Five Star Solar vs Go Solar Now
Sacramento Solar Contractors Comparison · Updated March 2026
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 | 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 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
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...
- ✓ 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
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
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.
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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.
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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 13, 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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