Indian fathers in business want their Gen Z sons to take charge but won't let them sign a Rs 50,000 cheque

It is generally expected that children will often take over a family business. But what happens when a child is expected to run the company without any authority to make any important decisions? Financial advisor, Prem Soni, in his recent social media addresses this. He highlighted this problem in Indian family businesses, with many fathers blaming their Gen Z sons for lacking initiative while refusing to hand over control. Taking to X, he identified 3 common traps that can leave the young generation powerless.

3 traps keeping Gen Z successors from leading

Signature Trap

According to Prem Soni, the first problem is the “Signature Trap”. He says some fathers continue to sign every cheque above Rs 50,000, leaving their son to handle routine operations such as office electricity bills and WhatsApp messages rather than taking any major business decisions by themselves.


Audience Trap

The second is the “Audience Trap”. Soni explains that when a father repeatedly overturns his child's decisions in front of the employees, the child stops taking initiatives. The father then uses this lack of intiative as proof that the child is not ready to lead.

Succession Trap

The third is the “Succession Trap”. Soni points to family businesses without a will, shareholding transfers or a clear succession plan. When asked about the future, he says, some fathers respond with “there's still time”, even when health concerns have already emerged.

‘The father is 100% to blame’

Soni argues that these arrangements can leave a 28-year-old successor in a position where he cannot approve even a Rs 60,000 purchase. Employees and suppliers continue to recognise the father as the real decision-maker, while the son waits for permission.

He places responsibility on the older generation, arguing that building a business that cannot function without its founder is not necessarily a sign of strength.

Soni also contrasts today's founders with older Marwari business families, where sons were sometimes handed the gaddi, or leadership seat, at 18, allowing fathers to step back. His message to successors still waiting for authority is blunt: “You are not the director. You are the nominee.”

Internet reacts

Reacting to the post, one user said sons may eventually lose interest in the family business and pursue other opportunities, while others might struggle when they finally take charge. Another agreed with Soni, arguing that some fathers insist on controlling every decision, making the business so dependent on them that it risks collapsing when they are no longer around. The user also criticised successors who rely on family wealth and reputation without developing their own ambitions.

A third commenter pointed out that signing cheques is not the only measure of authority. They described seeing sons manage operations and develop businesses while their fathers continued to belittle their contributions with remarks such as, “jaisa maine kamaya tumne nahi” and “tumne kiya he kya hai”.