Small Business Storage Solutions: Self-Storage Facilities

When you're starting out in a small home-based business, you often find that your storage requirements can't be met by your current location. You may have a small house or the garage is already filled to capacity. Perhaps you rent an apartment with little storage space, or your landlord just doesn't want the yard cluttered up. The answer to your small-business storage problem could be just around the corner!

Self-storage facilities are springing up everywhere! There is likely to be one close to your home, or along a route you travel regularly. Self-employed plumbers, carpenters, electricians, and mechanics often have large equipment or tools they don't use every day but still need easy access to. Retailers and wholesalers may have large inventories that they just can't keep organized in a home environment. A conveniently located self-storage locker can give you that extra space you need and easy access to your equipment or merchandise!

When choosing a self-storage facility for business purposes, there are a few questions you need to ask the owner of the self-storage facility. You may need to do some basic maintenance on the equipment you keep there. Does the individual unit have a light inside, and is an electrical outlet available? Will the company allow such maintenance work in the unit?

Some self-storage lockers are climate-controlled, but many aren't. Ask if climate-controlled units are available if you need to keep your business assets from temperature extremes and high humidity.

Ask about self-storage facility's security features, too. Is there video surveillance and are the grounds patrolled regularly? Are the grounds well-lit and carefully maintained? Is the security fence intact, with access available only to tenants? Have there been break-ins recently? Are fire alarms and sprinkler systems installed?

Most storage unit companies will offer basic insurance for an extra fee, but it may not cover the full value of your contents. Consider buying extra insurance to protect your investment in equipment or merchandise. Some homeowners' insurance may cover possessions that are in self-storage lockers, also.

Estimate the amount of space you will need by arranging your equipment or merchandise in the yard, and measuring the square footage. Don't forget to leave room to move around, or to move equipment or merchandise in and out. You can put free-standing shelving units or file cabinets in your self-storage locker to increase the storage space, or hang a peg board (ask the facility first) to keep hand tools within reach.

Renting a self-storage locker can give you the space you need to keep your home-based business equipment or merchandise safe, organized, and readily available.