Franchise opportunities in Darling Heights, QLD
Geography: this report covers the Darling Heights 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 Darling Heights
250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Darling Heights:
Bakers Delight
Banjo's Bakehouse
Beefy's
Bucking Bull
7-Eleven Australia
Amber Tiles
Darling Heights on the map
Where Darling Heights 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 Darling Heights…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Bakery & Dessert
582. Quick-Service Food
55What it costs to start in Darling Heights
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Darling Heights best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Darling Heights fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 58 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 55 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 55 |
| Mortgage & Finance | $45K–$140K | $30,000 | 8.0% | 53 |
| B2B Services | $60K–$220K | $40,000 | 7.5% | 52 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 52 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsDarling Heights’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Darling Heights snapshot
| Metric | Darling Heights | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,812 | 19,958 | -26% |
| Median household income | $71,600 | $91,574 | -22% |
| 5-year population growth | 5.4% | 11.5% | -6.1 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Darling Heights, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Darling Heights | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 33 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 2.4 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,376/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,714/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $725/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $315/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,450/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 Darling Heights (317011446). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Darling Heights 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 | Darling Heights | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 43.2% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 25.8% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 26.5% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 65.5% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 7.4% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 65.4% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 30.6% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 6.3% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Darling Heights, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Bakery & Dessert viability: High
The bakery & dessert opportunity in Darling Heights scores 58 out of 100. With a population of 14,812, 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 ($71,600) 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 |
| Mortgage & Finance | 1 | Low | Gap |
| B2B Services | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 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 Darling Heights compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darling Heights | 14,812 | $71,600 | 5.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 58 |
| Highfields | 14,781 | $109,400 | 10.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 71 |
| Airlie - Whitsundays | 14,767 | $87,000 | 10.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 65 |
| Hope Island | 14,873 | $100,200 | 27.0% | Bakery & Dessert | 71 |
| Wynnum | 14,738 | $97,900 | 7.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 67 |
| Beaudesert | 14,913 | $62,300 | 5.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 56 |
| Urangan - Wondunna | 14,918 | $57,700 | 16.2% | Bakery & Dessert | 59 |
Keep exploring Darling Heights & Queensland
By category in Darling Heights
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Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Darling Heights?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Bakery & Dessert scores highest for Darling Heights at 58/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Quick-Service Food and Retail.
How much does a franchise cost in Darling Heights?
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 Darling Heights good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 52/100 in Darling Heights, 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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