Worst Places in Sydney to Open a Business in 2026 (Based on What We’ve Seen)
We’ve cleaned across Sydney. Some places are goldmines. Others? Money pits. Here are 5 suburbs we’d think twice about in 2026:
🏚️ 1. Bankstown CBD
Traffic’s a nightmare. Council is slow. A lot of retail shops close in under 12 months.
🪦 2. Strathfield Plaza Zone
Rents are high, and shopper foot traffic doesn’t match. Dead zones near the train station hurt.
🌩️ 3. Parramatta (Non-Mall Zone)
Outside Westfield, foot traffic drops fast. Bad for standalone businesses. Even big brands have pulled out.
🧳 4. Mascot
Used to boom, now hit hard by airport changes and overdevelopment. So many "For Lease" signs it’s scary.
🌁 5. Harbourside (Darling Harbour)
Once iconic. Now feels hollow. Too touristy, not enough loyal local spend. Retail is dying here.
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