Bengaluru: Quitting a high-paying corporate job may sound bold, but for many professionals, it is also deeply frightening. Bengaluru-based chartered accountant Meenal Goel, who previously worked with top firms such as KPMG and Deloitte, made that exact leap — walking away from a Rs 28 lakh-per-annum career to build a business she believes could one day be worth Rs 100 crore. While the decision looked brave from the outside, her early months as an entrepreneur were defined by financial strain, sleepless nights and a constant fear of failure.
Meenal, who had nearly six years of experience in financial consulting, resigned in March 2023, choosing uncertainty over stability. With a steady salary, family expectations and a predictable career track, the move was anything but easy. But she was determined to build something of her own rather than spend years climbing the corporate ladder.
Zero Revenue, Falling Savings and Self-Doubt
The first phase of her journey tested her hard.
For nearly five months, she reportedly had zero revenue, and within six months her savings fell sharply from Rs 12 lakh to Rs 4 lakh. She also spoke of dealing with late-night anxiety — the kind that hits hardest when you have no steady income and no guarantee the risk will pay off.
In short: she didn’t just quit a job — she entered the most uncertain phase of building from scratch.
The Rs 25,000 Project That Changed Everything
A major turning point came in the form of a small freelance opportunity — a Rs 25,000 contract with Unacademy. While the amount wasn’t large, it mattered for a bigger reason: validation.
It was proof that her skills had demand beyond the corporate world — and that someone was willing to pay her for it.
Where She Stands Today
Fast forward to now, Meenal Goel runs her own company with:
- Rs 5 lakh monthly recurring revenue
- a team of five people
- a long-term plan to grow the business into a Rs 100 crore company, fully owned by her
Her journey reflects a reality many aspiring entrepreneurs relate to — you often don’t feel “ready”, and there is never a perfect financial cushion to begin.
Internet Reacts: ‘That First Cheque Is Real Entrepreneurship’
Meenal’s story has triggered strong reactions online, with many calling her journey a reminder that entrepreneurship is less about glamour and more about resilience. A common view shared by users was that her first Rs 25,000 cheque represented the real start — not because of the money, but because it marked the first external belief in what she was building.
Many also pointed out how her struggles — from shrinking savings to 3 AM self-doubt — are not exceptions, but a universal part of trying to build something meaningful.