Geelong ranks first for proximity to Melbourne, followed by Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Warrnambool. This 2026 shortlist compares regional locations for a National Floors flooring franchise enquiry; it is not a list of confirmed franchise boundaries or territories being offered.
- Flooring franchise territories ranked by distance to Melbourne: Geelong leads this regional location shortlist on proximity.
- National Floors recruits prospective flooring showroom owners seeking exclusive territories across Victoria.
- Compare Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Warrnambool by distance before investigating individual catchments.
- Confirm territory boundaries, customer allocation and travel obligations before choosing a location.
Why distance matters when choosing a territory
Distance helps you screen locations. It does not tell you whether a flooring showroom will succeed, what an exclusive territory covers or how much time you will spend travelling within it.
Your trip from Melbourne is only one journey. You also need to understand travel between the showroom, customer properties and the people handling measurement and installation. Choose the territory you can operate, not simply the city you can reach fastest.
National Floors recruits owners for flooring showrooms selling carpet, hybrid, timber and laminate. For prospective National Floors flooring franchise owners, this ranking is a starting point for location questions—not an earnings forecast or a recommendation to sign.
What makes the best flooring franchise location?
Use these criteria before treating a nearby city as the right business location:
- Melbourne access: How often will you actually need to travel between Melbourne and the proposed showroom?
- Territory boundaries: Which streets, suburbs or postcodes form part of the agreement?
- Customer catchment: Where would customers come from, and how does that area relate to the contractual territory?
- Operating travel: Who travels for appointments, measurement, delivery coordination and installation?
- Owner fit: Will you commute, relocate or already live within the proposed territory?
Distance determines the order below. The other criteria determine whether a location deserves further investigation.
Regional locations at a glance
The figures below are rounded road-distance guides from central Melbourne to each city, not measurements to a proposed showroom. Routes, starting points and destination addresses change the journey. Check the actual address before making a travel commitment.
This 2026 comparison covers five regional locations. It does not rank Melbourne suburbs, every Victorian regional city or confirmed National Floors flooring franchise territories.
| Rank | Location | Approximate road distance | Best for | Standout distinction | Key limitation |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | Geelong | 75 km | Closest regional starting point in this shortlist | Shortest Melbourne journey listed | City proximity does not define the customer catchment |
| 2 | Ballarat | 115 km | Comparing a western inland location | Closer to Melbourne than the other inland cities listed | The showroom address still determines your actual trip |
| 3 | Bendigo | 150 km | Considering a more distant inland base | Middle position in this distance ranking | Melbourne access needs more deliberate planning |
| 4 | Shepparton | 190 km | Investigating a northern regional base | A different geographic option from the western locations | Regular Melbourne travel adds a separate operating commitment |
| 5 | Warrnambool | 260 km | Considering a south-west regional base | Furthest location from Melbourne in this shortlist | Weakest fit here when frequent Melbourne access is essential |
Read the ranking as a travel filter, not a market-quality score. A shorter drive does not establish stronger demand, lower competition or better returns.
1. Geelong: best for the closest regional starting point
Geelong is approximately 75 km by road from central Melbourne. It is the closest location in this shortlist, making it the first place to investigate when Melbourne access is your main screening criterion.
That does not establish the size or shape of a proposed franchise territory. A showroom location and its surrounding customer area need separate assessment.
Geelong pros:
- Shortest Melbourne road distance among these five locations.
- A clear first comparison when you want a regional location near Melbourne.
- Less distance to cover than the other listed cities for the same Melbourne-based journey.
Geelong cons:
- The city name tells you nothing about contractual boundaries.
- A short intercity route does not establish manageable customer travel.
- Proximity alone provides no evidence of showroom profitability.
Best for: You want to investigate regional ownership while keeping Melbourne comparatively close.
Before taking Geelong further in 2026, ask for the proposed territory map and identify the showroom address. Then check the journeys you would make during a normal working week, rather than relying on a city-centre route.
Verdict: Hold—Geelong is the first location to investigate for proximity, not a purchase decision.
2. Ballarat: best for a western inland comparison
Ballarat is approximately 115 km by road from central Melbourne. It ranks second here and gives you a western inland alternative to Geelong.
Use Ballarat to test whether you want a business based in that location, rather than simply a business within reach of Melbourne. Your home address and intended working pattern matter more than the ranking alone.
Ballarat pros:
- Second-shortest Melbourne distance in this shortlist.
- A distinct inland alternative to Geelong.
- A closer Melbourne reference point than Bendigo or Shepparton in this comparison.
Ballarat cons:
- The longer Melbourne journey adds travel compared with Geelong.
- A Ballarat address does not establish the territory's outer limits.
- Distance provides no evidence about customer demand or competition.
Best for: You want a western inland location and are comparing it directly with a closer regional option.
Ask whether the proposed operating area centres on Ballarat itself or extends beyond it. Then establish who handles appointments outside the immediate showroom area. Do not assume every task requires the owner to travel—or that none does.
Verdict: Hold—investigate Ballarat when its location fits your intended working life.
3. Bendigo: best for considering a more distant inland base
Bendigo is approximately 150 km by road from central Melbourne. It sits in the middle of this ranking, behind Geelong and Ballarat but ahead of Shepparton and Warrnambool.
For a Bendigo enquiry, decide early whether you intend to live locally or travel from elsewhere. Those are different ownership plans and need different travel assumptions.
Bendigo pros:
- A clear inland option for a location-based comparison.
- Shorter Melbourne distance than the final two cities listed.
- A useful point at which to reconsider how often Melbourne access matters.
Bendigo cons:
- A longer Melbourne journey than Geelong or Ballarat.
