Article takeaways
- Self-storage has evolved into a versatile commercial real estate solution, offering businesses a cost-effective alternative to traditional long-term warehouse or office leases.
- By utilizing amenities like climate control and enhanced security, diverse industries ranging from e-commerce to real estate to creative professionals to restaurant and catering services to law firms can free up space, streamline operations, and protect valuable assets.
- The inherent flexibility of month-to-month rentals allows small businesses to scale their space requirements up or down in sync with fluctuating inventory and seasonal demands.
In today’s dynamic economic landscape, businesses are constantly seeking agile, cost-effective solutions to support growth and smooth operations. The traditional model of long-term commercial leases for warehouse or office space is no longer the only option for a functional business space.
The self-storage industry has evolved beyond its once-limited scope of offering a personal space for decluttering to play a more direct role as the commercial real estate it is.
Translation? From enhanced security gates and cameras to storage units with electricity, your local storage business may have a unit you can use as a business space.
This helpful guide will help you flesh out your small business plan by exploring how to use commercial self-storage for your business, whether as office space, warehouse space, production space, or a fulfillment center.
I’ll give 10 common examples of industries that use self-storage for business. But if yours isn’t on the list, the use cases from the other businesses we cover will still show you how self-storage can apply to your particular scenario.
We’ll also explain what amenities your self-storage unit needs to offer in order for you to use them for business, and how Storage.com can help you find a self-storage company near you that has everything you need to use self-storage for a small business.
1. E-Commerce and Online Retailers
Online retailers often grapple with managing inventory within a limited space. Plus, if you’re a startup or a small business operating out of a tiny office or your home, the financial pressure of renting warehouse space doesn’t give you enough room to grow.
Self-storage offers an affordable and scalable solution for e-commerce storage, both for stocking your inventory and as a sales center or office space where you can handle digital marketing, customer payments, and vendor payment processing.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Excess inventory | Reduces clutter, optimizes workspace |
| Seasonal products | Ensures readiness for peak sales periods |
| Returns processing area | Streamlines reverse logistics |
| Packaging and shipping supplies | Organizes supplies for efficient order fulfillment |
| Storing high-value items | Provides enhanced security for expensive items |
Plus, self-storage facilities often have a front office that sells moving boxes and packing supplies you can use to ship your products if you run out of materials!
2. Brick-and-Mortar Retailers
Say you’re a brick-and-mortar retailer. You want to make the most out of your retail space and also improve the overall shopping experience for customers along the way, right?
Fluctuating inventory levels, seasonal decorations, and promotional materials can eat up your backroom and display areas’ space. Renting a storage unit from your local self-storage business gives you the perfect off-site solution to manage these seasonal demands.
You can also rent self-storage units on a month-to-month basis and scale up or down based on your needs.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Seasonal decorations | Frees up valuable space during the off-seasons, ensuring a fresh in-store aesthetic |
| Overflow inventory | Enables stock rotation and better in-store display management |
| Promotional materials | Keeps marketing materials organized and ready for seasonal campaigns |
| Documents and records | Maintains historical sales data and employee records securely off-site |
3. Construction and Contracting Companies
Construction and contracting businesses often juggle multiple projects. This means they need a system to manage equipment, materials, and tools.
After all, when projects go smoothly, profits increase. You can mitigate loss and damage risks to your high-value tools with a secure and accessible storage unit. Self-storage facilities offer a secure, centralized hub for storing valuable tools and equipment between jobs. And depending on the size of your contracting company, you can rent multiple short-term storage units from different self-storage facilities. Rent a unit near each of your development projects, reducing wear and tear on vehicles and the risk of loss and streamlining project setups.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Tools and equipment | Ensures safe storage between jobs and reduces wear and tear |
| Bulky materials | Clears up space taken by lumber, tiles, and fixtures |
| Job site organization | Streamlines project setup and execution |
4. Pharmaceutical Sales Representatives
Pharmaceutical sales reps often need temperature-controlled storage for drug samples and medical equipment to comply with industry standards and regulations. This also helps keep product literature in good shape.
Much easier than creating the appropriate setup at home, you can maintain the integrity of these items by rentinga climate-controlled unit nearby. Climate-controlled units maintain a consistent temperature and humidity level.
