Franchise Opportunities in Queensland
Queensland, with around 5.5 million people, is Australia's fastest-growing state by interstate migration. Brisbane, the Gold Coast and the Sunshine Coast form a booming south-east corridor, and a strong tourism economy adds year-round demand for food, fitness and service franchises.
Franchises for sale in Queensland
250 franchise systems are recruiting or hold an open territory in Queensland, franchises you can buy into now. A selection by network size:
| Franchise | Category | Units (AU) | Total investment |
|---|---|---|---|
| Jim's Mowing | Lawn & Garden | 2,600 | $20K–$50K |
| Subway Australia | Quick-Service Food | 1,245 | $300K–$1.1M |
| McDonald's Australia | Quick-Service Food | 1,076 | $1.5M–$2.6M |
| 7-Eleven Australia | Retail | 1,074 | $47K–$297K |
| KFC Australia | Quick-Service Food | 839 | $1.3M–$7.5M |
| Jim's Cleaning | Cleaning | 800 | $25K–$35K |
| Ray White | Real Estate | 714 | $150K–$350K |
| Domino's Pizza Australia | Quick-Service Food | 709 | $475K–$890K |
| Flight Centre | Travel & Cruise | 650 | $70K–$220K |
| Mortgage Choice | Mortgage & Finance | 639 | $71K–$132K |
Franchise opportunity by location in Queensland
Greater Brisbane: the strongest franchise categories and best-scoring suburbs across the whole city →Cities & regional centres
Gold Coast
84Sunshine Coast
84Ipswich
79Logan
78Mackay
77Cairns
74Townsville
73Toowoomba
72Rockhampton
68Suburbs & localities
Every ABS SA2 suburb or locality in Queensland with 8,000+ residents, ranked by opportunity score, 308 areas; the top 24 are shown in full.
Springfield Lakes
87Newstead - Bowen Hills
85Jimboomba - Glenlogan
83Murrumba Downs - Griffin
82Burdell - Mount Low
82Thornlands
82The Hills District
81Narangba
81Oxenford - Maudsland
81Coomera
80Coorparoo
80Redland Bay
80North Lakes
79Cashmere
78Redbank Plains
77Helensvale
77Calamvale - Stretton
76Mudgeeraba - Bonogin
76The Gap
76Mango Hill
76Rochedale - Burbank
76Buderim - South
75Trinity Beach - Smithfield
75West End
75Population, income & growth: ABS Census 2021 and Estimated Resident Population. Opportunity score combines demand, competition, demographics, growth and franchise availability, see methodology.
Queensland at a glance
| Metric | QLD | National | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 5,669,764 | 27,613,654 | 20.5% of AUS |
| Population growth (5-yr) | +9.8% | n/a | rank 2/8 |
| Median age | 38 | 38 | +0 |
| Median weekly household income | $1,675 | $1,746 | -4.1% |
| Total households | 1,869,462 | 9,275,217 | -79.8% |
| Renter households | 33.1% | 30.6% | +2.5pp |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | 4.3% | -0.1pp |
| Participation rate | 66.9% | 66.8% | +0.1pp |
| Actively trading businesses | 524,024 | n/a | n/a |
| Annual rainfall (Brisbane) | 1,065mm | n/a | n/a |
Population & labour force: ABS. Demographics: ABS Census 2021.
Age distribution in Queensland
A younger profile favours fitness, coffee and fast-casual food; an older one favours aged care, health and home services. Source: ABS Census 2021.
Housing & households in Queensland
How people live shapes what they buy. Tenure, dwelling type and household make-up point to the categories most likely to work here.
| Indicator | QLD | What it signals |
|---|---|---|
| Renter households | 33.1% | Rental-heavy areas turn over faster and suit convenience, fitness and food. |
| Owned with a mortgage | 34.4% | Mortgage-belt families spend on services, childcare and casual dining. |
| Owned outright | 29.1% | Outright owners skew older, favouring health, aged care and home services. |
| Detached houses | 74.8% | Backyard suburbs lift lawn, pool, cleaning and home-trade demand. |
| Apartments & units | 12.5% | Higher density concentrates foot traffic for cafés and quick-service food. |
| Family households | 71.0% | Families anchor education, childcare, tutoring and family dining. |
| Single-person households | 24.7% | Singles favour convenience, meal-based food and fitness. |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (QuickStats) · 2021
Queensland franchise opportunity map
Every marker is a real trade-area market, placed by its ABS centroid and coloured by opportunity score. Marker size reflects population; click a market for its full report.
