Franchise opportunities in Riverwood, NSW
Geography: this report covers the Riverwood 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 Riverwood
263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Riverwood:
Advanced Hair Studio
Barber Industries
Acai Brothers
Boost Juice
Auntie Anne's
Bakers Delight
Riverwood on the map
Where Riverwood 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 Riverwood…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
What it costs to start in Riverwood
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Riverwood best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Riverwood fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 44 |
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 43 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 38 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 36 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 35 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 33 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsRiverwood’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Riverwood snapshot
| Metric | Riverwood | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 11,645 | 20,009 | -42% |
| Median household income | $62,800 | $100,267 | -37% |
| 5-year population growth | 1.4% | 13.0% | -11.6 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Riverwood, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Riverwood | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 40 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.5 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,208/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,553/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $565/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $300/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,100/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 Riverwood (119031373). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Riverwood 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 | Riverwood | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 56% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 22.2% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 18.2% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 36.1% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 51.7% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 65.1% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 30.6% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 8% | Higher unemployment, price-sensitive spend, easier hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Riverwood, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Hair & Barber viability: High
The hair & barber opportunity in Riverwood scores 44 out of 100. With a population of 11,645, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited hair & barber outlet. At about 1 existing hair & barber operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($62,800) sits below the state average ($100,267), which can favour value-led formats.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Hair & Barber | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 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 Riverwood compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Riverwood | 11,645 | $62,800 | 1.4% | Hair & Barber | 44 |
| Rhodes | 11,650 | $113,500 | -7.2% | Hair & Barber | 53 |
| Toongabbie - West | 11,632 | $107,200 | 12.1% | Hair & Barber | 63 |
| Carlingford - East | 11,661 | $111,400 | 1.6% | Hair & Barber | 57 |
| Port Macquarie - East | 11,726 | $72,600 | -0.1% | Hair & Barber | 45 |
| Ashfield - North | 11,522 | $98,200 | -15.7% | Hair & Barber | 47 |
| Berowra - Brooklyn - Cowan | 11,795 | $129,800 | -1.8% | Hair & Barber | 58 |
Keep exploring Riverwood & New South Wales
By category in Riverwood
Nearby New South Wales areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Riverwood?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Hair & Barber scores highest for Riverwood at 44/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Food & Beverage and Bakery & Dessert.
How much does a franchise cost in Riverwood?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Hair & Barber franchises run $140,000–$380,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=65). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Riverwood good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 33/100 in Riverwood, with about 2 existing operators in the trade area (Moderate 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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