Opening a hair salon in Williamstown, VIC: Market & Competitor Analysis (2026)

Thirty hair salons currently operate in Williamstown, a high count for a population just under 16,000. That works out to roughly one salon per 530 residents, well above what the population alone would typically support, so new entrants need a clear point of difference rather than a standard service menu to gain a foothold.

Williamstown scores 54 out of 100 on the composite Strategique rating, a "strong" result driven by high demographic opportunity (83/100) that offsets the large number of existing salons. It's a workable market for a well-positioned operator, but not an easy one — results depend on differentiation, not simply opening the doors.

The Competitor Strength Index sits at 41 out of 100, an average field with no single dominant chain locking out newcomers. P & M Salon Williamstown leads on reputation with 564 reviews at 5 stars, while boss hairstyling (4.8 stars, 60 reviews) and Salon TWENTYTHREE (4.7 stars, 33 reviews) show smaller operators can still build strong ratings.

Weekly household income of $2,382 sits above typical Melbourne suburban averages, and unemployment of 4.69% points to a stable, employed customer base with money to spend. That combination supports premium pricing on colour, treatment and styling work rather than a discount, high-turnover salon model.

Start by checking what P & M Salon's 564 reviews say it doesn't cover well, since matching its scale directly isn't realistic. Pick one specialty — colour correction, men's grooming or bridal — that the current 30 operators underserve, and set up near the main retail strip to capture walk-in traffic from higher-income locals already spending in the area.