What does it cost to open a restaurant in Sydney?
Most agencies will not answer this without a call. Here are our actual ranges, what sits inside each one, and — just as importantly — the parts of your budget we have no business quoting.
For the brand, digital and launch side of a Sydney venue, budget AUD $12,000 at the absolute floor, $24,000–$45,000 for brand development alone, and $60,000–$120,000 for a full concept-to-open programme. That is our scope. It does not include your lease, fitout construction, kitchen equipment, licensing or working capital, which will typically dwarf it.
What our side actually costs
These are published ranges, not opening bids. They have been on our pricing pages and FAQ since 2026 and they are the same numbers we quote on a call.
Scope is fixed before you commit. We do not charge hourly, because hourly rewards slow work and punishes efficiency.
| Engagement | Range (AUD) | What it covers |
|---|---|---|
| Minimum engagement | $12,000 | A focused scope — a standalone website, or a brand refresh with limited deliverables. Below this we cannot do the work properly. |
| Brand development | $24,000 – $45,000 | Strategy and positioning, naming, visual identity, verbal identity, brand guidelines. |
| Brand + digital presence | $40,000 – $65,000 | The above plus website, Google Business Profile, local SEO and social setup. |
| Foundry — full launch | $60,000 – $120,000 | Concept feasibility, brand, digital, launch campaign, AI and ops. Concept-to-open. |
| Concept development alone | from $12,000 | Validation, market sizing, competitive landscape and a go/no-go recommendation. |
| Interior fitout strategy | from $18,000 | Space concept, environmental branding, signage, contractor coordination. Environmental branding alone from $8,000. |
| Catalyst — ongoing growth | from $3,500/month | Social, paid media, influencer, email and reporting. Minimum three months. |
| AI and tech setup | from $8,000 | Workflow audit, automation build, training. Ongoing support from $1,500/month. |
| vCFO | from $2,500/month | Financial leadership via TWIYO. Free CFO health check to start. |
What we are not quoting, and why
The numbers above are one line in a venue budget, and usually not the largest. We have opened eight venues, so we know roughly what the rest costs — but it varies so wildly by site, format and condition that any figure we published would be misleading.
You will need separate budgets for the lease and bond, fitout construction, kitchen and bar equipment, furniture, POS and reservation systems, licensing and council approvals, initial stock, and enough working capital to trade through a slow first quarter. A fitout alone can run from a light cosmetic refresh to seven figures on a ground-up build.
Any agency that quotes you a total cost to open a restaurant without seeing your site and your lease is guessing. What we can do is tell you honestly whether the concept justifies the spend before you commit to it — that is what concept feasibility is for, and we have told founders to stop.
How the money is usually staged
Project engagements are milestone-based: typically 40% to start, 30% at midpoint, 30% on completion. Larger Foundry programmes can be structured monthly. Retainers invoice monthly. We do not ask for the full amount upfront.
For a launch, the brand and digital spend lands 6–9 months before opening, the campaign spend in the 12–20 weeks before the doors open, and the growth retainer begins at or shortly after opening.