Franchise opportunities 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:
Bucking Bull
Burger Urge
Auntie Anne's
Bakers Delight
ABS Auto
Battery World
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.
Loading nearby operators in Wollongong…
Top 3 recommended franchise categories
1. Quick-Service Food
75What 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 (Q2 2026 Fee Index, national medians).
| Category | Total investment | Initial fee | Royalty | Wollongong fit |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Quick-Service Food | $350K–$900K | $50,000 | 7.0% | 75 |
| Bakery & Dessert | $200K–$550K | $45,000 | 6.5% | 73 |
| Automotive | $120K–$500K | $45,000 | 7.5% | 72 |
| Hair & Barber | $140K–$380K | $40,000 | 6.5% | 72 |
| Health & Medical | $180K–$650K | $48,000 | 6.0% | 72 |
| Pet Services | $45K–$200K | $30,000 | 7.5% | 70 |
Fees: Q2 2026 Fee Index. The fit score blendsWollongong’s demand, competition, demographics and growth, see methodology.
Wollongong snapshot
| Metric | Wollongong | State avg | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Population | 302,739 | 20,009 | +1413% |
| Median household income | $87,500 | $100,267 | -13% |
| 5-year population growth | 2.0% | 13.0% | -11.0 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) sits below the state average ($100,267), which can favour value-led formats.
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 are live data (OpenStreetMap for storefronts, ABS business counts for services) as at 2026-07-31. 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 |
| Nowra | 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
Frequently asked questions
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, Quick-Service Food franchises run $350,000–$900,000 all-in nationally (Q2 2026 Fee Index, n=96). See the Fee Index for the full breakdown.
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: Q2 2026 Fee Index.
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