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I've heard the franchise application is tough at the chick FA place 

I've heard the franchise application is tough at the chick FA place

If it's still the same as it was some years ago, it's not really a franchise.  Local managers are just that, but they're not franchise owners.  Which is what makes the buy-in so cheap.  About 15 years ago it was only $5000, which is stupid-cheap to start a chain fast-food joint like that.  Of course, you're not going to make the same killing you would by franchising a Burger King or something.  You'll make whatever the CFA manager's salary is.   

However, the difficult part, which is what you mentioned, is CFA vetted the hell out of you.  Like, they want to make sure you're all in, you want that as a permanent career, and you're not looking to get rich or manage from a distance.  Pass their "this is our guy" tests, and they put up most of the money for you and do all the market/location research and construction hassle.  

At least that's how it used to work.  

Seems like a poor career choice at my advanced age.

Only way I can make money presently is to have my ass in the chair looking at a screen, and dealing with people that regularly ignore the sage advice I dole out.  80 hours a week at a fast food joint managing the sort of people we have been talking about, requiring my personal attendance and attention...no wonder there isn't one already here.

As Utee pointed out upthread, the restaurant business is a hard one, and the profits can walk out of the store with dishonest employees. I worked at the original Across the Street restaurant (charburgers, fries, rings, chicken-fried steaks, salads, deep-dish apple pie, and beer) on Campus Corner in Norman my last couple of years at OU. I saw what a hard job it was for the managers.