How Self Storage Can Help You Grow Your Business

Thanks to the internet, these days it’s easier than ever to start a small business. It used to be that you’d need a physical store or to build up a client base going door to door, but now you can sell your products online. If you needed extra money to get your business going, you had to go to a bank. Today, sites like Kickstarter and Indiegogo let you sell your first product in advance and make extra money that you don’t have to pay back.

As your business grows, you’ll probably have more inventory, paperwork, displays, and more piling up in your office or at home and you’ll need more space to manage it all. Keep in mind this can be true whether you run an e-commerce business, a brick-and-mortar store, a construction business, or any other small, growing company.

Here are some of the ways that renting a self storage unit can help grow your business.

Free Up Clutter

Your office is a place to get work done. You might have a crafting space in there if you sell things like stickers, paintings, or 3D printed objects. An uncluttered workspace equals a clear mind, and a self storage unit can provide the room you need for overstock inventory, paperwork, and more.

Save Money

Self storage space rents for significantly less per square foot than either residential or commercial space. While you might feel tempted to move to a larger home or office, you can save a lot of money by renting just the amount of space you need in a storage unit. Start with a small, 5’x5’ space, and move into bigger units as your business grows.

What To Store

The most common thing for small businesses to keep in storage is overstock inventory. When you get an order for an item you already have, you can head to your unit, pick it up, and prepare to ship it.

Other things business owners store include samples, paperwork, business-related tools, and displays.

While you can digitize a lot of paperwork these days, some hard copies are worth keeping.

Great for keeping documents safe. Lots of paperwork can be digitized now but some should be kept physical for a few months to a few years. Keep hard copies in storage.

Look For These Features

Did you know that a self storage unit can keep your stuff safer than in your home or office? To maximize this potential, look for a storage facility with the following features

• 24-Hour Surveillance

The many facilities work with security firms and have cameras that are monitored day and night.

• A High Perimeter Fence or Wall

A tall chain-link fence or a stone wall should surround the facility with one or two access gates.

• Gated Access

The facility needs coded, gated access, so that only tenants can get inside.

• Good Lighting

In the evening, the outdoor areas of the facility need to be lighted, and the facility should have lights with motion detection in every hallway.

• An Alarm System

The facility’s alarm system should go off when anyone breaks into the facility. It’s even better if the units are individually alarmed, so that facility operators will know if someone is attempting to illegally access a unit.

Next, there are the features that keep your stuff in great shape.

• Pest Control

To prevent pests from getting into the buildings, facilities generally have any foliage, such as trees, bushes, and flowers, near the office, but nowhere else on the property. They may also work with a pest control company which will come in every few months to set traps and ensure there have been no infestations of rodents or bugs.

• Climate Control

If possible, we encourage you to rent a unit with climate control. This will keep your inventory, paperwork, and more in great shape. Facilities keep the temperature in these units between about 50 and 80 degrees, and the humidity between 30% and 50%, ideal conditions for your stuff.

For your business, look for a facility that has all these features. If you’re ready to find a storage facility, check our extensive listings, which cover the U.S. and Canada.