Data report · Register profiles captured 19 August 2026
What 1,187 Australian franchisors disclose on the ACCC Register
Franchisors must register on the ACCC’s Franchise Disclosure Register before signing their first agreement, and confirm or update their entry every year. We analysed 1,187 of them: the agreement terms franchisees sign up to, who they can buy from, what it costs to start and how big the systems really are, nationally and for each of 25 franchise categories.
90.5% of franchisors impose a restraint of trade after exit, but only 10.5% offer goodwill compensation. 70.2% restrict who franchisees buy supplies from, and 27.6% say they can change the agreement. The median disclosed setup cost runs from $146,984 to $400,000, and the median franchisor has 9 franchisees.
Key findings
- Restraints are near-universal. 998 of 1,103 franchisors that answered (90.5%) restrain franchisees from competing after they leave.
- Goodwill rarely goes to the franchisee. Only 107 of 1,019 (10.5%) say franchisees are compensated for goodwill on exit.
- Most systems control supply. 809 of 1,152 (70.2%) restrict where franchisees can buy goods or services.
- More than a quarter reserve one-sided changes. 315 of 1,142 (27.6%) say the franchisor can change the agreement.
- Long terms are the norm. 83.6% of 1,147 profiles give an initial term of five years or more, and 86.8% of 793 offer an option to renew.
- Most franchise systems are small. The median franchisor has 9 franchisees, and 61.6% have 16 or fewer (n=1,142).
Agreement terms by category
Share answering “Yes” among profiles that answered each question.
| Category | Profiles | Restraint after exit | Goodwill on exit | Supplier restrictions | Can change agreement | Arbitration | Term 5+ years |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| All categories | 1,187 | 90.5%n=1,103 | 10.5%n=1,019 | 70.2%n=1,152 | 27.6%n=1,142 | 63.8%n=921 | 83.6%n=1,147 |
| Quick-Service Food | 205 | 96.8%n=189 | 8.2%n=182 | 88.5%n=200 | 28.5%n=200 | 65.4%n=162 | 86.4%n=199 |
| Fitness & Wellbeing | 126 | 95.8%n=119 | 10.8%n=111 | 81.3%n=123 | 36.1%n=122 | 50.5%n=99 | 95.1%n=122 |
| Retail | 120 | 80.9%n=110 | 7.1%n=98 | 64.7%n=119 | 24.4%n=119 | 54.9%n=102 | 63.9%n=119 |
| Home & Trade Services | 112 | 91.6%n=107 | 13.7%n=102 | 56%n=109 | 28.2%n=110 | 69.4%n=85 | 88.2%n=110 |
| B2B Services | 82 | 94.8%n=77 | 15.9%n=69 | 63.8%n=80 | 24.7%n=77 | 71.4%n=63 | 84.8%n=79 |
| Cleaning | 67 | 92.3%n=65 | 16.9%n=59 | 43.9%n=66 | 24.2%n=66 | 72.5%n=51 | 86.4%n=66 |
| Automotive | 61 | 71.2%n=59 | 4%n=50 | 71.2%n=59 | 28.8%n=59 | 71.4%n=49 | 69.5%n=59 |
| Education & Tutoring | 55 | 93.9%n=49 | 11.1%n=45 | 52.8%n=53 | 25.5%n=51 | 66.7%n=36 | 78.4%n=51 |
| Real Estate | 52 | 74.5%n=47 | 6.7%n=45 | 45.1%n=51 | 16.3%n=49 | 62.2%n=45 | 92%n=50 |
| Bakery & Dessert | 50 | 95.7%n=46 | 9.3%n=43 | 95.8%n=48 | 34%n=47 | 51.5%n=33 | 89.6%n=48 |
| Coffee & Café | 41 | 100%n=37 | 11.1%n=36 | 92.1%n=38 | 26.3%n=38 | 77.1%n=35 | 82.1%n=39 |
| Health & Medical | 41 | 67.6%n=34 | 15.6%n=32 | 61.1%n=36 | 33.3%n=36 | 56.7%n=30 | 72.2%n=36 |
| Food & Beverage | 26 | 100%n=24 | 0%n=21 | 75%n=24 | 29.2%n=24 | 58.8%n=17 | 87.5%n=24 |
| Beauty & Health | 25 | 87.5%n=24 | 14.3%n=21 | 68%n=25 | 28%n=25 | 46.7%n=15 | 80%n=25 |
| Mortgage & Finance | 20 | 95%n=20 | 12.5%n=16 | 65%n=20 | 35%n=20 | 55%n=20 | 90%n=20 |
| Pet Services | 16 | 85.7%n=14 | 0%n=13 | 71.4%n=14 | 14.3%n=14 | 76.9%n=13 | 93.3%n=15 |
| Hair & Barber | 15 | 92.3%n=13 | 9.1%n=11 | 53.3%n=15 | 15.4%n=13 | 63.6%n=11 | 84.6%n=13 |
| Aged & Disability Support | 14 | 92.9%n=14 | 15.4%n=13 | 64.3%n=14 | 14.3%n=14 | 60%n=10 | 85.7%n=14 |
| Courier & Logistics | 13 | 100%n=9 | 0%n=10 | 75%n=12 | 41.7%n=12 | 75%n=8 | 58.3%n=12 |
| Lawn & Garden | 12 | 91.7%n=12 | 0%n=12 | 58.3%n=12 | 25%n=12 | 100%n=10 | 91.7%n=12 |
| Massage & Wellness | 10 | 100%n=10 | 0%n=8 | 90%n=10 | 40%n=10 | 60%n=5 | 90%n=10 |
| Pool & Spa Services | 8 | 100%n=8 | 14.3%n=7 | 75%n=8 | 37.5%n=8 | 85.7%n=7 | 100%n=8 |
| Print & Signage | 8 | 100%n=8 | 37.5%n=8 | 75%n=8 | 12.5%n=8 | 62.5%n=8 | 87.5%n=8 |
| Childcare & Early Learning | 5 | 100%n=5 | 50%n=4 | 80%n=5 | 0%n=5 | 75%n=4 | 100%n=5 |
| Travel & Cruise | 3 | 66.7%n=3 | 33.3%n=3 | 66.7%n=3 | 0%n=3 | 100%n=3 | 100%n=3 |
Setup costs and system size by category
Median of the low and high setup estimates franchisors disclose, and the median number of franchisees.
