diff --git a/CHANGELOG.md b/CHANGELOG.md
index 61047fb3c18..46b743582e2 100644
--- a/CHANGELOG.md
+++ b/CHANGELOG.md
@@ -9,11 +9,13 @@
 - Generating and serving info metrics about each custom resource. By default these metrics are exposed on port 8686. ([#1277](https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/pull/1277))
 - Scaffold a `pkg/apis/<group>/group.go` package file to avoid `go/build` errors when running Kubernetes code generators. ([#1401](https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/pull/1401))
 - Adds a new extra variable containing the unmodified CR spec for ansible based operators. [#1563](https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/pull/1563)
+- New flag `--repo` for subcommands [`new`](https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/blob/master/doc/sdk-cli-reference.md#new) and [`migrate`](https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/blob/master/doc/sdk-cli-reference.md#migrate) specifies the repository path to be used in Go source files generated by the SDK. This flag can only be used with [Go modules](https://github.com/golang/go/wiki/Modules). ([#1475](https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/pull/1475))
 
 ### Changed
 
 - Remove TypeMeta declaration from the implementation of the objects [#1462](https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/pull/1462/)
 - Relaxed API version format check when parsing `pkg/apis` in code generators. API dir structures can now be of the format `pkg/apis/<group>/<anything>`, where `<anything>` was previously required to be in the Kubernetes version format, ex. `v1alpha1`. ([#1525](https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/pull/1525))
+- The SDK and operator projects will work outside of `$GOPATH/src` when using [Go modules](https://github.com/golang/go/wiki/Modules). ([#1475](https://github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/pull/1475))
 