These special climate-controlled units protect temperature-sensitive drug samples from degrading, keeping them not only functional but also safe. Plus, if you’re running an online or mail-order branch of your pharmacy, you can set up a small kiosk for customer payment processing and storing health files.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Climate-controlled storage | Maintains sample efficacy and compliance with health regulations |
| Inventory management | Streamlines tracking and replenishment of sample stocks |
| Controlled substances | Provides a compliant and secure environment for regulated drugs |
| Literature & promotional materials | Organizes a wide range of informational materials for easy access |
5. Real Estate Agents and Interior Designers
In the competitive real estate sector, presentation is everything. There’s no doubt that displaying signs and staging furniture and decor can significantly enhance property appeal. Nad interior designers stock a rotation of furniture and decorations, they bounce from place to place.
But real estate agents and interior decorators need a reliable solution to store and manage them between open houses and events.
Using self-storage for businesses like these offers you a centralized HQ. A storage unit acts as a personal warehouse for furniture, artwork, rugs, and seasonal decor.
Now you can stock whatever you need for versatile presentations you rotate out and tailor to the current trends without eating up your real estate office space.
And if you’re staging short-term rentals or managing furnished listings, these Airbnb storage tips can help you stay organized between guest stays or property transitions.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Staging furniture and seasonal decor | Allows for versatile property presentation options to appeal to market trends |
| Document and file storage | Safeguards sensitive client documents and contracts |
| Real estate signage and banners | Organizes and protects large marketing assets for easy reuse |
6. Restaurants and Caterers
The food service industry operates on tight margins, from pumping out more food than you thought you needed on the fly to coming in under ever-escalating food costs.
To make that happen, restaurants and catering businesses often have to store extra equipment and non-perishable food items. In urban areas where space is at a premium, costs can add up pretty fast unless you make use of a storage unit.
Using self-storage for food businesses allows you to optimize the kitchen and service area by storing your extra pots and pans, catering equipment, cooking utensils, induction burners, and heavy equipment, such as steamers, fryers, and ranges/ovens.
Plus, you’ll never miss out on a non-perishable bulk purchasing opportunity if you don’t have to worry about where to store it all.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Seasonal decorations | Maximizes dining area space by storing off-season items |
| Extra equipment | Frees up kitchen space, improving operational efficiency |
| Bulk purchases | Allows for cost savings through bulk buying of non-perishables, without cluttering |
| Event supplies | Organizes supplies for catering events, ensuring readiness and efficiency |
Note: You can’t store perishable items in a storage unit, including meat and vegetables. Grain and biscuits can also attract pests. Most canned foods can be stored safely, but it’s best to check with the storage facility first. Some may be more tolerant than others.
7. Law Practices and Accounting Firms
Law and accounting firms handle a significant volume of sensitive documents and records that are subject to strict confidentiality rules and long-term policies. And everyone handling a significant volume of sensitive documents and records knows that confidentiality and compliance are not to be messed with.
Renting a small climate-controlled storage unit at a self-storage facility with enhanced security features gives you a dedicated off-site solution for document and file storage, freeing up clutter in your law office space.
Besides protecting against environmental damage and unauthorized access, you can set up a small workspace scorer in your law or accounting storage space for off-site document digitalization and shredding services.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Document and file storage | Protects sensitive information from environmental damage and theft |
| Archive organization | Facilitates efficient retrieval and compliance with retention policies |
| Litigation support materials | Stores case files and materials securely for easy access during active cases |
| Backup media | Ensures secure and climate-controlled storage for digital backups and records |
8. Artists, Crafters, and Photographers
Makers, crafters, artisans, or really any creative business type make their money by selling a product. They knit blankets, pour epoxy resin, chisel statues, take portraits or product photos, mold clay, paint canvas, or even combine all these media and more.
Painters, sculptors, photographers, knitters, and jewelry makers often find their homes and art studios overflowing with materials, art supplies, and finished artwork.
Creative professionals can use self-storage for small business essentials. A storage unit gives them a dedicated space to organize bulk materials, store completed artworks in a safe environment, and manage packing and shipping supplies. Photographers can even convert their unit into a miniature studio.
Moving your Etsy shop to an off-site storage unit declutters your primary creative space, allowing for more focused work. Plus, it’s a cheaper alternative than moving or expanding to an expensive commercial studio.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Materials and supplies | Keeps bulk materials organized and accessible, reducing clutter |
| Finished artworks | Provides a safe environment for storing completed pieces (in climate-controlled units) |
| Workspace for large projects | Offers additional space to work on oversized projects |
| Seasonal workshop expansion | Accommodates increased production needs during peak seasons |
Note: You may use a storage unit as a hobby workshop as long as the storage facility manager gives their okay, but you cannot store paints or any flammable substances in there.
