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.
Loading nearby operators in South Brisbane…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Bakery & Dessert
702. Quick-Service Food
67What 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 (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | South Brisbane fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 70 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 67 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 67 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 64 |
| Lawn & Garden | $40K–$130K | $28,000 | 8.0% | 64 |
| Mortgage & Finance | $45K–$140K | $30,000 | 8.0% | 64 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsSouth Brisbane’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
South Brisbane snapshot
| Metric | South Brisbane | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 14,575 | 19,958 | -27% |
| Median household income | $95,200 | $91,574 | +4% |
| 5-year population growth | 87.4% | 11.5% | +75.9 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 state average ($91,574), supporting discretionary spend. Population is growing at 87.4% over five years, ahead of the state pace of 11.5%, 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 |
Keep exploring South Brisbane & Queensland
By category in South Brisbane
Nearby Queensland areas
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, Bakery & Dessert franchises run $200,000–$550,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=54). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
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: Q2 2026 Fee Index.
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