 ### Deprecated
 
diff --git a/README.md b/README.md
index 2e9e10e1edf..b0306008ce7 100644
--- a/README.md
+++ b/README.md
@@ -57,9 +57,9 @@ Follow the steps in the [installation guide][install_guide] to learn how to inst
 
 ```sh
 # Create an app-operator project that defines the App CR.
-$ mkdir -p $GOPATH/src/github.com/example-inc/
+$ mkdir -p $HOME/projects/example-inc/
 # Create a new app-operator project
-$ cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/example-inc/
+$ cd $HOME/projects/example-inc/
 $ export GO111MODULE=on
 $ operator-sdk new app-operator
 $ cd app-operator
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/add/api.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/add/api.go
index 4be4934544f..d9b4aa290a8 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/add/api.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/add/api.go
@@ -103,7 +103,7 @@ func apiRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	absProjectPath := projutil.MustGetwd()
 
 	cfg := &input.Config{
-		Repo:           projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg(),
+		Repo:           projutil.GetGoPkg(),
 		AbsProjectPath: absProjectPath,
 	}
 	s := &scaffold.Scaffold{}
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/add/controller.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/add/controller.go
index ddb2dc2ca94..89c5258fec1 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/add/controller.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/add/controller.go
@@ -81,7 +81,7 @@ func controllerRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	}
 
 	cfg := &input.Config{
-		Repo:           projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg(),
+		Repo:           projutil.GetGoPkg(),
 		AbsProjectPath: projutil.MustGetwd(),
 	}
 	s := &scaffold.Scaffold{}
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/add/crd.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/add/crd.go
index aa090f55bcb..3b5b6678bd8 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/add/crd.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/add/crd.go
@@ -118,7 +118,7 @@ func verifyCRDFlags() error {
 	return nil
 }
 
-// verifyCRDDeployPath checks if the path <project-name>/deploy sub-directory is exists, and that is rooted under $GOPATH
+// verifyCRDDeployPath checks if the <project-name>/deploy directory exists.
 func verifyCRDDeployPath() error {
 	wd, err := os.Getwd()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/build/cmd.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/build/cmd.go
index af4f42f3443..5eb64c82508 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/build/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/build/cmd.go
@@ -93,17 +93,16 @@ func buildFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		goBuildEnv = append(goBuildEnv, "CGO_ENABLED=0")
 	}
 
-	trimPath := os.ExpandEnv("all=-trimpath=${GOPATH}")
-	goTrimFlags := []string{"-gcflags", trimPath, "-asmflags", trimPath}
 	absProjectPath := projutil.MustGetwd()
 	projectName := filepath.Base(absProjectPath)
 
 	// Don't need to build Go code if a non-Go Operator.
 	if projutil.IsOperatorGo() {
+		trimPath := fmt.Sprintf("all=-trimpath=%s", filepath.Dir(absProjectPath))
 		opts := projutil.GoCmdOptions{
 			BinName:     filepath.Join(absProjectPath, scaffold.BuildBinDir, projectName),
-			PackagePath: path.Join(projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg(), filepath.ToSlash(scaffold.ManagerDir)),
-			Args:        goTrimFlags,
+			PackagePath: path.Join(projutil.GetGoPkg(), filepath.ToSlash(scaffold.ManagerDir)),
+			Args:        []string{"-gcflags", trimPath, "-asmflags", trimPath},
 			Env:         goBuildEnv,
 			GoMod:       projutil.IsDepManagerGoMod(),
 		}
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/internal/genutil/k8s.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/internal/genutil/k8s.go
index b324232dd52..496aeff9dc9 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/internal/genutil/k8s.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/internal/genutil/k8s.go
@@ -35,7 +35,7 @@ import (
 func K8sCodegen() error {
 	projutil.MustInProjectRoot()
 
-	repoPkg := projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg()
+	repoPkg := projutil.GetGoPkg()
 
 	gvMap, err := parseGroupVersions()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/internal/genutil/openapi.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/internal/genutil/openapi.go
index 9ea40be9363..887f1b04529 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/internal/genutil/openapi.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/internal/genutil/openapi.go
@@ -38,7 +38,7 @@ func OpenAPIGen() error {
 	projutil.MustInProjectRoot()
 
 	absProjectPath := projutil.MustGetwd()
-	repoPkg := projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg()
+	repoPkg := projutil.GetGoPkg()
 
 	gvMap, err := parseGroupVersions()
 	if err != nil {
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/main.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/main.go
index e68a3ac9f95..7eeaa35f631 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/main.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/main.go
@@ -15,6 +15,7 @@
 package main
 
 import (
+	"fmt"
 	"os"
 
 	// Import all Kubernetes client auth plugins (e.g. Azure, GCP, OIDC, etc.)
@@ -48,14 +49,15 @@ func main() {
 		Short: "An SDK for building operators with ease",
 		PersistentPreRun: func(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) {
 			if viper.GetBool(flags.VerboseOpt) {
-				err := projutil.SetGoVerbose()
-				if err != nil {
-					log.Errorf("Could not set GOFLAGS: (%v)", err)
-					return
+				if err := projutil.SetGoVerbose(); err != nil {
+					log.Fatalf("Could not set GOFLAGS: (%v)", err)
 				}
 				log.SetLevel(log.DebugLevel)
 				log.Debug("Debug logging is set")
 			}
+			if err := checkDepManagerForCmd(cmd); err != nil {
+				log.Fatal(err)
+			}
 		},
 	}
 
@@ -82,3 +84,77 @@ func main() {
 		os.Exit(1)
 	}
 }
+
+func checkDepManagerForCmd(cmd *cobra.Command) (err error) {
+	// Certain commands are able to be run anywhere or handle this check
+	// differently in their CLI code.
+	if skipCheckForCmd(cmd) {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Do not perform this check if the project is non-Go, as they will not have
+	// a (Go) dep manager.
+	if !projutil.IsOperatorGo() {
+		return nil
+	}
+	// Do not perform a dep manager check if the working directory is not in
+	// the project root, as some sub-commands might not require project root.
+	// Individual subcommands will perform this check as needed.
+	if err := projutil.CheckProjectRoot(); err != nil {
+		return nil
+	}
