Franchise opportunities in St Kilda East, VIC
Geography: this report covers the St Kilda East 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 St Kilda East
258 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover St Kilda East:
Bakers Delight
Banjo's Bakehouse
7-Eleven Australia
Andersens
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
St Kilda East on the map
Where St Kilda East 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 St Kilda East…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
3. Quick-Service Food
60What it costs to start in St Kilda East
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit St Kilda East best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | St Kilda East fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 61 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 61 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 60 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 59 |
| Massage & Wellness | $120K–$400K | $38,000 | 6.0% | 59 |
| Mortgage & Finance | $45K–$140K | $30,000 | 8.0% | 59 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsSt Kilda East’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
St Kilda East snapshot
| Metric | St Kilda East | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,073 | 18,304 | -12% |
| Median household income | $103,400 | $94,695 | +9% |
| 5-year population growth | -8.7% | 30.4% | -39.1 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in St Kilda East, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | St Kilda East | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 34 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 1.9 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,988/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,894/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $1,210/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $384/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,100/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.9 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 St Kilda East (206051134). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How St Kilda East 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 | St Kilda East | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 50.7% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 28.8% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 18% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 14.5% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 70% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 47% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 42.7% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 4.3% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, St Kilda East, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Bakery & Dessert viability: High
The bakery & dessert opportunity in St Kilda East scores 61 out of 100. With a population of 16,073, 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 ($103,400) runs above the state average ($94,695), supporting discretionary spend.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Massage & Wellness | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Mortgage & Finance | 1 | Low | Gap |
| B2B Services | 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 St Kilda East compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 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 |
| Melbourne CBD - West | 16,098 | $75,200 | 12.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 65 |
| Albert Park | 16,011 | $119,800 | -2.9% | Bakery & Dessert | 66 |
| Essendon (West) - Aberfeldie | 16,175 | $114,100 | -3.0% | Bakery & Dessert | 65 |
| North Melbourne | 15,945 | $89,300 | -3.2% | Bakery & Dessert | 58 |
Keep exploring St Kilda East & Victoria
By category in St Kilda East
Nearby Victoria areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for St Kilda East?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Bakery & Dessert scores highest for St Kilda East at 61/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Retail and Quick-Service Food.
How much does a franchise cost in St Kilda East?
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 St Kilda East good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 57/100 in St Kilda East, 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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