You can never be too old to start a business but starting young matters

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My entrepreneurial journey began back in high school—almost by accident. Out of necessity, I found creative ways to make money, starting with fixing and selling cars. That early hustle sparked a window tinting venture, though I didn’t see it as success at the time. So, I shifted gears, I went on to finish college and pursued a career is sales after graduating. This led me to a solid management positions and steady progress.

One day, while between jobs and contemplating my next move, I hit pause. I took a step back and reflected on my career path so far. That’s when it all became clear: every experience—every failure and every success—had helped me developed the essential qualities of an entrepreneur:

1) I lost the fear of failure.

• When I was young, I had no major personal or financial responsibilities, so risk didn’t scare me. I didn’t even see my failed ventures as failures; they were simply stepping stones. I’d move on to the next opportunity, hustling to survive and make money.

2) I became a problem solver.

• Whether it was troubleshooting issues with my cars or fixing one of my botched tint jobs, I learned to figure things out on my own. There was no Google back then—heck, there wasn’t even the internet. It was just me, my hands, and my determination.

3) I learned the value of hard work.

• Some nights, I’d work on my car until late hours of the night. At first, a single tint job would take me an entire day (what should’ve taken a couple of hours at most), but I powered through. I learned that persistence and effort would always pay off.

4) I became resilient.

• When one venture didn’t work, I didn’t dwell on it. Selling cars didn’t bring cash fast enough, and window tinting was too competitive. I saw college as my safety net. If a situation didn’t show potential, I’d pivot quickly and keep moving forward.

5) I learned to be innovative and resourceful.

• I didn’t have money to buy top-notch tools, so I improvised. Screwdrivers became my tools to loosen bolts, and hair dryers replaced professional heat guns for shaping tint film. I made things work with what I had—and I got the job done.

Through it all, I now realize my struggles were my training ground. I wasn’t just surviving—I was unknowingly building the foundation for my entrepreneurial journey. Every challenge, every pivot, and every lesson was preparing me for this moment. Had I not gone through those experiences early in life, I’m almost certain I wouldn’t have taken the leap to start my own business in my 40s.

There are plenty of reasons people hesitate to start their own business in the later years, and I would not have been immune to them either:

1) Fear of failure

• The older you get, the more this fear grips you. A secure, predictable future starts to feel too valuable to risk.

2) Financial limitations

• Saving for a safety net is hard enough these days, let alone saving to fund a new business.

3) Comfort sets in

• A steady job pays the bills, life feels good, and stepping out of that comfort zone feels unnecessary.

4) Big responsibilities

• A mortgage, car payments, school debt, and a growing family can make the idea of starting a business feel impossible.

5) Dislike of stress and hard work

• You’ve settled into a lifestyle you enjoy. Why take on the extra work, stress, and uncertainty?

6) Fear of the unknown

• If you’ve never started a business, the path forward can seem unclear and overwhelming.

Yet here’s something to consider: current data shows the average age of successful startup founders is 45.

We live in a technological age where you can launch a business with little to no upfront investment. While starting young undoubtedly increases your chances of long-term success, age should never stop you. Whether you’re 25, 45, or 65, the key is to start.

As Richard Branson said:

“Procrastination is the thief of time: too many great ideas fall flat due to lengthy decision making.”

So stop waiting. Don’t let fear, comfort, or excuses hold you back. Your future self will thank you—just get started!

Roaldo Morán is the founder and CEO of Parriva. Previously, he served as Publisher and General Manager at Hoy Los Angeles, based in Los Angeles, California. He has also been a Corporate Advisory Board Member at the Los Angeles Latino Chamber of Commerce and has held leadership positions at the Los Angeles Times and TelevisaUnivision.

Miriam Rodriguez: Innovation, creativity, and solidarity — the keys to uplifting the Boyle Heights community.