+
+	dm, err := projutil.GetDepManagerType()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return checkDepManager(dm)
+}
+
+var commandsToSkip = map[string]struct{}{
+	"new":          struct{}{}, // Handles this logic in cmd/operator-sdk/new
+	"migrate":      struct{}{}, // Handles this logic in cmd/operator-sdk/migrate
+	"operator-sdk": struct{}{}, // Alias for "help"
+	"help":         struct{}{},
+	"completion":   struct{}{},
+	"version":      struct{}{},
+}
+
+func skipCheckForCmd(cmd *cobra.Command) (skip bool) {
+	if _, ok := commandsToSkip[cmd.Name()]; ok {
+		return true
+	}
+	cmd.VisitParents(func(pc *cobra.Command) {
+		if _, ok := commandsToSkip[pc.Name()]; ok {
+			// The bare "operator-sdk" command will be checked above.
+			if pc.Name() != "operator-sdk" {
+				skip = true
+			}
+		}
+	})
+	return skip
+}
+
+func checkDepManager(dm projutil.DepManagerType) error {
+	switch dm {
+	case projutil.DepManagerGoMod:
+		goModOn, err := projutil.GoModOn()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if !goModOn {
+			return fmt.Errorf(`dependency manager "modules" requires working directory to be in $GOPATH/src` +
+				` and GO111MODULE=on, or outside of $GOPATH/src and GO111MODULE="on", "auto", or unset`)
+		}
+	case projutil.DepManagerDep:
+		inGopathSrc, err := projutil.WdInGoPathSrc()
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
+		if !inGopathSrc {
+			return fmt.Errorf(`dependency manager "dep" requires working directory to be in $GOPATH/src`)
+		}
+	default:
+		return projutil.ErrInvalidDepManager(dm)
+	}
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/migrate/cmd.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/migrate/cmd.go
index 18efade6605..a9387128610 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/migrate/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/migrate/cmd.go
@@ -33,6 +33,7 @@ import (
 var (
 	depManager string
 	headerFile string
+	repo       string
 )
 
 // NewCmd returns a command that will add source code to an existing non-go operator
@@ -46,6 +47,7 @@ func NewCmd() *cobra.Command {
 
 	newCmd.Flags().StringVar(&depManager, "dep-manager", "modules", `Dependency manager the new project will use (choices: "dep", "modules")`)
 	newCmd.Flags().StringVar(&headerFile, "header-file", "", "Path to file containing headers for generated Go files. Copied to hack/boilerplate.go.txt")
+	newCmd.Flags().StringVar(&repo, "repo", "", "Project repository path. Used as the project's Go import path. This must be set if outside of $GOPATH/src with Go modules, and cannot be set if --dep-manager=dep")
 
 	return newCmd
 }
@@ -55,7 +57,13 @@ func NewCmd() *cobra.Command {
 func migrateRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	projutil.MustInProjectRoot()
 
-	_ = projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg()
+	if err := verifyFlags(); err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+
+	if repo == "" {
+		repo = projutil.GetGoPkg()
+	}
 
 	opType := projutil.GetOperatorType()
 	switch opType {
@@ -67,12 +75,20 @@ func migrateRun(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 	return fmt.Errorf("operator of type %s cannot be migrated", opType)
 }
 
+func verifyFlags() error {
+	err := projutil.CheckDepManagerWithRepo(projutil.DepManagerType(depManager), repo)
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	return nil
+}
+
 // migrateAnsible runs the migration process for an ansible-based operator
 func migrateAnsible() error {
 	wd := projutil.MustGetwd()
 
 	cfg := &input.Config{
-		Repo:           projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg(),
+		Repo:           repo,
 		AbsProjectPath: wd,
 		ProjectName:    filepath.Base(wd),
 	}
@@ -126,7 +142,7 @@ func migrateHelm() error {
 	wd := projutil.MustGetwd()
 
 	cfg := &input.Config{
-		Repo:           projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg(),
+		Repo:           repo,
 		AbsProjectPath: wd,
 		ProjectName:    filepath.Base(wd),
 	}
@@ -180,9 +196,6 @@ func scaffoldHelmDepManager(s *scaffold.Scaffold, cfg *input.Config) error {
 	case projutil.DepManagerDep:
 		files = append(files, &helm.GopkgToml{})
 	case projutil.DepManagerGoMod:
-		if err := goModCheck(); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
 		files = append(files, &helm.GoMod{}, &scaffold.Tools{})
 	default:
 		return projutil.ErrInvalidDepManager(depManager)
@@ -196,21 +209,9 @@ func scaffoldAnsibleDepManager(s *scaffold.Scaffold, cfg *input.Config) error {
 	case projutil.DepManagerDep:
 		files = append(files, &ansible.GopkgToml{})
 	case projutil.DepManagerGoMod:
-		if err := goModCheck(); err != nil {
-			return err
-		}
 		files = append(files, &ansible.GoMod{}, &scaffold.Tools{})
 	default:
 		return projutil.ErrInvalidDepManager(depManager)
 	}
 	return s.Execute(cfg, files...)
 }
-
-func goModCheck() error {
-	goModOn, err := projutil.GoModOn()
-	if err == nil && !goModOn {
-		log.Fatal(`Dependency manager "modules" has been selected but go modules are not active. ` +
-			`Activate modules then run "operator-sdk migrate".`)
-	}
-	return err
-}
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/new/cmd.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/new/cmd.go
index 30e2d8a6596..890c5d9b56f 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/new/cmd.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/new/cmd.go
@@ -46,10 +46,10 @@ generates a default directory layout based on the input <project-name>.
 <project-name> is the project name of the new operator. (e.g app-operator)
 
 For example:
-	$ mkdir $GOPATH/src/github.com/example.com/
-	$ cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/example.com/
+	$ mkdir $HOME/projects/example.com/
+	$ cd $HOME/projects/example.com/
 	$ operator-sdk new app-operator
-generates a skeletal app-operator application in $GOPATH/src/github.com/example.com/app-operator.
+generates a skeletal app-operator application in $HOME/projects/example.com/app-operator.
 `,
 		RunE: newFunc,
 	}
@@ -58,6 +58,7 @@ generates a skeletal app-operator application in $GOPATH/src/github.com/example.
 	newCmd.Flags().StringVar(&kind, "kind", "", "Kubernetes CustomResourceDefintion kind. (e.g AppService) - used with \"ansible\" or \"helm\" types")
 	newCmd.Flags().StringVar(&operatorType, "type", "go", "Type of operator to initialize (choices: \"go\", \"ansible\" or \"helm\")")
 	newCmd.Flags().StringVar(&depManager, "dep-manager", "modules", `Dependency manager the new project will use (choices: "dep", "modules")`)
+	newCmd.Flags().StringVar(&repo, "repo", "", "Project repository path for Go operators. Used as the project's Go import path. This must be set if outside of $GOPATH/src with Go modules, and cannot be set if --dep-manager=dep")
