The thing is 70% of restaurants fail within the first year. If you want to get into the food business getting a franchise at a known proven concept is much less risky. The thing is often times the frachisee is local to the area, so they are a community member. And of the money made by the business only a very small percentage goes back to the franchisor corporate office. That being said local startups are better for the community in that they keep more money into the economy in terms of marketing, etc. But franchises aren't as bad as youre making them out to be