The problem is not that the margin is small, is that big companies get to cover the losses of the uncertain(unforeseen situations) with the foreseeable profits, while at the same time (as an extra bonus from their government lobbying) maintaining a minimal labor cost. The price of their product is unreachable to small business, small business are not failing because the labor is too demanding (I know you did not explicitly stated this, but it could be construed as if). They are doing so because the competition is too big.

This is my cynical approach... A right-to-center leaning person is in no position to argue "handouts are to blame", or "zoomers/millenials want it easy"... a truly right-to-center political commentary should be telling restaurant owners "Work smarter".