 	newCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&skipGit, "skip-git-init", false, "Do not init the directory as a git repository")
 	newCmd.Flags().StringVar(&headerFile, "header-file", "", "Path to file containing headers for generated Go files. Copied to hack/boilerplate.go.txt")
 	newCmd.Flags().BoolVar(&makeVendor, "vendor", false, "Use a vendor directory for dependencies. This flag only applies when --dep-manager=modules (the default)")
@@ -78,6 +79,7 @@ var (
 	projectName      string
 	depManager       string
 	headerFile       string
+	repo             string
 	skipGit          bool
 	makeVendor       bool
 	skipValidation   bool
@@ -101,6 +103,9 @@ func newFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 
 	switch operatorType {
 	case projutil.OperatorTypeGo:
+		if repo == "" {
+			repo = path.Join(projutil.GetGoPkg(), projectName)
+		}
 		if err := doGoScaffold(); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -160,7 +165,7 @@ func mustBeNewProject() {
 
 func doGoScaffold() error {
 	cfg := &input.Config{
-		Repo:           path.Join(projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg(), projectName),
+		Repo:           repo,
 		AbsProjectPath: filepath.Join(projutil.MustGetwd(), projectName),
 		ProjectName:    projectName,
 	}
@@ -182,8 +187,8 @@ func doGoScaffold() error {
 		if goModOn, merr := projutil.GoModOn(); merr != nil {
 			return merr
 		} else if !goModOn {
-			log.Fatalf(`Dependency manager "%s" has been selected but go modules are not active. `+
-				`Activate modules then run "operator-sdk new %s".`, m, projectName)
+			return errors.New(`dependency manager "modules" requires working directory to be in $GOPATH/src` +
+				` and GO111MODULE=on, or outside of $GOPATH/src and GO111MODULE="on", "auto", or unset`)
 		}
 		err = s.Execute(cfg, &scaffold.GoMod{}, &scaffold.Tools{})
 	default:
@@ -383,9 +388,15 @@ func verifyFlags() error {
 		if len(apiVersion) != 0 || len(kind) != 0 {
 			return fmt.Errorf("operators of type Go do not use --api-version or --kind")
 		}
-		if !makeVendor && projutil.DepManagerType(depManager) == projutil.DepManagerDep {
+
+		dm := projutil.DepManagerType(depManager)
+		if !makeVendor && dm == projutil.DepManagerDep {
 			log.Warnf("--dep-manager=dep requires a vendor directory; ignoring --vendor=false")
 		}
+		err := projutil.CheckDepManagerWithRepo(dm, repo)
+		if err != nil {
+			return err
+		}
 	}
 
 	// --api-version and --kind are required with --type=ansible and --type=helm, with one exception.
@@ -407,6 +418,7 @@ func verifyFlags() error {
 			return fmt.Errorf("value of --api-version has wrong format (%v); format must be $GROUP_NAME/$VERSION (e.g app.example.com/v1alpha1)", apiVersion)
 		}
 	}
+
 	return nil
 }
 
@@ -419,7 +431,7 @@ func execProjCmd(cmd string, args ...string) error {
 func getDeps() error {
 	switch m := projutil.DepManagerType(depManager); m {
 	case projutil.DepManagerDep:
-		log.Info("Running dep ensure ...")
+		log.Info("Running dep ensure")
 		if err := execProjCmd("dep", "ensure", "-v"); err != nil {
 			return err
 		}
@@ -427,6 +439,7 @@ func getDeps() error {
 		// Only when a user requests a vendor directory be created should
 		// "go mod vendor" be run during project initialization.
 		if makeVendor {
+			log.Info("Running go mod vendor")
 			opts := projutil.GoCmdOptions{
 				Args: []string{"-v"},
 				Dir:  filepath.Join(projutil.MustGetwd(), projectName),
@@ -449,7 +462,7 @@ func initGit() error {
 	if skipGit {
 		return nil
 	}
-	log.Info("Run git init ...")
+	log.Info("Running git init")
 	if err := execProjCmd("git", "init"); err != nil {
 		return err
 	}
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/olmcatalog/gen-csv.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/olmcatalog/gen-csv.go
index 720f60d5232..24fb69c66ce 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/olmcatalog/gen-csv.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/olmcatalog/gen-csv.go
@@ -77,7 +77,7 @@ func genCSVFunc(cmd *cobra.Command, args []string) error {
 		ProjectName:    filepath.Base(absProjectPath),
 	}
 	if projutil.IsOperatorGo() {
-		cfg.Repo = projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg()
+		cfg.Repo = projutil.GetGoPkg()
 	}
 
 	log.Infof("Generating CSV manifest version %s", csvVersion)
diff --git a/cmd/operator-sdk/up/local.go b/cmd/operator-sdk/up/local.go
index 3178330bcec..235c8151e11 100644
--- a/cmd/operator-sdk/up/local.go
+++ b/cmd/operator-sdk/up/local.go
@@ -203,7 +203,7 @@ func buildLocal(outputBinName string) error {
 	}
 	opts := projutil.GoCmdOptions{
 		BinName:     outputBinName,
-		PackagePath: path.Join(projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg(), filepath.ToSlash(scaffold.ManagerDir)),
+		PackagePath: path.Join(projutil.GetGoPkg(), filepath.ToSlash(scaffold.ManagerDir)),
 		Args:        args,
 		GoMod:       projutil.IsDepManagerGoMod(),
 	}
diff --git a/doc/dev/testing/running-the-tests.md b/doc/dev/testing/running-the-tests.md
index bfca7c6c5d0..f931d7b4a49 100644
--- a/doc/dev/testing/running-the-tests.md
+++ b/doc/dev/testing/running-the-tests.md
@@ -117,8 +117,8 @@ during the go tests can cause these cleanups to fail (the ansible and helm E2E t
 always clean up correctly). For example, if a segfault occurs or a user kills the
 testing process, the cleanup functions for the go tests will not run. To manually clean up a test:
 
-1. Delete the CRD (`kubectl delete -f $GOPATH/src/github.com/example-inc/memcached-operator/deploy/crds/cache_v1alpha1_memcached_crd.yaml`).
-2. Delete the created project in `$GOPATH/src/github.com/example-inc/memcached-operator`
+1. Delete the CRD (`kubectl delete -f $HOME/projects/example.com/memcached-operator/deploy/crds/cache_v1alpha1_memcached_crd.yaml`).
+2. Delete the created project in `$HOME/projects/example.com/memcached-operator`
 3. Delete the namespaces that the tests run in, which also deletes any resources created within the namespaces. The namespaces start with `memcached-memcached-group` or `main` and are appended with a unix timestamp (seconds since Jan 1 1970). The kubectl command can be used to delete namespaces: `kubectl delete namespace $NAMESPACE`.
 
 [travis]: ./travis-build.md
diff --git a/doc/sdk-cli-reference.md b/doc/sdk-cli-reference.md
index 01b6e852a9b..f6ad43b0a05 100644
--- a/doc/sdk-cli-reference.md
+++ b/doc/sdk-cli-reference.md
@@ -136,10 +136,6 @@ Currently only runs `deepcopy-gen` to generate the required `DeepCopy()` functio
 
 **Note**: This command must be run every time the api (spec and status) for a custom resource type is updated.
 
-### Flags
-
-* `--header-file` string - Path to file containing headers for generated files (optional).
-
 #### Example
 
