What Small Business Owners Can Learn from Kunal Shah’s Profitability Debate

 Recently, a LinkedIn post by a Deloitte consultant sparked major debate. It claimed that entrepreneur Kunal Shah has never posted a profitable year in 15 years of entrepreneurship — including at his current company, CRED, which has reportedly accumulated losses of ₹5,215 crore.

The post raised questions: Should we celebrate founders who build flashy businesses without showing profits? Or should we also value vision, scale, and long-term thinking?

Kunal Shah responded by acknowledging the criticism but added that not every business can be measured only by short-term profits. He said, “We should celebrate thousands of entrepreneurs who have created very profitable companies. We also need more job creators.”

This debate has caught fire — but what can small business owners learn from it?

1. Profit is essential — but vision matters too

If you’re running a small business, profitability is your lifeline. But like Shah said, long-term thinking is equally important. Building customer trust, delivering consistent service, and creating a memorable brand are all valuable — even if profits are small at first.

2. Don’t be afraid of criticism

Every entrepreneur will face questions — from customers, family, or even the public. What matters is staying true to your mission and adapting smartly.

3. You don’t need to be a startup to think smart

You may not run a tech company, but that doesn’t mean you can’t use tools, digital platforms, and strategy to grow. You can still build a strong identity and win loyal customers.

Kunal Shah’s journey reminds us that business is not just about balance sheets. It’s also about persistence, innovation, and the courage to think differently. For small businesses, the key is to keep evolving — with or without the spotlight.

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