From a public health perspective, I’ve read of microfranchises that fulfill yet another essential service in many developing areas- the selling of needed preventative health products (not ones that prevent health, but that prevent bad health, I guess:) that are typically not available to the very poor- such as businesses that sell malaria bednets, medicines, pesticides, etc. In addition to providing a great business opportunity, it also seems to be more effective in getting people to use the products (since they spent their money to buy them), then when they are just handed them.

So all-around kudos to microfranchising!