 ```console
@@ -228,6 +224,8 @@ you will need to rename it before running migrate or manually add it to your Doc
 #### Flags
 
 * `--dep-manager` string - Dependency manager the migrated project will use (choices: "dep", "modules") (default "modules")
+* `--header-file` string - Path to file containing headers for generated Go files. Copied to hack/boilerplate.go.txt
+* `--repo` string - Project repository path for Go operators. Used as the project's Go import path. This must be set if outside of `$GOPATH/src` with Go modules, and cannot be set if `--dep-manager=dep`
 
 ### Example
 
@@ -261,7 +259,9 @@ Scaffolds a new operator project.
 * `--helm-chart` string - Initialize helm operator with existing helm chart (`<URL>`, `<repo>/<name>`, or local path)
 * `--helm-chart-repo` string - Chart repository URL for the requested helm chart
 * `--helm-chart-version` string - Specific version of the helm chart (default is latest version)
+* `--header-file` string - Path to file containing headers for generated Go files. Copied to hack/boilerplate.go.txt
 * `--dep-manager` string - Dependency manager the new project will use (choices: "dep", "modules") (default "modules")
+* `--repo` string - Project repository path for Go operators. Used as the project's Go import path. This must be set if outside of `$GOPATH/src` with Go modules, and cannot be set if `--dep-manager=dep`
 * `--skip-git-init` - Do not init the directory as a git repository
 * `--vendor` - Use a vendor directory for dependencies. This flag only applies when `--dep-manager=modules` (the default)
 * `--skip-validation` - Do not validate the resulting project's structure and dependencies. (Only used for --type go)
@@ -272,8 +272,8 @@ Scaffolds a new operator project.
 #### Go project
 
 ```console
-$ mkdir $GOPATH/src/github.com/example.com/
-$ cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/example.com/
+$ mkdir $HOME/projects/example.com/
+$ cd $HOME/projects/example.com/
 $ operator-sdk new app-operator
 ```
 
@@ -330,7 +330,6 @@ Adds the API definition for a new custom resource under `pkg/apis` and generates
 
 * `--api-version` string - CRD APIVersion in the format `$GROUP_NAME/$VERSION` (e.g app.example.com/v1alpha1)
 * `--kind` string - CRD Kind. (e.g AppService)
-* `--header-file` string - Path to file containing headers for generated files (optional).
 
 #### Example
 
diff --git a/doc/user-guide.md b/doc/user-guide.md
index 3a93fc772d9..220b8eadbcb 100644
--- a/doc/user-guide.md
+++ b/doc/user-guide.md
@@ -23,8 +23,8 @@ Follow the steps in the [installation guide][install_guide] to learn how to inst
 Use the CLI to create a new memcached-operator project:
 
 ```sh
-$ mkdir -p $GOPATH/src/github.com/example-inc/
-$ cd $GOPATH/src/github.com/example-inc/
+$ mkdir -p $HOME/projects/example.com/
+$ cd $HOME/projects/example.com/
 $ operator-sdk new memcached-operator
 $ cd memcached-operator
 ```
@@ -37,7 +37,7 @@ By default, `operator-sdk new` generates a `go.mod` file to be used with [Go mod
 
 ##### Go modules
 
-If using go modules (the default dependency manager) in your project, ensure you activate module support before using the SDK. From the [go modules Wiki][go_mod_wiki]:
+If using Go modules (the default dependency manager) in your project, ensure you activate module support before using the SDK. From the [Go modules Wiki][go_mod_wiki]:
 
 > You can activate module support in one of two ways:
 > - Invoke the go command in a directory outside of the $GOPATH/src tree, with a valid go.mod file in the current directory or any parent of it and the environment variable GO111MODULE unset (or explicitly set to auto).
@@ -202,7 +202,7 @@ Once this is done, there are two ways to run the operator:
 
 **Note**: `operator-sdk build` invokes `docker build` by default, and optionally `buildah bud`. If using `buildah`, skip to the `operator-sdk build` invocation instructions below. If using `docker`, make sure your docker daemon is running and that you can run the docker client without sudo. You can check if this is the case by running `docker version`, which should complete without errors. Follow instructions for your OS/distribution on how to start the docker daemon and configure your access permissions, if needed.
 
-**Note**: If using go modules and a `vendor/` directory, run
+**Note**: If using Go modules and a `vendor/` directory, run
 ```sh
 $ go mod vendor
 ```
diff --git a/hack/image/build-ansible-image.sh b/hack/image/build-ansible-image.sh
index d134245ff46..1e9813e4877 100755
--- a/hack/image/build-ansible-image.sh
+++ b/hack/image/build-ansible-image.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ set -eux
 source hack/lib/test_lib.sh
 
 ROOTDIR="$(pwd)"
-GOTMP="$(mktemp -d -p $GOPATH/src)"
+GOTMP="$(mktemp -d)"
 trap_add 'rm -rf $GOTMP' EXIT
 BASEIMAGEDIR="$GOTMP/ansible-operator"
 mkdir -p "$BASEIMAGEDIR"
diff --git a/hack/image/build-helm-image.sh b/hack/image/build-helm-image.sh
index 80781618a12..81ad05d6b84 100755
--- a/hack/image/build-helm-image.sh
+++ b/hack/image/build-helm-image.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ set -eux
 source hack/lib/test_lib.sh
 
