Franchise opportunities in Athelstone, SA
Geography: this report covers the Athelstone 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 Athelstone
140 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Athelstone:
Chatime
Crust Gourmet Pizza
Cafe2U
Degani
Advanced Hair Studio
Hairhouse
Athelstone on the map
Where Athelstone 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 Athelstone…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Quick-Service Food
53What it costs to start in Athelstone
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Athelstone best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Athelstone fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 53 |
| Coffee & Café | $118K–$450K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 50 |
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 47 |
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 43 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 39 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 37 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsAthelstone’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Athelstone snapshot
| Metric | Athelstone | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 9,668 | 18,402 | -47% |
| Median household income | $100,900 | $79,909 | +26% |
| 5-year population growth | 3.7% | 5.4% | -1.7 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Athelstone, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Athelstone | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.7 people | Family-heavy, favours food, education and household services |
| Median household income | $1,941/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,267/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $829/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $360/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,733/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 Athelstone (401041014). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Athelstone 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 | Athelstone | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 12.8% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 41.1% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 44% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 84.5% | Suburban, car-based, drive-to trade area |
| Flats & apartments | 2.2% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 79.7% | Family-led demand, education, food and household services |
| Lone-person households | 18.8% | Fewer single-person homes |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Athelstone, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Quick-Service Food viability: High
The quick-service food opportunity in Athelstone scores 53 out of 100. With a population of 9,668, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited quick-service food outlet. At about 1 existing quick-service food operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($100,900) runs above the state average ($79,909), supporting discretionary spend.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Coffee & Café | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | High | Saturated |
| Retail | 1 | High | Saturated |
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 Athelstone compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Athelstone | 9,668 | $100,900 | 3.7% | Quick-Service Food | 53 |
| Wakefield - Barunga West | 9,705 | $56,800 | 0.6% | Quick-Service Food | 39 |
| Gawler - North | 9,611 | $92,000 | 2.9% | Quick-Service Food | 50 |
| Christie Downs | 9,578 | $51,700 | 0.8% | Quick-Service Food | 39 |
| Marino - Seaview Downs | 9,779 | $94,700 | 2.6% | Quick-Service Food | 51 |
| Lobethal - Woodside | 9,521 | $87,900 | 4.6% | Quick-Service Food | 50 |
| Light | 10,035 | $80,300 | 9.2% | Quick-Service Food | 52 |
Keep exploring Athelstone & South Australia
By category in Athelstone
Nearby South Australia areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Athelstone?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Athelstone at 53/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Coffee & Café and Hair & Barber.
How much does a franchise cost in Athelstone?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Quick-Service Food franchises run $350,000–$900,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=96). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Athelstone good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 50/100 in Athelstone, with about 1 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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