This is my experience as well. My wife and I have a franchise location of a well established multi-national business...If we personally fail they would swoop in

This is my experience as well. My wife and I have a franchise location of a well established multi-national business...If we personally fail they would swoop in and run the location. But the landlord still had us personally guarantee...There were several empty locations in the plaza so it's not like we were competing w/ others for space. We had some leverage. Commercial landlords will get their money back, and have the lawyers to do so.