Franchises for sale in Gold Coast, QLD

250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Gold Coast. Gold Coast’s 699,226 residents give it a franchise opportunity score of 84/100. The strongest fit is Quick-Service Food (84/100), followed by Bakery & Dessert and Hair & Barber.

Geography: this report covers the Gold Coast regional centre and its surrounds. Demographics from the ABS Census 2021.

699,226Population (ABS 2021)
+10.1%5-year growth
$87,900Median household income
250Franchises recruiting in QLD
Opportunity score84/100
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 Gold Coast

250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Gold Coast:

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Gold Coast on the map

Where Gold Coast 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

1. Quick-Service Food

84
Strong Median $337,000–$675,000 · 35 recruiting
Why Quick-Service Food in Gold Coast?

2. Bakery & Dessert

78
Strong Median $350,000–$625,000 · 16 recruiting
Why Bakery & Dessert in Gold Coast?

3. Hair & Barber

77
Strong Median $243,000–$482,000 · 11 recruiting
Why Hair & Barber in Gold Coast?

What it costs to start in Gold Coast

Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Gold Coast best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q3 2026 Fee Index, national medians).

CategoryTotal investmentInitial feeRoyaltyGold Coast fit
Quick-Service Food$337,000–$675,000$45,0006.0%84
Bakery & Dessert$350,000–$625,000$50,000Not enough data78
Hair & Barber$243,000–$482,000Not enough dataNot enough data77
Health & Medical$396,000–$775,000Not enough dataNot enough data77
Beauty & Health$150,000–$494,000Not enough dataNot enough data76
Coffee & Café$300,000–$700,000$35,0006.0%76

Fees: Q3 2026 Fee Index (“Not enough data” means fewer than five systems publish that figure). The fit score blends Gold Coast’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.

Gold Coast snapshot

Gold Coast vs a typical comparable Queensland area (median)
MetricGold CoastTypical QLD areaDifference
Population699,226153,075+357%
Median household income$87,900$82,900+6%
5-year population growth10.1%5.1%+5.0 pts

Survival & viability analysis

Quick-Service Food viability: High

The quick-service food opportunity in Gold Coast scores 84 out of 100. With a population of 699,226, this is a substantial catchment that could support roughly 93 quick-service food outlets in total, around 24 more than the 69 already operating locally. At about 69 existing quick-service food operators, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($87,900) runs above the typical comparable area in the state ($82,900), supporting discretionary spend. Population is growing at 10.1% over five years, ahead of the typical comparable area in the state (5.1%), so new demand is still arriving.

Nearby competition by category

Live competitor counts and market status
CategoryOperatorsCompetitionStatus
Quick-Service Food69LowGap
Bakery & Dessert6LowGap
Hair & Barber24LowGap
Health & Medical14LowGap
Beauty & Health26LowGap
Pet Services9LowGap

Operator counts come from OpenStreetMap (storefronts) and ABS business counts (services), captured 2026-07-31; they're an indicative signal, not a live census. See methodology.

How Gold Coast compares to nearby areas

LocationPopulationMedian income5-yr growthTop categoryScore
Gold Coast699,226$87,90010.1%Quick-Service Food84
Sunshine Coast355,000$82,90014.5%Quick-Service Food84
Logan350,000$84,00011.5%Bakery & Dessert78
Ipswich247,000$86,70016.6%Bakery & Dessert79
Townsville180,820$88,5002.1%Bakery & Dessert73
Cairns153,075$82,1004.8%Bakery & Dessert74
Toowoomba142,163$76,0006.8%Bakery & Dessert72

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Frequently asked questions

Are there franchises for sale in Gold Coast?

Yes. 250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Gold Coast. Territory data is recorded by state (Queensland), so confirm which parts of Gold Coast are open with each franchisor. Compare open territories and match your budget below.

What franchise is best for Gold Coast?

Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Gold Coast at 84/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Bakery & Dessert and Hair & Barber.

How much does a franchise cost in Gold Coast?

Fees don't vary by suburb. Across the Quick-Service Food systems that publish their costs, the Q3 2026 Fee Index shows a median all-in cost of $337,000–$675,000 (173 systems), a $45,000 median initial fee (9 systems), a 6.0% median royalty (9 systems) and a 4.3% median marketing levy (9 systems) nationally. See the Fee Index for every category.

Is Gold Coast good for a coffee franchise?

It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 76/100 in Gold Coast, with about 86 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: Q3 2026 Fee Index.