Franchise opportunities in Airlie - Whitsundays, QLD
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Bakery & Dessert
663. Quick-Service Food
62Airlie - Whitsundays snapshot
| Metric | Airlie - Whitsundays | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,767 | 19,958 | -26% |
| Median household income | $87,000 | $91,574 | -5% |
| 5-year population growth | 10.4% | 11.5% | -1.1 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Airlie - Whitsundays, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Airlie - Whitsundays | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 36 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.4 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,674/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,990/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $898/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $370/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,733/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.8 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 G02 + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Airlie - Whitsundays (312031359). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Survival & viability analysis
Bakery & Dessert viability: High
The bakery & dessert opportunity in Airlie - Whitsundays scores 66 out of 100. With a population of 14,767, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited bakery & dessert outlet. At about 1 existing bakery & dessert operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($87,000) sits below the state average ($91,574), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| B2B Services | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Mortgage & Finance | 1 | Low | Gap |
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 Airlie - Whitsundays
Bakers Delight
Banjo's Bakehouse
7-Eleven Australia
Amber Tiles
Beefy's
Bucking Bull
How Airlie - Whitsundays compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Airlie - Whitsundays | 14,767 | $87,000 | 10.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 66 |
| Highfields | 14,781 | $109,400 | 10.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 72 |
| Wynnum | 14,738 | $97,900 | 7.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 67 |
| Darling Heights | 14,812 | $71,600 | 5.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 58 |
| Kedron - Gordon Park | 14,686 | $111,400 | 2.6% | Bakery & Dessert | 67 |
| Hope Island | 14,873 | $100,200 | 27.0% | Bakery & Dessert | 71 |
| Beaudesert | 14,913 | $62,300 | 5.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 56 |
Keep exploring Airlie - Whitsundays & Queensland
By category in Airlie - Whitsundays
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Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Airlie - Whitsundays?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Bakery & Dessert scores highest for Airlie - Whitsundays at 66/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Retail and Quick-Service Food.
How much does a franchise cost in Airlie - Whitsundays?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Bakery & Dessert franchises run $200,000–$550,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=54). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Airlie - Whitsundays good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 60/100 in Airlie - Whitsundays, with about 2 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.