Franchise opportunities in Darlinghurst, NSW
Geography: this report covers the Darlinghurst 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 Darlinghurst
263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Darlinghurst:
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
Acai Brothers
Boost Juice
Darlinghurst on the map
Where Darlinghurst 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 Darlinghurst…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Quick-Service Food
58What it costs to start in Darlinghurst
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Darlinghurst best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Darlinghurst fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 58 |
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 51 |
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 47 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 43 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 41 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 39 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsDarlinghurst’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Darlinghurst snapshot
| Metric | Darlinghurst | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 10,776 | 20,009 | -46% |
| Median household income | $118,500 | $100,267 | +18% |
| 5-year population growth | -12.0% | 13.0% | -25.0 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Darlinghurst, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Darlinghurst | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 37 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 1.7 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $2,279/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $3,913/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $1,535/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $550/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,964/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 1.1 | Denser housing, larger or shared households |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Darlinghurst (117031329). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Darlinghurst 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 | Darlinghurst | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 61.9% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 19.3% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 16.8% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 0.9% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 78.8% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 39.2% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 51.7% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 4.5% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Darlinghurst, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Quick-Service Food viability: High
The quick-service food opportunity in Darlinghurst scores 58 out of 100. With a population of 10,776, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited quick-service food outlet. At about 1 existing quick-service food operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($118,500) runs above the state average ($100,267), supporting discretionary spend.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Medium | Competitive |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Medium | Competitive |
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 Darlinghurst compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Darlinghurst | 10,776 | $118,500 | -12.0% | Quick-Service Food | 58 |
| Bathurst - South | 10,806 | $62,300 | -1.8% | Quick-Service Food | 46 |
| Dubbo - East | 10,738 | $87,300 | 0.4% | Quick-Service Food | 54 |
| Auburn - North | 10,711 | $77,600 | -10.6% | Quick-Service Food | 47 |
| Wamberal - Forresters Beach | 10,693 | $113,800 | 6.2% | Quick-Service Food | 67 |
| Malabar - La Perouse | 10,691 | $115,200 | -6.7% | Quick-Service Food | 58 |
| Mittagong | 10,888 | $85,100 | 17.9% | Quick-Service Food | 63 |
Keep exploring Darlinghurst & New South Wales
By category in Darlinghurst
Nearby New South Wales areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Darlinghurst?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Darlinghurst at 58/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Hair & Barber and Food & Beverage.
How much does a franchise cost in Darlinghurst?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Quick-Service Food franchises run $350,000–$900,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=96). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Darlinghurst good for a coffee franchise?
It's a tighter market: a coffee & café franchise scores 39/100 in Darlinghurst, with about 2 existing operators in the trade area (Saturated 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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