Franchise opportunities in North Melbourne, VIC
Geography: this report covers the North Melbourne 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 North Melbourne
258 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover North Melbourne:
Bakers Delight
Banjo's Bakehouse
7-Eleven Australia
Andersens
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
North Melbourne on the map
Where North Melbourne 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 North Melbourne…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Bakery & Dessert
583. Quick-Service Food
57What it costs to start in North Melbourne
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit North Melbourne best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | North Melbourne fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 58 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 58 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 57 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 56 |
| Lawn & Garden | $40K–$130K | $28,000 | 8.0% | 55 |
| Massage & Wellness | $120K–$400K | $38,000 | 6.0% | 55 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsNorth Melbourne’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
North Melbourne snapshot
| Metric | North Melbourne | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,945 | 18,304 | -13% |
| Median household income | $89,300 | $94,695 | -6% |
| 5-year population growth | -3.2% | 30.4% | -33.6 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in North Melbourne, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | North Melbourne | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 2 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,718/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,475/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $953/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $381/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,035/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 North Melbourne (206041506). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How North Melbourne 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 | North Melbourne | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 64% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 19.9% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 13% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 3.9% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 69.9% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 47.2% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 40.5% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 7% | Higher unemployment, price-sensitive spend, easier hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, North Melbourne, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Bakery & Dessert viability: High
The bakery & dessert opportunity in North Melbourne scores 58 out of 100. With a population of 15,945, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited bakery & dessert outlet. At about 1 existing bakery & dessert operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($89,300) sits below the state average ($94,695), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Massage & Wellness | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Mortgage & Finance | 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 North Melbourne compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| North Melbourne | 15,945 | $89,300 | -3.2% | Bakery & Dessert | 58 |
| Docklands | 15,905 | $101,700 | 34.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 74 |
| Hawthorn East | 15,881 | $115,900 | -1.9% | Bakery & Dessert | 66 |
| Albert Park | 16,011 | $119,800 | -2.9% | Bakery & Dessert | 66 |
| St Kilda East | 16,073 | $103,400 | -8.7% | Bakery & Dessert | 61 |
| Williamstown | 16,075 | $123,900 | -1.9% | Bakery & Dessert | 68 |
| Surrey Hills (West) - Canterbury | 16,083 | $140,900 | -6.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 67 |
Keep exploring North Melbourne & Victoria
By category in North Melbourne
Nearby Victoria areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for North Melbourne?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Bakery & Dessert scores highest for North Melbourne at 58/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Retail and Quick-Service Food.
How much does a franchise cost in North Melbourne?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Bakery & Dessert franchises run $200,000–$550,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=54). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is North Melbourne good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 54/100 in North Melbourne, 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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