Power

If you're running your own hotel chain, you'll have quite a bit of power over everything. It's your hotel, your aesthetic, your decisions. If you want your place to be renowned for its funky zebra-print decor, go for it. If you only want to hire concierges with funny mustaches, you can. Okay, there might actually be some anti-discrimination laws that come into play with that one...

People come back to hotels over and over because they like the experiences they have there. You want to be memorable in the right way. So, yes, you'll have power, but you must forever bow to the almighty customer.

The other group you'll never be able to stop bowing to is the investors. They put down a lot of cash and trust that you'll win it back for them with a successful franchise. As the boss, it's your duty to make sure that they're happy with the numbers. Until you make it as a billionaire, you're going to be at the mercy of whoever's holding the purse strings.