Franchise opportunities in Murwillumbah, NSW
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Quick-Service Food
47Murwillumbah snapshot
| Metric | Murwillumbah | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,479 | 20,009 | -53% |
| Median household income | $60,000 | $100,267 | -40% |
| 5-year population growth | 4.3% | 13.0% | -8.7 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Murwillumbah, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Murwillumbah | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 46 years | Older market, skews to health, home and aged-support services |
| Average household size | 2.4 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,154/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,461/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $597/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $350/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,733/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
Source: ABS Census 2021 G02 + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Murwillumbah (112031251). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Survival & viability analysis
Quick-Service Food viability: High
The quick-service food opportunity in Murwillumbah scores 47 out of 100. With a population of 9,479, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited quick-service food outlet. At about 1 existing quick-service food operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($60,000) sits below the state average ($100,267), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee & Café | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Quick-Service Food | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | High | Saturated |
| Retail | 1 | High | Saturated |
Operator counts are a trade-area model derived from ABS population, not a live business census. Richer POI data (OpenStreetMap / Google Places) is ingested per methodology.
Available franchise opportunities in Murwillumbah
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
Cafe2U
Coolabah Tree Cafe
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
How Murwillumbah compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Score | Top category |
|---|---|---|---|
| Murwillumbah | 9,479 | 47 | Quick-Service Food |
| Newcastle | 322,278 | 77 | Bakery & Dessert |
| Parramatta | 256,729 | 79 | Pet Services |
| Geelong | 268,277 | 75 | Pet Services |
| Gold Coast | 699,226 | 84 | Quick-Service Food |
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Murwillumbah?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Murwillumbah at 47/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Coffee & Café and Hair & Barber.
How much does a franchise cost in Murwillumbah?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Quick-Service Food franchises run $350,000–$900,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=96). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Murwillumbah good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 43/100 in Murwillumbah, with about 1 existing operators in the trade area (Strong suitability).
Demographics: ABS Census 2021 & Regional Population. Category scores combine ABS demographics with a trade-area competition model and live franchise availability, see methodology. Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index.