Chasing the 'founder life' to make more money? CA explains how you can build real wealth
Chartered Accountant Nitin Kaushik advises against romanticizing the founder life, highlighting that real wealth often stems from acquiring existing, proven businesses rather than starting from scratch. He emphasizes that buying offers stability, ...

CA Nitin Kaushik took to X to explain that while many people chase titles and validation, very few focus on gaining a real financial advantage. According to him, the startup narrative is heavily skewed towards the idea of starting from scratch. What gets ignored is the fact that serious money usually flows toward stability, predictability, and proven systems.
He explained that being a founder comes with significant uncertainty. Demand is never guaranteed, and survival often depends on how long cash lasts rather than how good the idea is. Over time, ego also gets tightly linked to the business, making decision-making more emotional and stressful. For many founders, personal identity becomes inseparable from the company, which can amplify pressure during tough phases.
Advantages of a buyer
In contrast, Kaushik highlighted the advantages of being a buyer or acquirer. When someone buys an existing business, revenue history is already visible. Teams, processes, and systems are in place, reducing the guesswork. Most importantly, banks and financial institutions are far more willing to fund stable cash flows than untested ideas. In this model, risk does not disappear, but it changes form. Instead of betting on whether an idea will work, the focus shifts to execution and optimisation, which is often a far better trade.Kaushik emphasised that this is why experienced investors and large players prefer acquisitions. The risk moves from imagination-driven uncertainty to measurable performance. That shift alone makes wealth-building more predictable and less emotionally draining.
The Economic Times Business News App for the Latest News in Business, Sensex, Stock Market Updates & More.