OH HORSESHIT! New franchisees have always had to take locations that don't infringe on existing owner/operators locations, that was the policy before I worked for them, while I worked for them and after I worked for them.................unless you are a 'minority' or woman. I personally know of several times that corporation screwed over existing 'White' male owner/ operators to give new locations that financially impacted their existing stores to a minority or woman just so they could increase the proper 'ratio' as demanded by social justice warriors. And I know of one 'White' operator who sued the corporation because of it and got a very large very private settlement.
Very few franchise locations are guaranteed to be profitable right from day one, except for the corporation that takes no risk and collects their percentage of sales no matter what and their rent and service fees no matter what. It is a given that a new franchisee will be in the negative for a couple years at least.
Back in the 1990’s, fewer than 10 McDonald’s had ever failed (I think they started in 1955?). A McDonald’s franchise used to be close to a sure thing. I’m fairly certain in the past few years, hundreds have failed each year.