Are you planning on starting a self-storage business soon? If so, you’ve probably already eyed up a location for your service. And, you doubtless have some ideas on how much you’re going to charge. 

There’s no denying that self-storage is a niche that will always be in demand, regardless of any economic events occurring in the world. Before you start investing in your new business idea, you should first bear in mind the foundation work that must get done.

The following are some practical hints and tips to help you kick-start your self-storage service, and ensure that your business begins on the right footing. Here’s what you need to know:

Bricks and mortar or shipping containers?

Providers of self-storage services usually develop their premises as traditional bricks and mortar buildings. However, some innovative entrepreneurs repurpose old shipping containers and rent those out to customers.

Both options have their pros and cons, so it’s worth doing some in-depth research on the topic and determining which one is right for you. For example:

• Bricks and mortar buildings offer more customisable storage solutions for your customers;

• Repurposed containers are cheap to buy and are stackable.

Legal red tape

You’ll also need to consider what laws and regulations you must abide by before launching your business. For instance, you might need to get a license to run a self-storage business, or planning permission if you’re constructing new facilities from scratch.

The last thing you want to do is find yourself on the wrong side of the law. If you did, it could potentially be ‘game over’ for your business, and you may end up losing a lot of money because you forgot to apply for a permit or license, for example.

Security

Your prospective customers want to know that they can leave their valuables at your premises without worrying about theft. That’s why it’s crucial to put a lot of thought into your facility’s security and that of each individual self-storage unit that you rent out.

Many security solutions exist specifically for self-storage businesses. For example, storage smart entry systems allow your customers to come and go as they please without the need for staff members to be on-site to let them in or out of your premises.

You’re likely going to leave the security of each unit up to your customers. You should still invest in some basic security, and offer customers items like locks to purchase from your office.

Marketing

Lastly, one thing you should never do is rely on passing trade to bolster your firm’s rental income. That’s why you must develop a comprehensive marketing plan for your self-storage service. With that in mind, how should you market your new enterprise?

Online Marketing

It makes perfect sense to launch a full-scale digital marketing campaign. Your strategy should include setting up and maintaining a website and advertising on social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter.

Offline Marketing

Local and regional offline marketing is an excellent idea to promote a self-storage business. Had some recurring ads placed in local newspapers, and voiceovers done for local radio ads.