As the country’s business landscape rapidly changes, intelligent business owners are finding ways to get creative, save money, and get more done. Their secret weapon? Commercial storage units. Storage units can help lower overhead, streamline your storage and fulfillment needs, and help your business thrive more than ever.
But first, what is a commercial storage unit?
The term “commercial storage unit” just refers to a storage unit that’s intended for business use. It’s not necessarily any different from any other storage unit at a given facility. Sometimes the amenities are specifically packaged to suit the needs of different businesses, and sometimes they’re not—the truth is that it all varies from company to company.
Suppose you’re going to use a storage unit for significant business activities. In that case, you should discuss it with the storage company and check if they have units designated for that purpose. Some companies have rules about using a “personal storage space” to conduct business activities.
Common Features of Commercial Storage Units
While your basic storage unit you rent for personal purposes won’t fundamentally differ from the one you rent for business, your storage company might offer some specific business services.
Business Centers
Many storage facilities have business centers that offer working spaces, Internet access, and coffee. For example, if you’re using your commercial storage unit to store inventory for an online store, it’s beneficial to use that office space to process some orders and prepare them to ship.
Package Drop Off and Pick Up
Some storage facilities function as drop-off/pick-up locations for shipping companies like FedEx and UPS, which is a great time-saver. Many storage companies can also accept packages for your business.
Work Vehicle Parking
Some storage facilities will be able to put together a package that allows you to store one or more work vehicles on their lots in addition to what you can fit in your commercial storage unit.
Try BuxBear Storage first!
Whatever business amenities you need, you should always feel free to ask. For example, if you get in touch with us at BuxBear Storage, our knowledgeable staff is always happy to help walk you through what commercial services can be arranged. If we’re not near you, don’t worry—we’re constantly expanding!
Business owners prefer BuxBear Storage because every BuxBear location has a secure perimeter, electronically gated entry, and a suite of best-in-class security features. All ground-floor units offer drive-up access. At some locations, we can provide additional features like climate control, which may be necessary for certain businesses.
We’ve found a better way to design our commercial storage offerings by working smarter and listening to what business owners need.
Other Ways to Look for Commercial Storage Units
If you’re not near a BuxBear, there are two primary alternative ways to find commercial storage units.
The first is using a good old search engine.
If you search for storage companies in your area, you’ll likely find listings for various facilities. Visit their websites and look for what services they offer for commercial customers. If you give them a call, you can ask directly. Know what features you’re looking for, and see which companies check the right boxes!
The second is using storage company comparison sites.
There are platforms like SelfStorage.com and Storage.com that specifically compare self-storage companies. These sites are similar to how you might use sites like Priceline or Kayak to compare flight, car rental, and hotel rates.
Factors that can lower your storage unit price
Business owners are always looking to keep expenses low. A little know-how can help you save a ton of money on a commercial storage unit rental. Thankfully, we know exactly what to keep in mind.
Scout different locations
Business owners already know this: It’s all about location. Prices are higher in busier areas where demand is higher, and rates are lower in areas where supply is more significant, and demand is lower. Suppose you’re not going to be constantly visiting your commercial storage unit. In that case, you might want to prioritize looking at units further away from downtown or neighborhoods with many businesses.
Storage unit prices vary by season
Storage unit rates are cyclical. The summer season is usually the most high-demand time of year—so rental rates are higher—and the colder months are generally cheaper. For this reason, you can often get a much lower rate if you sign up in the “off-season.”
Look for online discounts
In the self-storage industry, online promotions and discounts are widespread. Some storage companies even offer year-round discounts just for registering online instead of going to the front office.
Skip the features you don’t need
If you don’t need features like climate control, electrical outlets, or drive-up access, you might be able to spring for a less expensive unit that doesn’t have those features. In particular, climate control and electrical outlets usually come with a pretty strict upcharge. They usually won’t be included by default, but some companies automatically include them for commercial storage units.
Look into automated self-storage facilities
We recommend using companies with on-site staff, and BuxBear facilities have fantastic, helpful staff members. But some companies do cut costs by minimizing staff. Instead, they automate as many processes as possible, including monitoring properties remotely by video, allowing access to units via app or passcode, and having customers pay online or through a kiosk.
A Commercial Storage Unit Can Revolutionize Your Business!
Having low-cost extra space helps businesses avoid costly commercial real estate rentals for things like storefronts, inventory storage, or fulfillment prep spaces. For many companies, rental space is the biggest expense, which is part of why so many companies are going fully remote.
At BuxBear Storage, we’ve built our business offerings from the ground up to help business owners take charge of their companies and revolutionize the way they work. See if there’s a BuxBear Storage location near you, and let’s talk about how we can help.