People willing and able to be Chief Pilot of a GA operation don't grow on trees. People
suitable to be CP are even harder to find.
I think it's perfectly legit to advertise for a CP.
HOWEVER if you are offering $45k to be CP, with all the responsibility that entails, you will be advertising for a loooong time
If you are suitable to be a CP and you put your nuts on the block for the owner, you are worth minimum $55-60k (and you will get it elsewhere). If the business won't sustain that, it simply isn't viable.