Franchise opportunities in Mount Isa, QLD
Geography: this report covers the Mount Isa 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 Mount Isa
250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Mount Isa:
Amazing Clean
Chem-Dry Australia
Gutter Knight
Hire A Hubby
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
Mount Isa on the map
Where Mount Isa 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 Mount Isa…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
2. Home & Trade Services
69What it costs to start in Mount Isa
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Mount Isa best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Mount Isa fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Cleaning | $30K–$120K | $25,000 | 9.0% | 69 |
| Home & Trade Services | $45K–$180K | $35,000 | 8.0% | 69 |
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 65 |
| Health & Medical | $180K–$650K | $48,000 | 6.0% | 65 |
| Automotive | $120K–$500K | $45,000 | 7.5% | 63 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 63 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsMount Isa’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Mount Isa snapshot
| Metric | Mount Isa | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 18,798 | 19,958 | -6% |
| Median household income | $116,300 | $91,574 | +27% |
| 5-year population growth | -2.6% | 11.5% | -14.1 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Mount Isa, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Mount Isa | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 2.6 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $2,236/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,652/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $1,158/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $275/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,546/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.9 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Mount Isa (315021405). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Mount Isa 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 | Mount Isa | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 45.6% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 30% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 16.2% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 75.1% | Suburban, car-based, drive-to trade area |
| Flats & apartments | 4.2% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 67.9% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 28.1% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 4.2% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Mount Isa, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Cleaning viability: High
The cleaning opportunity in Mount Isa scores 69 out of 100. With a population of 18,798, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited cleaning outlet. At about 1 existing cleaning operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($116,300) runs above the state average ($91,574), supporting discretionary spend.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Home & Trade Services | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Cleaning | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Health & Medical | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 2 | Low | Gap |
| Automotive | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Real Estate | 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 Mount Isa compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Isa | 18,798 | $116,300 | -2.6% | Cleaning | 69 |
| Maryborough (Qld) | 18,838 | $50,800 | 1.9% | Cleaning | 57 |
| Labrador | 18,911 | $61,800 | -0.5% | Cleaning | 56 |
| Pacific Pines - Gaven | 18,657 | $108,500 | -1.2% | Quick-Service Food | 73 |
| Capalaba | 18,577 | $90,400 | 1.7% | Quick-Service Food | 71 |
| Newstead - Bowen Hills | 18,451 | $112,300 | 62.5% | Quick-Service Food | 85 |
| Sunnybank Hills | 18,440 | $89,700 | -3.6% | Quick-Service Food | 65 |
Keep exploring Mount Isa & Queensland
By category in Mount Isa
Nearby Queensland areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Mount Isa?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Cleaning scores highest for Mount Isa at 69/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Home & Trade Services and Hair & Barber.
How much does a franchise cost in Mount Isa?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Cleaning franchises run $30,000–$120,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=88). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Mount Isa good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 59/100 in Mount Isa, with about 3 existing operators in the trade area (Moderate 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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