Franchise opportunities in Kelso, QLD
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
Kelso snapshot
| Metric | Kelso | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,862 | 19,958 | -46% |
| Median household income | $84,800 | $91,574 | -7% |
| 5-year population growth | 0.0% | 11.5% | -11.5 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Kelso, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Kelso | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 2.8 people | Family-heavy, favours food, education and household services |
| Median household income | $1,631/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,809/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $778/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $300/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,500/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 Kelso (318021480). 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 Kelso scores 53 out of 100. With a population of 10,862, 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 ($84,800) sits below the state average ($91,574), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Medium | Competitive |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Medium | Competitive |
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 Kelso
Beefy's
Bucking Bull
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
Boost Juice
Chatime
How Kelso compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Kelso | 10,862 | $84,800 | 0.0% | Quick-Service Food | 53 |
| Bli Bli | 10,860 | $88,300 | 27.6% | Quick-Service Food | 64 |
| Chapel Hill | 10,866 | $153,800 | 1.2% | Quick-Service Food | 66 |
| Bundaberg Surrounds - South | 10,873 | $53,100 | 9.6% | Quick-Service Food | 54 |
| Ormeau (East) - Stapylton | 10,847 | $102,400 | 13.9% | Quick-Service Food | 67 |
| Norman Gardens | 10,828 | $92,500 | 4.7% | Quick-Service Food | 60 |
| Clayfield | 10,914 | $100,400 | -0.4% | Quick-Service Food | 57 |
Keep exploring Kelso & Queensland
By category in Kelso
Nearby Queensland areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Kelso?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Kelso at 53/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Hair & Barber and Food & Beverage.
How much does a franchise cost in Kelso?
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 Kelso good for a coffee franchise?
It's a tighter market: a coffee & café franchise scores 35/100 in Kelso, with about 2 existing operators in the trade area (Saturated 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.