- The city-centre distance excludes travel within a proposed catchment.
- A ranking position does not establish business suitability.
Best for: You are considering a regional operating base rather than choosing solely around Melbourne proximity.
For your 2026 assessment, separate owner travel from customer-service travel. Ask which activities happen at the showroom, which happen at customer properties and which responsibilities sit with other parties. Get those answers before building a weekly schedule.
Verdict: Hold—assess Bendigo against a defined operating plan, not distance alone.
4. Shepparton: best for investigating a northern regional base
Shepparton is approximately 190 km by road from central Melbourne. It ranks fourth in this shortlist and introduces a northern location rather than another western option.
That geographic difference is a reason to compare the location, not proof of a better opportunity. Your decision still depends on the proposed territory, the agreement and your ability to operate there.
Shepparton pros:
- Adds a northern regional option to your shortlist.
- Closer to Melbourne than Warrnambool in this comparison.
- Encourages a direct decision about local ownership versus repeated intercity travel.
Shepparton cons:
- Further from Melbourne than the first three locations.
- Frequent Melbourne trips create a separate scheduling commitment.
- The route to the city does not describe the customer catchment.
Best for: You want to investigate ownership based in northern regional Victoria.
Ask how customer enquiries are assigned when a customer lives near a territory boundary. Also ask how online enquiries, customers with several properties and work outside the territory are handled. A recognisable city name does not answer any of those questions.
Verdict: Hold—investigate Shepparton when the northern location itself fits your plan.
5. Warrnambool: best for considering a south-west regional base
Warrnambool is approximately 260 km by road from central Melbourne. It is the furthest location in this five-city comparison.
Warrnambool belongs on your shortlist when you want to operate in that part of Victoria. It is not the default choice when minimising distance to Melbourne is your priority.
Warrnambool pros:
- Provides a south-west regional alternative.
- Gives you a clear contrast with the closer locations.
- Makes the question of where you will live and work explicit.
Warrnambool cons:
- Longest Melbourne road distance in this shortlist.
- Least suitable listed option when frequent Melbourne access is essential.
- Intercity distance still excludes travel within the operating area.
Best for: You are considering a business based in south-west Victoria, rather than a Melbourne-centred working arrangement.
Before progressing, map the proposed showroom, your intended home and the territory boundaries together. That picture is more useful than the Melbourne route alone. It shows whether your ownership plan is built around the place you intend to serve.
Verdict: Hold—consider Warrnambool for local ownership; skip it if proximity is the deciding factor.
How the locations were ranked
The order uses approximate road distance from central Melbourne: Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton, then Warrnambool. It does not combine distance with an undisclosed score for population, housing activity or franchise returns.
The criteria serve different purposes. Melbourne access sets this ranking; boundaries, catchment, operating travel and owner fit determine your next questions. No location earns a business recommendation from distance alone.
Turn the shortlist into a territory decision
Use a consistent sequence for every location you investigate in 2026. That keeps a familiar city or an attractive drive from replacing a proper assessment.
- Location shortlist: Choose locations that fit where you intend to live and work.
- Territory map: Request the proposed boundaries rather than relying on a city label.
- Travel plan: Identify who travels, where they go and which trips repeat.
- Agreement review: Check that the written terms match your understanding of the territory.
For National Floors, ask what exclusivity means in the proposed agreement. Request written explanations of customer allocation, boundary exceptions and any obligations affecting how you operate. Get independent legal and financial advice before signing.
Discuss your preferred territory
Ask about proposed boundaries and the ownership process for your preferred Victorian location.
Which location should you choose?
Start with Geelong if your deciding criterion is the shortest Melbourne journey among these five locations. Compare Ballarat next if you want a western inland alternative. Investigate Bendigo, Shepparton or Warrnambool because you want to operate there—not because their position implies stronger business prospects.
For a 2026 franchise decision, the default is straightforward: shortlist by location, then decide using the actual territory and operating requirements. Do not reverse that order by committing to a city before understanding the agreement.
FAQ
Which listed regional location is closest to Melbourne?
Geelong is closest in this shortlist, at approximately 75 km by road from central Melbourne. The distance to a particular showroom depends on its address and your starting point.
Are these confirmed National Floors franchise territories?
No. These are regional locations for comparison, not confirmed franchise boundaries or an offer of a particular territory. Confirm the proposed location and contractual area directly.
Is Geelong a better flooring franchise location than Ballarat?
Geelong ranks ahead of Ballarat on Melbourne proximity in this comparison. That does not establish stronger demand, better returns or a better fit for your ownership plans.
Does an exclusive territory cover the whole city?
A city name does not establish the scope of exclusivity. Check the territory map and written agreement for boundaries, exceptions and customer-allocation rules.
Should I commute from Melbourne or move closer to the showroom?
Base that decision on the actual showroom address and your responsibilities. Map your recurring journeys before deciding whether commuting fits the working week.
Does this ranking include every Victorian location?
No. It compares Geelong, Ballarat, Bendigo, Shepparton and Warrnambool. It is not an exhaustive ranking of Victorian cities or Melbourne suburbs.
What should I check before choosing a flooring franchise territory?
Check the proposed boundaries, customer allocation, operating responsibilities and your travel requirements. Review the agreement with independent advisers before making a commitment.
One last thing
The shortest drive to a showroom is not necessarily the shortest working week. A nearby location with an operating area that does not fit your schedule is not solved by being close to Melbourne.
Before choosing, put your intended home, proposed showroom and territory boundaries on the same map. Then mark the journeys you—not an assumed employee or contractor—would be responsible for making. That is the distance comparison that belongs in your final decision.
