Franchise opportunities in Atherton, QLD
Geography: this report covers the Atherton area (ABS SA2). Demographics from the ABS Census 2021.
How this opportunity score works
The score is a weighted 0–100 research signal, not a site-selection decision. It combines, per category:
- Demand (category fit for the population) — 30%
- Competition gap (trade-area model, more room scores higher) — 25%
- Demographic fit (income vs the category) — 20%
- 5-year population growth (percentile) — 15%
- Franchise availability (systems recruiting here) — 10%
Inputs: ABS Census 2021 (population, income, growth) and a trade-area competition model using OpenStreetMap / ABS business data where available. It doesn’t model rent, site specifics or local trading conditions, treat it as a starting point for research, then confirm on the ground and with the franchisor. See our methodology.
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For sale & open territories in Atherton
250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Atherton:
Atherton on the map
Where Atherton sits and the real local businesses around its centre, the operators a new franchise would compete with. Tap a pin for the business name and type.
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Top 3 franchise categories by opportunity score
What it costs to start in Atherton
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Atherton best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q3 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Atherton fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair & Barber | $243,000–$482,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 49 |
| Food & Beverage | $650,000–$1,475,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 48 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $350,000–$625,000 | $50,000 | Not enough data | 43 |
| Quick-Service Food | $337,000–$675,000 | $45,000 | 6.0% | 42 |
| Retail | $200,000–$511,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 41 |
| Mortgage & Finance | $60,000–$124,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 39 |
Fees: Q3 2026 Fee Index (“Not enough data” means fewer than five systems publish that figure). The fit score blends Atherton’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Atherton snapshot
| Metric | Atherton | Typical QLD area | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,746 | 11,872 | -1% |
| Median household income | $62,800 | $90,700 | -31% |
| 5-year population growth | 7.3% | 5.3% | +2.0 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Atherton, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Atherton | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 45 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.3 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,208/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,620/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $668/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $280/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,460/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.8 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Atherton (306051166). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Atherton lives, works and is housed, and what each signal means for siting a franchise here. All figures are real ABS Census 2021 counts for this area.
| Measure | Atherton | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 29.6% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 25.9% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 40.3% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 86.3% | Suburban, car-based, drive-to trade area |
| Flats & apartments | 4.7% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 65.8% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 30.8% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 4.1% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Atherton, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Hair & Barber viability: High
The hair & barber opportunity in Atherton scores 49 out of 100. With a population of 11,746, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited hair & barber outlet. At about 1 existing hair & barber operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($62,800) sits below the typical comparable area in the state ($90,700), which can favour value-led formats. Population is growing at 7.3% over five years, ahead of the typical comparable area in the state (5.3%), so new demand is still arriving.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Mortgage & Finance | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 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.
How Atherton compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Atherton | 11,746 | $62,800 | 7.3% | Hair & Barber | 49 |
| Loganholme - Tanah Merah | 11,753 | $97,100 | 1.8% | Hair & Barber | 54 |
| Palmwoods | 11,779 | $93,300 | 8.7% | Hair & Barber | 58 |
| Sippy Downs | 11,698 | $77,200 | 10.0% | Hair & Barber | 54 |
| Mount Pleasant - Glenella | 11,670 | $115,100 | 6.7% | Hair & Barber | 63 |
| Gladstone Hinterland | 11,668 | $103,300 | -2.4% | Hair & Barber | 51 |
| Upper Kedron - Ferny Grove | 11,855 | $134,400 | 14.8% | Hair & Barber | 69 |
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Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Atherton?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Hair & Barber scores highest for Atherton at 49/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Food & Beverage and Bakery & Dessert.
How much does a franchise cost in Atherton?
Fees don't vary by suburb. Across the Hair & Barber systems that publish their costs, the Q3 2026 Fee Index shows a median all-in cost of $243,000–$482,000 (13 systems) nationally. See the Fee Index for every category.
Is Atherton good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 38/100 in Atherton, with about 2 existing operators in the trade area (Moderate 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: Q3 2026 Fee Index.
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