Opening a nail salon in Richmond, VIC: Market & Competitor Analysis (2026)

Twenty-four nail salons currently operate in Richmond. That's roughly one salon per 736 residents. The density is high enough that a new entrant would need a clear service or location advantage to capture consistent client flow. Saturation is real, but the market opportunity score of 89/100 suggests demand outpaces current supply.

Yes, with caveats. The Strategique Score is 59/100—moderate viability—but the market opportunity sits at 89/100, meaning demand is strong relative to effective supply. The Competitor Strength Index is 44/100, so existing operators aren't dominant. The trade-off: high density means fighting for clients, but affluent households ($2,577 weekly income) have spending power.

MM Nails & Beauty Richmond leads with 4.4 stars across 519 reviews, followed by Richmond Nails & Lash Bar (4.4★, 217 reviews) and Fancy Nails Salon (4★, 111 reviews). These three have established customer bases, but the mid-range review counts suggest none has locked down the market entirely. Room exists for differentiation.

Household weekly income averages $2,577. That's above the Australian median, giving residents capacity for regular nail services and premium treatments. With 17,671 people in Richmond, the customer pool has genuine spending power. Income alone doesn't guarantee footfall, but it removes the constraint of low-income markets.

First, audit the 24 existing salons for location gaps—map their suburbs and service niches. Second, scope a site on high-foot-traffic streets like Bridge Road or Church Street where top competitors operate. Third, research your specific salon's staffing and supplier costs against the $2,577 household income baseline to model realistic pricing and margins.