Yes, and that's what happens sometimes. But it requires the workers to have a lot of capital in the first place, which is rare. Or they'll rely on family and friends for the funding. Then they're being charitable again if they give more out to hire new employees. Other times, the owner will distribute the business for some charitably low price to the workers, like the Avedisyans did with Cheeseboard.

No matter how it's done, someone somewhere has to be extra generous.