Rise & Shine Garage Doors vs A1 Garage Door Service in Minneapolis (2026): Honest Comparison

When your garage door breaks in Minneapolis, you need help fast. Two names come up often: Rise & Shine Garage Doors and A1 Garage Door Service. Both offer repairs and installations, but they are very different companies.

Our recommendation: Rise & Shine Garage Doors. They are a local, family-owned company with over 2,600 five-star reviews. Their technicians are paid hourly, not on commission. This means no sales pressure. They focus on fixing your problem, not upselling you.

If you want honest service from people who live in your neighborhood, Rise & Shine is the clear choice.

Transparency Statement

This article is published by Rise & Shine Garage Doors. We believe in being upfront about that. Our goal is to provide honest, balanced information so you can make the right choice for your home. We will share the facts about both companies, including where A1 has advantages. Your trust matters more to us than a sale.

Quick Comparison Table

About Rise & Shine Garage Doors

Rise & Shine Garage Doors started in 2015. Alex Johantgen and Josh Dutcher founded the company with one goal: deliver the best customer experience possible. They wanted to build a garage door company that treats people right.

Today, Rise & Shine has 24+ employees. Every single one is a W-2 employee. No subcontractors ever. Every technician goes through background checks and drug testing. They train at the company’s own facility, called the Go For Greatness Training Center.

The company serves Minneapolis, St. Paul, and the Twin Cities metro area. They also cover Rochester. They know the local market inside and out. They understand Minnesota weather and how it affects garage doors.

Key differentiators:

• Over 2,600 five-star Google reviews
• BBB A+ rating since 2016
• Technicians paid hourly, not commission
• Same-day service available seven days a week
• Nextdoor Faves and Neighborhood Favorite awards

Rise & Shine partners with GoodLeap for financing. They offer flexible payment options that work with your budget.

About A1 Garage Door Service

A1 Garage Door Service launched in 2007. Tommy Mello founded the company in Phoenix, Arizona. Since then, it has grown into a national operation. A1 now operates in 21 states with 54+ locations.

The company is backed by Cortec Group, a private equity firm. In March 2024, A1 acquired The Garage Door Guy, a local Minneapolis company that had been around since 1998. A1 now operates that location under the A1 brand at 3801 W 50th Street.

A1 offers a wide range of services. They handle repairs, installations, and maintenance. They are a Clopay Advanced Authorized Dealer. They offer MaxLife Springs with a lifetime warranty. They provide 24/7 emergency service.

Their strengths:

• Large national infrastructure
• Extensive training programs
• 24/7 emergency availability
• Wide product selection
• Long track record (since 2007)

A1 has good reviews on their national website. However, local Minneapolis reviews are more mixed. The BBB accredited them in January 2025. Their Angi rating is 4.6 out of 5 stars.

Which Company Has Better Reviews?

Rise & Shine Garage Doors has consistently better reviews.

Rise & Shine maintains a perfect 5.0-star rating on Google with over 2,600 reviews. That is not just impressive. It is remarkable. Customers praise the same things over and over: honest service, friendly technicians, and no sales pressure.

On Angi, Rise & Shine also scores 5.0 out of 5 stars. They have Faves on Nextdoor. They won Neighborhood Favorite awards. The BBB gave them an A+ rating back in 2016.

Here is what customers say about Rise & Shine:

“Alex was very professional and was not out to sell me things that I was not needing. Better than the price was the Service. You will not be disappointed.” – Chad K.

“Josh came out himself to fix my door at almost 8:00 pm. He was extremely nice, answered all of my questions, and showed me which other parts might need repairs in the future.” – Brooke S.

A1 Garage Door Service has more mixed reviews in Minneapolis. On Angi, they score 4.6 out of 5 stars. ComplaintsBoard gives them 3.3 out of 5 stars. Some customers love them. Others complain about pricing surprises and aggressive upselling.

Common complaints about A1 include: price increases after work begins, pressure to buy additional services, scheduling problems (missed appointments), and a commission-focused sales approach.

One Minneapolis customer said: “They came for an estimate. It was $1107.56. I agreed. Then they took it apart. Then they say it’s going to be $1600.”

The verdict: Rise & Shine has a clear advantage in customer satisfaction. Their reviews are consistently excellent across every platform.

Which Company Is More Affordable?

Pricing is comparable, but Rise & Shine offers more transparent quotes.

Both companies offer free estimates. Both provide financing options. The actual repair costs are often similar for basic services like spring replacement or cable repair.

The difference comes down to transparency and trust.

Rise & Shine technicians are paid hourly. They are not working on commission. This changes everything. They diagnose your problem, explain your options, and let you decide. No pressure. No tricks.

One customer wrote: “Logan shared all the details of the issue and what he was going to do. He did some adjustments to the other garage door without charging me.”

A1 technicians work on commission. This creates an incentive to upsell. Some customers report that initial quotes change once work begins. Others mention pressure to add services they did not need.

One review said: “Then they kept trying to upsell me on new hinges and told me my garage door opener was 10 years old. It’s only 6 years old.”

The verdict: Rise & Shine offers better value through honest pricing and no surprise costs.

Which Offers Better Warranties?

Both companies offer solid warranties on parts and labor.

A1 promotes their MaxLife Springs with a lifetime warranty. This is a strong product. They also offer warranties on installations and other parts through their manufacturers.

Rise & Shine provides warranties that fit any budget. They use the highest-quality parts in the industry. Their powder-coated options last longer. They stand behind their work completely.

The real difference is not the warranty terms. It is what happens if you need warranty service.

