🔬 Data & Methodology

How Locatalyze analyses
your location

Every Locatalyze report is built on real data — not guesses. Here's exactly what we analyse, where the data comes from, and how we calculate your score.

The process

What happens when you submit an address

01

Address geocoding

We convert your address into precise latitude/longitude coordinates using the Google Maps Geocoding API. This gives us the exact location to anchor all subsequent analysis.
02

Competitor mapping

We query Google Places API for all businesses matching your category within a 500m radius. We count them, assess their ratings and review volume, and calculate a competition intensity score from LOW to HIGH.
03

Demographic analysis

We pull ABS-aligned demographic estimates for the suburb — median household income, age distribution, population density, and consumer affordability index. These are cross-referenced against your business type to assess market fit.
04

Rent benchmarking

Your submitted monthly rent is compared against estimated commercial rental benchmarks for the suburb and business category. We calculate rent as a percentage of projected revenue and rate it EXCELLENT / GOOD / MARGINAL / POOR.
05

Financial modelling

Using your inputs (rent, setup budget, average order value) combined with industry benchmarks for your business type, we build a full P&L model: monthly revenue estimate, cost structure, gross and net profit, break-even customers per day, and payback period on your setup investment.
06

AI analysis & verdict

All data is passed to our AI model which synthesises the quantitative scores with qualitative analysis — generating the SWOT, recommendation text, risk scenarios and 3-year projections. The final GO / CAUTION / NO verdict is determined by the weighted location score.

Data sources

Where the data comes from

Live API

Google Maps Platform

Real-time competitor locations, business types, ratings, review counts and operating hours within your analysis radius.

2021–2026

ABS Census Estimates

Population demographics, median income, household size and age distribution aligned to Australian Bureau of Statistics data.

Benchmarks

Commercial Rent Database

Suburb-level commercial rent benchmarks calibrated from publicly available commercial property listings and market reports.

By category

Industry Benchmarks

Revenue per square metre, labour cost ratios, COGS percentages and average ticket size benchmarks segmented by business type.

AI Analysis

AI Financial Model

Our AI synthesises all inputs to produce the narrative analysis, risk scenarios, SWOT assessment and 3-year projection model.

Composite

Market Demand Signals

Category search trend proxies, foot traffic signals and business category growth data used to assess demand in your area.

Scoring system

How your Location Score is calculated

The Location Score (0–100) is a weighted composite of five dimensions. Each dimension is scored independently then combined into a final score that determines your GO / CAUTION / NO verdict.

30%

weight

Rent Affordability

Rent as a percentage of projected revenue. Below 12% = excellent. Above 25% = poor. This is the single biggest predictor of long-term viability.

25%

weight

Profitability

Net profit margin after all costs. Calculated from your revenue estimate minus rent, COGS, labour and fixed costs.

25%

weight

Competition

Competitor density within 500m, weighted by their ratings and review volume. Fewer strong competitors = higher score.

20%

weight

Area Demographics

Population density, median income and demographic fit for your business category. High-income, high-density areas score higher for premium categories.

GO70–100 / 100

Strong fundamentals. Proceed with confidence and conduct final due diligence.

CAUTION45–69 / 100

Mixed signals. Viable with the right execution, but specific risks need mitigation.

NO0–44 / 100

Significant concerns identified. The risk profile does not support proceeding at this time.

Financial model

How we estimate revenue and profit

Our financial model combines your inputs with industry benchmark data to build a realistic P&L. Here's the logic behind each number.

Monthly Revenue

Estimated daily customers × Average order value × Operating days

Daily customer estimate is derived from foot traffic signals, competitor count and demographic density for your category and location.

COGS (Cost of Goods)

28–35% of revenue

Benchmark varies by category: cafes ~30%, restaurants ~32%, retail ~40%. Based on industry average gross margins.

Labour Costs

25–35% of revenue

Estimated from minimum award rates, typical staffing ratios per business type, and operating hours. Does not include owner salary.

Fixed Costs

Rent + utilities + insurance + POS/software

Your submitted rent plus estimated utilities (~$800–1,500/mo), insurance (~$200–400/mo) and operational software.

Break-even Customers

Total monthly fixed costs ÷ (Average order value × contribution margin)

The minimum daily customers needed to cover all costs. Compared against your projected demand to determine viability.

Payback Period

Setup cost ÷ Monthly net profit

Months to recover your initial investment. Under 12 months is excellent. Over 24 months carries significant risk.

Important: Use as a decision-support tool

Locatalyze reports are designed to help you make better-informed decisions — not to replace professional due diligence. Our revenue and profit estimates are based on statistical benchmarks and AI modelling, not guaranteed outcomes.

Before signing a lease or committing capital, we recommend:

Conducting your own foot traffic counts at different times and days
Speaking to existing business owners in the area
Getting independent advice from a commercial property lawyer
Reviewing actual trading figures from comparable businesses
Consulting a business accountant to validate the financial model

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