Franchise opportunities in Townsville, QLD
Geography: this report covers the Townsville regional centre and its surrounds. 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 Townsville
250 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Townsville:
Bakers Delight
Banjo's Bakehouse
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
Australian Skin Clinics
Back In Motion
Townsville on the map
Where Townsville 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 Townsville…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
What it costs to start in Townsville
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Townsville best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Townsville fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 73 |
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 71 |
| Health & Medical | $180K–$650K | $48,000 | 6.0% | 71 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 70 |
| Pet Services | $45K–$200K | $30,000 | 7.5% | 70 |
| Childcare & Early Learning | $300K–$1.2M | $55,000 | 6.0% | 68 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsTownsville’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Townsville snapshot
| Metric | Townsville | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 180,820 | 19,958 | +806% |
| Median household income | $88,500 | $91,574 | -3% |
| 5-year population growth | 2.1% | 11.5% | -9.4 pts |
Survival & viability analysis
Bakery & Dessert viability: High
The bakery & dessert opportunity in Townsville scores 73 out of 100. With a population of 180,820, this is a substantial catchment that could support roughly 16 bakery & dessert outlets in total, around 14 more than the 2 already operating locally. At about 2 existing bakery & dessert operators, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($88,500) sits below the state average ($91,574), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | 2 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 10 | Low | Gap |
| Health & Medical | 4 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 5 | Low | Gap |
| Pet Services | 3 | Low | Gap |
| Childcare & Early Learning | 1 | Low | Gap |
Operator counts are live data (OpenStreetMap for storefronts, ABS business counts for services) as at 2026-07-31. See methodology.
How Townsville compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Townsville | 180,820 | $88,500 | 2.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 73 |
| Cairns | 153,075 | $82,100 | 4.8% | Bakery & Dessert | 74 |
| Toowoomba | 142,163 | $76,000 | 6.8% | Bakery & Dessert | 72 |
| Mackay | 118,000 | $96,400 | 5.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 77 |
| Ipswich | 247,000 | $86,700 | 16.6% | Bakery & Dessert | 79 |
| Rockhampton | 83,000 | $76,800 | 1.9% | Hair & Barber | 68 |
| Redbank Plains | 24,921 | $78,800 | 24.2% | Quick-Service Food | 77 |
Keep exploring Townsville & Queensland
By category in Townsville
Nearby Queensland areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Townsville?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Bakery & Dessert scores highest for Townsville at 73/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Hair & Barber and Health & Medical.
How much does a franchise cost in Townsville?
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 Townsville good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 60/100 in Townsville, with about 31 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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