Franchise opportunities in Mount Barker, SA
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
Mount Barker snapshot
| Metric | Mount Barker | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 22,412 | 18,402 | +22% |
| Median household income | $88,300 | $79,909 | +11% |
| 5-year population growth | 27.1% | 5.4% | +21.7 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Mount Barker, 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 Barker | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.5 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,698/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,090/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $825/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $350/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,647/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.7 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 G02 + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Mount Barker (401021007). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Survival & viability analysis
Automotive viability: High
The automotive opportunity in Mount Barker scores 76 out of 100. With a population of 22,412, there is a solid customer base, enough to sustain about 1 automotive outlet. At about 1 existing automotive operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($88,300) runs above the state average ($79,909), supporting discretionary spend. Population is growing at 27.1% over five years, ahead of the state pace of 5.4%, new demand is still arriving.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Automotive | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Health & Medical | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Real Estate | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 2 | Low | Gap |
| Education & Tutoring | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Coffee & Café | 3 | 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.
Available franchise opportunities in Mount Barker
ABS Auto
Auto Masters
Australian Skin Clinics
Back In Motion
Belle Property
Century 21 Australia
How Mount Barker compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Mount Barker | 22,412 | $88,300 | 27.1% | Automotive | 76 |
| Gawler - South | 21,955 | $69,500 | 9.4% | Automotive | 68 |
| Windsor Gardens | 22,890 | $82,900 | 10.6% | Automotive | 73 |
| Paradise - Newton | 21,882 | $74,200 | 9.2% | Automotive | 69 |
| Whyalla | 21,862 | $61,800 | -2.5% | Automotive | 56 |
| Unley - Parkside | 21,243 | $103,900 | 2.0% | Health & Medical | 71 |
| Glenelg (SA) | 20,716 | $81,200 | 0.4% | Health & Medical | 63 |
Keep exploring Mount Barker & South Australia
By category in Mount Barker
Nearby South Australia areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Mount Barker?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Automotive scores highest for Mount Barker at 76/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Health & Medical and Real Estate.
How much does a franchise cost in Mount Barker?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Automotive franchises run $120,000–$500,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=62). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Mount Barker good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 71/100 in Mount Barker, with about 3 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.