I had both types, I would compare franchising to buying a trading system and stand-alone one to finding your own system. Both might work/fail, but the latter certainly provides more excitement and surprises and fun, if you want it. LOL. Also, for the latter, if you fail, you do not find other reasons to blame, all is on yourself.
I recommend using the services of a franchise business only if the business model is ready and really promising. If you have your own idea, I recommend you implement it without a franchisor. I have a business idea that is very profitable in my country. Fresh and frozen cranberries, blueberries and lingonberries are in steady demand from customers and confectionery producers. The greatest interest in this regard is blueberries, which are profitable to grow on forest land that has come out of peat extraction. Calculations show that the profitability of its production is about 20%. Cultivation of blueberry on industrial plantations, arranged on former peat bogs, guarantees a stable high yield. Many of them are located near my home. As a rule, these are abandoned plots that are profitable to rent or buy because of their low price. I think this business is capable of paying for itself in a year or two.
What is the demographic of the most successful 5% of their franchisees, the 'owners'? There's a Huge market for Hispanic Children's supplies and only gonna grow. Can they beat Amazon? Why? What do the franchisors bring to the table that you can't reverse engineer? Put your wife to work? lol May want for her to put a Substantial Chunk of Skin in the game too. Better pay well cause it sure sounds boring.