Would It Make Sense To Start Your Small Business In A Self Storage Unit?

12 January 2016
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If you have wanted to start your own small business from a new commercial building, it may not take long for you to decide that this may not be a good idea. Unfortunately, unless you have approximately $30,000 or more for the average business start up costs, you may have to look for ways to reduce your bottom line. Depending on the type of business that you are starting, you may be able to reduce your expenses by starting your small business in self storage units. This move may make good business sense.

No Long Term Lease Or Commitment

The price you pay for a commercial space will depend on where you live and the type of space you are looking for, but it will also depend on how long your lease is for. The average short-term commercial lease can run anywhere from three years and up. Because your lease is considered to be short-term, you may even have to pay higher monthly rental prices.

Unfortunately, when you are a start up company, this amount of time may be a couple of years too long. However, once you sign your lease you will be committed to pay for the full term of your lease whether you are still in business or not.

When you open your business in a self storage unit, you do not have this type of long-term commitment. You may be able to find facilities that are willing to allow you to commit to less than a year. Some units may even be willing to let you lease month to month. Even if you have to take a one-year contract, that will be a whole lot less of a commitment than what you will find for most commercial spaces.

Allows You To Figure Out How Much Space You Need

Many times when you are starting a new business, it is hard to conceptualize exactly how much space you will need. This can result in you renting a space that is too large, or too small to run your business out of. If your space is too large, you will be paying for space you are not using, but if your space is too small you may not have the room you need to operate. 

With a self storage unit, you will be able to increase or decrease your space as you see fit. If you find you need additional space, you can rent a larger unit or rent a unit in addition to the one you already have. If you find you have too much space, you will also be able to downsize to a smaller unit and lower your rental costs.

Provides You All Of The Privacy That You Need

If you choose to set up your business at home, or attempt to run your business from an internet cafe, there may always be people present when you are attempting to do business. Not only can these additional people be distracting, but people eaves dropping on your conversations can also put your customer's information at risk of being compromised.

If you choose to set up your new business in a self storage unit, you will not have to worry about anyone overhearing the telephone calls or business deals that you are conducting. You will not have to worry about your family interrupting your workflow, or your children being overheard in the background. 

If you are seriously thinking of starting a business in a self storage unit, have an upfront discussion with the manager of the location you are considering. While some facilities will allow you to do this, others will not.

If the manager is amendable to your idea, they may even have suggestions on the types of units that will work best for you. Some facilities may even offer specialized units or store fronts, although they may come at a higher cost. Because the managers know that you will be a frequent visitor, they may be willing to offer you a prime location with better parking options.

When you are starting your own business, you sometimes have to think outside of the box. In this case, you may need to consider starting your business inside of the box, especially if that box is a self storage unit.