[abnry]

What most people don't understand about hotels, chain restaurants, or any business that runs on the franchise model is that the majority of such outlets are run by small businesses.

McDonalds isn't a burger and fries company, it is a real estate company. This is because they buy the properties each restaurant is located on and rent them out to small business owners who front the capital and run the operation (with stipulations). You may think there are flaws in this setup (which you could argue, though the exchange is a tested business model and logistics network in exchange for franchise fees) but the point is that small business owners are HEAVILY involved in these chain businesses.

It's the same with something like Dunkin Donuts. Here in MA, the profits from the coffee you buy at one location will go into the pockets of one small business owner while down the street it will go into another.

[jlmorton]

Note that the rule separately exempts franchise models.

This is a bit different than that. This exempts restaurants and hotels that are all owned by a single entity, as long as the individual restaurant, or hotel is a subsidiary with fewer than 500 employees.

[abnry]

Thank you for that information, I didn't know that.