Why do you think franchises are so much more profitable than mom and pop shops? People will hardly even enter a place unless they know what's inside already.

We're living in different worlds. Everyone I know avoids franchises and seeks out the mom and pop shops. Why settle for known mediocrity when you have the chance to get something great? And for those times when greatness is decidedly not achieved, well, you have to expect some lumps on the road to greatness. You're telling me most people don't think this way? Especially in virtually risk-free situations? Wow.

Wow what? There's a reason McDonalds makes 25 billion dollars in revenue each year and your local mom and pop doesn't. If this surprises you, then your expectations are wrong.

>Why settle for known mediocrity when you have the chance to get something great?

At a mom and pop? With some random nameless cook?

My estimate is that most people will pick up a fast and cheap burger because it is good enough and convenient every now and then and most people I know will try something new every now and then.

And people are balanced differently on if they prefer convenient and familiar or new and interesting.

I think McDonalds have a lot of scale-factors in their success and revenue that aren't applicable to shops that are not gloval franchises. Don't believe that its because they're generally considered fantastic.

I'm not arguing that they are fantastic, or even good. I'm saying that they thrive because they are familiar.