 ROOTDIR="$(pwd)"
-GOTMP="$(mktemp -d -p $GOPATH/src)"
+GOTMP="$(mktemp -d)"
 trap_add 'rm -rf $GOTMP' EXIT
 BASEIMAGEDIR="$GOTMP/helm-operator"
 mkdir -p "$BASEIMAGEDIR"
diff --git a/hack/image/build-scorecard-proxy-image.sh b/hack/image/build-scorecard-proxy-image.sh
index 7f9f0cd70e7..860bfba0baa 100755
--- a/hack/image/build-scorecard-proxy-image.sh
+++ b/hack/image/build-scorecard-proxy-image.sh
@@ -3,7 +3,13 @@
 set -eux
 
 # build operator binary and base image
-GOOS=linux GOARCH=amd64 CGO_ENABLED=0 go build -gcflags "all=-trimpath=${GOPATH}" -asmflags "all=-trimpath=${GOPATH}" -o images/scorecard-proxy/scorecard-proxy images/scorecard-proxy/cmd/proxy/main.go
+WD="$(dirname "$(pwd)")"
+GOOS=linux GOARCH=amd64 CGO_ENABLED=0 \
+  go build \
+  -gcflags "all=-trimpath=${WD}" \
+  -asmflags "all=-trimpath=${WD}" \
+  -o images/scorecard-proxy/scorecard-proxy \
+  images/scorecard-proxy/cmd/proxy/main.go
 pushd images/scorecard-proxy
 docker build -t "$1" .
 popd
diff --git a/hack/tests/e2e-ansible-molecule.sh b/hack/tests/e2e-ansible-molecule.sh
index 32bebb949a5..6f600f6cf5e 100755
--- a/hack/tests/e2e-ansible-molecule.sh
+++ b/hack/tests/e2e-ansible-molecule.sh
@@ -5,7 +5,7 @@ source hack/lib/test_lib.sh
 set -eux
 
 ROOTDIR="$(pwd)"
-GOTMP="$(mktemp -d -p $GOPATH/src)"
+GOTMP="$(mktemp -d)"
 trap_add 'rm -rf $GOTMP' EXIT
 # Needs to be from source until 2.20 comes out
 pip install --user git+https://github.com/ansible/molecule.git
@@ -27,7 +27,11 @@ remove_prereqs() {
 }
 
 pushd "$GOTMP"
-operator-sdk new memcached-operator --api-version=ansible.example.com/v1alpha1 --kind=Memcached --type=ansible --generate-playbook
+operator-sdk new memcached-operator \
+  --api-version=ansible.example.com/v1alpha1 \
+  --kind=Memcached \
+  --type=ansible \
+  --generate-playbook
 cp "$ROOTDIR/test/ansible-memcached/tasks.yml" memcached-operator/roles/memcached/tasks/main.yml
 cp "$ROOTDIR/test/ansible-memcached/defaults.yml" memcached-operator/roles/memcached/defaults/main.yml
 cp "$ROOTDIR/test/ansible-memcached/asserts.yml"  memcached-operator/molecule/default/asserts.yml
diff --git a/hack/tests/e2e-ansible.sh b/hack/tests/e2e-ansible.sh
index 905fb967a19..a34bf32ba30 100755
--- a/hack/tests/e2e-ansible.sh
+++ b/hack/tests/e2e-ansible.sh
@@ -9,7 +9,7 @@ go test -count=1 ./pkg/ansible/proxy/...
 
 DEST_IMAGE="quay.io/example/memcached-operator:v0.0.2"
 ROOTDIR="$(pwd)"
-GOTMP="$(mktemp -d -p $GOPATH/src)"
+GOTMP="$(mktemp -d)"
 trap_add 'rm -rf $GOTMP' EXIT
 
 deploy_operator() {
@@ -97,7 +97,10 @@ if which oc 2>/dev/null; then oc project default; fi
 
 # create and build the operator
 pushd "$GOTMP"
-operator-sdk new memcached-operator --api-version=ansible.example.com/v1alpha1 --kind=Memcached --type=ansible
+operator-sdk new memcached-operator \
+  --api-version=ansible.example.com/v1alpha1 \
+  --kind=Memcached \
+  --type=ansible
 cp "$ROOTDIR/test/ansible-memcached/tasks.yml" memcached-operator/roles/memcached/tasks/main.yml
 cp "$ROOTDIR/test/ansible-memcached/defaults.yml" memcached-operator/roles/memcached/defaults/main.yml
 cp -a "$ROOTDIR/test/ansible-memcached/memfin" memcached-operator/roles/
@@ -126,7 +129,7 @@ echo "### Now testing migrate to hybrid operator"
 echo "###"
 
 export GO111MODULE=on
-operator-sdk migrate
+operator-sdk migrate --repo=github.com/example-inc/memcached-operator
 
 if [[ ! -e build/Dockerfile.sdkold ]];
 then
@@ -149,7 +152,7 @@ go build ./...
 # Use the local operator-sdk directory as the repo. To make the go toolchain
 # happy, the directory needs a `go.mod` file that specifies the module name,
 # so we need this temporary hack until we update the SDK repo itself to use
-# go modules.
+# Go modules.
 echo "module ${SDK_REPO}" > "${ROOTDIR}/go.mod"
 trap_add "rm ${ROOTDIR}/go.mod" EXIT
 go mod edit -replace="${SDK_REPO}=$ROOTDIR"
diff --git a/hack/tests/e2e-helm.sh b/hack/tests/e2e-helm.sh
index a07c6f32f63..9b4dacaf468 100755
--- a/hack/tests/e2e-helm.sh
+++ b/hack/tests/e2e-helm.sh
@@ -6,7 +6,7 @@ set -eux
 
