i agree with everyone as well. you should have been told that payment was needed at the beginning.. its funny because i've heard this same story not too long ago and he also gave the same excuse of having to pay his employees....

if the business owner wisened up a bit, he would just charge for all the materials upfront. now if times are really slow and you are stretching to make ends meet, then you do what you have to even if it seems a bit unorthodox or even rude.