Franchise opportunities in Mermaid Waters, QLD
Geography: this report covers the Mermaid Waters 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 Mermaid Waters
250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Mermaid Waters:
Boost Juice
Fasta Pasta
Bakers Delight
Banjo's Bakehouse
Beefy's
Bucking Bull
Mermaid Waters on the map
Where Mermaid Waters 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 Mermaid Waters…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
2. Bakery & Dessert
583. Quick-Service Food
56What it costs to start in Mermaid Waters
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Mermaid Waters best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Mermaid Waters fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 59 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 58 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 56 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 56 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 53 |
| Coffee & Café | $118K–$450K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 53 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsMermaid Waters’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Mermaid Waters snapshot
| Metric | Mermaid Waters | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,388 | 19,958 | -33% |
| Median household income | $91,200 | $91,574 | 0% |
| 5-year population growth | 6.2% | 11.5% | -5.3 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Mermaid Waters, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Mermaid Waters | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.5 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,753/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,118/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $817/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $450/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,167/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 Mermaid Waters (309011228). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Mermaid Waters 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 | Mermaid Waters | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 29.2% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 33.9% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 34.3% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 58.7% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 6.5% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 69.2% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 24.4% | Fewer single-person homes |
| Unemployment rate | 4.4% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Mermaid Waters, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Food & Beverage viability: High
The food & beverage opportunity in Mermaid Waters scores 59 out of 100. With a population of 13,388, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited food & beverage outlet. At about 1 existing food & beverage operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($91,200) sits below the state average ($91,574), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Mortgage & Finance | 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 Mermaid Waters compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mermaid Waters | 13,388 | $91,200 | 6.2% | Food & Beverage | 59 |
| Carrara | 13,318 | $81,100 | 5.7% | Food & Beverage | 56 |
| Nundah | 13,539 | $91,700 | 4.6% | Bakery & Dessert | 58 |
| Woodridge | 13,205 | $54,200 | 1.5% | Food & Beverage | 46 |
| Golden Beach - Pelican Waters | 13,150 | $70,000 | 7.8% | Food & Beverage | 54 |
| Brisbane City | 13,686 | $96,600 | 25.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 65 |
| Indooroopilly | 13,688 | $107,600 | 7.0% | Bakery & Dessert | 65 |
Keep exploring Mermaid Waters & Queensland
By category in Mermaid Waters
Nearby Queensland areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Mermaid Waters?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Food & Beverage scores highest for Mermaid Waters at 59/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Bakery & Dessert and Quick-Service Food.
How much does a franchise cost in Mermaid Waters?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Food & Beverage franchises run $250,000–$750,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=210). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Mermaid Waters good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 53/100 in Mermaid Waters, 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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