I can understand your point if it was high risk with high payout, but starting your own business often ends up being high risk, break your ass to eke out moderate payout. If you look at the dollars in vs. dollars out in isolation, it might look good, but when you attach a dollar amount in the effort needed to run the business, you're going to tread water for a long time before you see your first real profit.

Besides, $10k is about enough to start a lemonade stand these days, and that's if mom and dad are buying the lemons.