Startup Founder Spends ₹8 Lakh Monthly on Non-Revenue Staff

A recent discussion initiated by Chandigarh-based founder Pratham Jindal challenges the conventional startup focus on revenue generation. Jindal revealed his company spends approximately ₹8 lakh per month, totaling ₹96 lakh annually, on employees who do not directly contribute to the company's income.

Jindal, CEO of Praper, highlighted in a LinkedIn post that many startups categorize hires into revenue-generating and support roles. He noted that while revenue roles offer immediate, visible returns, founders often delay hiring for essential support functions like HR, administration, and IT.

This delay, Jindal admitted, leads to founders spending excessive time on operational tasks. These can include managing payroll, vendor coordination, and approving invoices, diverting energy from strategic growth initiatives.

He proposed a method for founders to assess support hiring needs: tracking weekly task time. If operational duties consume 8-10 hours weekly, it signals a need for support staff. Jindal argues this investment prevents founder burnout and is more valuable than merely saving on salaries.

Concluding his point, Jindal stated he no longer views the ₹8 lakh monthly expenditure as an expense but as an investment in preserving his own time and bandwidth, which are the startup's most critical resources.