 DEST_IMAGE="quay.io/example/nginx-operator:v0.0.2"
 ROOTDIR="$(pwd)"
-GOTMP="$(mktemp -d -p $GOPATH/src)"
+GOTMP="$(mktemp -d)"
 trap_add 'rm -rf $GOTMP' EXIT
 
 deploy_operator() {
@@ -108,7 +108,11 @@ fi
 
 # create and build the operator
 pushd "$GOTMP"
-log=$(operator-sdk new nginx-operator --api-version=helm.example.com/v1alpha1 --kind=Nginx --type=helm 2>&1)
+log=$(operator-sdk new nginx-operator \
+  --api-version=helm.example.com/v1alpha1 \
+  --kind=Nginx \
+  --type=helm \
+  2>&1)
 echo $log
 if echo $log | grep -q "failed to generate RBAC rules"; then
     echo FAIL expected successful generation of RBAC rules
@@ -134,7 +138,7 @@ echo "### Now testing migrate to hybrid operator"
 echo "###"
 
 export GO111MODULE=on
-operator-sdk migrate
+operator-sdk migrate --repo=github.com/example-inc/nginx-operator
 
 if [[ ! -e build/Dockerfile.sdkold ]];
 then
@@ -157,7 +161,7 @@ go build ./...
 # Use the local operator-sdk directory as the repo. To make the go toolchain
 # happy, the directory needs a `go.mod` file that specifies the module name,
 # so we need this temporary hack until we update the SDK repo itself to use
-# go modules.
+# Go modules.
 echo "module ${SDK_REPO}" > "${ROOTDIR}/go.mod"
 trap_add "rm ${ROOTDIR}/go.mod" EXIT
 go mod edit -replace="${SDK_REPO}=$ROOTDIR"
diff --git a/internal/pkg/scaffold/internal/deps/print_go_mod.go b/internal/pkg/scaffold/internal/deps/print_go_mod.go
index be659f7b548..35bac923cdd 100644
--- a/internal/pkg/scaffold/internal/deps/print_go_mod.go
+++ b/internal/pkg/scaffold/internal/deps/print_go_mod.go
@@ -28,7 +28,7 @@ import (
 
 func ExecGoModTmpl(tmpl string) ([]byte, error) {
 	projutil.MustInProjectRoot()
-	repo := projutil.CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg()
+	repo := projutil.GetGoPkg()
 	t, err := template.New("").Parse(tmpl)
 	if err != nil {
 		return nil, fmt.Errorf("failed to parse go mod template: (%v)", err)
diff --git a/internal/util/projutil/exec.go b/internal/util/projutil/exec.go
index fc9b27f250f..bb386aa0c9e 100644
--- a/internal/util/projutil/exec.go
+++ b/internal/util/projutil/exec.go
@@ -51,7 +51,7 @@ type GoCmdOptions struct {
 	Dir string
 	// GoMod determines whether to set the "-mod=vendor" flag.
 	// If true and ./vendor/ exists, "go {cmd}" will use vendored modules.
-	// If false, "go {cmd}" will not use go modules. This is the default.
+	// If false, "go {cmd}" will not use Go modules. This is the default.
 	// This applies to build, clean, get, install, list, run, and test.
 	GoMod bool
 }
@@ -157,7 +157,7 @@ func (opts GoCmdOptions) setCmdFields(c *exec.Cmd) {
 //		the environment variable GO111MODULE unset (or explicitly set to auto).
 //	- Invoke the go command with GO111MODULE=on environment variable set.
 //
-// GoModOn returns true if go modules are on in one of the above two ways.
+// GoModOn returns true if Go modules are on in one of the above two ways.
 func GoModOn() (bool, error) {
 	v, ok := os.LookupEnv(GoModEnv)
 	if v == "off" {
diff --git a/internal/util/projutil/project_util.go b/internal/util/projutil/project_util.go
index 74040deb1fa..6a5d523b46d 100644
--- a/internal/util/projutil/project_util.go
+++ b/internal/util/projutil/project_util.go
@@ -79,7 +79,7 @@ const (
 type ErrInvalidDepManager string
 
 func (e ErrInvalidDepManager) Error() string {
-	return fmt.Sprintf(`"%s" is not a valid dep manager; dep manager must be one of ["%v", "%v"]`, e, DepManagerDep, DepManagerGoMod)
+	return fmt.Sprintf(`"%s" is not a valid dep manager; dep manager must be one of ["%v", "%v"]`, string(e), DepManagerDep, DepManagerGoMod)
 }
 
 var ErrNoDepManager = fmt.Errorf(`no valid dependency manager file found; dep manager must be one of ["%v", "%v"]`, DepManagerDep, DepManagerGoMod)
@@ -148,23 +148,17 @@ func getHomeDir() (string, error) {
 	return homedir.Expand(hd)
 }
 
-// CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg checks if this project's repository path is rooted
-// under $GOPATH and returns the current directory's import path,
-// e.g: "github.com/example-inc/app-operator"
-func CheckAndGetProjectGoPkg() string {
-	gopath := MustSetWdGopath(MustGetGopath())
-	return parseGoPkg(gopath)
-}
-
 // GetGoPkg returns the current directory's import path by parsing it from
 // wd if this project's repository path is rooted under $GOPATH/src, or
-// from go.mod the project uses go modules to manage dependencies.
+// from go.mod the project uses Go modules to manage dependencies.
 //
 // Example: "github.com/example-inc/app-operator"
 func GetGoPkg() string {
 	// Default to reading from go.mod, as it should usually have the (correct)
 	// package path, and no further processing need be done on it if so.
-	if _, err := os.Stat(goModFile); err == nil {
+	if _, err := os.Stat(goModFile); err != nil && !os.IsNotExist(err) {
+		log.Fatalf("Failed to read go.mod: %v", err)
+	} else if err == nil {
 		b, err := ioutil.ReadFile(goModFile)
 		if err != nil {
 			log.Fatalf("Read go.mod: %v", err)
@@ -283,3 +277,32 @@ func SetGoVerbose() error {
 	}
 	return nil
 }
+
+// CheckDepManagerWithRepo ensures dependency manager type and repo are being used in combination
+// correctly, as different dependency managers have different Go environment
+// requirements.
+func CheckDepManagerWithRepo(dm DepManagerType, repo string) error {
+	inGopathSrc, err := WdInGoPathSrc()
+	if err != nil {
+		return err
+	}
+	switch dm {
+	case DepManagerDep:
+		// dep assumes the project's path under $GOPATH/src is the project's
+		// repo path.
+		if repo != "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf(`The flag --repo cannot be set with dependency manager "dep", as dep always infers the repo path`)
+		}
+		if !inGopathSrc {
+			return fmt.Errorf(`dependency manager "dep" requires working directory to be in $GOPATH/src`)
+		}
+	case DepManagerGoMod:
+		if !inGopathSrc && repo == "" {
+			return fmt.Errorf(`dependency manager "modules" requires the flag --repo to be set if the working directory is not in $GOPATH/src. See "operator-sdk new -h"`)
+		}
+	default:
+		return ErrInvalidDepManager(dm)
+	}
+
+	return nil
+}
diff --git a/test/e2e/memcached_test.go b/test/e2e/memcached_test.go
index 47bc039188f..67066d22ffe 100644
--- a/test/e2e/memcached_test.go
+++ b/test/e2e/memcached_test.go
@@ -31,7 +31,6 @@ import (
 
 	"github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/internal/pkg/scaffold"
 	"github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/internal/util/fileutil"
-	"github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/internal/util/projutil"
 	"github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/internal/util/yamlutil"
 	framework "github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/pkg/test"
 	"github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk/pkg/test/e2eutil"
@@ -57,17 +56,15 @@ const (
 	timeout                     = time.Second * 120
 	cleanupRetryInterval        = time.Second * 1
 	cleanupTimeout              = time.Second * 10
+	sdkRepo                     = "github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk"
 	operatorName                = "memcached-operator"
+	testRepo                    = "github.com/example-inc/" + operatorName
 )
 
 func TestMemcached(t *testing.T) {
 	// get global framework variables
 	ctx := framework.NewTestCtx(t)
 	defer ctx.Cleanup()
-	gopath, ok := os.LookupEnv(projutil.GoPathEnv)
-	if !ok || gopath == "" {
-		t.Fatalf("$GOPATH not set")
-	}
 	sdkTestE2EDir, err := os.Getwd()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
@@ -88,7 +85,7 @@ func TestMemcached(t *testing.T) {
 	}
 
 	// Setup
-	absProjectPath, err := ioutil.TempDir(filepath.Join(gopath, "src"), "tmp.")
+	absProjectPath, err := ioutil.TempDir("", "tmp.")
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatal(err)
 	}
@@ -105,6 +102,7 @@ func TestMemcached(t *testing.T) {
 	cmdOut, err := exec.Command("operator-sdk",
 		"new",
 		operatorName,
+		"--repo", testRepo,
 		"--skip-validation").CombinedOutput()
 	if err != nil {
 		t.Fatalf("Error: %v\nCommand Output: %s\n", err, string(cmdOut))
@@ -114,7 +112,6 @@ func TestMemcached(t *testing.T) {
 		t.Fatalf("Failed to change to %s directory: (%v)", operatorName, err)
 	}
 
-	sdkRepo := "github.com/operator-framework/operator-sdk"
 	replace := getGoModReplace(t, localSDKPath)
 	if replace.repo != sdkRepo {
 		if replace.isLocal {
@@ -197,13 +194,9 @@ func TestMemcached(t *testing.T) {
 		if err := os.MkdirAll(filepath.Dir(dst), fileutil.DefaultDirFileMode); err != nil {
 			t.Fatalf("Could not create template destination directory: %s", err)
 		}
-		srcTmpl, err := ioutil.ReadFile(src)
+		cmdOut, err = exec.Command("cp", src, dst).CombinedOutput()
 		if err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Could not read template from %s: %s", src, err)
-		}
-		dstData := strings.Replace(string(srcTmpl), "github.com/example-inc", filepath.Base(absProjectPath), -1)
-		if err := ioutil.WriteFile(dst, []byte(dstData), fileutil.DefaultFileMode); err != nil {
-			t.Fatalf("Could not write template output to %s: %s", dst, err)
+			t.Fatalf("Error: %v\nCommand Output: %s\n", err, string(cmdOut))
 		}
 	}