Franchise opportunities in Lakes Entrance, VIC
Geography: this report covers the Lakes Entrance 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.
Create your free buyer profile
Save Lakes Entrance to your profile and get alerted the moment a franchise opens a territory here. Free, private, no account needed to browse.
For sale & open territories in Lakes Entrance
258 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Lakes Entrance:
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
Acai Brothers
Boost Juice
Lakes Entrance on the map
Where Lakes Entrance 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 Lakes Entrance…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Quick-Service Food
54What it costs to start in Lakes Entrance
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Lakes Entrance best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Lakes Entrance fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 54 |
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 47 |
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 45 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 40 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 38 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 36 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsLakes Entrance’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Lakes Entrance snapshot
| Metric | Lakes Entrance | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,095 | 18,304 | -39% |
| Median household income | $52,700 | $94,695 | -44% |
| 5-year population growth | 10.5% | 30.4% | -19.9 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Lakes Entrance, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Lakes Entrance | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 55 years | Older market, skews to health, home and aged-support services |
| Average household size | 2.2 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,014/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,317/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $562/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $270/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,300/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.7 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Lakes Entrance (205021084). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Lakes Entrance 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 | Lakes Entrance | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 20.7% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 24.7% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 50.6% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 88.2% | Suburban, car-based, drive-to trade area |
| Flats & apartments | 1% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 65.7% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 32.2% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Lakes Entrance, 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 Lakes Entrance scores 54 out of 100. With a population of 11,095, 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 ($52,700) sits below the state average ($94,695), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Medium | Competitive |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Medium | Competitive |
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 Lakes Entrance compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Lakes Entrance | 11,095 | $52,700 | 10.5% | Quick-Service Food | 54 |
| Vermont | 11,079 | $106,200 | 1.7% | Quick-Service Food | 61 |
| Kyabram | 11,057 | $63,900 | 0.2% | Quick-Service Food | 48 |
| Blackburn South | 11,019 | $96,800 | -1.9% | Quick-Service Food | 55 |
| Swan Hill | 11,173 | $72,300 | 0.8% | Quick-Service Food | 51 |
| Portland | 11,183 | $62,400 | 2.2% | Quick-Service Food | 50 |
| Sunbury - West | 11,271 | $103,300 | -2.7% | Hair & Barber | 50 |
Keep exploring Lakes Entrance & Victoria
By category in Lakes Entrance
Nearby Victoria areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Lakes Entrance?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Lakes Entrance at 54/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Hair & Barber and Food & Beverage.
How much does a franchise cost in Lakes Entrance?
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 Lakes Entrance good for a coffee franchise?
It's a tighter market: a coffee & café franchise scores 35/100 in Lakes Entrance, with about 2 existing operators in the trade area (Saturated 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.
Ready to move on Lakes Entrance?
Create a free buyer account to save opportunities, get alerts and see the full Lakes Entrance data. Franchisors can list a territory and reach ready buyers.