A startup founder has ignited widespread discussion online after openly admitting that he spends nearly ₹8 lakh every month on employees who bring in zero direct revenue—and he has no regrets about it.
The Viral LinkedIn Post
Pratham Jindal, founder and CEO of Praper, recently shared his perspective on LinkedIn, challenging the common startup tendency to prioritize only revenue-generating roles. The Chandigarh-based entrepreneur explained that founders often divide hires into two categories: those who directly generate revenue and those who support operations behind the scenes.
Revenue vs. Support Roles
According to Jindal, revenue-generating roles are easy to justify because their impact is visible immediately. Sales teams close deals, designers produce client work, and editors generate output—all measurable contributions. However, support roles such as HR, admin, IT support, operations, founder's office staff, and content coordination are frequently viewed as extra expenses rather than critical hires. Many founders postpone these hires because they don't show immediate numbers on a spreadsheet. Jindal admitted he used to think the same way.
The Turning Point
That changed when he realized how much of his own time was being consumed by everyday operational chaos. Instead of focusing on scaling the business, he found himself handling payroll issues, coordinating interviews, chasing vendors, and approving invoices late at night. He then reframed the problem entirely.
For Jindal, the question shifted from "Does this role make money?" to "How much founder time is being wasted without this role?" He shared a simple method: founders should list every task they personally handle during the week and calculate the time each consumes. If admin-heavy work eats up 8–10 hours weekly, it is likely time to hire support staff. The most valuable asset a founder owns, he emphasized, is not money but bandwidth.
The Photo and Reactions
Jindal also posted a photo with the text: "I pay ₹96 lakh/year for roles that bring in zero revenue. And I don't regret it at all." The post quickly sparked discussion online, especially among startup employees and founders who related to the struggle.
One LinkedIn user pointed out that recruitment coordination alone quietly consumes hours every week for early-stage founders. Another noted that support teams only get noticed when something breaks—like payroll delays or operational issues. Someone else added that while builders and revenue teams drive visible growth, support teams are often the reason companies continue functioning smoothly in the background.
The Bigger Takeaway
The broader message from the conversation is clear: employees who do not directly generate revenue are often the exact reason everyone else can perform their jobs effectively. Support roles may not appear on a profit-and-loss statement, but they are essential for maintaining operational stability and freeing up founder bandwidth—arguably the most critical resource in any startup.
