What's the difference between 創始者、創業者、創設者 and 創立者?

Question

I have seen 創始者 been used in the following contexts: 仏教の創始者、プログラムの創始者、儒教の創始者

創業者 probably refers to founders of businesses: 店の創業者、紀伊国屋の創業者

However, I only have a vague idea about how these are used. Could anybody care to explain? :(

Answer 1

• 創始者 is a founder in intellectual terms, e.g.

  密教の創始者は空海です。

• 創業者 is the founder of a store or shop (related to work, rather than business), e.g.

  僕のおじいさんがこの魚屋の創業者なんだよ。　

• 創設者 is the founder of a business/company, e.g.

  ソニー株式会社の創設者は盛田昭夫と井深大です。

• 創立者 is the founder of a building/place (but could also be used for businesses, which would give it the nuance of associating the business with a place), e.g.

  高井戸小学校の創立者は山田景子です。