9. Event Planners
As an event planner, you want to deliver exceptional, memorable events every single time.
Event planners make that happen by using a lot of items sporadically throughout the year — from themed decorations to bulky event equipment.
That’s where renting a self-storage unit at a facility close to you comes into the picture. We suggest scoring a storage unit with drive-up access for all the loading and unloading you’ll be doing for various events.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Seasonal and themed event decorations | Separates and stores items by theme for efficient planning, keeping them in excellent condition year-round |
| Audio-visual equipment | Offers a secure place to store and protect valuable AV gear |
| Event furniture | Keeps tables, chairs, and staging items safe when not in use |
10. Fitness Trainers and Gyms
For fitness trainers and gyms, floor space is the primary revenue-generating asset. Every square foot needs to be dedicated to training, classes, and member activities. Extra gym equipment, seasonal gear for outdoor programs, and promotional materials can quickly create clutter and detract from the client experience.
All this clutters the valuable space needed for training and exercise. So, how about maximizing usable space for clients and classes with the help of a handy self-storage unit?
A storage unit gives you a dedicated space to store specialized equipment for workshops, seasonal gear like sleds or tires for outdoor boot camps, and excess inventory of retail products. This keeps the gym environment clean, safe, and inviting, allowing trainers to focus on promoting health and fitness.
| Use Case | Benefits of Storage Units |
|---|---|
| Seasonal gear | Allows for the rotation of equipment based on seasonal activities |
| Promotional materials | Keeps marketing and event materials organized and in good shape after the holidays |
| Extra equipment | Frees up space in the gym for a cleaner, more inviting environment |
| Workshop and training supplies | Organizes materials for special classes or workshops |
Benefits of Storage Units for Business
Whether you’re looking for inventory storage facilities, a place for securely archiving documents or you need extra office equipment storage, there’s a unit size for you. Now, all the commercial storage units are space-saving, of course, but what else is there in them to make you seal the deal?
For entrepreneurs and startups, the benefits of storage for small businesses extend beyond extra space. They include:
- Flexibility: Businesses need to change a lot. Many self-storage facilities offer month-to-month rental agreements, so there’s no need for the long-term commitments associated with traditional commercial leases. This flexibility allows you to scale your space up or down as your inventory or needs change. Consult our storage unit size guide and choose from a wide range of storage unit sizes so you’re only paying for the space you require.
- Enhance Security Features: Keeping things safe is a big deal. Self-storage units have 24/7 video surveillance, gates, alarms, and on-site management and security personnel to help protect your business assets. Plus, you can add your best lock into the mix.
- Cost-effective: Renting extra office space can be expensive, but if you find a storage unit with electricity, you can convert your unit into a home office. Or you can free up office space at home by using a self-storage unit as a centralized hub for inventory, a staging area for projects, or an archival center for documents.
- Accessibility and convenience: Need to get to your stuff at any time? No problem. Business storage with 24-hour access is pretty common, so you don’t have to wait to get things done. Plus, the modern storage business offers advanced benefits like online account management software, allowing tenants to make payments, communicate with staff, and manage their accounts while they’re on the go.
How Storage.com Can Help You Use Self-Storage For Business
Alright, we’ve taken a good look at how using self-storage for business can be a game-changing move. From flexible storage units that give a startup room to grow and manage their inventory, to industrial-sized spaces for bulky equipment, the solutions are tailored to commercial needs.
With benefits like flexible rental agreements, scalable unit sizes, top-tier security, and convenient access, self-storage business use is a sound strategy.
But as small businesses may already know, market research is key. And we’re not just talking about investigating the storage unit occupancy rates of a given facility to anaylze the local demand.
Not all storage facilities have security cameras and alarms, for example. And depending on the type of products you’re storing and selling, the need for climate-controlled storage might be a non-negotiable.
Lucky for you, Storage.com is here to help.
Storage.com lets you browse and compare self-storage units using amenity filters that isolate the storage facilities in your area with all the ideal storage features your e-commerce company needs.
Just punch your zip code into our handy Storage.com search tool, and you’ll see what we mean.
We’ll filter through the thousands of local storage facilities for you, making it easy to find the storage unit that best fits your online business’s needs.
Whether you’re looking for a storage unit with climate control, electricity, alarms, 24-hour access, drive-up access, or security cameras, Storage.com makes the process quick and painless.
All you have to do is choose a storage unit and your move-in date, and we’ll take care of the rest. And if you have any questions about commercial or business storage that this guide didn’t answer, feel free to ask. Our storage representatives are just a phone call away!
