Franchise opportunities in Balmain, NSW
Geography: this report covers the Balmain 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 Balmain
263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Balmain:
Auntie Anne's
Bakers Delight
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
7-Eleven Australia
Amber Tiles
Balmain on the map
Where Balmain 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 Balmain…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
What it costs to start in Balmain
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Balmain best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Balmain fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 67 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 66 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 66 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 64 |
| Massage & Wellness | $120K–$400K | $38,000 | 6.0% | 64 |
| Mortgage & Finance | $45K–$140K | $30,000 | 8.0% | 64 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsBalmain’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Balmain snapshot
| Metric | Balmain | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 15,634 | 20,009 | -22% |
| Median household income | $163,700 | $100,267 | +63% |
| 5-year population growth | -6.0% | 13.0% | -19.0 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Balmain, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Balmain | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 43 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.2 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $3,149/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $4,603/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $1,592/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $640/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $4,000/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 Balmain (120021387). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Balmain 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 | Balmain | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 38.5% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 27.9% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 31.7% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 22.3% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 33.9% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 65.4% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 31.7% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 3.8% | Tight labour market, strong incomes but harder hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Balmain, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Bakery & Dessert viability: High
The bakery & dessert opportunity in Balmain scores 67 out of 100. With a population of 15,634, 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 ($163,700) runs above the state average ($100,267), 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 Balmain compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Balmain | 15,634 | $163,700 | -6.0% | Bakery & Dessert | 67 |
| Lavington | 15,640 | $59,200 | 6.2% | Bakery & Dessert | 57 |
| Marsden Park - Shanes Park | 15,653 | $141,900 | 1368.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 81 |
| Mayfield - Warabrook | 15,598 | $83,400 | 1.6% | Bakery & Dessert | 59 |
| North Ryde - East Ryde | 15,675 | $126,800 | 22.9% | Bakery & Dessert | 78 |
| Prestons | 15,752 | $120,100 | -0.8% | Bakery & Dessert | 67 |
| Lismore Surrounds | 15,772 | $76,900 | 2.3% | Bakery & Dessert | 59 |
Keep exploring Balmain & New South Wales
By category in Balmain
Nearby New South Wales areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Balmain?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Bakery & Dessert scores highest for Balmain at 67/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Quick-Service Food and Retail.
How much does a franchise cost in Balmain?
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 Balmain good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 63/100 in Balmain, 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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