You simply need to set expectations according to the truth. If you have 6 months of their salary banked, tell them that. If you're uncertain you can pay them, tell them and hire people who are OK with that.
Also, my father always taught me, "the employees get paid first." That means if it is just an employee you are hiring, the question isn't whether you can afford to pay them, it's whether there is money left over when you get done to pay yourself.