Franchise opportunities in Surry Hills, NSW
Geography: this report covers the Surry Hills 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 Surry Hills
263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Surry Hills:
7-Eleven Australia
Amber Tiles
Auntie Anne's
Bakers Delight
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
Surry Hills on the map
Where Surry Hills 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 Surry Hills…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
3. Quick-Service Food
64What it costs to start in Surry Hills
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Surry Hills best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Surry Hills fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 65 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 64 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 64 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 63 |
| Coffee & Café | $118K–$450K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 62 |
| Lawn & Garden | $40K–$130K | $28,000 | 8.0% | 62 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsSurry Hills’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Surry Hills snapshot
| Metric | Surry Hills | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 16,060 | 20,009 | -20% |
| Median household income | $120,000 | $100,267 | +20% |
| 5-year population growth | -9.5% | 13.0% | -22.5 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Surry Hills, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Surry Hills | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 35 years | Younger market, skews to fitness, quick-service food and services |
| Average household size | 1.8 people | Smaller households, favours convenience and single-serve formats |
| Median household income | $2,308/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $3,551/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $1,442/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $550/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,839/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 Surry Hills (117031336). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Surry Hills 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 | Surry Hills | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 65.4% | High rental share, a mobile, convenience-led customer base |
| Owned with a mortgage | 18.4% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 13.8% | Fewer outright owners, younger area |
| Separate houses | 1.1% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 68.5% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 40.9% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 46.8% | Many singles, convenience, fitness and single-serve formats |
| Unemployment rate | 4.7% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Surry Hills, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Retail viability: High
The retail opportunity in Surry Hills scores 65 out of 100. With a population of 16,060, the catchment is smaller, so demand may support only one well-sited retail outlet. At about 1 existing retail operator, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($120,000) runs above the state average ($100,267), supporting discretionary spend.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Est. operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Retail | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Bakery & Dessert | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Beauty & Health | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Lawn & Garden | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Massage & Wellness | 1 | Low | Gap |
| Mortgage & Finance | 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 Surry Hills compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Surry Hills | 16,060 | $120,000 | -9.5% | Retail | 65 |
| Burwood (NSW) | 16,071 | $86,400 | 12.5% | Bakery & Dessert | 68 |
| Chittaway Bay - Tumbi Umbi | 16,080 | $93,800 | 2.1% | Bakery & Dessert | 64 |
| Wollongong - East | 16,039 | $82,100 | 9.7% | Bakery & Dessert | 66 |
| North Nowra - Bomaderry | 16,097 | $70,900 | -0.5% | Bakery & Dessert | 55 |
| Corrimal - Tarrawanna - Bellambi | 16,022 | $74,400 | 0.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 57 |
| Panania (South) - Picnic Point | 16,017 | $112,600 | 2.0% | Bakery & Dessert | 69 |
Keep exploring Surry Hills & New South Wales
By category in Surry Hills
Nearby New South Wales areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Surry Hills?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Retail scores highest for Surry Hills at 65/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Bakery & Dessert and Quick-Service Food.
How much does a franchise cost in Surry Hills?
Fees don't vary by suburb, Retail franchises run $180,000–$600,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=132). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
Is Surry Hills good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 62/100 in Surry Hills, 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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