Franchise opportunities in Coolum Beach, QLD
Geography: this report covers the Coolum Beach 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 Coolum Beach
250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Coolum Beach:
7-Eleven Australia
Amber Tiles
Bakers Delight
Banjo's Bakehouse
Beefy's
Bucking Bull
Coolum Beach on the map
Where Coolum Beach 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.
Loading nearby operators in Coolum Beach…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
3. Quick-Service Food
67What it costs to start in Coolum Beach
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Coolum Beach best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Coolum Beach fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 68 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 67 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 67 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 65 |
| Lawn & Garden | $40K–$130K | $28,000 | 8.0% | 65 |
| Mortgage & Finance | $45K–$140K | $30,000 | 8.0% | 65 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsCoolum Beach’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Coolum Beach snapshot
| Metric | Coolum Beach | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,184 | 19,958 | -19% |
| Median household income | $88,600 | $91,574 | -3% |
| 5-year population growth | 8.0% | 11.5% | -3.5 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Coolum Beach, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Coolum Beach | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44 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 | $1,703/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,071/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $794/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $450/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,000/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 Coolum Beach (316031425). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Coolum Beach 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 | Coolum Beach | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 28.3% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 36.2% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 32% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 69.8% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 12.7% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 70.9% | Family-led demand, education, food and household services |
| Lone-person households | 24.6% | Fewer single-person homes |
| Unemployment rate | 4% | Tight labour market, strong incomes but harder hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Coolum Beach, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Retail viability: High
The retail opportunity in Coolum Beach scores 68 out of 100. With a population of 16,184, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited retail outlet. At about 1 existing retail operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($88,600) sits below the state average ($91,574), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Mortgage & Finance | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Pool & Spa Services | 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 Coolum Beach compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coolum Beach | 16,184 | $88,600 | 8.0% | Retail | 68 |
| Mount Gravatt | 16,159 | $104,900 | 3.7% | Bakery & Dessert | 69 |
| Toowoomba - West | 16,124 | $96,300 | 21.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 72 |
| Andergrove - Beaconsfield | 16,117 | $90,100 | 5.8% | Bakery & Dessert | 66 |
| Cleveland | 16,074 | $74,400 | 4.8% | Bakery & Dessert | 61 |
| Marsden | 16,341 | $73,500 | 9.2% | Bakery & Dessert | 64 |
| Pialba - Eli Waters | 16,017 | $52,700 | 12.9% | Bakery & Dessert | 60 |
Keep exploring Coolum Beach & Queensland
By category in Coolum Beach
Nearby Queensland areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Coolum Beach?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Retail scores highest for Coolum Beach at 68/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Bakery & Dessert and Quick-Service Food.
How much does a franchise cost in Coolum Beach?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Retail franchises run $180,000–$600,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=132). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Coolum Beach good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 64/100 in Coolum Beach, 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.
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