My husband thinks I deserve less than he pays a 14-year-old

DEAR ABBY: My husband launched a small hot sauce business during the pandemic, producing and selling his own batches at local events.

About a year and a half ago, I told him that if he wants me to spend full days working his booth at street fairs, I should be compensated. It didn’t sit right with me that he was paying a teenage helper more per hour than what I’d be getting for doing the same work.

Now he’s upset that I expect to be paid at all, pointing out that he hasn’t even paid himself yet. On top of that, he assumes I should donate my time to help with setup and cleanup before and after these events.

We’ve been together 25 years and married for 15, but we’ve always kept our finances separate and handled our own expenses individually. Given that, is it unreasonable for me to expect payment for helping with his business?

— WONDERING IN THE WEST