Franchising in Australia is an economic powerhouse. The data paints a clear picture of our immense scale and influence:
- The sector generates an impressive $174 billion in annual revenue
- We are a network of over 90,000 individual franchised businesses – small business is at the heart
- Collectively, we employ more than 600,000 Australians
- There are an estimated 1300 franchise networks operating across Australia
Franchising operates in almost every corner of the economy. It is the business system that ensures metropolitan and regional communities across Australia have access to new, emerging and established brands across all the areas that support community viability.
The data tells a story: an industry with unleashed potential
Franchising’s deep penetration into the Australian economy can be seen through a breakdown of where our people work. Most of our workforce operates within the services sector, proving our central role in the modern Australian economy.
Based on Franchise Council of Australia (FCA) data, the franchise workforce is distributed across key sectors as follows:
Retail: Dominating at 34.5%, retail franchising is a powerful force, from food to specialty goods, shaping consumer experiences across the country.
Quick-Service Restaurants (QSR): A vibrant 23.8% of the sector, QSR is a high-growth area that is often the public’s first point of contact with franchising.
Mobile Services: Comprising 22.5%, this sub-sector includes a wide range of services from gardening to professional maintenance, delivered directly to the customer.
Real Estate & Trades: At 6.4%, these franchises are essential to the housing and construction markets, providing trusted services to homeowners and businesses.
Fitness: A robust 6.2% of the industry, fitness franchises play a crucial role in the health and wellbeing of Australians.
Automotive: Accounting for 3.9%, this sub-sector includes trusted brands for car care, repair and parts.
Aged/Community Care: While currently a smaller segment at 1.61%, this is a critical and growing area of focus. The rigour and systems inherent in franchising are perfectly suited to the challenges and opportunities in the aged and community care space.
Other: The remaining 1.29% represents the long tail of franchising, showcasing the model’s adaptability across myriad other business types and sectors.
Supporting diversity: a pathway to entrepreneurship
The true measure of our industry’s strength extends far beyond economic indicators – it lies in the collective commitment of our people to their communities.
This sector is a powerful engine of social and economic mobility. For new migrants to Australia, the complexities of starting a business from scratch can be overwhelming. Franchising de-risks this journey by providing a well-established brand, comprehensive training, operational support, and a network of peers. This is a critical factor in fostering business dynamisms and helping new Australians embark on a new life in business.
The diversity of our industry is not just reflected in the wide range of sectors we serve, but also in the multicultural faces of the men and women who run our businesses, from our head offices to the front lines of service.
The Australian franchising community provides a ready home for migrants via access to the structure and systems of proven businesses, allowing them to quickly step into their own businesses and proactively shape their future.
Franchising presents the opportunity for everyone in Australia to transition from employment into self-employment and entrepreneurship. It embraces a very diverse multicultural eco-system and provides a pathway to small-business success because of the rigour and systems intrinsically designed within a franchise system.
The path forward
The FCA is committed to a robust, constructive and informative engagement with government, both politically and administratively. We engage with all walks of the political spectrum and believe we can lead public policy that impacts on the entire franchise eco-system across the economy.
The road ahead is one of opportunity and purpose. With this forward-looking agenda, we are confident that franchising will continue to thrive and lead in Australia’s economy. Together, we are confident that we will shape a stronger future for franchising and for Australia.
This is an edited extract from the Australian Franchise Outlook 2026, available for download here.
