Going from Senior Manager to Startup Owner at 45. Crazy move?
Hey everyone,
Throwing this out there to see if anyone has walked a similar path and can offer some perspective.
I’m in my mid-40s and have spent my entire adult life in commercial glazing. I started straight out of the field as a helper and earned my way up through the ranks: shop/field labor, estimating, AutoCAD/drafting, project management, and ultimately running operations and regional P&L as a senior manager for a commercial sub.
The company I'm with focuses on mid-to-large commercial work (contracts regularly between $500k and $5M+), dealing with everything from standard storefronts to heavy design-assist projects.
Things are shifting internally at my current company, and I’m ready for a change. Instead of jumping to another corporate sub, I’m seriously exploring launching my own independent shop. Because of the massive working capital required for seven-figure contracts, my strategy is to intentionally scale down at the start: focusing entirely on small storefronts, tenant improvements, interior heavy glass, and quick-turn retail service work.
In my current role, a massive part of my success in getting awarded projects comes down to strategy, knowing which GCs to build relationships with, identifying the right projects to chase, and positioning our bids so we aren't just competing on a race to the bottom. I know how to navigate that at the $1M+ level.
I’ve spent nearly three decades building equity and navigating the hardest parts of this trade for someone else. I know the field and I know the numbers, but starting from absolute scratch is a heavy mental pivot.
Appreciate any insights, lessons learned, or "don't do what I did" stories you guys can share. Thanks.