By this logic, all employers are exploiting their workers. Most employers make much more money on the work that their employees are completing.
However, they are going to this company by choice. They can choose to leave. They also agree to the wage. In addition to all of this, it's not easy being an independent worker. If anything, the small company is preventing them from getting exploited (they don't have to worry about chasing down a paycheck from each individual client, marketing, etc).
Finding clients is just as time consuming as the actual work itself. I know, I've done it myself as a freelancer.
However, they are going to this company by choice. They can choose to leave. They also agree to the wage. In addition to all of this, it's not easy being an independent worker. If anything, the small company is preventing them from getting exploited (they don't have to worry about chasing down a paycheck from each individual client, marketing, etc).
Finding clients is just as time consuming as the actual work itself. I know, I've done it myself as a freelancer.