Franchises for sale in Shoalhaven, NSW
Geography: this report covers the Shoalhaven regional centre and its surrounds. 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 Shoalhaven
263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Shoalhaven:
Shoalhaven on the map
Where Shoalhaven 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 franchise categories by opportunity score
1. Quick-Service Food
70What it costs to start in Shoalhaven
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Shoalhaven best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q3 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Shoalhaven fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | $337,000–$675,000 | $45,000 | 6.0% | 70 |
| Coffee & Café | $300,000–$700,000 | $35,000 | 6.0% | 63 |
| Real Estate | $80,000–$350,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 63 |
| Retail | $200,000–$511,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 63 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $350,000–$625,000 | $50,000 | Not enough data | 62 |
| Health & Medical | $396,000–$775,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 62 |
Fees: Q3 2026 Fee Index (“Not enough data” means fewer than five systems publish that figure). The fit score blends Shoalhaven’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Shoalhaven snapshot
| Metric | Shoalhaven | Typical NSW area | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 108,531 | 63,632 | +71% |
| Median household income | $65,000 | $78,400 | -17% |
| 5-year population growth | 8.9% | 6.6% | +2.3 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Shoalhaven, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Shoalhaven | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 48 years | Older market, skews to health, home and aged-support services |
| Average household size | 2.3 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $1,250/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $1,537/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $634/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $350/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $1,733/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.7 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) · LGA Shoalhaven (16950). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Shoalhaven 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 | Shoalhaven | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 24.2% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 27.1% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 44.7% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 87.2% | Suburban, car-based, drive-to trade area |
| Flats & apartments | 2% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 68.8% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 28.5% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Shoalhaven, 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 Shoalhaven scores 70 out of 100. With a population of 108,531, this is a substantial catchment that could support roughly 14 quick-service food outlets in total. At about 14 existing quick-service food operators, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($65,000) sits below the typical comparable area in the state ($78,400), which can favour value-led formats. Population is growing at 8.9% over five years, ahead of the typical comparable area in the state (6.6%), so new demand is still arriving.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | 14 | Low | Gap |
| Childcare & Early Learning | 5 | Low | Gap |
| Coffee & Café | 16 | Low | Gap |
| Real Estate | 6 | Low | Gap |
| Home & Trade Services | 8 | Low | Gap |
| Food & Beverage | 12 | 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 Shoalhaven compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Shoalhaven | 108,531 | $65,000 | 8.9% | Quick-Service Food | 70 |
| Tweed Shire | 97,392 | $68,500 | 6.6% | Quick-Service Food | 68 |
| Maitland | 90,226 | $91,800 | 16.7% | Quick-Service Food | 78 |
| Port Macquarie | 86,762 | $65,700 | 10.5% | Quick-Service Food | 69 |
| Coffs Harbour | 78,000 | $70,900 | 5.5% | Pet Services | 67 |
| Cessnock | 63,632 | $77,600 | 14.5% | Quick-Service Food | 76 |
| Queanbeyan | 63,304 | $119,300 | 13.0% | Quick-Service Food | 86 |
Keep exploring Shoalhaven & New South Wales
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Frequently asked questions
Are there franchises for sale in Shoalhaven?
Yes. 263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Shoalhaven. Territory data is recorded by state (New South Wales), so confirm which parts of Shoalhaven are open with each franchisor. Compare open territories and match your budget below.
What franchise is best for Shoalhaven?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Shoalhaven at 70/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Coffee & Café and Real Estate.
How much does a franchise cost in Shoalhaven?
Fees don't vary by suburb. Across the Quick-Service Food systems that publish their costs, the Q3 2026 Fee Index shows a median all-in cost of $337,000–$675,000 (173 systems), a $45,000 median initial fee (9 systems), a 6.0% median royalty (9 systems) and a 4.3% median marketing levy (9 systems) nationally. See the Fee Index for every category.
Is Shoalhaven good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 63/100 in Shoalhaven, with about 16 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: Q3 2026 Fee Index.
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