Insights
Local market reports, built on real data
Deep dives into how local businesses actually compete — counts, online presence, and the gaps most owners never see. No fluff, every number sourced.
Opening a Cafe in New Zealand: The Data-Backed Guide
Before you sign a lease: what it costs, what you can charge, how the squeeze is biting (wages 40% of revenue, closures +19%), and how Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch differ as cafe markets. Real data, not optimism.
Read the reportThe State of Auckland's Cafe Market in 2026
Thinking of opening a cafe in Auckland? The honest numbers first: 1 cafe per ~1,430 people, $5.50 flat whites, $700–2,600/week rent, wages eating 40% of revenue — plus the five things customers complain about most, mined from real reviews.
Read the reportThe State of Wellington's Cafe Market in 2026
Wellington may be NZ's toughest cafe market: one cafe per ~885 people and a 4.62-star bar. The honest data on density, rent (and why the soft market gives you leverage), prices, and what its picky customers complain about.
Read the reportThe State of Christchurch's Cafe Market in 2026
Christchurch is the comeback market: a rebuilt central city with the fastest-rising rents in NZ, and cafes more online-savvy than Auckland's. Where to open, what it costs, and what customers complain about — from real data.
Read the reportOpening a Restaurant in New Zealand: The Data-Backed Guide
Restaurants are the hardest bet in hospitality: 3–5% margins and a failure rate three times the national average. The honest cost, what you can charge, and how Auckland, Wellington and Christchurch differ — from real data.
Read the reportThe State of Auckland's Restaurant Market in 2026
Auckland has more restaurants than any other local business — 1,721 across 108 cuisines — and it's one of the hardest ways to make money in NZ. Density, rent, prices, and what diners complain about, from real data.
Read the reportThe State of Wellington's Restaurant Market in 2026
Wellington has more restaurants per head than anywhere in NZ — one per ~845 people — and its diners are among the most online and discerning. The real data, plus why the soft rental market gives you leverage.
Read the reportThe State of Christchurch's Restaurant Market in 2026
A rebuilt central city, 73 cuisines, and the fastest-rising retail rents in NZ. Christchurch dining has quietly become serious. Where to open, what it costs, and what diners complain about — from real data.
Read the reportOpening a Hair Salon in New Zealand: The Data-Backed Guide
Hair is the most accessible local business to start — less saturated than food, and you can begin by renting a chair, not signing a lease. But it lives on trust. The honest data on cost, pricing, and what gets a salon a one-star.
Read the reportThe State of Auckland's Hair Salon Market in 2026
Hair is a different game from hospitality: less crowded, cheaper to start, but built on trust. Auckland's 428 salons — density, prices, the chair-rental shortcut, and what clients actually complain about.
Read the reportThe State of Wellington's Hair Salon Market in 2026
Wellington has the smallest, most online, and most exacting salon market of NZ's big cities. Its clients pay well and judge hard. Density, prices, the chair-rental route, and what gets a salon a one-star.
Read the reportThe State of Christchurch's Hair Salon Market in 2026
Christchurch's hair market is less polished than the bigger cities — which is exactly the opportunity. Lower bar, missed basics, and a clean, no-surprises salon stands out. The real data before you open.
Read the reportOpening a Cafe in Australia: The Data-Backed Guide
Demand is back (hospitality spend +7% YoY) but margins are thin (~2.5%) and insolvencies up 57%. What it costs, what you can charge ($6+ flat whites), and how Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane differ as cafe markets — from real data.
Read the reportThe State of Sydney's Cafe Market in 2026
2,636 cafes, the priciest flat whites in the country (~$6.50), and a cost squeeze biting hard. Density, rent, prices, and what customers complain about — including the food-safety reviews that can end you.
Read the reportThe State of Melbourne's Cafe Market in 2026
Australia's coffee capital: the densest, most online, and most demanding cafe market in the country. Why standing out here is hard — density, rent, prices, and what its exacting customers complain about.
Read the reportThe State of Brisbane's Cafe Market in 2026
Brisbane is the most open of Australia's big-city cafe markets — less crowded than Sydney or Melbourne, with a more beatable bar. Density, rent (CBD vacancy ~18.5%), prices, and what customers complain about.
Read the reportOpening a Restaurant in Australia: The Data-Backed Guide
Thin margins (5–10%), a 57% jump in insolvencies, and the most demanding diners in the region. The honest cost, what you can charge, and how Sydney, Melbourne and Brisbane differ — from real data.
Read the reportThe State of Sydney's Restaurant Market in 2026
3,192 restaurants, 138 cuisines, and a fine-dining scene that lives and dies on hype. The most diverse and most scrutinised dining city in Australia — density, rent, prices, and what diners complain about.
Read the reportThe State of Melbourne's Restaurant Market in 2026
Australia's dining capital: 3,608 restaurants, 146 cuisines, and the most demanding diners in the country. Why standing out is hard — density, rent, prices, and what diners complain about.
Read the reportThe State of Brisbane's Restaurant Market in 2026
Brisbane dining is rising and far less crowded than Sydney or Melbourne — 1,213 restaurants, 101 cuisines, more room to stand out. Density, rent, prices, and what diners complain about.
Read the reportOpening a Hair Salon in Australia: The Data-Backed Guide
Hair is the most accessible local business to start — under-saturated, barely online (11–15%), and you can begin by renting a chair, not signing a lease. The honest data on cost, pricing, and what gets a salon a one-star.
Read the reportThe State of Sydney's Hair Salon Market in 2026
Sydney is one of the least-saturated salon markets in Australia — one salon per ~8,000 people — and barely 13% are online. Density, prices, the chair-rental route, and what clients complain about.
Read the reportThe State of Melbourne's Hair Salon Market in 2026
Melbourne has the most salons of any Australian city — 1,001 — yet still only one per ~5,200 people, and just 15% are online. Density, prices, the chair-rental route, and what clients complain about.
Read the reportThe State of Brisbane's Hair Salon Market in 2026
Brisbane has the most wide-open salon market in the country — just 11% are online, whole suburbs have none. Density, prices, the chair-rental route, and what clients complain about.
Read the report