Franchise opportunities in Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay, NSW
Geography: this report covers the Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay 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 Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay
263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay:
Acai Brothers
Boost Juice
Auntie Anne's
Bakers Delight
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay on the map
Where Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay 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 Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Food & Beverage
582. Bakery & Dessert
543. Quick-Service Food
52What it costs to start in Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 58 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 54 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 52 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 51 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 49 |
| Coffee & Café | $118K–$450K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 49 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsRose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay snapshot
| Metric | Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 12,034 | 20,009 | -40% |
| Median household income | $180,400 | $100,267 | +80% |
| 5-year population growth | -4.3% | 13.0% | -17.3 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 44 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.6 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $3,469/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $4,590/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $1,450/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $713/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $4,195/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.8 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay (118011346). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay 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 | Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 26% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 26.8% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 42.3% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 46% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 43.4% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 73.4% | Family-led demand, education, food and household services |
| Lone-person households | 24% | Fewer single-person homes |
| Unemployment rate | 3.4% | Tight labour market, strong incomes but harder hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Food & Beverage viability: High
The food & beverage opportunity in Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay scores 58 out of 100. With a population of 12,034, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited food & beverage outlet. At about 1 existing food & beverage operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($180,400) runs above the state average ($100,267), supporting discretionary spend.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Food & Beverage | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Massage & Wellness | 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 Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay | 12,034 | $180,400 | -4.3% | Food & Beverage | 58 |
| Wagga Wagga - West | 12,025 | $66,500 | -4.1% | Food & Beverage | 40 |
| Ryde - South | 12,054 | $112,200 | 63.6% | Food & Beverage | 67 |
| Canterbury (North) - Ashbury | 12,055 | $108,800 | 9.9% | Food & Beverage | 63 |
| Hornsby - East | 11,999 | $94,500 | -2.2% | Hair & Barber | 50 |
| St Leonards - Naremburn | 11,993 | $142,900 | 7.8% | Food & Beverage | 67 |
| Mulgoa - Luddenham - Orchard Hills | 12,099 | $140,300 | 23.0% | Food & Beverage | 70 |
Keep exploring Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay & New South Wales
By category in Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay
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Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Food & Beverage scores highest for Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay at 58/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Bakery & Dessert and Quick-Service Food.
How much does a franchise cost in Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Food & Beverage franchises run $250,000–$750,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=210). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 49/100 in Rose Bay - Vaucluse - Watsons Bay, 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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