Franchise opportunities in Willoughby, NSW
Geography: this report covers the Willoughby 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 Willoughby
263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Willoughby:
Acai Brothers
Boost Juice
Auntie Anne's
Bakers Delight
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
Willoughby on the map
Where Willoughby 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 Willoughby…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
3. Quick-Service Food
60What it costs to start in Willoughby
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Willoughby best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Willoughby fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Food & Beverage | $250K–$750K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 64 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 63 |
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 60 |
| Retail | $180K–$600K | $45,000 | 5.5% | 60 |
| Beauty & Health | $150K–$480K | $42,000 | 6.0% | 58 |
| Coffee & Café | $118K–$450K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 58 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsWilloughby’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Willoughby snapshot
| Metric | Willoughby | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 13,028 | 20,009 | -35% |
| Median household income | $149,800 | $100,267 | +49% |
| 5-year population growth | 1.2% | 13.0% | -11.8 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Willoughby, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Willoughby | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 41 years | Broad working-age and family customer base |
| Average household size | 2.8 people | Family-heavy, favours food, education and household services |
| Median household income | $2,880/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $3,630/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $1,160/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $596/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $3,600/mo | Homeowner cost base in the area |
| People per bedroom | 0.9 | More space per resident, established housing |
Source: ABS Census 2021 (G02/G35/G36/G37/G46) + ERP 2016→2021 · SA2 Willoughby (121011687). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Willoughby 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 | Willoughby | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 29% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 32.5% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 36.4% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 59.9% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 27.5% | Higher density, strong for cafés, gyms and quick-service food |
| Family households | 77.3% | Family-led demand, education, food and household services |
| Lone-person households | 20.3% | Fewer single-person homes |
| Unemployment rate | 3.5% | Tight labour market, strong incomes but harder hiring |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Willoughby, tenure (G37), dwelling structure (G36), household composition (G35) and labour force (G46).
Survival & viability analysis
Food & Beverage viability: High
The food & beverage opportunity in Willoughby scores 64 out of 100. With a population of 13,028, 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 ($149,800) 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 |
| Mortgage & Finance | 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 Willoughby compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Willoughby | 13,028 | $149,800 | 1.2% | Food & Beverage | 64 |
| Caringbah South | 13,032 | $141,500 | 4.4% | Food & Beverage | 67 |
| Taree Surrounds | 13,016 | $55,600 | 3.8% | Food & Beverage | 48 |
| Botany | 13,043 | $123,400 | 15.6% | Food & Beverage | 70 |
| Kingsgrove (South) - Bardwell Park | 12,996 | $105,400 | -2.3% | Food & Beverage | 55 |
| Hinchinbrook | 13,064 | $106,000 | 2.6% | Food & Beverage | 60 |
| Greenwich - Riverview | 12,984 | $190,400 | -4.0% | Food & Beverage | 61 |
Keep exploring Willoughby & New South Wales
By category in Willoughby
Nearby New South Wales areas
Frequently asked questions
What franchise is best for Willoughby?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Food & Beverage scores highest for Willoughby at 64/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Bakery & Dessert and Quick-Service Food.
How much does a franchise cost in Willoughby?
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 Willoughby good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 58/100 in Willoughby, 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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