A franchise owner is technically an independent business proprietor and small-business operator rather than a traditional corporate Chief Executive Officer (CEO). While a franchisee holds total executive authority over their local branch, hires staff, and manages daily operations, they do not govern the overarching brand strategy, intellectual property, or national corporate policies, which remain controlled by the parent franchisor. However, multi-unit franchise owners managing large portfolios often adopt executive titles and build corporate-style management teams internally.