Franchise opportunities in Carlton, VIC
Geography: this report covers the Carlton 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 Carlton
258 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Carlton:
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
7-Eleven Australia
Andersens
Arch Threading
Australian Laser & Skin Clinics
Carlton on the map
Where Carlton 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 Carlton…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
What it costs to start in Carlton
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Carlton best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Carlton fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 53 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 52 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 50 |
| Coffee & Café | $118K–$450K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 50 |
| Massage & Wellness | $120K–$400K | $38,000 | 6.0% | 50 |
| Mortgage & Finance | $45K–$140K | $30,000 | 8.0% | 50 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsCarlton’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Carlton snapshot
| Metric | Carlton | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,064 | 18,304 | -7% |
| Median household income | $67,000 | $94,695 | -29% |
| 5-year population growth | -15.7% | 30.4% | -46.1 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Carlton, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Carlton | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 27 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 1.8 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,289/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,064/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $652/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $365/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,871/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 1 | Denser housing, larger or shared households |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Carlton (206041117). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Carlton 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 | Carlton | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 72.3% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 10.1% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 13.3% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 1.3% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 81.1% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 36.4% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 45.4% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 11.5% | Higher unemployment, price-sensitive spend, easier hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Carlton, 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 Carlton scores 53 out of 100. With a population of 17,064, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited quick-service food outlet. At about 2 existing quick-service food operators, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($67,000) sits below the state average ($94,695), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Massage & Wellness | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Mortgage & Finance | 1 | Low | Gap |
| B2B Services | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 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 Carlton compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Carlton | 17,064 | $67,000 | -15.7% | Quick-Service Food | 53 |
| Taylors Lakes | 17,070 | $112,700 | -7.5% | Quick-Service Food | 66 |
| Templestowe | 17,101 | $112,500 | -3.3% | Quick-Service Food | 68 |
| Glen Iris - East | 17,006 | $151,500 | -1.0% | Quick-Service Food | 73 |
| Werribee - South | 16,994 | $93,700 | 44.3% | Quick-Service Food | 75 |
| Horsham | 16,951 | $70,000 | 3.0% | Quick-Service Food | 61 |
| Yarra Valley | 16,947 | $74,800 | 2.0% | Quick-Service Food | 61 |
Keep exploring Carlton & Victoria
By category in Carlton
Nearby Victoria areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Carlton?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Carlton at 53/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Retail and Beauty & Health.
How much does a franchise cost in Carlton?
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 Carlton good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 50/100 in Carlton, 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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