Franchise opportunities in South Brisbane, QLD
Geography: this report covers the South Brisbane 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 South Brisbane
250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover South Brisbane:
Bakers Delight
Banjo's Bakehouse
Beefy's
Bucking Bull
7-Eleven Australia
Amber Tiles
South Brisbane on the map
Where South Brisbane 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
What it costs to start in South Brisbane
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit South Brisbane best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q3 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | South Brisbane fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | $350,000–$625,000 | $50,000 | Not enough data | 70 |
| Quick-Service Food | $337,000–$675,000 | $45,000 | 6.0% | 67 |
| Retail | $200,000–$511,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 67 |
| Beauty & Health | $150,000–$494,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 64 |
| Lawn & Garden | $18,000–$49,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 64 |
| Mortgage & Finance | $60,000–$124,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 64 |
Fees: Q3 2026 Fee Index (“Not enough data” means fewer than five systems publish that figure). The fit score blends South Brisbane’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
South Brisbane snapshot
| Metric | South Brisbane | Typical QLD area | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,575 | 11,872 | +23% |
| Median household income | $95,200 | $90,700 | +5% |
| 5-year population growth | 87.4% | 5.3% | +82.1 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in South Brisbane, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | South Brisbane | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 29 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 1.9 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,831/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,295/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $888/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $470/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,950/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 1.1 | Denser housing, larger or shared households |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 South Brisbane (305011110). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How South Brisbane 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 | South Brisbane | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 70.2% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 14.6% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 13% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 4.4% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 93.5% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 49.2% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 39.1% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 7.9% | Higher unemployment, price-sensitive spend, easier hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, South Brisbane, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Bakery & Dessert viability: High
The bakery & dessert opportunity in South Brisbane scores 70 out of 100. With a population of 14,575, 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 ($95,200) runs above the typical comparable area in the state ($90,700), supporting discretionary spend. Population is growing at 87.4% over five years, ahead of the typical comparable area in the state (5.3%), so new demand is still arriving.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Mortgage & Finance | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Pool & Spa Services | 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 South Brisbane compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| South Brisbane | 14,575 | $95,200 | 87.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 70 |
| Morningside - Seven Hills | 14,573 | $120,800 | 10.0% | Bakery & Dessert | 73 |
| Meridan Plains - Little Mountain (North) | 14,586 | $77,800 | 11.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 63 |
| Burleigh Waters | 14,597 | $90,300 | -0.2% | Bakery & Dessert | 58 |
| Rosewood | 14,490 | $82,100 | 19.9% | Bakery & Dessert | 64 |
| Kedron - Gordon Park | 14,686 | $111,400 | 2.6% | Bakery & Dessert | 67 |
| Surfers Paradise - South | 14,422 | $70,700 | 8.0% | Bakery & Dessert | 59 |
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Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for South Brisbane?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Bakery & Dessert scores highest for South Brisbane at 70/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Quick-Service Food and Retail.
How much does a franchise cost in South Brisbane?
Fees don't vary by suburb. Across the Bakery & Dessert systems that publish their costs, the Q3 2026 Fee Index shows a median all-in cost of $350,000–$625,000 (41 systems) and a $50,000 median initial fee (5 systems) nationally. See the Fee Index for every category.
Is South Brisbane good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 63/100 in South Brisbane, 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: Q3 2026 Fee Index.
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