| Category | Setup cost, low | Setup cost, high | Median franchisees | 16 or fewer franchisees |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| All categories | $146,984n=937 | $400,000n=923 | 9n=1,142 | 61.6% |
| Quick-Service Food | $303,000n=174 | $661,084n=173 | 5n=196 | 73% |
| Fitness & Wellbeing | $249,800n=101 | $496,400n=100 | 9n=122 | 63.9% |
| Retail | $200,000n=92 | $511,000n=93 | 18n=119 | 49.6% |
| Home & Trade Services | $52,500n=96 | $127,500n=94 | 9n=108 | 63.9% |
| B2B Services | $59,900n=63 | $109,000n=63 | 8n=79 | 60.8% |
| Cleaning | $27,500n=55 | $79,890n=55 | 12n=65 | 58.5% |
| Automotive | $150,000n=41 | $536,000n=44 | 17n=59 | 49.2% |
| Education & Tutoring | $53,850n=44 | $95,000n=40 | 6n=52 | 80.8% |
| Real Estate | $72,900n=37 | $350,000n=38 | 18n=49 | 46.9% |
| Bakery & Dessert | $305,250n=41 | $689,250n=40 | 10n=48 | 68.8% |
| Coffee & Café | $250,000n=35 | $750,000n=29 | 11n=40 | 60% |
| Health & Medical | $345,565n=26 | $700,000n=27 | 8n=36 | 58.3% |
| Food & Beverage | $725,000n=16 | $2,000,000n=15 | 5n=24 | 66.7% |
| Beauty & Health | $150,000n=21 | $493,887n=21 | 5n=25 | 76% |
| Mortgage & Finance | $51,000n=15 | $109,375n=14 | 34n=20 | 40% |
| Pet Services | $22,000n=14 | $53,000n=13 | 6n=15 | 60% |
| Hair & Barber | $242,500n=11 | $500,000n=11 | 6n=14 | 64.3% |
| Aged & Disability Support | $72,500n=12 | $200,000n=11 | 20n=14 | 50% |
| Courier & Logistics | $55,000n=10 | $135,000n=10 | 22n=12 | 41.7% |
| Lawn & Garden | $18,669n=9 | $51,445n=8 | 18n=12 | 50% |
| Massage & Wellness | $565,000n=7 | $850,000n=6 | 4n=10 | 70% |
| Pool & Spa Services | $152,000n=6 | $213,500n=7 | 26n=8 | 50% |
| Print & Signage | $180,000n=5 | $364,500n=5 | 49n=8 | 37.5% |
| Childcare & Early Learning | $761,500n=3 | $4,900,000n=3 | 7n=4 | 75% |
| Travel & Cruise | $5,400n=3 | $10,000n=3 | 185n=3 | 33.3% |
How to read these figures. Register answers are the franchisor’s own, lodged without independent checking, and a short Yes or No can hide important detail. Use them to decide what to ask, then read the disclosure document and franchise agreement for the brand you’re considering, with a franchise lawyer and accountant.
What these terms mean for you
- Restraint of trade in franchise agreements7 min
- Who owns the goodwill in a franchise? Exit value, forced sales and non-renewal9 min
- Can a franchisor change the franchise agreement? What it can change and what it must disclose8 min
- How to use the Franchise Disclosure Register before you buy10 min
- The Franchise Disclosure Document explained9 min
Method and sources
- Source: franchisor profiles on the ACCC Franchise Disclosure Register, captured by FranchiseScope on 19 August 2026. 1,187 profiles belong to franchise systems listed on FranchiseScope.
- Percentages are Yes / (Yes + No) among profiles answering each question; setup-cost medians exclude blank and $0 entries; franchisee medians include franchisors with none yet; grouped by FranchiseScope category.
- Categories are FranchiseScope’s, assigned per brand; some brands could fit more than one.
- You may quote and republish these figures with attribution: “FranchiseScope analysis of the ACCC Franchise Disclosure Register, captured 19 August 2026”.
Disclaimer: This information is based on material published by the relevant franchisor on the Franchise Disclosure Register. This information does not negate the need to undertake necessary due diligence including seeking independent professional advice if considering entering into a franchise agreement.