Recommended franchise categories for Queensland
| # | Category | Demand | Competition gap | Demographic fit | Growth | Overall |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Quick-Service Food | 40 | 72 | 46 | 58 | 58 |
| 2 | Coffee & Café | 40 | 71 | 46 | 58 | 52 |
| 3 | Hair & Barber | 40 | 72 | 46 | 58 | 51 |
| 4 | Bakery & Dessert | 40 | 60 | 46 | 58 | 50 |
| 5 | Food & Beverage | 40 | 66 | 46 | 58 | 49 |
| 6 | Retail | 40 | 53 | 46 | 58 | 48 |
| 7 | Mortgage & Finance | 40 | 53 | 46 | 58 | 46 |
| 8 | Beauty & Health | 40 | 54 | 46 | 58 | 46 |
58/100Quick-Service Food
Best QLD markets: Springfield Lakes (87), Newstead - Bowen Hills (85), Gold Coast (84).
Explore quick-service food
52/100Coffee & Café
Best QLD markets: Springfield Lakes (84), Ipswich (79), Sunshine Coast (78).
Explore coffee & café
51/100Hair & Barber
Best QLD markets: Burdell - Mount Low (79), Thornlands (79), Springfield Lakes (78).
Explore hair & barberScores weight ABS population, income and growth, Census demographic fit, local competition (OpenStreetMap operator counts where available, else a trade-area model) and live franchise availability. Indicative only, not a guarantee of success.
Business landscape in Queensland
Source: ABS Counts of Australian Businesses · 2025
Business churn: 16.1% of businesses were new entries, 13.7% exited, for net growth of +2.7% over the year. A steadily growing business base is a sign of a healthy local economy for a new franchise.
Franchise cost benchmarks
| Category | Median initial fee | Royalty | Marketing levy | Total investment |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | $12,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | $27,000–$80,000 |
| Coffee & Café | $35,000 | 6.0% | 3.0% | $300,000–$700,000 |
| Food & Beverage | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | $650,000–$1,475,000 |
| Fitness & Wellbeing | $49,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | $250,000–$500,000 |
| Aged & Disability Support | $75,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | $89,000–$163,000 |
| Home & Trade Services | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | $51,000–$128,000 |
| Automotive | $40,000 | 6.5% | 3.0% | $156,000–$500,000 |
| Education & Tutoring | Not enough data | Not enough data | Not enough data | $48,000–$100,000 |
National medians from the Australian Franchise Fee Index, built from the fees franchisors publish and their ACCC Register establishment costs. “Not enough data” means fewer than five systems publish that figure.
Climate & seasonality
| Climate zone (Brisbane) | Subtropical |
| Avg summer maximum | 30.4°C |
| Avg winter minimum | 10.5°C |
| Annual rainfall | 1,065mm (Summer-dominant) |
| Frost risk | Nil |
Humid subtropical warmth sustains year-round demand for air-conditioning, pest-control, pool and outdoor-lifestyle franchises.
Source: Bureau of Meteorology climate averages · BOM climate averages
Tourism & visitor demand
| Annual domestic visitors | 26,187,500 |
| Annual international visitors | 2,157,600 |
| Total visitor nights | 152,513,900 |
| Total visitor spending | $35.3B |
| Peak season | Winter (Jun–Aug) |
| Top tourism regions | Brisbane, Gold Coast, Sunshine Coast |
Strong visitor volumes lift demand for food & beverage, coffee, retail and hospitality franchises, plan for peak/off-peak staffing.
Source: Tourism Research Australia · 2024
Transport & infrastructure
| Airport | Location | Annual passengers | Type |
|---|---|---|---|
| Brisbane Airport | Brisbane | 23,826,691 | International |
| Gold Coast Airport | Coolangatta | 5,998,280 | International |
| Cairns Airport | Cairns | 4,707,476 | International |
- Bruce Highway (M1/A1), Brisbane–Rockhampton–Townsville–Cairns
- Pacific Motorway (M1), Brisbane–Gold Coast–NSW border
- Warrego Highway (A2), Brisbane (Ipswich)–Toowoomba–Charleville (inland west)
- Port of Brisbane (Container)
- Port of Gladstone (Bulk)
Queensland Rail runs the South East Queensland Citytrain suburban network and long-distance passenger services, while Aurizon hauls major coal freight from the Bowen Basin.
