Solar | Go Solar Now | |
|---|---|---|
| Rating | ★ 4.9 | ★ 3.7 |
| Years Licensed | 20 years | 15 years |
| License # | 873535 | 958519 |
| Workers' Comp | ✓ Yes | — |
| Bond Amount | $25,000 | $25,000 |
| Location | Elk Grove, CA | Elk Grove, CA |
| Website | www.fivestarssolar.com | www.gosolarnow-inc.com |
Key Differences
What Customers Say
Five Star Solar
Customers consistently praise Five Star Solar for fast installation completion, competitive pricing, and thorough communication throughout the project lifecycle.
Key Takeaway: Five Star Solar has substantial documented customer feedback establishing performance patterns, while Go Solar Now has limited review history making it difficult to verify typical service quality or communication practices.
Customer Reviews
Five Star Solar
The folks at Five Star Solar were professional, experienced, fast, organized, and available for questions and communication. My solar system has been working flawlessly since they installed it. I had ...
In October 2025, I saw an ad about installing solar panels. I called my company, and they filed for bankruptcy. I called other companies, and they told me that they won't finish by December deadline f...
Like so many of us that were going to do some type of solar project at some point we now had to scramble to get our solar projects completed by year end due to the abandonment of the Tax Credit. I was...
Go Solar Now
We searched all over and these guys were the only co that allowed Owner builder installation. They did all the engineering and plans for the county. They hooked up the panel power and installed the fi...
Consider Five Star Solar if...
- ✓ Your project involves standard residential solar installation where you want documented evidence of consistent performance, quick turnaround times, and professional installation crews
- ✓ You prefer comprehensive workers compensation coverage to eliminate your liability exposure if someone is injured during installation
- ✓ You value detailed customer education during the sales process without pressure tactics, based on what previous customers consistently report
- ✓ Your timeline is tight and you need confidence the project will be completed quickly, as customers regularly mention one-to-two-day installation completion
Consider Go Solar Now if...
- ✓ You're pursuing an owner-builder approach and want to handle certain installation aspects yourself while relying on licensed support for technical and permitting requirements
- ✓ You specifically need engineering and plan preparation services as a distinct component of your project
- ✓ You're comfortable confirming your homeowner's insurance adequately covers contractor injuries and are willing to verify worker coverage arrangements directly
- ✓ You're prepared to ask detailed questions about crew experience and project timelines since limited customer feedback is available to document typical performance patterns
Questions to Ask Before Hiring
- → Ask Go Solar Now directly about their workers compensation status and what liability coverage protects you if a worker is injured, then verify with your homeowner's insurance whether you have adequate coverage for contractor accidents
- → Request references from Go Solar Now for recent projects similar in scope to yours, including contact information for customers who can speak to communication quality and timeline adherence
- → Ask both companies for detailed project timelines specific to your installation size and complexity, including how they handle delays or complications
- → Clarify what level of owner involvement Go Solar Now expects or accommodates if you're interested in their owner-builder model, and whether this affects warranty coverage
The Bottom Line
Five Star Solar is the clearer choice for most homeowners needing solar installation this week. The company provides workers compensation coverage that protects you from liability, has five additional years of licensed experience, and offers substantial customer feedback documenting quick installation timelines, competitive pricing, and responsive communication. Go Solar Now's lack of workers comp insurance creates real liability risk that you must address through your own insurance or accept as exposure. Consider Go Solar Now primarily if you specifically need their owner-builder support model or engineering services as standalone offerings, but verify insurance coverage thoroughly before proceeding. For standard residential solar installations where you want documented reliability and comprehensive protection, Five Star Solar presents the more complete package.
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Frequently Asked Questions
Workers compensation insurance covers medical costs and lost wages if a contractor's employee is injured on your property. Without it, you may be liable for those costs if someone gets hurt during your solar installation. Before hiring Go Solar Now, confirm your homeowner's insurance covers contractor injuries and ask them directly about their worker protection arrangements.
Both companies qualify as veterans with over a decade of experience, but twenty years means Five Star Solar has navigated more regulatory changes, technology updates, and installation scenarios. This additional experience can be valuable when dealing with older roofs, complex electrical panels, or unexpected complications during installation. For straightforward projects, both have sufficient experience.
Owner-builder arrangements can reduce costs if you're capable and willing to handle certain tasks, but they also shift responsibility and potential liability to you. Make sure you understand exactly what work you'd be expected to perform, how it affects your warranty, and whether your insurance covers you for self-performed construction work. Get detailed clarification on which tasks require licensed professionals.
This could reflect differences in project volume, customer engagement practices, or how actively each company solicits feedback. Limited reviews don't necessarily indicate poor performance, but they do make it harder to verify consistent quality and communication patterns. When considering Go Solar Now, ask directly for references and expect to do more due diligence to assess their typical performance.
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How We Compare Contractors
License Verification
All license data is sourced from official California CSLB records and verified regularly.
Review Analysis
Customer reviews are aggregated from Google and analyzed to identify patterns in service quality.
Detailed Comparison
We analyze credentials, insurance, experience, and feedback to highlight meaningful differences.
Not all licensed contractors are created equal. While a valid license is the baseline requirement in California, contractors can vary significantly in experience, insurance coverage, and customer satisfaction.
- Experience matters: A contractor with 15+ years of experience has likely encountered and solved problems that newer contractors haven't faced yet.
- Workers' compensation protects you: If a contractor without workers' comp insurance has an employee injured on your property, you could be held liable.
- Reviews reveal patterns: Individual reviews can be misleading, but patterns across many reviews often reveal a contractor's true strengths and weaknesses.
- Bond amounts vary: A contractor's bond provides financial protection if they fail to complete work as agreed. Higher bonds offer more protection.
Taking time to compare contractors on these factors can save you from costly mistakes and help ensure your project is completed by a qualified professional.
Data Sources: License information from California CSLB. Ratings and reviews from Google. Last verified March 08, 2026.
This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.
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