You sound like some of the business people I know who seem to think that society owes them a business or that workers are their just deserts for having graced the community with their business idea.

I've been told for 50 years that I'm not owed a job, so I don't know why employers think they're owed the fruits of my labour.

Well it's worth the cost if it makes you a profit and frees up your time to grow the business further. I own a small business. Currently no employees but myself. But I also work a full time job. If my business I get to 10k profit a year for doing little to nothing while an employee does the rest I'm all in. I'll start to grow it till that next employee.