Franchise opportunities in Melbourne CBD - North, VIC
Geography: this report covers the Melbourne CBD - North 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 Melbourne CBD - North
258 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Melbourne CBD - North:
Melbourne CBD - North on the map
Where Melbourne CBD - North 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.
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Top 3 franchise categories by opportunity score
What it costs to start in Melbourne CBD - North
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Melbourne CBD - North best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q3 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Melbourne CBD - North fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | $337,000–$675,000 | $45,000 | 6.0% | 66 |
| Retail | $200,000–$511,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 64 |
| Beauty & Health | $150,000–$494,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 62 |
| Home & Trade Services | $51,000–$128,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 62 |
| Massage & Wellness | $467,000–$850,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 62 |
| Mortgage & Finance | $60,000–$124,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 62 |
Fees: Q3 2026 Fee Index (“Not enough data” means fewer than five systems publish that figure). The fit score blends Melbourne CBD - North’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Melbourne CBD - North snapshot
| Metric | Melbourne CBD - North | Typical VIC area | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 17,360 | 14,123 | +23% |
| Median household income | $56,600 | $96,800 | -42% |
| 5-year population growth | 22.0% | 1.2% | +20.8 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Melbourne CBD - North, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Melbourne CBD - North | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 26 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 1.7 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,089/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,520/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $638/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $361/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,725/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 Melbourne CBD - North (206041504). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Melbourne CBD - North 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 | Melbourne CBD - North | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 77.4% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 9% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 10% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 0% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 99.3% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 32% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 47.7% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 11.4% | Higher unemployment, price-sensitive spend, easier hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Melbourne CBD - North, 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 Melbourne CBD - North scores 66 out of 100. With a population of 17,360, 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 ($56,600) sits below the typical comparable area in the state ($96,800), which can favour value-led formats. Population is growing at 22.0% over five years, ahead of the typical comparable area in the state (1.2%), so new demand is still arriving.
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 Melbourne CBD - North compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Melbourne CBD - North | 17,360 | $56,600 | 22.0% | Quick-Service Food | 66 |
| Seaford (Vic.) | 17,362 | $78,000 | 1.2% | Quick-Service Food | 63 |
| Pascoe Vale | 17,402 | $104,200 | 1.0% | Quick-Service Food | 70 |
| Footscray | 17,419 | $91,700 | 0.4% | Quick-Service Food | 65 |
| Moe - Newborough | 17,272 | $52,900 | 2.6% | Quick-Service Food | 59 |
| Sandringham - Black Rock | 17,521 | $122,500 | 0.0% | Quick-Service Food | 74 |
| Templestowe | 17,101 | $112,500 | -3.3% | Quick-Service Food | 68 |
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Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Melbourne CBD - North?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Melbourne CBD - North at 66/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Retail and Beauty & Health.
How much does a franchise cost in Melbourne CBD - North?
Fees don't vary by suburb. Across the Quick-Service Food systems that publish their costs, the Q3 2026 Fee Index shows a median all-in cost of $337,000–$675,000 (173 systems), a $45,000 median initial fee (9 systems), a 6.0% median royalty (9 systems) and a 4.3% median marketing levy (9 systems) nationally. See the Fee Index for every category.
Is Melbourne CBD - North good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 51/100 in Melbourne CBD - North, with about 3 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: Q3 2026 Fee Index.
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