People tend to think of self-storage only in terms of their personal lives: when preparing a home to sell or remodel, de-clutter the garage or turn the home office into a nursery. But self-storage is perfect for businesses, too, with many surprising benefits. Perhaps your back room is overrun with boxes of client records that no longer fit in your file cabinets. Or maybe your job requires frequent travel, often leaving boxes of product samples sitting on your front porch. If that sounds familiar, then it’s time to consider a self-storage unit.

Flexible Storage for Businesses

Chris Hansen, owner of Trevian Salon Concepts, rents two units at Guardian Storage in Superior, Colorado. He began researching self-storage after realizing just how expensive traditional warehouse space is and how much of it would go unused until his business reaches a certain size. After leasing at Guardian Storage, he quickly found it to be an excellent solution.

“A huge benefit is the ability to receive and have shipments picked up without requiring anyone from our company to be present. When we ship orders out, we pack them up and bring to the front office where we leave in a designated spot for pick up,” Hansen said. “When orders are shipped to me, staff makes sure all orders are left in our secured unit.”

In addition to handling deliveries and shipments for clients, many self-storage facilities now offer services like cardboard recycling to deal with the remnants of those shipments. In addition, conference rooms are quite common, giving business owners access to free Wi-Fi and a quiet place to work.

Self-storage space is often more flexible than a regular warehouse. Business owners can upgrade unit size as their business grows, keeping expenses in line with income. Most self-storage facility managers are skilled at estimating space needs, so talk with them to see what size unit would work best for you. They can help you visualize a space complete with organized shelving, workbenches and more.

Furthermore, many storage facilities offer different styles of storage, ranging from the traditional “drive-up” units (perfect for landscapers and construction companies) to “standard inside” (excellent for durable goods) and “climate controlled” (for files and temperature-sensitive products).

“The climate controlled optional units were necessary since my products are negatively impacted by high temperatures and freezing.  Since we are in Colorado, we see temperature swings from one end to the other and the climate controlled option is great,” said Hansen.

How to Select Self Storage for Your Business

Not all self-storage facilities are created equal, however, so when you’re evaluating different companies, keep the following in mind:

1. Are security features like alarms, fences and adequate surveillance cameras in place to safe guard your property?
2. Is the contract month-to-month and are there prepay discounts?
3. Are other amenities, such as extended access hours and document shredding, available?
4. Is the facility accessible for tractor/trailer trucks, and if so, is there a loading dock?
5. Inquire about transfer policies as well, so you can increase your unit size as your business prospers.

If you have any questions about storage for your business don’t hesitate to contact one of our locations or give us a call at (888) 373-RENT.