Franchises for sale in Wollongong, NSW
Geography: this report covers the Wollongong 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 Wollongong
263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Wollongong:
Wollongong on the map
Where Wollongong 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
752. Bakery & Dessert
73What it costs to start in Wollongong
Franchise fees don’t change by suburb, but the categories that fit Wollongong best sit in these all-in investment ranges (Q3 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Wollongong fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | $337,000–$675,000 | $45,000 | 6.0% | 75 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $350,000–$625,000 | $50,000 | Not enough data | 73 |
| Automotive | $156,000–$500,000 | $40,000 | 6.5% | 72 |
| Hair & Barber | $243,000–$482,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 72 |
| Health & Medical | $396,000–$775,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 72 |
| Pet Services | $27,000–$54,000 | Not enough data | Not enough data | 70 |
Fees: Q3 2026 Fee Index (“Not enough data” means fewer than five systems publish that figure). The fit score blends Wollongong’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Wollongong snapshot
| Metric | Wollongong | Typical NSW area | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 302,739 | 63,632 | +376% |
| Median household income | $87,500 | $78,400 | +12% |
| 5-year population growth | 2.0% | 6.6% | -4.6 pts |
Community & demographics
Who lives in Wollongong, and what it means for a franchise. Every figure below is a real ABS Census 2021 median for this area, not an estimate.
| Measure | Wollongong | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Median age | 39 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 | $1,682/wk | Overall spending power of the local market |
| Median family income | $2,151/wk | Discretionary spend of family households |
| Median personal income | $754/wk | Individual earnings, a labour-cost and spend signal |
| Median rent | $390/wk | Cost of living and a proxy for commercial rents |
| Median mortgage | $2,167/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) · LGA Wollongong (18450). Incomes are median weekly (household income is also shown annualised in the headline stats).
Housing, tenure & households
How Wollongong 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 | Wollongong | What it signals for franchising |
|---|---|---|
| Renting | 31% | Owner-heavy, settled households with steadier local spend |
| Owned with a mortgage | 32% | Working homeowners, family services and home categories |
| Owned outright | 34.2% | Older, established, lower-debt households |
| Separate houses | 68.4% | Mixed density, more walk-in potential |
| Flats & apartments | 18.5% | Low density, destination retail and services |
| Family households | 69.2% | Broad household mix |
| Lone-person households | 26.4% | Fewer single-person homes |
| Unemployment rate | 4.9% | Around the national average |
Source: ABS Census 2021, Wollongong, 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 Wollongong scores 75 out of 100. With a population of 302,739, this is a substantial catchment that could support roughly 40 quick-service food outlets in total, around 5 more than the 35 already operating locally. At about 35 existing quick-service food operators, competition sits below typical metro density, an opening for a well-run entrant. Median household income ($87,500) runs above the typical comparable area in the state ($78,400), supporting discretionary spend.
Nearby competition by category
| Category | Operators | Competition | Status |
|---|---|---|---|
| Bakery & Dessert | 2 | Low | Gap |
| Automotive | 6 | Low | Gap |
| Hair & Barber | 7 | Low | Gap |
| Health & Medical | 8 | Low | Gap |
| Pet Services | 2 | Low | Gap |
| Childcare & Early Learning | 3 | Low | Gap |
Operator counts come from OpenStreetMap (storefronts) and ABS business counts (services), captured 2026-07-31; they're an indicative signal, not a live census. See methodology.
How Wollongong compares to nearby areas
| Location | Population | Median income | 5-yr growth | Top category | Score |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Wollongong | 302,739 | $87,500 | 2.0% | Quick-Service Food | 75 |
| Newcastle | 322,278 | $91,500 | 5.4% | Bakery & Dessert | 77 |
| Central Coast | 333,627 | $78,400 | 3.5% | Quick-Service Food | 76 |
| Parramatta | 256,729 | $106,700 | 10.3% | Pet Services | 80 |
| Liverpool | 233,000 | $94,600 | 10.6% | Hair & Barber | 79 |
| Penrith | 217,579 | $99,000 | 8.8% | Pet Services | 78 |
| Shoalhaven | 108,531 | $65,000 | 8.9% | Quick-Service Food | 70 |
Keep exploring Wollongong & New South Wales
By category in Wollongong
Nearby New South Wales areas
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Frequently asked questions
Are there franchises for sale in Wollongong?
Yes. 263 franchise systems are recruiting new territories that cover Wollongong. Territory data is recorded by state (New South Wales), so confirm which parts of Wollongong are open with each franchisor. Compare open territories and match your budget below.
What franchise is best for Wollongong?
Based on population, income, growth and competition data, Quick-Service Food scores highest for Wollongong at 75/100, competition sits below typical metro density. The next best are Bakery & Dessert and Automotive.
How much does a franchise cost in Wollongong?
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 Wollongong good for a coffee franchise?
It's promising: a coffee & café franchise scores 60/100 in Wollongong, with about 54 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: Q3 2026 Fee Index.
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