IIRC, KFC sold franchises in their early years, by the mid-70's all the new stores were company owned. KFC was, at one point, playing games with the franchise owners, trying to buy them out. Had a friend at the time who had purchased a local franchise. It was a gold mine. KFC got hammered in court on a couple of occasions and after that, decided to just wait the owners out. Have no idea if any of those original franchises even exist today.
"No man's life, liberty, or property is safe, while Congress is in session." Mark Twain