Franchise opportunities in Charters Towers, QLD
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Quick-Service Food
34Charters Towers snapshot
| Metric | Charters Towers | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,135 | 19,958 | -59% |
| Median household income | $66,700 | $91,574 | -27% |
| 5-year population growth | -1.9% | 11.5% | -13.4 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Charters Towers, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Charters Towers | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40 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 | $1,282/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,656/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $642/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $220/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,127/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 Charters Towers (318011462). 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 Charters Towers scores 34 out of 100. With a population of 8,135, 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 ($66,700) sits below the state average ($91,574), 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 | Medium | Competitive |
| 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 Charters Towers
Beefy's
Bucking Bull
Cafe2U
Coolabah Tree Cafe
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
How Charters Towers compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Charters Towers | 8,135 | $66,700 | -1.9% | Quick-Service Food | 34 |
| Windsor | 8,117 | $114,000 | 7.1% | Quick-Service Food | 55 |
| Moffat Beach - Battery Hill | 8,188 | $78,200 | 0.9% | Quick-Service Food | 40 |
| Johnstone | 8,080 | $67,700 | 0.6% | Quick-Service Food | 36 |
| The Range - Allenstown | 8,071 | $83,200 | -3.4% | Quick-Service Food | 37 |
| Gatton | 8,064 | $66,200 | 5.3% | Quick-Service Food | 40 |
| Broadbeach Waters | 8,230 | $107,700 | 1.0% | Quick-Service Food | 48 |
Keep exploring Charters Towers & Queensland
By category in Charters Towers
Nearby Queensland areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Charters Towers?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Charters Towers at 34/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Coffee & Café and Hair & Barber.
How much does a franchise cost in Charters Towers?
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 Charters Towers good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 32/100 in Charters Towers, 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.