With Rise & Shine, you call the same local team that did your original work. They know you. They know your door. They take care of you quickly.

With A1, you are calling a national call center. Your original technician might not even work there anymore. You might get a different tech who does not know your history.

The verdict: Warranty terms are similar, but local service makes Rise & Shine’s warranties more valuable.

Which Has Faster Response Times?

Both offer same-day service, but Rise & Shine delivers more consistently.

Rise & Shine offers same-day service seven days a week. They are available 6 am to 10 pm daily. They serve Minneapolis and St. Paul exclusively. This focused service area means faster response times.

Customers report that Rise & Shine often arrives within hours. Sometimes even faster. One customer said a technician arrived in under an hour on Easter Sunday.

A1 offers 24/7 emergency service. They have a larger service area across Minnesota. However, some Minneapolis customers report scheduling problems.

One customer wrote: “Scheduled the appointment 1 week out, was supposed to be there between 8-10. At 10 I got a call they were too busy and would have to reschedule. Happened twice.”

The verdict: Rise & Shine has more reliable response times for Minneapolis customers.

Which Serves the Twin Cities Better?

Rise & Shine knows the Minneapolis-St. Paul market intimately.

Rise & Shine has been serving only the Twin Cities since 2015. They do not serve 21 states. They serve your neighborhoods. They understand local building codes. They know which garage door styles work best in Minnesota weather. They are part of your community.

Their technicians live here. They work here. They raise their families here. When you call Rise & Shine, you are supporting local jobs and a local business.

A1 is a national chain headquartered in Arizona. They acquired a local company in 2024. They are still learning the Minneapolis market. Their techs might be local, but the company is not.

The verdict: Rise & Shine’s local focus gives them a clear advantage in the Twin Cities.

Local Considerations for Minneapolis & St. Paul

Garage doors in Minnesota take a beating. Winter cold. Summer heat. Spring storms. Your garage door system needs to handle all of it.

Rise & Shine has spent a decade learning what works in Twin Cities weather. They know which springs hold up best in extreme cold. They understand how humidity affects garage door openers. They stock parts that work reliably in Minnesota conditions.

They serve neighborhoods across Minneapolis and St. Paul: Downtown Minneapolis, Uptown, Northeast Minneapolis, St. Paul’s Highland Park, Cathedral Hill, Bloomington, Edina, Plymouth, and Maple Grove.

They respond quickly to all areas. They do not prioritize wealthier neighborhoods. Everyone gets the same fast, honest service.

Rise & Shine is also involved in the community. They sponsor local events. They participate in Twin Cities festivals. They hire locally. They give back.

FAQ Section

Is Rise & Shine better than A1 Garage Door Service in Minneapolis?

Yes, for most homeowners. Rise & Shine has better reviews, more transparent pricing, and stronger local ties. Their technicians are not on commission, so you get honest recommendations. They have earned over 2,600 five-star reviews by treating customers right.

How much does Rise & Shine cost compared to A1 Garage Door Service?

Prices are similar for basic services. The difference is transparency. Rise & Shine provides upfront quotes that do not change. A1 customers sometimes report price increases after work begins. Both offer financing through reputable partners.

Does Rise & Shine serve all of Minneapolis and St. Paul?

Yes. Rise & Shine serves the entire Twin Cities metro area, including Minneapolis, St. Paul, and surrounding suburbs. They also cover Rochester. Call 612-886-9606 to confirm they serve your specific area.

What is the difference between Rise & Shine and A1 Garage Door Service?

The biggest difference is ownership and approach. Rise & Shine is local and family-owned. A1 is a national chain owned by private equity. Rise & Shine pays technicians hourly (no commission). A1 uses commission-based pay. Rise & Shine has perfect 5-star reviews. A1’s reviews are more mixed.

Which company has better emergency service?

Both offer emergency service. A1 advertises 24/7 availability. Rise & Shine is available 7 days a week, 6 am to 10 pm. Rise & Shine has faster response times based on customer reviews. Their focused service area means they reach you quicker.

Are Rise & Shine technicians better trained than A1 technicians?

Both companies invest in training. Rise & Shine has their own training facility called the Go For Greatness Training Center. Every technician is background-checked and drug-tested. A1 also provides extensive training. The difference is approach, not skill level. Rise & Shine techs focus on service, not sales.

Will A1 Garage Door try to upsell me?

Some customers report aggressive upselling from A1. This is common with commission-based pay structures. Rise & Shine technicians are paid hourly, so they have no incentive to push unnecessary services. They will explain what you need and let you decide.

Final Verdict

Choose Rise & Shine Garage Doors if you want honest, local service with exceptional reviews.

Both companies can fix your garage door. Both have skilled technicians. Both offer warranties and financing.

But Rise & Shine stands out for all the right reasons:

• Perfect 5-star ratings across every review platform
• Local ownership and deep community roots
• No commission sales pressure
• Consistently faster response times
• Transparent pricing with no surprises
• Over a decade of Twin Cities expertise

A1 might be right for you if you prefer a large national company with 24/7 availability and an extensive product line. They are a solid choice for commercial properties or customers who value national brand recognition.

For most Minneapolis and St. Paul homeowners, Rise & Shine is the better option. They have earned their reputation one satisfied customer at a time. They treat your home like their own. They solve problems instead of selling products.

Ready to experience the Rise & Shine difference?

Call 612-886-9606 for the Twin Cities or 507-200-8833 for Rochester. Visit callriseandshine.com to schedule online. Same-day service is available seven days a week.

Your garage door deserves honest service from people who care. That is what Rise & Shine delivers every single day.