Highway corridors suit drive-through food, fuel and automotive franchises; airport and transport hubs suit food and retail formats.
Source: BITRE aviation statistics & public infrastructure data · 2024-25
Commercial property & retail
Major shopping centres, prime anchor sites for retail, food and service franchises in Queensland:
| Centre | Location |
|---|---|
| Westfield Chermside | Chermside, Brisbane |
| Pacific Fair | Broadbeach, Gold Coast |
| Westfield Garden City | Upper Mount Gravatt |
| Robina Town Centre | Robina, Gold Coast |
Queensland commercial property is generally more affordable than Sydney or Melbourne, lowering fit-out costs for bricks-and-mortar franchises. Combined with strong growth, this makes QLD attractive for multi-unit expansion. Retail rents vary by centre and strip, confirm current rates with the landlord or a commercial agent.
Expanding your franchise into Queensland?
| Total population | 5,669,764 |
| Population growth | 1.9% p.a. (rank 2/8) |
| Median household income | $1,675/wk |
| Systems already recruiting | 250 |
| Trade-area markets scored | 317 |
Lower-scoring categories with strong demographics signal white space. See the category table above for where QLD demand outruns supply.
Franchises in Queensland, FAQs
What are the best franchise opportunities in Queensland?
Based on ABS population, demographics and competition analysis, the strongest franchise categories in Queensland are Quick-Service Food, Coffee & Café, Hair & Barber. With a population of 5,669,764 growing 1.9% a year, Queensland supports steady demand across food, fitness and home-service formats.
How much does a franchise cost in Queensland?
Median all-in costs run from about $18K for home-based and mobile models to $1.5M for full bricks-and-mortar formats. Queensland's median weekly household income is $1,675 (-4.1% vs the national $1,746). See the Fee Index for category-by-category costs.
What franchise categories work best in regional Queensland?
Regional QLD centres such as Sunshine Coast, Logan, Ipswich typically have lower competition than Brisbane and reward home services, food and fitness franchises. Entry costs are usually lower outside the capital.
Are there franchises for sale in Queensland?
Yes, 250 franchise systems on FranchiseScope list an open territory in Queensland. Availability changes, so confirm with each franchisor, or register your interest to hear about new openings.
What is the population of Queensland?
As of 2025, Queensland has an estimated resident population of 5,669,764, about 20.5% of Australia's total. It grew 1.9% per year over the last five years, the 2nd fastest-growing state or territory. Source: ABS National, state and territory population.
What is the climate like in Queensland?
Brisbane has a subtropical climate, average summer maximums around 30.4°C and winter minimums near 10.5°C, with about 1,065mm of rain a year. Humid subtropical warmth sustains year-round demand for air-conditioning, pest-control, pool and outdoor-lifestyle franchises. Source: Bureau of Meteorology.
What are the fastest growing areas in Queensland?
The fastest-growing markets in Queensland include Pimpama - South (+193.4% over 5 years), Pimpama - North (+175.3% over 5 years), Ripley (+174.3% over 5 years). These growth corridors offer the strongest new-outlet franchise opportunities. Source: ABS Estimated Resident Population.
How do I compare franchise opportunities in Queensland?
Use FranchiseScope's verified Fee Index, location opportunity scores and live territory availability to compare franchises side by side, filter by category, investment range and location across Queensland.
Explore more
Methodology & sources
Opportunity scores use a weighted model: 30% demand (population, households, income), 25% competition gap (business density vs population), 20% demographic fit, 15% growth, 10% franchise availability. Data comes from ABS National, state and territory population; ABS Census 2021; ABS Labour Force; ABS Counts of Australian Businesses; Bureau of Meteorology; Tourism Research Australia; BITRE; OpenStreetMap; and FranchiseScope's Fee Index of published franchise costs. Scores are indicative only and do not guarantee franchise success.
This page is general information only, not legal, financial or business advice. Franchise costs, territories and availability change frequently. Review the franchisor's disclosure document and seek independent legal and accounting advice before entering any franchise agreement.
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