Compare Local Pros Compare Local Pros

Five Star Solar vs Go Solar Now

Sacramento Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026

Quick Verdict

Five Star Solar offers more experience, workers compensation coverage, and extensive customer feedback, while Go Solar Now lacks workers comp and has limited review history.

Five Star Solar: A 20-year veteran solar contractor with strong customer feedback on quick installations, competitive pricing, and comprehensive project management from consultation through long-term support.
Go Solar Now: A 15-year licensed solar contractor offering engineering and installation services, including support for owner-builder projects, but operating without workers compensation insurance on file.
Note: Go Solar Now operates without workers compensation insurance on file, which exposes homeowners to potential liability if a worker is injured on your property.
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

Need help deciding?

Get free quotes from both contractors and compare pricing.

Get Free Quotes

Key Differences

The most significant difference is workers compensation insurance. Five Star Solar carries it; Go Solar Now does not have it on file. Without workers comp, if a contractor's employee is injured on your property, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage, potentially exposing you to claims and premium increases. Beyond insurance, Five Star Solar provides substantially more visibility into actual customer experiences, with consistent feedback about quick installation timelines, competitive pricing, and professional crews. Their 20 years of licensing versus 15 years represents five additional years navigating permitting changes, equipment evolution, and handling complications. The review history shows Five Star Solar managing complex situations including HOA approvals, project rescues from failed contractors, and providing long-term post-installation support. Go Solar Now's service model appears to include owner-builder support, which could appeal to cost-conscious homeowners willing to handle portions of their project, but the lack of customer feedback makes it difficult to assess execution quality, communication patterns, or problem resolution.

What Customers Say

Five Star Solar

Customers consistently praise Five Star Solar for quick installation completion, competitive pricing, knowledgeable consultation, and maintaining long-term relationships with responsive support years after installation.

Key Takeaway: Five Star Solar has extensive documented customer feedback showing consistent performance patterns, while Go Solar Now has insufficient review history to assess customer experience, communication quality, or problem resolution.

Customer Reviews

Five Star Solar

Jan 2026

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 ...

Jan 2026

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...

Dec 2025

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

Mar 2017

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...

  • You want documented evidence of consistent performance, with customer feedback showing quick installation completion and professional crews handling the entire project from permits through inspection
  • Workers compensation coverage is important to you for liability protection, especially given the rooftop work and electrical components involved in solar installations
  • Your project involves complexity such as HOA approvals, special design requirements, or older roof structures where 20 years of problem-solving experience provides additional value
  • You prefer a turnkey approach with a company maintaining long-term customer relationships and providing ongoing support years after installation
View full profile →

Consider Go Solar Now if...

  • You're interested in an owner-builder model where you participate in portions of the installation while relying on licensed professionals for engineering, permitting, and technical electrical work
  • You're willing to accept the liability considerations of working with a contractor without workers compensation on file and can verify your homeowner's insurance provides adequate coverage
  • The engineering and plan preparation focus aligns with a project where you need permitted plans but may handle or coordinate other aspects yourself
  • Five years less licensing experience is acceptable given your specific project needs and the company's veteran status
View full profile →

Questions to Ask Before Hiring

  • Ask Go Solar Now directly about their workers compensation status and what liability protections they provide, then contact your homeowner's insurance to confirm whether contractor injuries would be covered under your policy
  • Ask Go Solar Now for references from recent full-service installations similar to yours, with contact information you can verify independently
  • Ask both companies about warranty coverage and who handles service calls if system issues arise months or years after installation
  • Ask Go Solar Now to clarify their service model and whether they provide the same turnkey installation approach as Five Star Solar or primarily support owner-builder projects

The Bottom Line

Five Star Solar is the clearer choice for most homeowners. The company provides workers compensation coverage protecting you from liability, five additional years of licensing experience, and extensive customer feedback confirming quick installations, competitive pricing, and professional execution. The documented ability to handle complex projects and maintain long-term customer relationships provides confidence that problems will be resolved professionally. Go Solar Now may appeal if you specifically want an owner-builder support model and are willing to accept the workers comp liability gap, but without customer feedback to assess performance, you're making a decision with less information. For a standard turnkey solar installation this week, Five Star Solar offers greater protection and proven performance.

Get Up to 3 Free Quotes

Compare prices from licensed, verified contractors

3 pros will compete for your business
Licensed & Insured
Top-Rated Pros
100% Free

Frequently Asked Questions

It means if a worker is injured during your installation, your homeowner's insurance may become the primary coverage for medical costs and claims. This can expose you to premium increases and potential lawsuits. Before hiring any contractor without workers comp, contact your insurance agent to understand your liability exposure and whether additional coverage is needed.

For solar installations, five additional years means navigating more technology transitions, permitting requirement changes, and equipment recalls. Twenty years versus fifteen years is less dramatic than comparing a new contractor to an established one, but Five Star Solar's longer history does provide additional experience diagnosing roof structural issues and handling complications during installations.

This could reflect a smaller operation, a different business model focused on owner-builder support rather than full installations, or simply less emphasis on generating reviews. Without feedback patterns, you have less visibility into how they communicate, handle problems, or maintain timelines. Ask directly for references and verify them independently before proceeding.

Owner-builder solar projects can reduce costs but require significant time investment, comfort with coordinating subcontractors, and understanding technical requirements. You'll still need licensed work for electrical hookups and permitting, which Go Solar Now provides. However, the lack of workers comp becomes even more concerning if you're coordinating multiple workers on your property. Carefully evaluate whether the potential savings justify the increased complexity and liability risk.

Looking for the Best?

See our ranked list of top solar contractors in Sacramento.

View Top 10 Solar Contractors in Sacramento

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 13, 2026.

This comparison is based on publicly available information. We recommend getting multiple quotes and verifying all credentials directly before hiring.

Get in Touch

Have questions or feedback? We'd love to hear from you.

Get Free Quotes