Types of Businesses That Benefit From Self-Storage
Any business with inventory, materials, or equipment might need storage, depending on their office size, location, and their operational needs. For example, a building contractor might need to store tools and building materials. A retailer might need to store their product inventory. And, a manufacturer might need to store equipment when it’s not in use.
Commercial storage isn’t limited to any particular business, but these industries are most common:
Retail or e-commerce:
Retailers and e-commerce business owners can store inventory for seasonal demand, declutter crowded stock rooms and house overflow display furniture. Plus, retailers love amenities like
Popular amenities: climate control and 24-hour access
Popular storage unit sizes: 10x10, 10x15, 10x20
Real estate and home staging professionals:
Real Estate agents often use business storage to temporarily store homeowners’ extra belongings for open houses while the home is on the market. Home staging professionals need a place to store staging furniture in between projects.
Popular amenities: climate control, drive-up access and 24-hour access
Popular storage unit sizes: 10x15, 10x20
Construction, contractors and home service businesses:
Businesses like electrical, plumbing, HVAC and lawn care companies usually have a lot of large tools, parts, materials and equipment that need to be stored safely. Business storage offers low cost, easy access and round-the-clock hours for loading and unloading heavy equipment.
Popular amenities: drive-up access and 24-hour access
Popular storage unit sizes: 10x20, 10x30
Pharmaceutical companies:
Sales representatives for pharmaceutical companies store product samples and marketing materials in units that are easily accessible and have climate control to prevent drug degradation and contamination. An added bonus is that many business storage facilities are also able to accept deliveries.
Popular amenities: 24-hour access and climate control
Popular storage unit sizes: 5x10, 5x15
Recommended Amenities and Features for Business Storage
Commercial storage is typically a traditional storage unit that has certain amenities that help protect business-use items from damage or spoiling. These may include:
24-hour access or extended hours
Avoid disruption to daily business operations and access your storage unit at a time that is convenient for you.
Climate controlled storage
Keep your inventory, equipment or stock in a temperature-controlled environment (between 50°F to 80°F) so that extreme heat or cold won’t ruin any of your items.
Drive-up access
If frequent trips are in your future, drive-up access gives you the ability to easily load or unload furniture items or seasonal materials.
Delivery acceptance
Save time and money by having inventory delivered right to the storage facility and it’ll be stored in your unit until you’re ready.
Facility Security (cameras, staff, etc.)
Your business is your livelihood and you need the peace of mind that comes with knowing your items are secure through amenities like electronic gate access, security cameras, video surveillance, on-premise staff, etc.
Electrical outlets
Not every facility will offer electrical outlets as an amenity, but the ones that do give you the ability to power refrigerators and freezers for wine storage and other perishable items.
No Matter Your Business Size, Commercial Storage Can Help
From small businesses to large operations, there’s a business storage solution to fit your needs. Facilities that explicitly offer storage units for business use tend to have larger unit sizes in addition to smaller ones, including warehouse size units and units that can be used for office space.
A 5×5 storage unit is about the size of a small closet and can typically hold a handful of small boxes, which might be sufficient for inventory of a small business. Unit sizes like a 10×10 or a 10×15 can hold the contents of three to four rooms, and would be ideal for a medium size business that needs storage for office furniture.
Not sure what size you need? Our storage unit size guide breaks down the standard unit sizes available at most storage facilities.
Small Business Storage
25-75
SQ FT
Storage sizes include 5x5, 5x10, and 5x15:
Ideal for seasonal materials, small furniture pieces, boxes, and limited inventory.
Medium Business Storage
100-200
SQ FT
Storage sizes include 10x10, 10x15, and 10x20:
The right size for surplus stock, files and records, and mid-size equipment.
Large Business Storage
250-300
SQ FT
Storage sizes include 10x25, 10x30
Easy to store bigger furniture pieces, point-of-sale displays, medical products or home staging items.
Advantages of Self-Storage for Businesses
Operating a business of any size usually requires space, whether it’s for equipment, resources, staff, or inventory. If you need more space or a short-term home for specific items, business storage is a convenient option. It can provide the extra space business owners need to keep their offices running smoothly and to store things they don’t need to carry out daily operations. How you can utilize business storage varies, but the main benefits of commercial storage are:
Saves you money
A business storage unit is less expensive than the cost of renting or purchasing additional office space. Business storage units are large enough to store documents, equipment, and inventory for less than $100 per month.
Keeps items more organized
Maximize your available space and reduce the clutter that can accumulate in a crowded office setting. Business storage solutions are functional and spacious, which means ample ways to organize your workplace items.
Highly convenient to use
Most storage facilities are conveniently located near major highways and are easy to get to. Renting business storage in a location that’s convenient can save you time and money.
Easily accessible 24/7
Most businesses store things that they might need to access fairly quickly. With drive-up access and 24-hour storage, you can load and unload right in front of your unit before, during, and after business hours.
Provides peace of mind
Features like security cameras, gated entry, and round-the-clock surveillance, business storage units provide peace of mind for companies to store their workplace items safely.
Offers flexible terms
From small storage lockers to large warehouse space, business storage creates flexibility to scale up or downsize as necessary. And you can rent the unit for as long as you need, giving you the space to grow on your own terms.
Business Storage Unit FAQs
How do I determine the right size storage unit for my business?
Can I access my business storage unit anytime?
What security features are available for business storage units?
Can I rent a business self storage unit on a short-term basis?
Can I customize my business storage unit to fit my specific needs?
What items are prohibited from storing in a business storage unit?
What is the cost of renting a business storage space?
Cities with Business Storage
- Albuquerque, NM
- Atlanta, GA
- Austin, TX
- Baltimore, MD
- Brooklyn, NY
- Charlotte, NC
- Cincinnati, OH
- Cleveland, OH
- Columbus, OH
- Dallas, TX
- Detroit, MI
- Fort Lauderdale, FL
- Houston, TX
- Indianapolis, IN
- Las Vegas, NV
- Los Angeles, CA
- Minneapolis, MN
- New York, NY
- Oakland, CA
- Oklahoma City, OK
- Orlando, FL
- Pensacola, FL
- Philadelphia, PA
- Phoenix, AZ
- Queens, NY
- Raleigh, NC
- Richmond, VA
- San Diego, CA
- St. Louis, MO
- Washington, DC