Franchise opportunities in Harrison, ACT
Geography: this report covers the Harrison 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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Harrison on the map
Where Harrison 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 recommended franchise categories
What it costs to start in Harrison
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Harrison best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Harrison fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee & Café | $118K–$450K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 51 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 51 |
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 46 |
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 43 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 38 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 37 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsHarrison’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Harrison snapshot
| Metric | Harrison | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 8,273 | 51,989 | -84% |
| Median household income | $137,100 | $122,483 | +12% |
| 5-year population growth | 5.7% | 7.8% | -2.1 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Harrison, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Harrison | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 31 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 2.9 people | Family-heavy, favours food, education and household services |
| Median household income | $2,636/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,878/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $1,207/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $450/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,000/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 Harrison (801041044). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Harrison 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 | Harrison | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 45.4% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 41.9% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 10.7% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 55.5% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 29.6% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 74.7% | Family-led demand, education, food and household services |
| Lone-person households | 18.8% | Fewer single-person homes |
| Unemployment rate | 3.9% | Tight labour market, strong incomes but harder hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Harrison, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Coffee & Café viability: High
The coffee & café opportunity in Harrison scores 51 out of 100. With a population of 8,273, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited coffee & café outlet. At about 1 existing coffee & café operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($137,100) runs above the state average ($122,483), supporting discretionary spend.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Coffee & Café | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Quick-Service Food | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Medium | Competitive |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | High | Saturated |
| Retail | 1 | High | Saturated |
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 Harrison compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Harrison | 8,273 | $137,100 | 5.7% | Coffee & Café | 51 |
| Ngunnawal | 10,985 | $115,400 | 3.7% | Quick-Service Food | 59 |
| Kambah | 15,674 | $114,800 | 4.2% | Retail | 68 |
| Gungahlin | 85,000 | $131,900 | 21.1% | Beauty & Health | 86 |
| Tuggeranong | 88,000 | $119,900 | 3.6% | Bakery & Dessert | 78 |
| Belconnen | 104,000 | $115,800 | 8.6% | Cleaning | 74 |
Keep exploring Harrison & Australian Capital Territory
By category in Harrison
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Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Harrison?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Coffee & Café scores highest for Harrison at 51/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Quick-Service Food and Hair & Barber.
How much does a franchise cost in Harrison?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Coffee & Café franchises run $118,000–$450,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=74). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Harrison good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 51/100 in Harrison, with about 1 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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