Kyle Dudley spent nearly 20 years in the fire service before making the transition into running Door Service Solutions full time. He didn’t rush the decision or leave out of frustration he built the business alongside his career, step by step, until the demand and opportunity made it clear the company could stand on its own.
In this episode of Lifted, I sat down with Kyle to talk through what it actually looks like to grow a garage door company without shortcuts, hype, or borrowed playbooks. This wasn’t a conversation about “scaling fast.” It was about timing, discipline, and knowing when you’re ready for the next step even if you don’t feel comfortable yet.
Kyle shares how he started the business part-time, what pushed him to hire his first full-time technicians, and why service work became the backbone of his operation. We talked honestly about training techs with no garage door experience, the stress of scheduling service calls when customers need help now, and how missed calls can quietly signal that you’re closer to another truck than you think.
We also got into the less glamorous realities of running a door company distributor mistakes, dented panels, rescheduled installs, and the hidden costs that eat into profit when things don’t go right. Kyle explains why reliability and service from manufacturers and suppliers matter more than brand names, and how those relationships affect real jobs in the field.
Kyle’s background in the Marines and the fire service shows up clearly in how he runs his company. Daily debriefs, accountability, pride in clean trucks, and respect for the people wearing the uniform aren’t slogans they’re operational habits. That mindset carries straight into how he trains his team and how he treats customers.
This episode is for owners who are building something real. The ones hiring before they feel ready, juggling phones and trucks, and trying to grow without losing control of the work or the culture. If you’re navigating that stage of the business or you know it’s coming this conversation will resonate.